Santa Barbara County is a wine lover’s paradise, renowned for its diverse microclimates, picturesque vineyards, and exceptional varietals. Nestled along California’s stunning central coast, with rolling hills and coastal breezes shaping the unique terroir, this region produces world-class wines, particularly Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Syrah.
Seven distinct American Viticultural Areas (AVAs) define Santa Barbara’s wine scene —from the cool-climate Sta. Rita Hills, ideal for crisp whites and elegant reds, to the warmer Happy Canyon, known for bold Bordeaux-style wines. Visitors can explore delightful wineries in the Santa Ynez Valley, sip on exquisite blends in Los Olivos, and enjoy scenic tasting rooms in Lompoc’s Wine Ghetto.
Santa Ynez and Santa Maria Valleys support most of the wine production in Santa Barbara. Both are relatively uncrowded with visitors and feature intimate winery tasting rooms tucked along picturesque country roads.
In contradistinction to the valleys, downtown Santa Barbara has also cemented itself as a representative of the larger, unique, world-class wine country surrounding it. And though no vineyards are grown in the city, the downtown district offers dozens of tasting rooms for curious wine enthusiasts within its Funk Zone and Presidio districts.
Even Lompoc, which is north of the city of Santa Barbara and sits closer to the Pacific Ocean than the inland valleys, gets in on the wine action. The Lompoc Wine Ghetto supports a unique collection of small-batch wineries and tasting rooms housed in an industrial park. Despite its unassuming exterior and off-putting name, it’s home to some of Santa Barbara’s most celebrated boutique winemakers.
Beyond the wine, the region offers a vibrant culinary culture, boutique accommodations, and breathtaking landscapes, making it a must-visit for both seasoned connoisseurs and casual wine enthusiasts. Whether strolling through downtown tasting rooms or indulging in vineyard-side experiences, Santa Barbara County’s wine country delivers an unforgettable journey for every palate.
Wines of Santa Barbara County
Santa Barbara County’s wine region boasts a diverse topography of microclimates, providing winemakers with a wide range of varietals to work with. More than 50 wine varieties grow here, and seven distinct appellations sit within the larger Santa Barbara AVA.
Unique to Santa Barbara County is its rare, transverse geography of mountain ranges that run east to west in orientation, channeling cool ocean air directly into each of the valleys. The result is one of California’s longest growing seasons, which in turn ensures the development of complex, flavorful, and exquisitely balanced grapes.
The soils in Santa Barbara County are silica-based, derived from diatoms or plankton fossils that were transported inland due to earthquakes, tectonic plate movements, and volcanic activity 20 million years ago.
The climate within Happy Canyon AVA is warm, with low humidity and plenty of sunshine. Ocean fog cools the vineyards at night, creating a diurnal shift that makes it ideal for growing Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cab Franc, Sauvignon Blanc, Malbec, Petit Verdot, and Syrah.
Santa Rita Hills, a sub-AVA of the greater Santa Ynez Valley appellation, experiences moderate temperatures, low rainfall, and one of the longest growing seasons. Frigid marine air travels through the valleys towards the warmer inland valleys, cooling the vineyards. This “refrigerated sunshine” provides an ideal environment for growing Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and cool-climate Syrah.
Ballard Canyon produces savory Syrah, with 50% of the region devoted to growing Syrah. Other plantings include Grenache, Viognier, and Roussanne.
Santa Barbara is also experiencing an increase in plantings of unique varietals, including Chenin Blanc, Gamay, and Grüner Veltliner.
History
Santa Barbara is one of California’s oldest wine-producing regions. Missionaries planted the first wine grapes in the late 1700s using grapevine cuttings from Mexico. By the late 1800s, the area supported 45 vineyards, and by 1962, the first post-Prohibition winery, named Santa Barbara Winery, opened.
Today, the Santa Barbara wine region is home to 283 wineries and seven AVAs: Santa Maria Valley, Happy Canyon District, Los Olivos District, Sta. Rita Hills, Santa Ynez Valley, Ballard Canyon, and Alisos Canyon.
Travel Logistics
Santa Barbara County is easily accessible by car, train, airplane, and even a bus that shuttles passengers to and from the city of Santa Barbara.
