Vega Vineyard & Farm, a new working winery, farm and events venue on a historic Santa Barbara County ranch that most recently served as the home of Mosby Winery & Vineyards, unveiled its food menu, farm stand and indoor/outdoor tasting areas on Oct. 5.
October 6, 2022
The debut of the updated tasting room in a barn that was once the ranch’s circa-1880s carriage house — and of the former parking lot turned into a shaded garden patio with views of the vineyards — is the first part in a phased launch of the newest Santa Ynez Valley venture from hospitality entrepreneurs Karen and Jimmy Loizides, who also operate Maverick Saloon in Santa Ynez. Additional features will include a currently under-construction barn and a VIP area, the latter located just steps from the property’s original adobe home built in 1853.
Vega Vineyard & Farm showcases wines by longtime Santa Barbara County vintner Steve Clifton, of Palmina fame, alongside a menu of small bites, appetizers, salads, flat breads and shared plates overseen by chef Erik Thurman, formerly of such Central Coast spots as Alisal Ranch and Burnham Woods Golf Course as well as stints in Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands and Martha’s Vineyard. Serving as general manager is Kara Teel, who has worked in the local wine industry for more than two decades and for the Loizides family the past three years at projects that have included founding Sear Steakhouse in Solvang.
Current hours of operation are from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Thursdays through Mondays.
Located just off the Santa Rosa Road exit from both the southbound and northbound sides of Highway 101 near Buellton, the 212-acre Vega Vineyard & Farm includes what was Mosby Winery’s 21 acres of vineyards, currently focused on Italian varietals. Its new name was chosen to honor of the ranch’s earlier identity as Rancho La Vega.
“This property has an incredible, tangible history, and such energy of its own. But it was in need of some love, and we are overjoyed at the chance to be the people who inject new life into this important place”
Jimmy Loizides said in a media release.
Estate-grown Vega Vineyard & Farm bottlings will begin with this year’s harvest. The current lineup for tastings and by-the-bottle purchases include the winery’s existing library of inventory — some of it the result of Palmina’s merging with Vega Vineyard — made with grapes sourced from elsewhere in Santa Barbara County.
Tastings include a flight of five wines for $25 and the Vega Food & Wine Experience, which pairs wines with chef’s choice of family-style shared plates for $65 per person (a food-only option is $40).
Wines ranging from a Santa Maria Valley albarino and Sta. Rita Hills chardonnay to a Santa Ynez Valley barbera and Sta. Rita Hills pinot noir are $7 to $15 per glass, and $28 to $60 per bottle.
In addition to a Stepladder Creamery cheese plate trio (serves two for $15, or four for $22) and charcuterie board (serves two for $19, or four for $28), the food menu includes deviled farm eggs with blue crab, smoked-trout roe and scallions ($18) and grilled shrimp kabobs with grilled Vega Farm vegetables and chimichurri sauce ($28).
Other anticipated phases to the opening of Vega Vineyard & Farm include the addition of a second entrance leading to the barn and organic farm. The property’s resident goats, pigs, llamas, chickens and rabbits will be available for guests to visit and feed, and hayrides are in the works.
Vega Vineyard & Farm will eventually also introduce an events series that will include open-to-the-public concerts as well as the expansion of private-event offerings and menus.
Vega Vineyard and Farm is located at 9496 Santa Rosa Road (U.S. 101 Exit 139, Santa Rosa Road), Buellton, CA 93427.
The farm and tasting room’s initial opening hours will be Thursday through Monday, 11:00 AM to 8:00 PM (initial opening hours subject to change).
To reach Vega Vineyard and Farm directly, please call 805.688.2415.
Private event inquiries may be directed to
Kara Teel, General Manager, at [email protected].
Information is also available on the Vega Vineyard and Farm website (www.vegavineyardandfarm.com), on Instagram (@vegavineyardandfarm),
TikTok (@vegavineyardandfarm), and
Facebook (facebook.com/vegavineyardandfarm).
