Southern California-based hospitality and agriculture companies join forces to expand their local footprint with Santa Ynez Valley purchase
SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (JULY 27, 2023) – TMC Hospitality, a hospitality management and development company, announced today the acquisition of Buttonwood Farm & Winery, a 107-acre vineyard and farm in Southern California’s Santa Ynez Valley. In partnership with Simpatica, a leading California-based sustainable farming company, the purchase will diversify TMC Hospitality’s portfolio as the first agritourism project, further expanding their West Coast footprint following the recent openings of two Drift Hotels in Santa Barbara and Palm Springs earlier this year.
Buttonwood Farm & Winery was founded in 1968 on a principle of sustainability, first serving as a home to horses and organic vegetable farms, followed by the introduction of vineyards and winemaking in 1983. The grounds have continued to flourish since, now home to a 42-acre estate vineyard, 10-acre farm featuring seasonal produce, a winery facility, tasting room and gardens, a hop yard and more.
Well known for its Bordeaux and Rhone varietals, Buttonwood Farm & Winery will continue wine production, the wine club and tasting room operations as is. TMC Hospitality additionally plans to welcome new culinary team members and menu offerings to the property’s mainstay restaurant, Buttonwood Kitchen, incorporating fresh picked produce such as olives, peaches and almonds. The idyllic grounds comfortably accommodate events and programs of all sizes, ranging from intimate farm dinners to large weddings and corporate events with year-round programming to continue.
“It’s an honor for Buttonwood Farm & Winery to join our growing portfolio of hospitality projects,” said Philip Bates, CEO of TMC Hospitality. “As our first agritourism project, we are excited about the future of Buttonwood and the opportunity to create special experiences for locals and travelers alike in a community that we enjoy working with.”
“We look forward to our partnership with TMC Hospitality and the opportunity to further provide nutrient-rich foods to the Southern California community,” said Jamie Johnson, founder of Simpatica. “Our familiarity with the region’s soil and aligned vision of the future of Buttonwood is kismet, with a commitment to sustainable land management remaining at the forefront of our practice.”
The addition of Buttonwood Farm & Winery marks TMC Hospitality’s thoughtful expansion across Southern California with future opportunity for synergy between projects including Drift Santa Barbara which is just under an hour away by car.
ABOUT TMC HOSPITALITY
TMC Hospitality was founded in 2016 by Philip Bates as an offshoot of TMC Group to bring its innovation and purposeful disruption to the hospitality industry. As a forward-thinking hotel development and management company focused on elevating hospitality from a service to an experience through strategic development, investment and brand creation, the group has two hotel brands in addition to Buttonwood Farm & Winery that cater to the concept of social group travel, Bode and Drift, and has invested in and/or managed over $200 million of hospitality projects. Bode, with a location in Nashville redefines traditional travel by creating flexible spaces that expertly blend the style of vacation rental homes with the comforts and conveniences of a boutique hotel. Drift, with locations in San Jose del Cabo, Santa Barbara and Palm Springs with Nashville on the horizon is a modern hotel concept for independent and group travelers that value adventure and culture with minimalist yet intentional details and amenities.
ABOUT SIMPATICA
Built upon four generations of California farmers, Simpatica is a California-based permanent crop farming company that honors tried-and-true farming methods while embracing sustainable techniques of tomorrow. Leading in sustainable land management, cutting-edge technology and humane labor practices, Simpatica generates consistent investor returns by growing healthy, nutrient-rich foods with increasing consumer demand and constrained supply features. In addition to the acquisition of Buttonwood Farm & Winery, Simpatica owns avocado groves in Ventura County, Santa Barbara County, Riverside County and Brazil.