The drive from San Francisco to northern Santa Barbara County is just over four hours. The drive from Los Angeles to southern Santa Barbara County is under two hours, depending on traffic.
Los Angeles International Airport is the closest major airport. However, several major airlines fly into Santa Barbara Municipal Airport daily.
If you’re traveling by air, you can get updates on flight deals as they arise with Kayak. Once you arrive, renting a car offers the ideal mode of transportation.
If you’re traveling by train, Amtrak’s Pacific Surfliner travels up the coast from San Diego, Orange County, and Los Angeles several times a day to Santa Barbara. Amtrak’s Coast Starlight travels from Seattle to Los Angeles, with stops in Santa Barbara.
The Clean Air Express offers bus transportation between Santa Barbara and Santa Maria or Lompoc five days a week. However, you’ll need a car to travel to wineries in Santa Maria and Santa Ynez Valleys.
Wine Tours in Santa Barbara and Unique Tasting Experiences
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Rooted Vine Tours offers group tours of Santa Ynez Valley with pickup in Santa Barbara, Solvang, Los Olivos, Buellton, and other towns for a six-hour tour. Includes tastings at three boutique wineries plus a gourmet picnic lunch.
Golden Rooster Transportation and Wine Tours offers private tours of Santa Ynez Valley, including tastings at four wineries and a gourmet picnic lunch. Guests can customize the tour to include other stops during this seven-hour outing.
Totally Cali Tours of Santa Barbara offers a three-hour wine and chocolate tour of downtown Santa Barbara. Includes two wine and chocolate tastings plus some history of Santa Barbara.
Where to Taste in Santa Barbara
Cambria Estate Winery
5475 Chardonnay Lane, Santa Maria
805-938-7318
What Guests Like About It: Tasting the excellent flavor of well-crafted Pinot Noirs and Chardonnays that show impressive quality for the price
Cambria Estate Winery is on the northern end of the Foxen Canyon Wine Trail in Santa Maria Valley. Owned by two Jackson family daughters, Katherine and Julie, Cambria produces 100% certified sustainable estate-grown Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Rhone varietals. Wine tastings are seated and hosted by knowledgeable servers inside a casual, modern tasting lounge or outside on the front patio.
Flight pricing is $35 for the reserve collection (four wines) or $25 for the Winemaker’s Collection (four wines). The tasting fee is waived with the purchase of 3 bottles. Winemaker Jill Russell says, “Happy people make great wine,” and passionately crafts wines that showcase the best of the state’s 1,600 acres, prized for their texture, harmony, and energy.
Open four days a week, Thursday – Sunday, 10:00 am – 4:00 pm. Reservations are available, yet walk-ins are welcome.
The Gatehouse at Bien Nacido
3503 Rancho Tepusquet Road, Santa Maria
805-318-6600
What Guests Like Best About It: Seated tasting, cool-climate Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Syrah in the recently opened first-ever estate tasting room for this historic estate.
Founded in 1973 by brothers Stephen and Bob Miller, the Bien Nacido Estate has one of the oldest cool-climate vineyards in California and was declared in 2021 by Food and Wine Magazine as “the best vineyard in California.” The Miller family has farmed this land for five generations. In honor of their 50th anniversary, they opened the Gatehouse Tasting Room, a tribute to the 1855 old adobe gatehouse, which was initially the entry to the estate.
Wine tastings feature a sampling from two vineyards, the onsite Bien Nacido Vineyard and the Solomon Hills Vineyard, located at the westernmost edge of the Santa Maria Valley, just miles from the Pacific Coast.
Flight pricing is $45 for the Estate Flight (four wines) and $75 for the Black Label Flight (four wines). After your tasting, don’t miss a chance to hop on a golf cart for a personalized vineyard tour.
Open Thursday through Monday, 11:00 am – 5:00 pm. Reservations recommended.
Fess Parker Winery
6200 Foxen Canyon Road, Los Olivos
805-688-1545
What Guests Like About It: Seated tasting of quality wine in a relaxed atmosphere at a comfortable pace
The famous actor Fess Parker purchased a 714-acre ranch in 1988. By 1990, this family-run operation was making exceptional Rhone and Burgundian wines from estate-grown grapes and from some of the best vineyards in the county. Loosely designed after an Australian sheep station, the winery and tasting room feature a stone fireplace, stone floors, and spacious wrap-around outdoor verandas with picnic tables.
