Overnight Sipper: Santa Barbara's Carhartt Vineyard Partners with 4-Star Canary for Its First Hotel Wine

by Gabe Saglie, Senior Editor, Travelzoo
story published in the Santa Barbara News-Press on 11/27/15

Canary Santa Barbara, the 4-Star boutique Kimpton hotel in the heart of downtown Santa Barbara, just unveiled its own premium wine.  The 2013 Estate Syrah is made by winemakers Brooke and (son) Chase Carhartt of Carhartt Vineyard.  This marks the Santa Ynez Valley-based winery's very first private label for a hotel, and it makes the Canary the very first Kimpton property in California to have its own custom-made wine.

"This is an exciting collaboration for us, as the Canary and Carhartt share the same principles of quality, customer service and delivering a world-class product," says Joe Ramos, who runs Carhartt's Wine Club.  "The opportunity to work hand in hand with one of Santa Barbara's premier hotels has been extremely rewarding."

The syrah will be featured in the Canary's wine-themed packages.  For example, guests who book the "Syrah and Suites" package for travel between February and May, 2016, will find a complimentary bottle of the '13 Syrah in their Mediterranean-styled suite.  The offer, which is bookable starting in December, also includes wine tasting for two at the Carhartt tasting room in Los Olivos, an easy 45-minute drive away.

"We see this really as an invitation for guests to come out to wine country and experience a true, local, family-run winery,” adds Ramos, who’s also been working with Chase Carhartt to educate Canary’s restaurant and concierge teams on the merits of Santa Barbara’s wine country.

"Wine is an important part of Santa Barbara's culture," says Canary GM Ryan Parker.  "Many of our guests travel specifically here for the wineries, so we are always looking for authentic ways to capture the local flavors and create that quintessential Santa Barbara experience."

Wine curious guests at the 97-room Canary Santa Barbara also get an invite to the nightly 5pm complimentary wine hour in the lobby.  The wine list at the popular onsite Finch & Fork Restaurant also features various local labels, including the Carhartt sauvignon blanc and sangiovese.

Carhartt Vineyard is family-owned and operated, and it sells all its wine direct to consumer through its wine club and tasting room.  It produces 22 different wines, several of which are grown on 14 acres of proprietary land, including Rancho Santa Ynez.  The Canary 2013 Syrah comes from the Carhartt estate’s original vineyards, planted 18 years ago, and is the same wine that retails under the Carhartt label for $34.

For more on Carhartt Vineyard, visit their 99-square-foot tasting room – widely known as the world’s smallest – at 2990-A Grand Avenue in Los Olivos, or check out the Carhartt website.  For more information on Canary Santa Barbara, located at 31 W. Carrillo Street in Santa Barbara, go to the Canary website.


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