California Central Coast Travel Guide
Santa Barbara County Wine Country
The Santa Barbara County Wine Country Section of the California Central Coast Travel Guide describes the county's vineyards and wineries including the types of wine grapes grown, scenic routes through wine country, and where to go tasting. This was the area made famous by the movie, "Sideways". Includes Santa Maria Valley, Foxen Canyon, Los Alamos, Santa Ynez Valley, Los Olivos, Buellton, Solvang, and the Santa Rita Hills loop.
See below for
Santa Barbara County Wine Country and the complete Index for this guide.
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Index
Guide to Santa Barbara County Wine Country
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Wine Country Below
Points of Interest
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Santa Barbara County Wine Country -
Santa Barbara County is one of California's premier wine producing and wine grape growing regions.
Renowned for its distinguished vintages, quaint settings, friendly vintners, and welcoming
locals, the region is home to more than 90 wineries and some 27,000 acres of planted vineyards.
The microclimates of the Santa Ynez and Santa Maria Valleys are uniquely suited to growing a wide variety
of grapes, including Chardonnay, Syrah, and Pinot Noir. With warm, sunny days and cool evenings, these
narrow valleys draw cool ocean breezes from the Pacific, a marine influence that keeps
yields low and quality high.
The wine country of Santa Barbara County has long played second fiddle to Northern California's Somona and
Napa Valley. A 45 minute drive northwest of Santa Barbara, it was an area locals pride themselves on but
few outsiders were aware of. But Alexander Payne's Oscar® winning film "Sideways" has changed
all that.
The Santa Barbara Conference and Visitors Bureau offers a self-guided "Sideways" tour map
of the area that features 18 of the locations highlighted in the film, including restaurants and wineries.
The map is free for the asking by calling (805) 966-9222, or you can download
"Sideways - The Map"
(a PDF file) from the Bureau's website.
Most wine tasting rooms are open daily, except on major holidays, from about 10 AM until about 4
or 5 PM. Many wineries have picnic areas open to the public, have scheduled tours, and some are available
for group meetings, weddings, and other special events. Some wineries do not have tasting rooms or are only
open on weekends, or by appointment only. Some wineries do charge a small fee for tasting per person
which may be refunded with any wine purchase. Inquire locally with the winery's tasting room for
directions, business hours, tour schedules, tasting fees, or special events.
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Santa Maria Valley, Foxen Canyon, and Los Alamos -
This is the birthplace of Santa Barbara Wine Country. The first vineyards were planted on land now
within the Byron vineyards. The first local wineries to make wine from Santa Barbara County grapes
were Firestone and Zaca Mesa.
Tour - From Santa Maria, head south on US Highway 101, exit west on Betteravia Road, then
north on Blosser Road to McKeon-Phillips Winery. Head east on Betteravia Road and turn right on Dominion to
Cottonwood Canyon Vineyard & Winery. Wine cave tours are available Saturday and Sunday, weather permitting.
Follow Betteravia Road east to Foxen Canyon Road. Head east on Santa Maria Mesa Road to Cambria Winery.
Continue heading southeast along Foxen Canyon Road to Rancho Sisquoc, Foxen Vineyard, Zaca Mesa Winery,
Fess Parker Winery & Vineyard, and Firestone/Curtis Vineyards.
"Sideways" tour locations include Fess Parker Winery & Vineyard ("Frass Canyon"), and Firestone Vineyard.
Unlike the megabad winery, Frass Canyon, portrayed in the movie, Fess Parker Winery produces premium and
award-winning wines. Fess Parker is best remembered for his portrayal of Davy Crockett
and Daniel Boone in the late 1950's and 60's and is stiil active in the operation of the winery with his family.
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Santa Ynez Valley, Los Olivos, Buellton, and Solvang -
Santa Ynez Valley is considerably warmer than Santa Maria Valley, enabling this region to excel
in growing Syrahs along with numerous other Rhone and Italian varietals.
Tour - From Buellton/Solvang, take Highway 246 east, turn into North Refugio Road, a narrow country road lined with ranch homes and oaks.
Follow the road south to Sunstone Vineyard and Kalyra Winery (a "Sideways" tour location).
Proceed east on Highway 246 brings you to Gainey Vineyard. Turn north on Highway 154 and turn right onto
Roblar Avenue to Bridlewood Winery. Continue north on Highway 246 to Brander/Domain Santa Barbara and
Beckman Vineyards. Turn south on Grand Avenue to Los Olivos.
Los Olivos - Historic town noted for its eclectic art galleries, wine tasting, speciality shops, and
epicurean restaurants. Many wineries have tasting rooms on Grand Avenue, the main street.
"Sideways" tour locations include Andrew Murray Vineyards (tasting room) and the Los Olivos Cafe.
Solvang - Danish for "sunny field". This old world Danish village founded in 1911 is located in the
heart of the Santa Ynez Valley surrounded by the communities of Los Olivos, Buellton, and Santa Ynez.
Park your car and enjoy a pleasant walking tour by visiting Mission Santa Ines, the many wine tasting rooms,
and Danish bakeries and speciality shops the city has to offer.
"Sideways" tour locations include Mission Santa Ines, golf at the Alisal Guest Ranch, and the Solvang Restaurant.
Buellton - Located at the junction of US Highway 101 and Highway 246, Buellton was name after
R. T. Buell, a successfull California rancher. "Sideways" tour locations include the Hitching Post II (restaurant & winery), and Ostrich Land.
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Santa Rita Hills and Lompoc -
Established in 2001, The Santa Rita Hills is actually part of the Santa Ynez Valley, but its unique
soils and climate distinguish the grapes grown there from the ones in the warmer, eastern part.
The area is naturally cool and windy with more of a maritime climate than Santa Ynez Valley. It benefits
from the brisk daily ocean breezes and early forming, late dissipating maritime fog which blankets the vineyards.
This region is noted for its exceptional Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.
Tour - Take Santa Rosa Road west from Buellton to visit Mosby, Sanford, Lafond Winery and Vineyards. Follow
Highway 1 north back to Highway 246 to visit Foley Estates, Babcock, and Melville Winery and Vineyards.
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