Visitors can enjoy a 90-minute winetasting experience seated on the scenic veranda. Flight pricing is $25 for the Classic (four wines) or $35 for the Enhanced (four wines). Food and wine pairings are also available. You can elevate your experience with a stay over at the Fess Parker Wine Country Inn in Los Olivos. Opportunities for horseback riding adventures through the vineyards are also available. However, be sure to hang on to your coonskin cap!
Open daily from 10:00 am – 5:00 pm. Reservations recommended.
Dierberg and StarLane Vineyards
1280 Drum Canyon Road, Lompoc
805-693-0744
What Guests Like About It: Stunning views from the patio, a spacious contemporary tasting room with beautiful, comfortable furnishings
This Santa Rita Hills vineyard and tasting room was started in Drum Canyon in 2008 by owners and siblings Ellen Dierberg, Milne, and Michael Dierberg. A cavernous, wood-paneled tasting room opens onto a casual indoor bar area featuring comfortable, red leather-upholstered chairs centered around a table for wine tasting. Chardonnay and Pinot Noir are the focus of marine-influenced Dierberg, while StarLane Vineyards offers warmer climate varietals like Syrah, Chenin Blanc, and Cabernet Sauvignon from its Happy Canyon location.
Flight pricing is $35 for the Classic (six wines). A 90-minute private, in-depth tasting is available for $65, conducted by the winemaker, Tyler Thomas. The StarLane Vineyards and Winery dates from 1996 and is only open to visitors by appointment. All wine is made here and barrel-aged in subterranean caves.
Open daily from 11:00 am – 5:00 pm. Reservations are recommended but not required. Walk-ins welcome.
Roblar Winery and Vineyards
3010 Roblar Avenue, Santa Ynez
805-686-2603
What Guests Like About It: Lunch paired with a tasting on the outdoor patio shaded by a trellis covered with lavender-colored wisteria
Nested in an oak tree-studded 40-acre vineyard with a 5000-square-foot tasting room, Roblar Winery’s focus is estate-grown varietals. Owned and operated by the Gleason family since 2004, the winery sources grapes from two distinct vineyards: Refugio Ranch and Roblar.
Tastings feature whites and reds along with premium Bordeaux and Rhone varietals. Flight pricing is $30 for the Estate tasting of five wines.
The winery also offers a full-service kitchen with an extensive menu of dishes prepared by the restaurant’s Executive Chef. Roblar Farm supplies organic produce for many of the culinary creations.
In addition to the farming operation, Roblar offers visitors a five-bedroom farmhouse that accommodates up to 10 guests, making it ideal for groups or families. The Farmhouse includes an infinity pool and hot tub.
Open daily, 11:00 am – 5:00 pm. Reservations are recommended for both wine tasting and dining.
Sunstone Vineyards and Winery
125 N. Refugio Road, Santa Ynez
805-688-9463
What Guests Like About It: Being transported to the French countryside with wine tasting in the Provencal French courtyard
Founded in 1990 by the Rice Family, this 52-acre ranch quickly established itself as one of the first organic vineyard estates in Santa Barbara County. Sunstone specializes in Bordeaux and Rhone varietals and is the county’s premier producer of Merlot and Viognier.
Tastings are seated and hosted by knowledgeable staff in the outdoor courtyard, on the picnic grounds, or in the cool tasting room and barrel-aging stone caves. Flight pricing is $30 for the Tasting Menu (five wines) or $45 for the Reserve Tasting (five wines). One tasting fee is waived with a three-bottle purchase.
Sunstone is a destination winery that has a local reputation as the “best Santa Ynez Valley tasting room.”
Open daily, 11:00 am – 4:00 pm. Reservations are recommended on the weekend.
