I’ll Drink to That!

Very often the most charming of surprises wait for us off “the beaten path”. Such is the case with Bedford Winery. Located in the small historic town of Los Alamos, California, Bedford Winery is just a short 15 minute drive north of Buellton on the 101 freeway. A little over a mile or so down Bell St. past historic buildings housing the town’s small businesses you’ll find the tasting room with it’s large patio next to a building called The General Store, although I think it’s now an art/antiques dealer. Bedford is a small family operated winery helmed by winemaker/owner Stephan Bedford. Turns out Stephan also loves to cook and regularly turns the patio into a gathering place where he cooks up lavish barbeque feasts for special occasions and holidays.

Over the Labor Day weekend Bedford presented their annual W.I.N.O. Radio Dinner Show to a sold out, hungry and appreciative crowd. Helen, the tasting room manager, greeted us with an invitation to taste some of the wines from Bedford’s large array of varietal offerings. I gladly accepted a glass of  their 2009 Santa Barbara County Chardonnay, a rich, full-bodied wine with some soft oaky nuances. Just what I needed after the drive up from LA. We wandered around the tasting room and patio, nibbling on appetizers of freshly baked flatbread pizza, baked brie, caprese skewers, salty olives, and fresh garden gazpacho. We were introduced to all the family members, most of whom were busy either at the food prep area, pouring wine or passing the hors. Once the dinner bell was rung, literally, everyone queued up and  grabbed a cowboy style enamelware plate which was heaped with spit roasted pork loin with two side-by-side sauces, cast iron pot cooked beans, colorful and crunchy chow chow and chunks of hearty wheat bread. With dinner, I opted for a glass of  2008 Santa Barbara County Tempranillo. This Spanish red varietal, quickly gaining popularity in the Central Coast, is a wine of depth and spice, making it very food friendly and was delicious with the roasted pork. Old-fashioned peach cobbler made for the perfect dessert ending.

The show, loosely fashioned after the Home Prairie Companion radio show, was a collection of cleverly created wine related comedy skits, blue grass style music, readings and commercials taking you back to a time when radio shows were the primary source of home entertainment. The show was hosted by Garrison Sanders, and featured the music of  Susie Glaze and the HiLonesome Band. Also included was an installment of “The Pinot Noir Wine Detective series performed by the Bedford Winery Players, all professionals in the entertainment industry.  What a pleasant change from our high-tech lives to sit outside on a beautiful summer night and enjoy some good old-fashioned, creative, somewhat silly and amusing entertainment in the middle of this little town that seems frozen in time.

So on your next drive to the Santa Barbara or San Luis Obispo County wine regions, I strongly urge you to make the little detour in time and go visit the folks at the Bedford Winery tasting room. Chances are if you visit on a Sunday, Stephan himself will be there to engage you in lively conversation about wine, food, history, gardening or even baseball. Los Alamos also boasts a popular restaurant,  Flatbread Pizza, and a historic Victorian B&B, The Victorian Mansion.

I’LL DRINK TO THAT!