Drop by at 4:30pm for a talk and group tasting with James Sparks. Enjoy a wine flight of four of the wines he produced. If you've tried our new chilled Grenache, this is the man responsible for that wonderful flavor. Don't forget to make a Resy for dinner at Stoa afterwards! If you can't make it right at 4:30, the wine flight will still be available afterwards.
James Sparks crafts Kings Carey wines with a focus on purity, site expression, and minimal intervention. After years as winemaker at Liquid Farm, James launched his own label in 2014 to highlight single-vineyard Grenache, Chardonnay, and other white and red varietals from Santa Barbara County. His wines are known for their precision, restraint, and unmistakable California soul.
James started life as a Mormon. In 2009, having already left the religion, James’s brother-in-law brought him to California’s Santa Ynez Valley; a move which would kick-start his career path in Santa Barbara Wine Country.
Originally assistant winemaker for Santa Barbara County label Dragonette Cellars, James left Dragonette to join Liquid Farm as the boutique label’s very first, dedicated winemaker. James transitioned over to Liquid Farm at the start of harvest 2013, and continues to make Liquid Farm’s variety of wines (now five+ Chardonnays, a Rosé of Mourvèdre, and multiple Pinot Noirs) in addition to Kings Carey Wines.
James’s work ethic and attention to detail, including his {annoying} fastidiousness and penchant for cleanliness in the winery, allow his wines to speak for themselves…simply put, they undergo fewer manipulations which are often due to necessary fixes or corrections in the winemaking process.
