Margerum Santa Barbara Tasting Room — Restaurant in Santa Barbara

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...

THERE IS A HORRIBLE TROLL GUARDING THE WINE HERE. WE COULD NOT PASS. I was there Saturday afternoon with a party of 8 before we were abruptly ejected from Margerum. We walked into the mostly empty tasting room and sat at a communal table, commenting on the nice decor and the tranquil atmosphere when a woman behind the bar BARKED that a large group would change the dynamic of their establishment. We were completely shocked. We came in with such positivity, respect, and lots of money to spend and before a "hello" was uttered from her, this disgruntled worker told us we were not welcome. Without saying a word, we walked out and took our business to DV8, where we had STELLAR wine and service. The experience DV8 gave us saved our afternoon and the memory of this angry woman soon vanished. Maybe this worker doesn't like her life and resented the happiness we were all feeling. Maybe she finds human interaction a little difficult and should not be in the service industry. But I will commend her on protecting the sour, negative dynamic of Margerum.

UPDATE- I thank the business owner for the immediate response below, but nowhere is the rude behavior of the worker addressed. Only when she REPRIMANDED US and saw our shocked expressions, did she hastily offer patio seating. As we exited to take our business elsewhere, we eyed the patio and there were no chairs in sight. So uh... thanks for REALLY telling us to get out? Kim at DV8 took excellent care of us and we are now loyal customers. The purpose of this review is solely to advise anyone seeking a pleasant experience in Santa Barbara to avoid this...

This review is long overdue! As a longtime, local concierge at an inn nearby, this is the main tasting room I send all my guests to. Personally, I have only bought bottles of wine now and then, but the guests I have sent, always sit for awhile, visit, and even order food. I have not once heard a complaint! On the contrary, they all come back so pleased! The women who have worked, each time I go in, are super friendly and knowledgeable. The first time I went in, I was able to try a couple different wines: they asked if I preferred reds to whites etc.. and ended up recommending the M5, and the Syrah. Later I was able to try the Grenache, which is my favorite. She even signed me up for a point program where I accrue points for each bottle I buy to put towards a future purchase! I then was taught about their estate wines. Since then, I have always bought bottles of their Estate Grenache and Estate M5. Having worked for the Carhartt family at their vineyard near Santa Ynez, I grew to appreciate small batch wine like this. The quality is extraordinary at Margerum. One of the women, today, took the time to tell me about industry night on Mondays, sadly, I work! But that was nice of her to tell me. All in all very helpful, great wine, and classy atmosphere. I send my guests...