Barbieri Wines
2369 Alamo Pintado Avenue, Los Olivos
805-688-8882
What Guests Like About It: Tasting on the umbrella-covered patio and the cheese shop inside the tasting room
Located in downtown Los Olivos, the tasting room features a cozy, small-shop atmosphere with a long bar that extends the space outside to umbrella-covered patio tables. Owned jointly since 2007 by Paolo Barbieri, a master sommelier, and Erin Kempe, a culinary expert, the winery produces wines under two labels that represent the heritage of each owner. Working together with local growers, they employ minimalist techniques without a heavy oak influence. The Barbieri label produces deep, bold, and savory Rhone varietals and blends, whereas the Kempe label reflects Erin’s love of Bordeaux varietals.
Flight pricing is $30 for the Barbieri label (five wines) and $30 for the Kempe label (five wines), or you can customize your flight between the two lists for $35 (six wines). The tasting room features an appetizing selection of fine cheeses and exotic meats in its cheese shop.
Open Thursday – Monday 12:00 pm – 5:00 pm. Reservations are advisable, especially during the summer months.
Andrew Murray Vineyards – E11even Brand
2901 Grand Avenue
805-693-9644
What Guests Like About It: The E11even Brand labels and tasting room reflect the winemaker’s nostalgic love of music from another era
One of the pioneering wineries in Santa Barbara County, the Los Olivos tasting room invites guests to explore different tasting experiences with exceptionally crafted Rhone varietals from the estate vineyard founded in 1990. Located in downtown Los Olivos, the tasting room features a modern yet edgy industrial design with indoor bar seating and comfortable couch seating on the front porch.
Flight pricing is $25 for the E11even Playlist (five wines). The wines are rich and decadent yet remarkably balanced and pure, accurately reflecting the classic flavors of Rhone varietals. Tastings are also available by reservation at the Andrew Murray Vineyard and Winery at 5249 Foxen Canyon Road, 805-686-9604.
Open daily, 11:00 am – 5:00 pm. Reservations are recommended.
Tercero Wines
2445 Alamo Pintado Avenue, Unit 105, Los Olivos
805-245-9584
What Guests Like About It: An opportunity to taste a large selection of some very unique wines, guests also love to photograph the “wall of wine” in the tasting room
Founded in 2006 by owner Larry Schaffer, Tercero Wines offers a unique perspective on the world of wine. The winery specializes in handcrafted, small-lot Rhone varietals of red and white wines, using grapes exclusively from leading vineyards spanning nearly every AVA in Santa Barbara County.
Schaffer also works with other varietals, such as Pinot Noir, Gewurztraminer, and Cabernet Franc, among others, to create some exceptional blends and Rosés. Flight pricing is $25 for the Current Flight (six wines) with a refund for a 2-bottle purchase.
The tasting room features a well-lit spectacular rack of 200 wines on one of the walls. Open Thursday – Monday from 12:00 pm – 5:00 pm.
Au Bon Climat
13 Anacapa Street, Suite 5b, Santa Barbara
805-963-7999
What Guests Like About It: Wine tasting in the study, an intimate space in a historic building with wine bottles on bookshelves that line the walls
Unique to this winery’s tasting room are wines made from grapes grown in the Bien Nacido Vineyard in the cooler Santa Maria Valley just north of downtown Santa Barbara. Founded by the late Jim Clendenen, Au Bon Climat features Pinot Noir, some from the Santa Rita Hills region, as well as the iconic Bien Nacido Vineyard.
With over 40 years of winemaking experience, the tasting room offers curated library tastings by reservation only for $120 per person. Two tasting flights are available daily: the Classic and the Reserve. Both feature five exceptional wines for $30. Charcuterie boards are also available to pair with your tasting.
Open Monday through Friday, noon to 6:00 pm, Saturday and Sunday, 11:00 am to 6:00 pm. Walk-ins welcome.
Santa Barbara Wine Collective
131 Anacapa Street, Santa Barbara
805-456-2700
What Guests Like About It: The wide variety of wines to choose from and enjoying wine tasting in the garden piazza
The Santa Barbara Wine Collective shares a spot with Helen Bakery in Santa Barbara’s Funk Zone. This urban wine bar offers a diverse collection of wines from throughout the Santa Barbara wine region, many of them from boutique wineries. Guests can customize a flight to enjoy a single variety or style of wine and order a charcuterie board to pair with wine. Tastings start at $35 per person.
