Emerging Wife & Husband Winery in Santa Barbara County is Ready to Share Their Bottled Passion

After years of cutting their teeth in tasting rooms and cellars of influential Santa Barbara County wineries, Kristin Harris Luis & Nick Luis are proud to announce the launch of their wine brand, Cote of Paint .

Kristin was supposed to go to medical school. Full stop. But the opportunity of a part-time gig at Dragonette Cellars turned into full-time within two months. Grad school applications found their way in the trash within eight months. While not knowing much about wine, Kristin's immersion in it—from winemaking to hospitality, operations, and management—allowed her to relish in the opportunity to take ownership of so many hats in a new industry. Watching the growth of the business in real-time became an exciting beacon for future endeavors.

She continued to hone my skills under Dragonette Cellar’s wing, husband Nick came to work in the tasting room, and Kristin invested in her growth earning certifications from Harvard Business School (CORe) and Wharton in Digital Marketing. Soon after, in partnership with husband Nick, they created Cote of Paint—the reflection of shared passion for wine and community; a haven where both seasoned wine drinkers and noobs can coexist, break bread, raise glasses, and revel in the joy of doing wine their way.

Their creative journey surely won’t stop here. Stay tuned for an upcoming podcast where the plan is to amplify additional voices and stories from the wine world and beyond. Kristin serves as an Executive Board Member for the Santa Barbara Vintners Foundation, where she is committed to nurturing and championing the local viticultural community and its extended family in Santa Barbara County, and beyond.

The initial Cote of Paint releases inlcude:

2021 Sangiovese from Coquelicot Vineyard (SRP: $40)

2020 Grenache "Christy & Wise" (SRP: $50)

2018 Pinot Noir from Duvarita Vineyard (SRP: $60)

Visit coteofpaintwine.com to purchase the initial releases and support this Black Female Owned Winery set on telling the story of soil and culture from the ground to glass.