Sunstone Winery Gets Approval for Rooftop Tasting Room in Santa Barbara’s Funk Zone | Local News
Sunstone Wine Estate in the Santa Ynez Valley plans to open a rooftop tasting room in Santa Barbara’s Funk Zone.
the Santa Barbara Architectural Review Board gave the project, at 11 Anacapa St., final approval last week. The approval paves the way for a Funk Zone destination location with stunning ocean and mountain views.
“We think Sunstone in the Funk Zone is a terrific addition to the neighborhood, but more so to the city of Santa Barbara,” said vineyard owner Teddy Cabugos, who already operates a tasting room at 125 Refugio Road in Santa Ynez. .
“I think the people of Santa Barbara have been waiting a very long time for a place like this. Rooftop parties and ocean views, while enjoying world-class wine and music, it’s not getting much better.”
The project includes the conversion of 1,739 square feet of warehouse floor space into a winery/wine tasting business, including the new 1,300 square foot rooftop terrace with 40 seats, a rooftop bar with awning and a storage area of 258 square feet.
ABR’s vote on March 7 was unanimousasking the architectural team to continue working on a lighting plan and provide more shading near the top of the elevator tower.
The owner, real estate investor Ray Mahboob, plans to install an elevator and a staircase to allow people to access the second and third floors.
Sunstone Vineyards, Winery and Villa owners Djamila and Teddy Cabugos are eager to add a tasting room half a block from the waterfront in the Funk Zone. (Photo by Joshua Molina/Noozhawk)
The project also includes a 22-space mechanical parking lift structure that will be built over the existing parking lot, replacing nine existing spaces. In total, the land would have 45 parking spaces.
“I just think they did a really good job capturing the character of the Funk Zone,” said ABR member David Black.
The project has become a centerpiece of the Funk Zone. On the first floor is SB Beer Garden, which opened a year ago and attracts a constant crowd of thirsty customers. Nearby on the same property are two new restaurants that have also attracted interest from the neighborhood, Flower of Maiz and OK.
While downtown State Street has struggled in recent years, restaurants, wineries and breweries have sprung up in the Funk Zone, a neighborhood bounded roughly by State and Garden streets between the 101 freeway. and the waterfront. The area has grown organically as one of the city’s largest and most up-and-coming experiential destinations.
The rooftop tasting room is one of a kind for the Funk Zone. Sunstone Vineyards, Winery & Villa in Santa Ynez captured worldwide attention last year after being featured in a wedding special netflix. It also won approval last year to be the first vineyard to also grow cannabis.
“Sunstone prides itself on creating unforgettable experiences for our members and guests,” said Cabugos. “With the addition of a new rooftop tasting room and lounge perfectly positioned in Santa Barbara’s hottest neighborhood, we’ll be able to take those guest experiences to a whole new level.”
Cabugos hopes the project will be open for business by summer 2023.
– Noozhawk writer Joshua Molina can be reached at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address). Follow Noozhawk on Twitter: @noozhawk, @NoozhawkNews and @NoozhawkBiz. Login with Noozhawk on Facebook.
