MONTECITO WINEMAKERS
SONJA MAGDEVSKI
photo by Michelle Turner
T
B Y E VA VA N P R O O Y E N
photo by Luis Escobar
he historic Old West stagecoach stop town of Los
drinkable gems,” says owner Sonja Magdevski. Babi’s Beer Emporium
Alamos, located 15 miles north of Buellton, serves as
is named after Magdevski’s Macedonian grandmother. “She set an
the “northern entry” to the Santa Ynez Valley. The main
impeccable example and invited everyone to her table for revelry,”
thoroughfare is Bell Street and although only seven small rural
Magdevski explains. “We use our travels and connections to curate a
blocks long, it flaunts the town’s western heritage with a stylish and
delightful collection of craft beers and ciders from all over the world –
alluring clutch of eateries, antique shops, art galleries, boutique
near and far – and we have a rotating tap list.”
hotels, and tasting rooms. Casa Dumetz Wines and its sister business, Babi’s Beer Emporium,
A journalist by training and now a winemaker by passion, Magdevski splits her time between the Santa Ynez Valley, her Los
share the Western front building at the corner of Bell and Centennial
Alamos tasting rooms, and the Montecito home she shares with her
Streets with an indoor threshold connecting the two tasting room
husband, Greg Brewer, founder and winemaker of Brewer-Clifton and
experiences. Babi’s is a “band of rogue family members finding
Diatom wines.
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