Impact Magazine Issue One 2017

SATELLITE
Wine lover, entrepreneur, space cadet
The goal of Satellite
is to stand as a nexus
for the education
and exploration of
excellent wine...
Drew Cuddy is well acquainted with both the
science and the art of farming. Having grown up on
a large farm in Canada, Drew draws upon his vast
knowledge-base in his role as a wine professional
and creator of Impact Hub’s much-anticipated café
and wine bar Satellite Santa Barbara.
As an undergraduate student, Drew moved to
Vancouver to study geography, and since then, he has
entered the world of wine through the London-based
Wine and Spirit Education Trust (WSET) program, which
he is expecting to graduate from this year.
Throughout college, Drew helped his father establish
a wine importing company, producing much of the
marketing material, including video and photography
content. He was the lucky one who got to spend his
summers in Europe working for the winemakers with
whom they partnered and quite literally, he began his
wine career trimming vines and picking grapes.
After college, Drew worked for a stint with distributor
The Henry Wine Group, followed by a harvest season
with Sonoma County winery Medlock Ames. It was just
after his time in Sonoma that Drew was asked to put
together a concept for Satellite Santa Barbara.
The intent of Satellite is to stand as a nexus for the
education and exploration of excellent wine, and be a
place to enjoy bites from a well crafted, locally sourced
food menu. Satellite is teaming up with the much-loved
restaurant Scarlett Begonia to provide a simple menu
that pairs well with wine and beer and is comprised
of sustainable, organic foods. A catering service for
Impact Hub events will also be established by this same
collaboration through Satellite.
As the mastermind behind all of this, Drew can talk at
length about any wine, region, or soil type. With a deep
understanding of growing wine grapes, he views wine
and its impact on the earth and our societies from a
wider lens. “Wine is an expression of place, of history, of
culture, and of individuality,” he explains. “But it’s also a
product that requires really good farming.”
From farm to table...and tasting room
Cuddy’s goal for Satellite’s wine menu is to offer patrons
high-quality wines from all over the world at great value.
Local wine lovers will be in good hands as well. Satellite
plans to pay tribute to small, independent, local wines
via weekly ‘flight night’ parties. During these parties,
there will be a set wine tasting menu from a winery that
will be showcased by a representative, who will pour
and talk about the wines.
Drew plans to rotate through thematic menus that
expose people to wines ranging from just $6-$14, and
to alternate those wines every week or so. Satellite
will also offer a wine club membership to encourage
members to learn all they can about new wines on a
regular basis.
Impact Hub is enthusiastic to have Cuddy in town.
Drew moved to Santa Barbara in June specifically to
launch Satellite and says that Impact Hub has been a
great base for him. “I’m getting to know my clientele
on a day-to-day basis. I’m making friends and coming
to understand what people are looking for.” He talks
about the environment at Impact Hub as comfortable
and inspiring, because everyone is working toward his/
her goals and supports one another in that growth.
As passionate about food and wine as he is about
entrepreneurship, with Drew’s vision, Satellite
customers and Impact Hub members are in for a unique
experience full of variety and high-quality product. (PS -
Impact Hub members will happily benefit from a discount!)
8 / Impact magazine our people / 9