Sip, Laugh, Repeat
Cambria’s Moonstone Cellars draws big names and bold laughter at comedy nights
Prepare yourself for a breath of fresh air in wine and entertainment right here on the Central Coast, at Moonstone Cellars in Cambria. This is the spot to relax and have a good laugh — and that’s no joke, but rest assured you will hear quite a few if you are up for it. Moonstone is one of just six boutique wineries that are stops along the Pacific Coast Wine Trail; the wineries, vineyards and tasting rooms nested along picturesque Highway 1.
This inviting spot has a casual comfort that begins with the lighthearted descriptions of the wines and the fun titles given to employees, and extends to the comedy nights hosted by the winery at their tasting room. “We try to have an atmosphere that is inviting and comfortable for everyone, from that wine aficionado to a guest who has never been wine tasting. And our philosophy in winemaking is to get great fruit, and let it do its thing. Minimal intervention. The end product is generally dry white wines and easy-going reds,” says manager Nate Bittner, also known on his business card as Hater of Bitter Wines.
It’s a philosophy that lends itself to an ideal atmosphere for hosting comedy nights, something seldom found at a conventional winery. The team was inspired to begin hosting these nights thanks to a long-time wine club member who often does stand-up comedy in Los Angeles, when he expressed interest in helping the winery host shows. A few years after the idea was born and with a new tasting room location that provided the space, Moonstone finally featured their first show in August of 2018. It was uncharted territory as no one else in town offered comedy. The result? You guessed it, it’s been a hit.
That club member, Joe Dungan, is the emcee for Moonstone’s comedy nights and helps the winery secure some outstanding talent. “Many of the comedians are seen on sitcoms, television commercials and stand-up specials,” says Nate. For example, a show this past summer featured Jason Lawhead, the opening comedian in Bill Burr’s 2012 Netflix special You People are All the Same, who currently tours the country doing stand-up. With Cambria just a four-hour drive away from Los Angeles, the entertainment capital of the world, and the exact midpoint between that city and San Francisco, catching comedians traveling to either city or en route to either is common.
In an effort to make it a regular event while still maintaining its rarity and opportunity for guests to appreciate the night as a special event to look forward to, Moonstone offers comedy shows once every eight weeks. The evening typically begins with an early show at 5:30pm and a late show at 7:30pm. Guests purchase tickets on the winery’s website, and are never at a loss for good wine, as they may purchase wines by the bottle or glass prior to and during the shows.
For those who are fans of great wine, but not of staying up until the wee hours, don’t be concerned it will be a late night out just because it’s a comedy show. As the screen up front at the venue notes, Cambria is in bed by 9pm. This experience provides all the laughs of high-quality stand-up with all the familiar comforts of wine country, including our bedtime.
