Palmina is more than a winery and enoteca. It is a philosophy and it is a passion. It is a strongly held belief that wine is an extension of the plate, a component of a meal and a means to bring people together. Formed by winemaker Steve Clifton in 1995, Palmina is named in honor of Steve’s great friend Paula, who taught him to love cooking, wine and the Italian lifestyle and who was a spark in Steve’s life. After Paula succumbed to breast cancer, Steve found that her given name on her Italian birth certificate was Palmina, and the winery was thus fittingly named.

Serendipity intervened in 2000 when Steve needed to find someone who spoke Italian when hosting some visitors from Italy and was advised that the wine manager at local restaurant bouchon was fluent. He was introduced to Chrystal Seals, who not only provided the needed translation but shared his passion for wine and food and all things Italian. Chrystal soon became involved in all aspects of Palmina. They were married in Friuli, Italy in the Spring of 2004. Today, Palmina produces a full range of wines crafted from Italian varietals grown in Santa Barbara County, California. They are not trying to emulate the Italian versions of those grapes, but rather interpret the styles to the growing conditions and vineyard sites of the very unique characteristics of Santa Barbara County. The wines are Italian by tradition and modern by design, and all are designed to be an “extension of the plate”.