NABU Wines
A Los Angeles winery making Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah from two very different appellations, the maritime Malibu Coast and the warmth of Napa Valley, poured in a Westlake Village tasting room that doubles as a record shop and a live music venue.
The people behind the pour
NABU Wines was founded in 2012 by Greg and Janet Barnett. Greg spent the 1980s around the Sunset Strip, and that history never quite left the business. The tasting room is part wine bar, part record shop and part small venue, with vinyl playing from Greg’s own collection every day the doors are open.
It is an unusual proposition in California wine. Most tasting rooms ask you to be reverent. This one asks you to stay a while, and the wine is serious enough to justify it.
Two appellations, two winemakers
NABU splits its winemaking by region, which is rare at this size and tells you how differently the two areas behave. Matthew Reid makes the Napa Valley wines, sourced from Oakville and St. Helena. B. Alan Geddes handles the Malibu Coast fruit.
The Malibu Coast AVA sits in the Santa Monica Mountains above Los Angeles. It is small, cool and heavily maritime influenced, so Cabernet and Syrah grown there keep more acidity and carry less weight than the same grapes planted inland. Set a NABU Malibu bottling beside its Napa Merlot and you would struggle to believe one producer made both. For wider context see our guides to Napa Valley and California Cabernet Sauvignon.
Wine, vinyl and live music
Weekends bring local and regional artists playing acoustic sets, Americana, indie rock and singer songwriter material. The soundtrack changes and the atmosphere does not. Greg Barnett puts it plainly: come by and hang out, we spin vinyl every day from our extensive vinyl collection.
NABU wines have also collected medals at the Los Angeles County Fair, the Orange County Fair and the San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition.
The wines
Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah run through most of the range, alone or blended, with a pair of Malibu Sangiovese bottlings as the outlier. Each wine links straight to the winery, where the full notes and current availability live.
KANAN Cabernet Sauvignon 2017Malibu CoastSingle vineyard Cabernet from the Santa Monica Mountains, named for Kanan Road.View at the winery ›
KANAN Cabernet Sauvignon 2018Malibu CoastBronze medal at the Orange County Fair.View at the winery ›
Backbone 2017 Syrah Cabernet blendMalibu CoastSilver medal winner, named for the Backbone Trail.View at the winery ›
Solstice 2017 Merlot Cabernet blendMalibu CoastA Merlot led blend from the Kanan Road fruit.View at the winery ›
“27” 2017 Cabernet SyrahTopanga CanyonThe first of the 27 series.View at the winery ›
“27” 2019 Cabernet SyrahTopanga CanyonSilver medal winner.View at the winery ›
“27” 2020 Cabernet SyrahTopanga CanyonSilver medal winner.View at the winery ›
Sangiovese 2019Malibu CoastA Tuscan grape grown above Los Angeles.View at the winery ›
Sangiovese 2020Malibu CoastThe follow up vintage.View at the winery ›
Merlot 2019Napa Valley, St. HelenaSilver medal winner.View at the winery ›
Cabernet Sauvignon 2019Napa Valley, St. HelenaThe Napa counterpart to the Malibu Cabernets.View at the winery ›
Raid the Vault 2015 Cabernet and MerlotNapa Valley, OakvilleA two bottle library release.View at the winery ›The complete current lineup is on the NABU Wines shop.
Visiting NABU Wines
The tasting room is in Westlake Village, north west of Los Angeles and an easy drive from the city, which makes it a realistic afternoon or evening rather than a full day in wine country. Reservations are recommended, especially on music nights and for groups.
Frequently asked questions
Where is the NABU Wines tasting room?
In Westlake Village, California, north west of Los Angeles and close to the Malibu Coast appellation where much of the fruit is grown. It is a town tasting room rather than an estate visit, which makes it far easier to reach than a day trip to Napa.
When is NABU Wines open?
Friday through Sunday, with live music every weekend and vinyl playing whenever the doors are open. Hours shift around private events and holidays, so check the winery site or call before you drive out.
Do I need a reservation?
Reservations are recommended, particularly on music nights and for groups. The winery takes bookings through its own website and by phone.
What wines does NABU make?
Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah, both as single varietal wines and as blends, from two appellations. From the Malibu Coast come the KANAN Cabernet, the Backbone Syrah Cabernet blend, Solstice, and the 27 series out of Topanga Canyon. From Napa Valley there is a St. Helena Merlot and Cabernet, plus the Raid the Vault library pack from Oakville. Two Malibu Coast Sangiovese bottlings round out the range.
Who makes the wine?
Two winemakers split the work by region. Matthew Reid makes the Napa Valley wines and B. Alan Geddes handles the Malibu Coast fruit. Splitting winemaking this way is unusual at this size and reflects how different the two growing areas are.
Has NABU won awards?
Yes. Medals have come from the Los Angeles County Fair, the Orange County Fair and the San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition. Several current releases carry silver medals and the 2018 KANAN Cabernet took bronze at the Orange County Fair.
What makes the Malibu Coast AVA different?
It is a small, cool, maritime influenced appellation in the Santa Monica Mountains, a long way in style from inland California heat. That ocean air tends to hold acidity higher and alcohol lower than you would expect from Cabernet and Syrah grown further inland.
Can I buy NABU wines online?
Yes. The winery runs its own online shop, and each wine on this page links directly to its product page where current pricing and availability are listed.
Nearby and related
- Napa Valley where NABU sources its Oakville and St. Helena fruit.
- Santa Barbara County the next major wine region north along the coast.
- California Cabernet Sauvignon the grape at the centre of the range.
- California winery directory every producer we cover.
Information sourced from the NABU Wines official website and its online shop, checked August 2026. Always confirm hours and availability before visiting.