Open Tuesday through Thursday and Sunday from 12:00 pm to 6:00 pm. Open Friday through Monday from 12:00 pm to 6:00 pm.
Where to Eat
Gina’s Piece of Cake
205 East Clark Avenue, Orcutt
805-922-9035
Start your day with a freshly brewed cup of coffee and a delicious pastry at Gina’s Piece of Cake in downtown Orcutt. This homey café offers cookies, eclairs, brownies, lemon squares, and even gluten-free sweet treats.
Kay’s Country Kitchen
135 East Clark Avenue, Orcutt
805-934-4429
For old-fashioned country cooking, head to Kay’s Country Kitchen for breakfast or lunch. Think biscuits and gravy, a bacon and avocado omelet, or a chicken and waffle breakfast that will carry you through your first few wine tastings. For lunch, dig into a half-pound bacon burger or the Santa Maria Valley salad covered in fresh, seasonal berries.
Blast 825 Brewery
241 Broadway Street, Orcutt
805-934-3777
This authentic pub-style restaurant serves some of the best food and beer in the area. From the pesto chicken pizza to the cowboy burger to the street tacos, at Blast 825 Brewery, the dishes are hearty and delicious. If you’re unsure which beer to order, try a flight with your meal. Open for lunch and dinner.
Cielito Lindo Mexican Grill
1130 East Clark Avenue, Santa Maria
805-938-7958
Cielito Lindo Mexican Grill is one of the top restaurants in the area, winning the #1 Best Salsa Award, Best Taco Tuesday, and Best Mexican Restaurant of the Central Coast for many years. We had some of the best chilaquiles we’ve ever eaten. Open daily for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, this is one of the best places to fill up on your way to the Foxen Canyon Wine Trail.
Trattoria Uliveto
285 Broadway Street, Orcutt
805-934-4546
After a day of wine tasting in Santa Maria Valley, dine where the locals go, in the elegant Trattoria Uliveto. Chef Alfonso Curti has assembled an outstanding menu of fine Italian dishes, an extensive wine list, and original desserts. Enjoy a specialty cocktail before dinner in the restaurant’s cozy, comfortable bar.
Far Western Tavern
300 East Clark Avenue, Orcutt
Far Western Tavern, a favorite restaurant where the locals go to celebrate special occasions, is a must-stop in Santa Maria Valley. Recognized as a landmark for its famous Santa Maria-style barbecue, the restaurant prepares dishes with fresh ingredients from nearby farms, ranches, and vineyards. Service and craft cocktails are also excellent!
The Gathering Table
1555 Mission Drive, Solvang
805-259-1102
For dinner, the Gathering Table in Solvang offers guests an elevated but approachable dining experience. After a three-year hiatus, local owner and chef Budi Kazali relocated his beloved restaurant from Ballard to Solvang. It features a fusion of Asian and French cuisine and has a passionate following from locals.
Bell’s Restaurant
406 Bell Street, Los Alamos
805-344-4609
Stop in the tiny town of Los Alamos for lunch at Bell’s. This French-inspired bistro, founded by Greg and Daisy Ryan, is a Michelin-starred restaurant. It offers classic bistro fare, accompanied by an eclectic wine list featuring local wines and some of Greg and Daisy’s favorite European labels. The egg salad sandwich is a favorite and a work of art in its own right. If the weather is warm, opt to sit on the back patio among the greenery that surrounds it.
Roblar Winery
3010 Roblar Avenue, Santa Ynez
805-686-2603
In Santa Ynez, book a reservation at Roblar Winery for lunch and more wine tasting. There is indoor seating, but the trellis-covered patio, wrapped in lilac-colored wisteria, is the place to dine and taste. Everything on the menu is delicious, but bacon lovers will want to try the BLT with candied bacon.
Open for lunch daily from 11:00 – 4:30 and open late on Thursday for supper until 8:00 pm.
Los Olivos Wine Merchant and Cafe
2879 Grand Avenue, Los Olivos
805-688-7265
For some fun trivia and delicious food, visit Los Olivos Wine Merchant and Café. Featured prominently in the movie Sideways (where Miles famously refuses to drink Merlot), the restaurant offers ample indoor seating, limited outdoor seating on its wooden front porch, and a wall of wine that lines the entire length of the restaurant.
