WEEKEND ONE:

THURSDAY January 15

Members Only Night: Weekend Pre-game 

WINE: 'You Got This' Bright White Preview

MUSIC: DJ Neuro Verge 5-8 PM
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Friday January 16

MUSIC: Winyl Night in the Wine Garden featuring Dante Elephante Music 6 PM - 8 PM 

MEMORY NIGHT: Bring a printout photo of your best Muni memory, stick it on the wall & get a free glass. All Day. 

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Saturday January 17 

FOOD: Rascal’s Vegan Food 3 PM 

MUSIC: Rocko Wheeler 2-5 PM  

FUN: Sidecar Karaoke: 6 PM - CLOSE 

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Sunday January 18 

MUSIC: DJ Aweometime a.k.a Manny Magneto: 4-7 PM  

FOOD: Handmade by Haley Shea 2 PM 

FIZZ PARTY: Stop by to get a one-of-a-kind Sparkling Shiraz ALL DAY

WEEKEND TWO:

THURSDAY January 22

Members Only Night: Weekend Rally Night.

WINE: Throwback library wines

MUSIC: DJ Neuro Verge 5-8 PM

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Friday January 23 

All Muni Staff Reunion: Last Hurrah 5PM 

FOOD & MUSIC: Grill & Groove 5PM

OPEN TO THE PUBLIC

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Saturday January 24

FOOD: Rascal’s Vegan Food 3PM 

MUSIC: Dylan Cunningham - 3:30 - 5:30PM

MEMORY NIGHT 2: Bring a printout photo of your best Muni memory, stick it on the wall & get a free glass. ALL DAY.

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January 25 -Grand Closing Day 

FINAL SERVICE: Join us for a final toast with Dave Potter. 

MUSIC: DJ Neuro Verge - TBA 

GRAND OPENING: Muni Satellite Bar. Join us for a walk/bike to the new Muni. 

Muni Funk Zone → Potek Winery 3 PM. 
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Happy New Year, friends.

I'm writing to you from that wistful, reflective space just before the new year. Everything is slowing down just enough to look back at where we've been and think about where we're headed. This year, that reflection feels especially meaningful because 2026 is going to bring a big change for us, and I wanted you to hear it directly from me.

After fifteen years on Anacapa Street, we're closing our Funk Zone tasting room. Last Call will be Sunday, January 25th.

I know that might sound heavy, but I promise you that this isn't a death. It's more like... we found a new place to live. And from where I'm sitting right now, it honestly feels less like closing something and more like we've outgrown our starter apartment.

When we opened our first tiny shop in 2009, the Funk Zone was still mostly industrial spaces, artist studios, and a couple of wineries. Our first tasting room was manned by just me on the weekends when I wasn't working my winemaker day job. We graduated from that back closet of a WWII barrack to the old Divers Den building in 2011. It's where half of Santa Barbara learned to swim in the massive pool that's still in back. We raided every thrift store within an hour's drive to furnish the space, collected all of the UCSB discarded file cabinets, grabbed the old 'Cokes Fridge' out of my parent's garage, and confidently ignored the fact that we had absolutely no idea what we were doing. We just knew we wanted to make serious wine feel less precious and more like a good hang.

Fifteen years is a long time. Long enough to watch the sketchy industrial neighborhood of Santa Barbara (yes, I know that sounds ridiculous) transform into something vibrant and alive. Long enough to serve thousands of people their first glass of dry Riesling. Long enough to bear witness to first dates, proposals, weddings, birthdays, and a lot of bachelorette parties (whooo!!!!). We gave birth to an oyster and lobster roll pop up that Condé Nast called one of Santa Barbara's best restaurants. We hosted hundreds of artisans and DJs and pet thousands of cute doggies (#dogsofmuni). We've had to cut people off and we've served celebrities (still waiting for the opportunity to cut off a celeb).

We got to be part of making the Funk Zone grow. We evolved wine culture in Santa Barbara, making so many different styles and varieties of wines to help you discover what you love and then bring your friends back to share them. That's been the whole point from the beginning: making real, honest wine that punches above its weight, and putting it in a place where wine is just the excuse to hang.

Here's what I've learned over the past couple years: neighborhoods (like people) change, and that's okay. The Funk Zone isn't the same as it was in 2009, and neither are we. The raw, creative, neighborhoody local vibe that made Muni feel right back then has found a new home. Actually, two of them.

Most of you already know this because you're already spending time there: Potek Winery has become our Santa Barbara hub. It's where we make the wine and where I've been hanging out. I know that many of you have been doing the same (because I see you there). We're all crushing Third Window's smashburgers with our Sangiovese, mountains in the background, lots of space to breathe and for the family to spread out. Starting in February, we're launching a weekend Muni pop-up bar there, so you'll get all the Muni wines you love in the space you're already choosing.

And then there's Ventura. If you haven't made it down to The Avenue yet, I hope you will. It reminds me so much of what I loved about the early Funk Zone—independent, unpretentious, full of possibility. It's where Muni feels like itself again. The vibe is immaculate.

So this is what January looks like: we're throwing ourselves a proper send-off… a 'Grand Closing', if you will. Two big weekends (January 16-18 and 23-25) with throwback flights, food pop-ups, music, library wines we've been saving, and a Memory Wall where you can leave notes and photos. We're even getting the old crew back together, anyone who's ever worked behind that bar over the years (118!! people) is invited back for one last shift.

On Sunday the 25th, Last Call at Anacapa St, we'll raise our glasses together, and then head over to Potek for the opening party of the new Muni pop-up. From one chapter to the next, all in one afternoon. Then, get ready to blow it out for our one year anniversary for Muni in Ventura, happening Valentine's weekend. Great company, music, and heavy-handed pours throughout.

I hope you'll join us for all the festivities. Not to mourn what's ending, but to celebrate what was and what lies ahead.

Starting in 2026, here's where you'll find us:

Muni Ventura(339 N. Ventura Ave) – This is Muni's home base now. Big space, great energy, all the Muni wines plus highlighted picks from Potek, Nowadays, and January Drinks. We hit our one-year anniversary in February and we're just getting started.

Muni Pop-Up at Potek Winery(The Mill, East Haley St, Santa Barbara) – Potek stays exactly as it is: single-vineyard wines, the working winery, the lounge & courtyard. And starting in February, we'll have the Muni pop-up bar on weekends for fresh Muni wines, smashburgers, same people, more options.

Wine club members: Muni perks stay the same—now at both Ventura and our weekend pop-up at Potek. Pickup at either location, shipping everywhere.

I've been thinking a lot about what Muni has always been about. It was never really about the Funk Zone, or the dive shop. It was about sharing the good stuff in a space where people feel welcome.

That doesn't change just because the address does.

Fifteen years in one spot is a good run. We're grateful for every single one of them. But I'm more excited about the next fifteen than I've been in a long time. Potek has great energy, and Ventura feels like the early days again—full of community.

So here's to what's been, and here's to what's next.

Thank you for fifteen years of showing up, of bringing your friends, of trusting us with new things, trusting us with your celebrations and your "I just want a glass of wine" moments. Thank you for being part of this with us.Let's make January one hell of a send-off.

Thank you for everything. See you soon,

Dave

For more info about the full lineup of events follow along with us onInstagramor visit our websitemunicipalwinemakers.com

P.S.— If you're wondering what to do with all that Funk Zone nostalgia, we're making a very limited run of our Fizz sparkling Syrah, as well as posters by our long time artist collaborator Nick Paparone. They'll be available during the farewell weekends. Just saying.