Complete Guide to Santa Barbara Wine Country
Located less than a two-hour drive north of Los Angeles, Santa Barbara County is my favorite wine region in California. Yes, I know that’s a bold statement, but keep reading this post to find out why you should visit this gem of a region.
While you may have visited downtown Santa Barbara before, venturing inland to explore the wineries and vineyards is a must. The Santa Ynez Valley and surrounding areas produce some of California’s most underrated wines and the overall vibe is homey and welcoming.
Many of the wineries in Santa Barbara are boutique and family-owned - you’ll find the winemaker pouring tastings themselves at many of the wineries I recommend. For more on small production wine and why you should care about it, read this post.
Arguably my favorite part about it? Santa Barbara wine country is home to the highest concentration of female winemakers in the WORLD. This wild stat is important to me as a woman in a male-dominated industry; plus, women make great wine.
Complete Guide to Santa Barbara Wine Country
This post includes a general overview of this Central Coast region and the wines produced, the best wineries to visit in Santa Barbara, and my favorite Santa Barbara wine country hotels. You’ll also find a list of some of my go-to Santa Barbara wines to prepare you for your next trip.
After spending many long weekends in Santa Barbara County, I’ve created this guide to help any wine lover looking to explore this hidden gem wine region. Here’s your complete guide to visiting Santa Barbara wine country and enjoying a wine country vacation in the Santa Ynez Valley.
Note: Some of the links included here are affiliate links, which means if a purchase is made using the link provided, I may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you for your support!
Overview of Santa Barbara Wine Country
Santa Barbara County is home to the only transverse mountain ranges in the state. This means the mountains run east-to-west, rather than north-to-south.
Traveling inward from the Pacific Ocean, the Santa Ynez and San Rafael mountain ranges create a series of unique microclimates for the vines. Fog and ocean breezes are propelled through the region, allowing for cooler climate varieties to thrive in a state otherwise known for its hot, desert-like climate.
Map courtesy of Santa Barbara Vintners
Santa Barbara County wine country is comprised of seven AVA’s, or American Viticultural Areas, each with their own microclimates and wine styles: Santa Maria Valley, Santa Rita Hills, Ballard Canyon, Happy Canyon, Los Olivos, Santa Ynez Valley, and Alisos Canyon. Keep reading to find out what wines Santa Barbara is known for.
How to get to Santa Barbara Wine Country
While downtown Santa Barbara is a must-visit for anyone traveling through California - there are also plenty of wine tasting rooms and great restaurants here - it’d be a missed opportunity to not drive inland about 40 minutes to the vineyards.
If you’re flying in, the small Santa Barbara Airport (SBA) offers limited flights, so depending on where you’re coming from, you might have better luck with LAX as your destination.
I definitely recommend renting a car, not only to travel from the airport to your hotel, but also to get around to the wineries during the duration of your stay. Like many wine regions, the wineries are fairly spread out here and public transit / shared rides are not abundant.
After passing downtown Santa Barbara, you’ll take the scenic 154 highway inland for about 40 minutes to wine country. This is a beautiful and quick drive, but you can also continue up the coast and take the 101 highway inland to Buellton, if winding roads are not your thing.
Once the ocean views are in your rearview and you start seeing vines, it’s time to check into your hotel in one of the many quaint towns of Santa Barbara wine country.
Santa Barbara Wine Country Hotels
Bookmark this for your next trip - these are the best Santa Barbara wine country hotels. They’re centrally located and each offers a unique experience, depending on the vibe you’re seeking.
For a relaxing wine country experience, the Ballard Inn is a must. This boutique hotel hosts only 15 rooms and the daily breakfast, cozy living space, and wine and cheese happy hour give a charming bed-and-breakfast feel.
For a lowkey long weekend, Hotel Ynez is a renovated outdoorsy-boutique hotel with a small pool and plenty of bonfire pits for outdoor wine-sipping.
If your goal is to be walking distance to some of the best restaurants and wine tasting rooms, Los Olivos’s Fess Parker Wine Country Inn is a romantic stay equipped with luxurious rooms and a fitness center. It’s also home to Nella, a modern Italian restaurant with a noteworthy bar and seasonal fare.
For a splurge or special occasion, the new Inn at Mattei’s Tavern is a wine country oasis in the heart of Los Olivos. This location also offers a bar and restaurant, plus a chic pool, which is necessary during peak summer.
What wines is Santa Barbara known for?
With the range of microclimates created by the oceanic influence and transverse mountain ranges, you’ll find a variety of wines as you travel through Santa Barbara wine country.
