August 27, 2025 (Santa Maria, CA) — Bien Nacido Estate, home to the iconic Bien Nacido Vineyard and widely recognized as one of Santa Barbara County’s leading wine producers, is proud to celebrate its 20th anniversary. Commemorating this milestone, Bien Nacido Estate is hosting its first-ever winemaker celebration on Friday, September 19 at The Gatehouse at Bien Nacido, located in the Santa Maria Valley.
This centerpiece of this celebratory evening is a multi-course dinner experience showcasing some of the Estate’s most acclaimed vintages thoughtfully paired with the vibrant flavors of Nalla’s Indian Cuisine. Winemaker Anthony Avila will guide attendees through each pour, sharing the history and character of Bien Nacido, while Nalla founder, Shekar Sathyanarayana, will present the dishes and spices that bridge cultures and awaken the senses. Live classical Indian music, dance performances, and storytelling enrich this special event, which promises to be a memorable tribute to the winery’s 20-year legacy.
Bien Nacido Estate was founded in 2005 by the Miller family, a fifth generation California farming family with agricultural roots on the Central Coast tracing back to 1871. The story of Bien Nacido starts much earlier than 2005, however, when brothers Bob and Steve Miller planted Bien Nacido Vineyard in 1973, with the hope of establishing one of the highest quality vineyards in the world.
Located in the prestigious Santa Maria Valley AVA, Bien Nacido Vineyard was planted to the first cool-climate Syrah grapes on the Central Coast and has since become renowned for its distinctive Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Syrah wines. Today, the 650-acre vineyard — named one of the Top 5 California Vineyards by the Wall Street Journal, one of 10 Vineyards Behind the World’s Most Famous Wines by Wine Enthusiast, and #1 on the list of the 10 Best Vineyards in California by Food & Wine — continues to be one of the most highly sought-after sources for cool-climate Burgundian and Rhone grapes by some of California’s most esteemed producers.
Bien Nacido Estate’s wines are crafted exclusively from Bien Nacido Vineyard, embodying the special nuances of this renowned site. Winemaker Anthony Avila, who joined the Bien Nacido team in 2013 and became head winemaker in 2019, continues to strengthen Bien Nacido’s legacy of crafting exceptional small-lot estate wines. Under his thoughtful guidance, the wines have consistently garnered 90+ scores from top critics, celebrated for their elegance, expressiveness, and deep sense of place.
“It’s an honor to be part of Bien Nacido’s ongoing legacy, crafting wines that truly reflect the unique terroir of this extraordinary place,” says Avila. “As a winemaker, my role is to let the vineyard speak for itself, so that every sip tells a story and brings you closer to the land. I’m excited to share the history behind the estate and its wines as we gather together this fall to pay tribute to the past 20 years, and celebrate the next decades to come.”
The Bien Nacido Estate Celebratory Experience will take place on Friday, September 19, 2025 from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. at The Gatehouse at Bien Nacido: 3503 Rancho Tepesquet Road, Santa Maria. Tickets are $175++ for members and $200++ for non-members and can be purchased here.
About Bien Nacido Vineyard
Bien Nacido Vineyard is owned and operated by the Miller family, a multi-generational farming family and owners of the industry-leading Miller Family Wine Company. Miller Family Wine Company includes the prestigious Bien Nacido and Solomon Hills Estates and acclaimed national branded wine labels such as Butternut, J. Wilkes, Pandemonium, optik, Ballard Lane, Smashberry, Barrel Burner, Volunteer, Hand on Heart, and Reciprocity wines, in addition to control label brands for prominent retailers across the U.S. and the French Camp vineyard in Paso Robles. For more information on Miller Family Wine Company, please visit www.millerfamilywinecompany.com.
