Wine at Montage Laguna Beach |
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At Wine Craft , guests can create a DIY project while sampling wines . |
Made with grapes grown in the Santa Ynez Valley near Santa Barbara , you ’ ll see just how many options there are to choose from when you step inside the lounge , as bottles adorn the bar area . Sit on the patio to enjoy a flight and taste a number of their famous blends while listening to live music on the weekends .
Owners Jason and Sofia McClain are especially passionate about sharing the wealth when it comes to their sales . “ We are really focused on giving back to charities that make a difference ,” Jason explains . New labels that will soon be released include Helton ’ s Heroes , named for two of the brand ’ s wine club members in support of frontline workers ; Jam Fest , which will benefit musicians in need ; and Miracle Maker , a fruit-forward blend crafted to raise funds for Miracles for Kids .
The brand opened a second tasting room during the COVID-19 pandemic in Solvang , then , last year , launched another Laguna venture : a downtown wine library exclusively
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for wine club members . With more than 500 bottles from McClain Cellars ’ collection , this venue holds legacy vintages and sold-out wines that can ’ t be found elsewhere .
Paso Robles-based Bianchi , which opened its north Laguna wine tasting and event space in 2021 , has a storied history , with founder Joseph Bianchi launching the business in the 1970s . But then , in 1982 , the Bianchi family settled in Laguna Beach . Now , Joseph ’ s son , Glenn , and grandson , Beau , run the company — and both live in town . With such a lengthy background here , they aimed to bring the magic of Paso to Laguna .
All about the vibe , this intimate venue features glass windows with views of the Pacific Ocean and seating at a bar top or at low tables ; the building doubles as the brand ’ s new corporate office . Wine tastings , which are offered with three or five pours , explore the catalog of fruit-forward reds , crisp whites , bold blends as well as both sparkling and rose wines .
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FROM TOP : COURTESY OF MONTAGE LAGUNA BEACH ; COURTESY OF WINE CRAFT |
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