Open for lunch and dinner daily, the restaurant prepares American and Italian cuisine, wood-fired pizza, smoked meats, and seasonal produce grown on the restaurant’s organic farm.
The Tavern
2350 Railway Avenue, Los Olivos
888-218-4941
The onsite restaurant at the Inn at Mattei’s, The Tavern, offers California-inspired cuisine featuring ingredients harvested from its organic garden. The Tavern is known for its exceptional wine list, focusing on California wines. The property also features a cocktail lounge, a casual café, and poolside dining.
Loquita
202 State Street, Santa Barbara
805-880-3380
Loquita offers a beautiful blend of Spanish cuisine and wines. The menu features tapas, including Croquetas, charcuterie, crudos, and a trio of paellas. The intimate interior is colorful and vibrant. Opt for the back patio on a warm summer evening. Open daily from 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm (10:00 pm on Fridays and Saturdays).
Brophy Brothers
119 Harbor Way, Santa Barbara
805-966-4418
If you love seafood and a harbor view, Brophy Brothers is the place to dine in the city of Santa Barbara. However, this well-known restaurant is extremely popular, so be sure to make reservations in advance. Open daily for lunch and dinner.
Where to Stay
The Wine Stone Inn in Orcutt offers the perfect spot to explore wineries in the Santa Maria Valley. This 12-room boutique hotel features a country-meets-industry vibe with luxury guest rooms, wine tasting in the evening, and a breakfast bar in the morning. The hotel is within easy walking distance of eateries, shops, breweries, and a wine bar in the rustic town of Orcutt.
The Hotel Ynez sits at the crossroads of Solvang and Santa Ynez, making a convenient home base for exploring the Santa Ynez Valley. It is a modern ranch-style inn that has been renovated into an adorable 21-room boutique accommodation. It sits on two acres with extensive gardens filled with lavender and native plants, plentiful outdoor seating, firepits, and a pool for 21-year-olds and over.
The Fess Parker Inn, a 19-room boutique hotel, enjoys a central location in Los Olivos, making it easy to explore the town on foot. Enjoy well-appointed rooms, complimentary breakfast, poolside service during the summer, and a romantic fireplace in every room.
Once a popular stagecoach stop in the 1880s, the Inn at Mattei’s Tavern is a Central Coast legend reborn. This historic site, complete with the iconic wooden water tower, features luxury suites, studios, and cottages and is next to Los Olivos’ town center.
What to Pack
When visiting the Santa Barbara Wine Region, it is important to pack appropriately for the weather conditions. Visitors should pack light, breathable clothing, such as cotton or linen, for daytime visits during the summer and a hat to protect themselves from the sun. Summertime temperatures can reach up to 80 degrees or more during the day in the Santa Ynez Valley, while the city of Santa Barbara can experience cooler temperatures due to its location on the water. Sunglasses, sunscreen, and comfortable walking shoes are also essential. The temperature drops in the evenings of Spring and Fall, and visitors should pack a light sweater or jacket to stay warm.
Visitors should pack layers of clothing during the winter months to stay warm during the cooler mornings and evenings. While the wintertime weather in Santa Barbara County is generally moderate, visitors should also pack warm jackets, scarves, and gloves. Comfortable walking shoes are still essential.
It is important to note that the Santa Barbara Wine Region is a casual destination, and there is no need to dress formally. Visitors are welcome to wear casual, comfortable clothing during their visit, especially when visiting the wineries and cellar doors.
Browse the Winetraveler Shop for trendy, casual vineyard-hopping apparel, perfect for exploring the vineyards and savoring the region’s famous wines.
Other Attractions in Santa Barbara County
Oso Flaco Lake Trail
In Arroyo Grande, hike or stroll Oso Flaco Lake. Oso Flaco Lake Trail is an easy, 1.7-mile trail located in the Oceano Dunes State Vehicular Recreation Area. The Oso Flaco Lake provides a home for more than 200 species of birds, where an abundance of wildflowers bloom in the Spring.