Closer to the Pacific, the foggy cool climates of Santa Maria Valley and Santa Rita Hills produce some of the best Pinot Noir and Chardonnay in the state. These conditions also make for delicious sparkling wines made from the same varieties.
Traveling inland, Ballard Canyon boasts incredible Syrah influenced by maritime winds. This is not your bold, jammy Shiraz from Australia. Each Syrah is unique, complex, and likely to make you find a new appreciation for this Rhone variety.
Warmest of the region, the Happy Canyon AVA is home to bolder wines made from Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, and Merlot. Some of the most delicious Sauvignon Blanc wines also come from this area, in my opinion.
Overall, Pinot Noir and Chardonnay reign here, but Santa Barbara wine country is home to many unique grape varieties you don’t often see in other famous regions of California. You’ll stumble upon wines made from Grenache, Albariño, Gruner Veltliner, and Gamay, to name a few. There’s truly something for every wine lover in this special region.
Best Wineries to Visit in Santa Barbara County
Now that you’re equipped with a brief understanding of the region and what it has to offer, it’s time to go wine tasting.
Here are some of the best wineries to visit in Santa Ynez Valley and beyond.
Luna Hart / Piazza Family Wines - Led by the same winemaker, Gretchen Voelcker, these boutique labels showcase some of the best expressions of Santa Barbara wines. Gretchen takes a minimal intervention approach to winemaking, sourcing from organically farmed vineyards. Tastings here are intimate and often led by Gretchen herself, overlooking the stunning Ballard Canyon property.
Vineyard walk with Pete Stolpman during our group wine country retreat in Santa Barbara.
Just down the road, Stolpman Vineyards is another must-stop. Book a vineyard walk with Pete Stolpman to learn about their minimal intervention winemaking and organic farming, or visit their charming tasting room in downtown Los Olivos.
In Santa Rita Hills, Kessler-Haak is a family-owned boutique winery with incredible Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Syrah, and more. Their vineyard is homey and welcoming - be on the lookout for any special events they offer, like concerts among the vines.
Another great stop in Santa Rita Hills is Melville Winery. The European-style tasting room overlooks vineyards and lends a enchanted-garden-like experience.
For something bubbly, Santa Maria Valley’s Riverbench Vineyard and Winery - led by female winemaker Clarissa Nagy - specializes in cool climate Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and traditional method sparkling wine. Enjoy an afternoon in their quaint garden, sipping sparkling wine and listening to the birds chirp.
Peake Ranch’s stunning tasting room in Buellton offers a modern wine tasting experience. Their world-class Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Rhone varietal wines are easy to enjoy in the tasting room’s desert-like oasis.
Head to the “wine ghetto” in Lompoc for a tasting of natural wines made by wife-and-wife duo at Camins 2 Dreams. The pair is a blast to hang with and here you’ll find unique varieties like Gamay, Gruner Veltliner, and Albariño.
And just so you don’t have to worry about driving, spend a day in Los Olivos popping in and out of some of the 27 tasting rooms downtown, breaking up your day with a sandwich from a local favorite, Panino.
Some of the best tasting rooms in Los Olivos are Liquid Farm, Story of Soil, Carucci Wines, Carhartt Family Wines, and Waylan Wine Co.
Can’t make it to wine country soon enough? Here are some of the best Santa Barbara wines to try in the meantime.
Sandhi Santa Rita Hills Pinot Noir - $37.99
Stolpman Vineyards Love You Bunches Rosé - $18.99
Stolpman Vineyards Estate Grown Syrah - $32.99
Au Bon Climat Santa Barbara Chardonnay - $22.99
Lo-Fi Wines Gamay / Pinot Noir - $24.99
Stolpman Vineyards So Hot So Fresh Syrah - $41.99
Stolpman Vineyards Uni - $28.99
Liquid Farm FOUR Chardonnay - $89.99
Stolpman Vineyards Originals Syrah - $43.99
Ojai Kessler-Haak Pinot Noir - $53.99
A Tribute to Grace Santa Barbara Highlands Vineyard Grenache - $48.99
I hope this post inspires you to book your next trip to Santa Barbara wine country and explore some of the best wines California has to offer.
For a list of the best restaurants in Santa Barbara wine country, visit this post.
In the meantime, reach out here to book a private virtual or in-person wine tasting for your next event.
And if you like trying new wines and learning while having fun, you’d love my Wine Tasting Club. It’s like a book club, but for virtual wine tastings. Learn more about our awesome wine community here.
Ready to further your wine education? Enroll in a WSET class today and use code LexiStephens for a discount.
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