V i n t n e rs
"In the late 1980s, I began searching California for a place to farm vineyards. I immediately found a home in the
Central Coast, and soon discovered that the climate and soils were well suited for the kind of wines I wanted to make.
Now, years later, I remain devoted to the region and the potential of the wines produced here."
Nebil "Bilo" Zarif

Nebil "Bilo" Zarif

Proprietor

Like many children raised in Iskenderun, Turkey, Nebil “Bilo” Zarif’s introduction to fine wine began at a young age.  It became a lifelong education that has developed into a way of living.   

His passion for fine and rare wines began in France where he was introduced to the regions of Bordeaux, Burgundy and Rhone Valley while studying in Paris.  He would often accompany friends to the legendary First Growths of Pauillac and to his favorite producers in St.-Emilion and Pomerol.

Later when Zarif would come to settle in the states he directed his wine interests towards the prestigious wineries of Napa.  During this time in the states, Zarif began to discover the many fine growing regions of California.  During a visit to Napa Valley and the Robert Mondavi Winery in 1984, Zarif had purchased several reserve wines for his collection.  Captivated by the region’s natural beauty and the Mediterranean lifestyle reminiscent of home, Zarif returned regularly to explore the harvests of the Mondavi, Silver Oak, Chateau Woltner and Duck Horn vineyards.

As he learned more about California wines and the people that were producing them, Zarif became convinced that his future in the wine industry would be revealed in the diverse growing regions of the Central Coast.  In 1994, Zarif acquired 30 acres of land in the Cuyama Valley, a serene high elevation region of Santa Barbara County.  Over the course of seven years he would expand Barnwood Vineyards to encompass more than 2,000 acres with 800 acres planted to vine. 

It was during this same period that Zarif’s passion for wine would lead him to acquire the renowned Maison Deutz winery in San Luis Obispo County with a partner he had met in the energy industries.  Together they expanded this property to approximately 800 acres of planted vine and raised the stature of their Pinot Noir bearing the name Laetitia Vineyard & Winery. 

His most notable contributions to the California wine industry include planting the highest elevation commercial vineyards in the state which are by far the warmest and most conducive climate in Santa Barbara County for Rhone and Bordeaux varietals.  He also was of one the first in California to plant the Spanish varietal Tempranillo and to implement the many Dijon clones of Pinot Noir found in the state of the art vineyards that he developed at Laetitia.  Zarif’s vision to transform the former sparkling wine facility to that of a world recognized Pinot Noir producer became a reality at the 2001 Vinexpo when his 1999 Laetitia Pinot Noir Reserve received the Silver Medal in the prestigious Challenge du Vin. 

In 2001 Zarif sold his interests in Barnwood/ Laetitia to pursue new and exciting possibilities, most notably Summerland Winery.  Drawing upon years of experience in the region, Summerland is dedicated to offering the best of the wine producing areas spanning from Santa Barbara to Monterey. 

An avid polo player and resident of the quaint coastal town of Summerland, Zarif selected the name Summerland for his wine to reflect upon the fond memories he hold for the time he has enjoyed here, and the years spent “playing the season” at nearby Santa Barbara Polo Club.  He now spends much of his time between his home in Los Angeles and his wine interests in the Central Coast.

Etienne Terlinden

Winemaker

Etienne Terlinden was exposed to the world of wine at a very young age. In fact some of his earliest memories evoke images of him playing with his younger brother in his grandfather’s extensive personal cellar at the family’s Chateau near Brussels.  However, it wasn’t until much later in life that Etienne would accept his calling to become a wine maker in the Central Coast.  Etienne landed his first “cellar rat” position with Mr. Zarif at Laetitia Winery.  He later went on to work a crush at Gainey in Santa Ynez before taking a winemaking position working for the Miller Family at their facility, Central Coast Wine Services in Santa Maria.  Here Etienne worked closely with the forty plus boutique producers who made their wines there.  He also became very experienced working with the fruit from the Miller’s two vineyards, Bien Nacido and French Camp.  Etienne describes this four-year experience to that of working a dozen harvests in a single winery. He gained hands on experience working alongside some of the regions most respected wine makers who were producing wines from prestigious local Santa Barbara vineyards to fruit sources as far away as the Russian River.  It was during this time that Etienne reconnected with Mr. Zarif and served as Summerland’s consulting wine maker for the first two vintages before taking the position of full-time wine maker on the 2004 harvest.  In his own words, Etienne believes that Santa Barbara has become an exciting place to work as the vineyards here have really come on track, affording him the means to produce world class wines from a truly unique terroir.  Etienne resides in Santa Barbara and enjoys surfing and sailing when he’s not crafting Summerland’s wines from vine to bottle.