Wine Tasting in Santa Barbara-Where to Go

Santa Barbara California, situated approximately 90 miles north of Los Angeles , is without doubt one of the most picturesque cities on the West Coast . Besides sweeping vistas of the Pacific Ocean and Santa Ynez Mountains, Santa Barbara gives wine fans access to the outstanding wineries located in the nearby Santa Ynez Valley, in the southern most part of the Central Coast viticultural region.

Central Coast wines, in particular wines produced in the Santa Barbara region , have year by year gained recognition and high repute for their constantly improving quality . But it is not only the quality of the wine that has been raised , there has also been a dramatic increase in the number of wineries in the locale . Santa Barbara County now boasts over 200 wineries, in four seperate appellations : Santa Ynez Valley, Sta. Rita Hills, Happy Canyon of Santa Barbara, and Santa Maria Valley. The great number of wineries presents a tough question for the wine tourer : with such a variety of 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 concentration of wineries and is located the nearest to the city of Santa Barbara–by far the most comfortable place to stay in the area .

For a large number of movie goers , 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 stops that Miles and Jack made on their mad road trip of wine tasting and midlife angst. But, even though the Sideways locations made for exciting theater and filming, it doesn’t follow that they are the most favorable places to drink great wines.

So, If you would like to drink the great wines the area has , who should you turn to for the low down on which wineries provide the most satisfying blood of the grape ? The best informant , undoubtedly , would be a well-versed local . By happenstance , I happen to know exactly such a person . By a happy coincidence, my father–for some years the president of the Santa Barbara Wine Society–has been visiting the region’s wineries to sample their wares for the past 45 years, during which time the local wine industry grew from practicaly nonexistent to being the major producer it is at present. His recommendations follow :

“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 not too far from 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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