Doug Margerum's interest in food and wine began after traveling with his avid parents to France and Italy.
He then gained training in both restaurant kitchens and on the floor during his high school and college years, deepening his knowledge of food and wine culture.
In 1981, the year Doug graduated from UCSB (University of California, Santa Barbara), his family purchased Wine Cask, a wine shop and retailer of commercial brewing equipment.
Doug later opened a small bistro next to the wine shop, but in 1996 the bistro proved so popular that he decided to expand Wine Cask by moving it to El Paseo in Santa Barbara.
Doug, who was involved in creating the menu as a sommelier and chef, created his dishes based on the experience and knowledge of food cultures from around the world that he had acquired in his youth, and incorporated elements of Asian and Mexican cuisine, creating a style that could be called California cuisine.
The restaurant has been featured in various media outlets as a place where you can enjoy the finest food and wine in a relaxed atmosphere.
In 1994, Wine Cask won Wine Spectator's Grand Award, joining the ranks of restaurants with the world's finest wine lists.
In 2007, the wine he was making as a hobby while running the restaurant became so popular that he decided to sell his wine casks and focus on running the winery full time.
With a handcrafted philosophy, Majram Wine Company creates wines with character.
In recent years, the company has been producing small quantities of high-quality Chardonnay and Pinot Noir under the BARDEN brand.
This is a super wine that could only be created by Doug, who is known as a lover of French wine.