Museum and Sea Center closed Thanksgiving, otherwise open daily, 10:00 AM–5:00 PM

Natural History of Wine, Beer & Spirits: Entomology & Margerum Wine Company

At Zoom

March 27, 2021 / 5:00 PM–6:00 PM

How could a tiny, enigmatic insect change the way that nearly all winemaking grapes are grown across the globe? Find out when we pair wine with entomology! Over Zoom, we will journey to the Margerum Estate Vineyard in the Santa Ynez Valley to meet with Margerum Wine Company owner and winemaker Doug Margerum. There, we will learn about the challenges created by a game-changing insect pest. At home, you’ll uncork the final product and apply what you’ve learned during a live Zoom wine tasting with Doug Margerum and Schlinger Foundation Chair and Curator of Entomology Matthew Gimmel, Ph.D. Submit questions for a live Q&A session with the experts.

Customize your experience with a range of ticketing options, from a fun night learning about wine to a private tasting to remember! We’ll be tasting a playful red and a distinguished white, but the wine with the most unique natural history we’ll discuss in the program is the own-rooted 2019 Margerum Syrah, which can be added to your ticket at the discounted price of $48 ($60 value) when you pick up your wine at the Margerum Santa Barbara Tasting Room at Hotel Californian.

Interested in more delightful pairings of tasting and science? Reserve VIP series tickets for all of the 2021 Natural History of Wine, Beer & Spirits events.

BYOB Level: $20 (delivered by email)

Want to only watch, without any of the accoutrements? We’ll just send you a link.

Aficionado Level: $100 (plus shipping if mailed; pickup available at the Margerum Santa Barbara Tasting Room at Hotel Californian)

Watch and taste along with the experts!

1 bottle of 2019 Margerum
M5 White Rhône Blend, Margerum Estate Vineyard, Los Olivos District
1 bottle of 2019 Margerum Cinsault, Margerum Estate Vineyard, Los Olivos District

Gourmet Package Add-on: $25 (pickup only at the Margerum Santa Barbara Tasting Room at Hotel Californian)

Enhance the experience with appetizers. Separate from your ticket; no link included.

Margerum Cheese and Charcuterie Pantry Pack includes the following:

Barley Buzzed Idaho White Cheddar 1 oz
Drunken Goat Cheese 1 oz
Manchego Sheep’s Milk Cheese 1 oz
Soppressata 1 oz
Prosciutto 1 oz
Tribeca Demi Baguette
Homemade Pickles
Fallot Dijon Mustard
Fig Jam Candied Walnuts Dried Fruit
Twenty-Four Blackbirds Chocolate Bits

Gourmet Insect Tasting Package Add-on: $25 (pickup only at the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History)

Literally hungry for entomology? Try something adventurous! We’ve assembled some of the finest insect-based food products available. The Gourmet Insect Tasting Package is a mix of sweet and savory products featuring foods made from crickets and grasshoppers. Only 20 kits available. Participating vendors include:

Cricket cookies from Harmony Cricket Farm
Protein powder to add to your baked goods and shakes from the Mighty Cricket Company
Gourmet-flavored crickets from Entomo Farms
Gourmet-flavored grasshoppers from Merci Mercado
Savory spice mixes from Orchestra Provisions

Sponsorship Levels

Individual/Family Sponsorship

VIP Connoisseur Level (limited quantity available): $250 (plus shipping if mailed; pickup at the Margerum Santa Barbara Tasting Room at Hotel Californian)

1 bottle of 2019 Margerum M5 White Rhône Blend, Margerum Estate Vineyard, Los Olivos District
1 bottle of 2019 Margerum Cinsault, Margerum Estate Vineyard, Los Olivos District
2 crystal wine glasses with the Museum logo
Tasting with appetizers for 4 at the beautiful Margerum Santa Barbara Tasting Room at the Hotel Californian, accompanied by Margerum staff (on a mutually agreeable date, must be used by 12/31/21)
Sponsor recognition during the event and on ticketing

VIP Adventurer Level (only 4 available): $500 (plus shipping if mailed; pickup at the Margerum Santa Barbara Tasting Room at Hotel Californian)

1 bottle of 2019 Margerum M5 White Rhône Blend, Margerum Estate Vineyard, Los Olivos District
1 bottle of 2019 Margerum Cinsault, Margerum Estate Vineyard, Los Olivos District
2 crystal wine glasses with the Museum logo
Tasting with appetizers at the Buellton Winery & Tasting Room in Buellton, accompanied by a wine professional (on a mutually agreeable date, must be used by 12/31/21)
Sponsor recognition during the event and on ticketing

Corporate Sponsorship Levels
Corporate sponsorship opportunities are available from $500 to $10,000, with generous benefits that include seats and tasting kits for the programs to share with your staff and clients. Please visit our Sponsorship page for this program and contact Development Officer Melissa Baffa at mbaffa@sbnature2.org for more information.

Special thanks to our generous event sponsors: HUB International, Citizens Business Bank, Margerum Wine Company, Town and Country Event Rentals, Santa Barbara Estate Planning & Elder Law, and Price, Postel & Parma.