By Staff Report Friday, August 9th, 2019

Sunstone Vineyards & Winery will be celebrating its 25th anniversary on Aug. 17.

Sunstone Vineyards & Winery is celebrating 25 years since the 1994 opening of its tasting room. It is one of the first organic vineyard estates in Santa Barbara County and will host a “Wine & Swine” reception at the Sunstone Estate from 4-6 p.m. Aug. 17.

The reception will feature a pig roast, live ’90s music, a ceremony honoring well-known Sunstone “alumni” winemakers and a free raffle with 25 prizes. Tickets cost $30 with Club Sunstone members paying a discounted rate of $20.

Kudos to second generation owner and winemaker Bion Rice, who has worked at his family’s winery since its inception. The 21-acre organic vineyard is planted with merlot, cabernet franc, cabernet sauvignon, syrah, mourvèdre, and viognier grapes and plans are to expand beyond current capacity.

Meanwhile, Frank and Jamie Ostini, along with partners Gray and Charlotte Hartley, will celebrate the Hitching Post Wine Tasting Room’s first anniversary on Aug. 18. Hitching Post Wines opened a year ago at 420 E. Highway 246 in Buellton, located next door to the famed Hitching Post 2 restaurant.

Hitching Post Wines is the first-ever tasting room from the Ostini and Hartley families. On the menu, of course, is Santa Maria barbecue.