Municipal Winemakers – The Hippest Wine Tasting in Santa Barbara

After my great visit to Potek Winery, I was excited to head over to Muni Wines (as it is commonly referred to) with Alena to try their wines and see if we wanted to join the dual wine membership. Alena and I visited on a busy Sunday afternoon, with Muni packed full of the typical youthful crowd that Santa Barbara’s Funk Zone attracts. We really enjoyed the wines, a lighter and brighter style, and found the totally different tasting room style and environment refreshing. It serves as a great complement to Potek’s fancier and quieter tasting room. 

I had been meaning to visit Municipal Winemakers for some time now as friends had recommended it as a fun place to hang out and try some delicious wines. The tasting room is located in the Funk Zone and perfectly personifies the Funk Zone’s scene with a totally hipster feel. Odd art fills the walls, with colorful reclaimed 1980’s looking tables and chairs spread around inside and a nice patio space outside. 

Our tasting started out with the “you got this” dry riesling. Most of the wines have positive acclamations as names. This wine was light and floral smelling with a lime and mineral profile typical to dry rieslings.

Next on this tasting was a Rosé with a beautiful color to it. It a was fruity wine, not dry but not too sweet either. It had a light and fresh strawberry and melon flavor.

We moved along to the red wines, with a Rhône style blend called “good job”. The smell of the wine was a balance blend of fruit and herbs. The taste matched with dried red fruit and dried herbs dominating the palate.

Next was a super unique sparkling shiraz. It smelled like chocolate covered cherries taste. The “FIZZ” as it is called, was indeed fizzy with a cherry and leather/tobacco flavor. It was tasty and fun.

Last on the tasting was a Potek wine, the Mormon Vineyard Syrah. This was Alena’s favorite of the tasting. She said she could take a bath in it, it was so good. It was a fruit forward wine that was well balanced with dark flavors of leather and chocolate. It was my favorite wine as well.

Overall I thought the wines were unique and fun. And the environment was right up the funk zone’s alley. It is a great complement to their sister winery Potek.

We had a wonderful visit to Muni, which sealed the deal and prompted me to become a dual member at Muni and Potek wineries.

Since my first visit to Muni, I have returned a handful of times as a member. Each time I have been greeted warmly by the staff and have very much enjoyed the tastings with a different flight each time. Our Muni and Potek combo membership has been great, with wonderful wine shipments and fun tasting experiences.

Cheers!

-Alan Evans

Visited on August 20th, 2019