Margerum Wine Company was founded in 2001 by Doug Margerum, a long-time Santa Barbara area vintner, winemaker, restaurateur, sommelier and promoter of Santa Barbara wines. Having grown up in a family of restaurateurs, he was a winemaker and sometimes also an owner at several Santa Barbara region wineries before starting Margerum. The estate today has 18 acres of vineyards planted to Rhone varietals. It also purchases grapes from other area vineyards. Margerum produces mainly single-vineyard Syrah, Sauvignon Blanc, white blends and rosé. The estate also produces wines under the Barden label. Barden wines are made from cold climate grapes grown in the Sta. Rita Hills appellation.