Words to Live by Speaker Series
SUMMER WINE SERIES
(redux)
In person and via Zoom.
Save the Date. Reserve your seat.
Events begin at 5:30.
Mavericks. Pioneers. Awesome humans.
Our goal is to highlight the incredible individuals who have built the foundation for Santa Barbara Wine Country. Each of them (and so many more!) have played a vital and enduring role in our understanding of our viticultural bounty, its history and the incredible legacy we continue to build upon. And they are still in it, full of grit and determination.
I am beyond thrilled to announce this incredible line-up of individuals who have forged a path forward.
FRIDAY September 17th, 5:30 pm:
FRED BRANDER
BRANDER VINEYARD AND WINERY
FRED BRANDER
C. Frederic “Fred” Brander, owner and general manager, was born and raised in Buenos Aires, and later emigrated with his family to the US, settling in Santa Barbara. His facility with languages afforded him the opportunity to pursue studies on three continents: the University of Buenos Aires in Argentina, the University of Uppsala in Sweden, the University of Dijon in France, Harvey Mudd College for chemistry, and finally UC Davis in California. He is currently a candidate in the Master of Wine program administered from London, and his research on flavor chemistry in wines was published in the American Journal of Enology and Viticulture, which helped him earn his Master of Food Science degree from U.C. Davis.
While completing his enology studies in the early 1970s, Fred began his wine career working at a Santa Barbara wine merchant. During this period, he launched his own wholesale and import wine business, bringing wines from France and his native Argentina into the US. Longing to make his own wines, Fred and his father purchased a 40-acre property in Los Olivos. In 1975, the first vines were planted, mainly to Bordeaux grapes. His first Sauvignon Blanc harvest in 1977 won Santa Barbara County’s first gold medal at a major wine competition. To complete his vision and dream, Fred began construction of his winery in 1979. The three flags that waive proudly over the chateau and tasting room make reference to his family roots: Sweden, Argentina, and the US.
Fred Brander’s pursuit to produce the best Sauvignon Blanc in California is documented in various publications and by the numerous awards that his Sauvignon Blancs have received. He has recently put the same effort, dedication and fanatical fervor into creating exceptional small lots of estate Cabernet Sauvignon that push the quality envelope for red Bordeaux varietal wines produced in Santa Barbara County.
Fred embraces his multicultural upbringing by traveling back to his native Argentina and frequently flying to Europe. He enjoys expanding his cultural background by collecting Latin American art with an emphasis on museum-quality Mexican ceramics. He has earned his place in the wine world, as he is often called the “King of Sauvignon Blanc” in California. With over 30 vintages “in the bottle,” he is a pioneer of the Santa Barbara wine country.
SO EXCITED TO HAVE FRED WITH US THIS FRIDAY!!!!!
We will be tasting his incredible Sauvignon Blanc!
