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Departure Wine Company is a small production winery that specializes in Rhône varietals from select vineyards throughout Santa Barbara County.  It was launched by three friends (Tim Grubb, Jason Miele, and PJ Miele ) who started making wine together several years after graduating from UC Santa Barbara.

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Tim Grubb

TIM_BIO.JPGIt is intoxicating.  There is just something about the Santa Ynez Valley and the coastline north of Santa Barbara that is intoxicating.  Maybe it's the picture perfect landscape, maybe it's the wine and oak-grilled tri tip.  Whatever it is, it took a hold of me in my first few weeks as an undergrad at U.C. Santa Barbara and it hasn't let go since.  As a winemaker, I'm honored to be working with fruit from Santa Barbara County and have set out to make wines that are a true reflection of this special place.  By handcrafting our wines in small lots and using gentle, old-world techniques, I hope I've succeeded.  Cheers.

 
   
     
 
 

Jason Miele

SB_IMG.JPGI can't imagine a better partnership; combining my passion for wine with my brother P.J. and best friend Tim.  I became very interested in wine about 5 years ago on a trip to Italy.  For me, it was the first time I met with small wine producers in Montalcino and Chianti.  Their desire to make consistent, great wine that remained true to the environment, the culture and the people that produced it was evident. That philosophy remains and as we progress, we will continue to incorporate the most important aspects into our winemaking; meticulous care and friendship.  I would especially like to thank my wife, Mirka, who shares my passion for wine (and most of what's in the wine refrigerator) with me.

 
   
     
 
 

PJ Miele

pj bio.JPGSanta Barbara is a very special place.  I was fortunate enough to work in the restaurant business while at UCSB and was exposed to SB wine country in the early '90s. The growth and quality of small production wines in this area is exciting and I am thankful to be working with so many good people - especially my younger brother Jason and great friend Tim Grubb.  There is so much to learn about wine and so many different variables that it's really never the same -- the possibilities are endless.

Many thanks to our friends and family for their support. Enjoy the wine.