14 Great Wineries to Visit in Santa Barbara County
Santa Barbara California, set at or near 90 miles up U.S. 101 from L.A. , is without doubt one of the most attractive cities on the West Coast . Besides sweeping vistas of the Pacific Ocean and Santa Ynez Mountains, Santa Barbara gives travelers access to the fantastic wineries located in the nearby Santa Ynez Valley, in the southern most part of the Central Coast viticultural region.
Central Coast wines, especially wines of the Santa Barbara vicinity , have more and more gained recognition and accolades for their consistently high quality . But it is not only the quality of the wine that has been boosted , there has also been dramatic growth in the number of wineries in the locale . Santa Barbara County now boasts over 200 wineries, in four appellations : Santa Ynez Valley, Sta. Rita Hills, Happy Canyon of Santa Barbara, and Santa Maria Valley. The sheer number of wine makers presents a poser for the wine lover : with so many wineries to select from, which ones opt for ?
To narrow things down a bit, Santa Ynez Valley is the best of the four appellations for a wine tasting tour because it has the highest density of wineries and is located the closest to the city of Santa Barbara– undoubtedly the most comfortable place to stay in the region .
For most people , the 2004 movie Sideways put the Santa Ynez Valley on the map. There is even an actual “Sideways map,” available online or from the local tourist information office, which guides you to all of the locations that Miles and Jack made on their mad road trip of wine tasting and midlife angst. But, even though the Sideways locations made for entertaining theater and filming, it doesn’t follow that they are the best places to indulge in dandy wines.
So, If you really to try the great wines the area has , who should you ask for reliable information on which wineries provide the most satisfying alcoholic beverages ? The most likely informant , without doubt , would be a knowledgeable local . As luck would have it , I happen to be familiar with just such an individual . It just so happens that my father–for some years the president of the Santa Barbara Wine Society–has been visiting the region’s wineries to sample their merchandise for the past 45 years, during which time the Santa Barbara wine industry grew from practicaly nonexistent to being the major producer it is today. The following are his suggestions :
“The very best winery in Santa Barbara city is Jaffurs Wine Cellars, on Montecito Street near Milpas. It is kind of funky, but they make truly impressive syrah and you will often be able to talk to the winemakers. The rest are over in Santa Ynez Valley, and for ambiance and good wine I would recommend Gainey Vineyards (both reds and whites), Sunstone Winery (reds), Blackjack Ranch Vineyards (reds), and Rideau Vineyard (reds and whites). These wineries are all situated reasonably near each other. The best places for wine and a picnic are Beckman Vineyards (reds) and Rideau. I would recommend Kalyra (reds and whites) in the valley (it’s near Sunstone) to the younger set because it’s fun, but a bit noisy. For someone who wants to drive further out, I would recommend Brander Vineyard (whites), Curtis Winery (whites), Fess Parker Winery (reds and whites), and Zaca Mesa (reds).”
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