Santa Barbara County’s Brave & Maiden Estate is pleased to announce the opening of its much-anticipated new winery and tasting room located on their 70-acre estate along Refugio Road in Santa Ynez. The new state-of-the-art facility brings to fruition Brave & Maiden’s intent to introduce an exceptional new wine experience to the Santa Ynez Valley.
Brave & Maiden Estate was established in 2011 and is the vision of owner Rizal Risjad, who purchased the property in 2010, and his business partner and Managing Director, Jason Djang. The 46-acre vineyard, planted in the mid-1990s, includes Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Syrah, Grenache, and Sauvignon Blanc. Brave & Maiden is proud to be a SIP certified sustainable vineyard dedicated to producing handcrafted, single-vineyard estate wines and red blends.
Under the direction of renowned Winemaker and Consultant Paul Hobbs and Winemaker Josh Klapper, with Ruben Solorzano managing the vineyard, Brave & Maiden’s wine program is a collaborative effort committed to crafting estate wines with the utmost level of quality and care from vineyard to bottle.
Brave & Maiden’s new world-class tasting room and 8,000-case production facility were designed by the highly acclaimed wine country architect group, Backen, Gillam & Kroeger Architects. Known for such esteemed projects as Harlan Estate Winery, Larkmead Winery and Meadowood Napa Valley, Brave & Maiden is the first winery project for Backen, Gillam & Kroeger Architects on the Central Coast.
Integrating a refined yet welcoming atmosphere, the design pays tribute to the agricultural heritage of the valley with both rustic and contemporary elements incorporated throughout. Displaying modern fixtures, stunning fireplaces, wood paneling and neutral earth tones, the impressive tasting room is spacious and comfortable, with indoor and outdoor seating areas that add to its relaxed wine country vibe. A sliding glass wall opens onto the expansive olive tree-filled courtyard between the tasting room and production facility, providing guests with a serene atmosphere in which to enjoy views of the picturesque vineyards and Santa Ynez Mountains.
“From the beginning, our vision for Brave & Maiden has been to become a world-class brand and we’ve never wavered from that,” states Djang. “From our top winemaking team to our certified sustainable vineyard, the completion of our winery and tasting room is a giant leap towards making that vision a reality.”
Brave & Maiden officially opens its doors on September 22, 2018, welcoming guests to enjoy three new wine experiences – all offered daily by appointment. “With our new facility, our goal is to provide extraordinary experiences that are tailored to each individual guest, where they feel educated, entertained and cared for,” shares Djang. “We couldn’t be more thrilled to share our journey and our wine with the community in an unforgettable experience of hospitality.”
Brave & Maiden’s tasting experiences include the 45-minute Seated Tasting, where a dedicated host will guide guests through a curated selection of limited-production wines; the Tour and Tasting option, offering a glimpse into the vineyard and backstage view of Brave & Maiden’s winemaking process, ending with a seated tasting; and the Tour, Tasting & Lunch, a two-hour elevated experience that includes a guided tour of the estate, followed by a seated tasting and gourmet lunch.
With a brand new production facility and tasting room combined with the talent and pioneering spirit of the winemaking and hospitality team, there’s a strong sense of enthusiasm around the future of Brave & Maiden Estate. Shares Hobbs, “Brave & Maiden’s sustainably farmed vineyard is exceptional and I have no doubts the addition of the new winery and hospitality facility will further enhance and validate the brand’s presence in this world-class wine region,” shares Hobbs.
Adds Djang, “We’ve invested all of ourselves in this project and are eager for guests to experience our wines first-hand. We strongly believe in the greatness of Santa Barbara County as a wine region and are privileged to be a part of it.”
For more information on Brave & Maiden Estate, please visit:
