Doug Margerum has been intimately involved in the Santa Barbara food and wine scene for
over 40 years and is widely regarded as one of the pioneers promoting the uniqueness and
quality of the region’s food and wine. In 1981, Doug and his family founded the Wine Cask in Santa Barbara, which was a legendary restaurant known for its wine program and in 1994 became one of the 74 restaurants in the world to earn the coveted Wine Spectator Grand Award. Doug launched the Wine Cask Futures program in 1984 and owned and founded Vita Nova Winery with Bob Lindquist (Qupé) and Jim Clendenen (Au Bon Climat) in 1986. Doug sold the Wine Cask in 2007 after deciding to devote all of his energies to winemaking having started Margerum Wine Company in 2001. Margerum produces limited quantities of wines made from grapes grown at the Estate Vineyard in the Los Olivos District and at top vineyards from around Santa Barbara County. In 2014, Doug released the Barden wines, which focuses exclusively on the terroir of the Sta. Rita Hills, sourcing fruit from top vineyards in the appellation and makes limited amounts of world-class, cuisine-friendly and age-worthy wines. Doug was recently nominated as Winemaker of the Year for the 23rd Anniversary of the Wine Enthusiast’s coveted Annual Wine Star Awards, which honors individuals and companies that make outstanding contributions to the wine world.