Steve
Google
To fairly assess a winery/tasting room I look for several factors; the space, the wines, and culinary options. I’ve visited Margerum twice, and unfortunately, both visits left me disappointed.
The Space & Ambience:
The tasting room itself has a Mediterranean exterior, matches the hotel across the street so Margerum must be renting the spot. The interior has two levels, a second level intended for member wine storage and events along with the lower serving area. At first glance, it looks impressive. But once upstairs, I noticed the heat —add people and lights, and it’s more like a toaster than a wine lounge. Wines stored in that heat is not good for the wine. As someone who cares about wine integrity I was particularly concerned about seeing wine stored in warm places. (Members can wait months to pick up their warmed wines).
On top of the improper upper storage I see the magnums of red & white wines are stored above their lower level refrigerators, where heat from the the cooling units rises. For wines that move (sell) slowly, that’s a recipe for premature aging. Wine presentation is one thing, but storage conditions matter even more. It’s as if a turn and burn philosophy is the goal? I on the other hand want good wines. The wine industry is in a slump and treating wines like that shows a level of mismanagement.
The Wines:
To me, the wines felt average. I tasted several Syrahs and a few whites that lacked distinction. One Pinot stood out as balanced and enjoyable, but overall, I didn’t feel the French-inspired style they were shooting for quite hit the mark.
The Food:
This was the highlight. The dishes were prepared well, fresh, and flavorful. I ordered a salad & a flatbread and appreciated the presentation. However, the Amaro Affogato fell short; they served it swimming in cold coffee rather than being the indulgent French-inspired espresso dessert one might expect. Why? An affogato is treat and should be treated as such.
Still, the food was definitely the strongest part of the Margerum experience.
The Service:
Here’s where the visit truly suffered. On one occasion, we were rushed through our tasting, which isn’t the goal of tasting wine. On the other visit I witnessed several negative interactions with what I’d assume is the manager, an older lady, addressing staff in front of guests in a way that felt rude and uncomfortable. On the second interaction the manager lady was short and rude to the customers sitting next to us. It was enough for the customers to look at us and comment on what happened. Customer engagement was inconsistent.
In an area like Santa Barbara, excellent hospitality is the goal, this was disappointing. Service is a huge part of a tasting room experience, and unfortunately, Margerum falls short.
Overall:
Is it a bar, a winery, a lounge, I’m not sure if they know? If you’re looking for a quick glass of wine and aren’t too concerned about wine quality or service Margerum might be fine for you. But for serious wine lovers or those seeking a thoughtful tasting experience, there are many other tasting rooms in Santa Barbara that provide balanced wines, better storage practices, and more attentive service.
