Santa Barbara Independent / Wine Enthusiast
Matt Kettmann is a senior editor at Santa Barbara Independent and contributing editor at Wine Enthusiast.
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Matt Kettmann
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FROM Matt Kettmann
KCRW Features
This year’s wine harvest is off to surprisingly normal start From severe droughts to wildfires, California wineries have had to deal with some freakishly irregular harvest seasons over the past few years. But so far, the 2018 harvest is off to a slow, steady, surprisingly normal start.
KCRW Features
Santa Barbara’s outsized role in the craft chocolate revolution Santa Barbara is a small city, but it’s played a large role in the rise of the craft chocolate industry. Local “bean-to-bar” chocolate makers were some of the first in the country to begin roasting their own cocoa beans, and their businesses don’t seem to be slowing down.
KCRW Features
Drones, lasers and smart water sensors: new technology on California grape fields What are drones doing flying over vineyards, and why are they playing hawk noises? Winemakers are trying out all sorts of new technology to get the most out of their crop, and certain products could have major impacts on the entire farming industry.
KCRW Features
Mud from Montecito fertilizes a Los Olivos vineyard At a vineyard in Los Olivos, a winemaker is using a special type of fertilizer: mud from the January 9th debris flow in Montecito. And while high levels of harmful bacteria were found in most of the mud that made its way down from the mountains, winemaker Fred Brander says the mud from his Montecito home is packed with high levels of nutrients.
KCRW Features
The rivalry between wine and weed As cities and counties across California begin regulating the newly legal recreational marijuana industry, eager cannabis entrepreneurs are buying up land and property. That has winemakers in Santa Barbara worried they’ll have to compete with the budding industry over land, labor and customers. Can winemakers and weed growers find a way to work together?
KCRW Features
A search for Santa Barbara’s oldest grapevines You may think of Santa Barbara’s winemaking industry as relatively new, but in fact, its roots go far back. Venture into the Goleta foothills and you’ll find remnants of San Jose Winery, where the padres of Mission Santa Barbara made wine almost two centuries ago.
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Ojai wines make a comeback The Ojai Vineyard promised great things for wine growing in the Ojai Valley when it was founded in 1983. But a grape virus called Pierce’s disease soon began ravaging the region’s vines. Now, wineries and vineyards are returning, using better viticultural techniques to track and control the disease.
KCRW Features
Breaking the rules of Old World wine From sourcing top-quality grapes to creating an alluring label, winemakers around the world work hard to make sure their brand stands out. Matt Kettmann from the Santa Barbara Independent has been following one particular guy in Buellton who’s putting a new spin on the industry by super-macerating his wines.
KCRW Features
Post disasters, Santa Barbara’s wine industry bounces back The Thomas Fire and mudslides in Montecito weakened Santa Barbara’s tourism industry and impacted local businesses. But, it hasn’t been all bad. Matt Kettmann from the Santa Barbara Independent says some wineries in the Santa Ynez Valley saw more foot traffic than usual, and rescheduled charity events are packed.
KCRW Features
Why don't we drink weird wines? We've all heard of Merlot, Chardonnay, and Pinot Noir, but there are actually thousands of grape varieties in the world. Now, a slowly growing number of winemakers in California are beginning to plant varietals most people have never heard of.
KCRW Features
The rise of Latino winemakers It's no surprise that immigrants are the backbone of California's wine industry. Most men and women working in the fields are foreign-born, mainly from Mexico and Central America. But, several Latino farmworkers along California's Central Coast and beyond have worked their way to the top and started their own wine labels.
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KCRW Features
Idaho or Bust – Californians Make an Impact in Boise The housing crisis is pushing Californians out of the Golden State and into cheaper housing markets around the country. Boise, Idaho, has become the fastest growing metro area in the nation… and a lot of those newcomers are former Californians.Our dollars go a lot further there, but that’s causing a bit of friction with the locals.
KCRW Features
One Year Later: Rebuilding from the Thomas Fire This week marks one year since the Thomas Fire descended on the city of Ventura. It burned more than 500 homes within city limits. Since then, roughly half of those properties have received the green-light to start construction, but only a handful have actually broken ground. We visit one neighborhood where some of the first homes are getting rebuilt.
Red State, Blue State
Americans are Sick and Tired of Politics America feels more divided than ever. But the majority of the electorate is actually united on something: they are tuning out from political debates.
KCRW Features
Despite evacuation orders, some Malibu residents 'stay and defend' homes The Woolsey Fire destroyed 670 structures in Malibu, including more than 400 single family homes. That makes it the most destructive fire in the history of that beachside community. But some residents say even more homes would have been lost, if not for the private citizens who defied mandatory evacuation orders to protect their neighborhoods. The homeowners who stay during a fire can be a nuisance for fire fighters... but they say they're not going anywhere next time.