Monarch Butterfly and Whale-Watching
You can witness the migration of Monarch butterflies at the Pismo State Beach Monarch Butterfly Grove from November to February and the California Gray Whale migration from February to April.
Ostrichland
The ostriches seen with Miles, Jack, and Stephanie in Sideways weren’t a work of fiction. Ostrichland sits between Solvang and Buellton on the main highway. Feeding the ostriches and emus is always the highlight. These giant birds are a rare and unique sight in this part of the world and offer a family-friendly activity for all ages. Open from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. daily.
Zipline with Highline Adventures
Situated on a 1,200-acre ranch just outside Buellton, Highline Adventures seeks to educate visitors on the area’s history, environment, and culture through a series of adventures and outdoor activities. Most notably, the longest and fastest zipline in California – a series of three tandem ziplines, ranging from 1,300 to 3,360 feet long and soaring 1,000 feet above the ground, overlooking the breathtaking Santa Ynez Valley.
In addition to the zipline experience, an onsite aerial ropes course consists of 85 different elements to climb, crawl, swing, and hang from, all suspended amongst old-growth California Live Oaks.
Explore Solvang
Danish immigrants established Solvang in 1911, and it boasts authentic architecture, thatched roofs, old-world craftsmanship, and traditional windmills. Solvang is also bustling with shops, restaurants, and tasting rooms — as well as authentic Danish bakeries. Every Wednesday, it holds the Solvang Farmers Market.
It is the most family-oriented of all the Santa Ynez Valley communities, too, with attractions such as Old Mission Santa Ines, Hans Christian Andersen Park, and the Hans Christian Andersen Museum (which closes at 5 p.m.).
Frequently Asked Questions About Santa Barbara County Wineries
Santa Barbara County offers a range of memorable wine tour experiences, from countryside vineyard excursions to laid-back city tastings—perfect for both first-time visitors and seasoned wine travelers. Some of the best-rated tours to consider include:
Rooted Vine Tours: Ideal for those wanting to explore the scenic Santa Ynez Valley, this six-hour group tour includes transportation from Santa Barbara, Solvang, Los Olivos, Buellton, and surrounding towns. It features tastings at three boutique wineries and includes a gourmet picnic lunch in a vineyard setting—perfect for a relaxed yet immersive day of wine tasting.
Golden Rooster Transportation and Wine Tours: If you’re seeking a more tailored experience, this private seven-hour tour includes four winery visits, a gourmet picnic lunch, and the option to customize your itinerary with additional stops. It’s an excellent choice for couples, small groups, or anyone looking for flexibility and personalized service.
Totally Cali Tours of Santa Barbara: Perfect for travelers short on time or staying in downtown Santa Barbara, this three-hour tour includes two guided wine and chocolate tastings and offers some fascinating local history. It’s a sweet, city-based alternative to countryside tours.
Bonus Tip: Use Winetraveler’s exclusive code VISUMMER10 when booking any of these tours for 10% off throughout the summer—an easy way to elevate your Santa Barbara wine experience while saving.
Santa Barbara County Wine Region has 283 wineries spread across seven officially recognized AVAs. Santa Barbara Vintners features a complete guide to wine tasting.
When planning a visit to Santa Barbara’s wine country, it’s all about striking the perfect balance to make the most of your experience. While the number of Santa Barbara wineries to visit can vary based on your personal taste, travel tempo, and the particular vineyards on your list, most #Winetravelers aim for 3 to 4 wineries in a day. This leisurely pace allows you to savor the wine tastings, embark on fascinating tours, stop for a bite of lunch, and genuinely appreciate the landscapes without any time pressure.
Remember, several distinct winery locations, such as Santa Ynez Valley, Santa Maria Valley, Lompoc, and the city of Santa Barbara, are 45 minutes to an hour and 45 minutes apart. It’s best to group your winery visits within each region for the day.
Photos by Pam and Gary Baker:
Bien Nacido Estate
Roblar Winery
Sunstone Vineyards
Sunstone Cave Tasting Room
Sunstone Patio
Barbieri Wines
Santa Ynez
Santa Barbara Collective
Mattei’s Tavern
Tercero Wines Wall of Wines