Santa Barbara County
Coastal haven Santa Barbara is home to The Funk Zone: a hip neighborhood dotted with various tasting rooms and wineries. From Margerum to the scenic Deep Sea Tasting Room on Stearns Wharf, it’s easy to spend a day hopping from winery to winery in the American Riviera, but this only scratches the surface of Santa Barbara wine country. There are seven distinct AVAs across the county: Santa Ynez Valley, Sta. Rita Hills, Santa Maria Valley, Ballard Canyon, Happy Canyon, Los Olivos District and Alisos Canyon. Though Napa and Sonoma rose to popularity first, the 2004 film Sideways put Santa Barbara on the wine map, specifically for pinot noir. While I’m personally partial to Russian River Valley pinots, anything from the Sta. Rita Hills is a close second.
Santa Ynez Valley is one of the most picturesque parts of California, home to a handful of tiny towns like Solvang, Los Alamos and Los Olivos. Each area has its own unique charm, with Los Alamos offering a western-inspired escape, featuring a Main Street lined with locally-owned tasting rooms, premier antique shops and of course, Bell’s, one of the county’s first Michelin-starred restaurants. Solvang is an entirely different experience. This Danish-style town is home to authentic windmills, Santa-themed shops, an array of aromatic bakeries and more than 20 tasting rooms, all within walking distance of each other. In nearby Los Olivos, you’ll find more than 30 wineries packed together within just a few blocks, creating an idyllic little community whose whole world revolves around vino.
You can’t go wrong with any part of Santa Ynez Valley, and there are several hotel options across each area, with a few personal favorites being The Inn at Mattei’s Tavern, Skyview Los Alamos and the old-school Corque Hotel. If you want to branch out from the tasting rooms and experience a more formal vineyard experience, book visits at Sunstone Winery, Andrew Murray Vineyards and Demetria Estate. Though a majority of tourism takes place in and around the Santa Ynez Valley, you can still plan visits up north to Santa Maria for standout tastings at Presqu’ile Winery, Foxen Winery and River Bend Vineyard, or take a trip to Lompoc for The Hilt Estate.
