1. Alma Rosa Winery & Vineyards

Alma Rosa Winery & Vineyards Alma Rosa Winery is dedicated to making Pinot Noir and Chardonnay wines that are emblematic of the Sta. Rita Hills’ unique terroir. Winemaker Samra Morris and Consulting Winemaker Tony Biagi embrace the cool climate impact of the Pacific Ocean breezes that funnel through the Sta. Rita Hills’ east-west transverse mountain range, making layered, vibrant, balanced and terroir-expressive wines. The majority of Alma Rosa’s wines are produced in small quantities of 300 or fewer cases and reflect the essence of specific vineyard sites in the region. Guests may visit Alma Rosa at location in downtown Solvang, where we have an expansive courtyard and inviting indoor/outdoor tasting room.

Come taste a selection of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay wines, as well as small-lot Rhône varietal wines. For an elevated experience, winery offer a Ranch House Wine & Cheese Experience at beautiful 628-acre ranch in the Sta. Rita Hills’ southern corridor with 38 acres of vineyards spread across 5 non-contiguous sites

Richard Sanford was among the first to extol the virtues of the cool-climate Pinots and Chardonnays from Santa Rita Hills, and his deft touch is still evident in these lovely wines, though Alma Rosa was sold to the Zorich family in 2014. The gorgeous, design-magazine-worthy Buellton tasting room employs recycled Douglas fir, harvested in Washington in 1912, for its benches, bar-tops, and shelves. And the wines, the majority produced in runs of less than 400 cases, are fabulous. Indoor and outdoor tastings feature five wines and cost $25. Visit Sunday through Wednesday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Thursday through Saturday 11 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. almarosawinery.com

2 Babcock Winery

Babcock Winery was established in 1984. Since then Bryan Babcock has become one of the brightest stars in the field of American winemaking. His awards and recognitions are many. Not only has he been selected by the Los Angeles Times as one of the “Ten Best Winemakers Of The Year”, he was also once named by the Times “Most Courageous Winemaker Of The Year” for his provocative approach. The prestigious James Beard Foundation once named him to a list of “Top Ten Small Production Winemakers in the World,” with Bryan being the only American chosen for this oenological dream team. In choosing him for this award, David Moore wrote, “Bryan Babcock best exemplifies the traits I look for in a great winemaker. The quality of Bryan’s wines speaks for themselves, yet it is his personal commitment to excellence that stands out so much. His relentless experimentation, his willingness to explore the possibilities with so many grape varieties, and his aesthetic are a world apart from the usual American approach to winemaking.”

After a decades-long exploration encompassing a cornucopia of varieties sourced from seven different California counties, Bryan has most recently found his mojo in an all-out immersion into locally grown Sta. Rita Hills Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.

His current Terroir Extraordinaire portfolio is a riveting collection of single block cuvees that stem from some of the best vineyards that the appellation has to offer. He still produces a collection of mouthwatering estate grown white wines, and after years of producing multiple cuvees of Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon, he has consolidated his efforts around one stunning version of each.

Joining Bryan in the wine business is his wife Lisa, whose passion and talent for all things retail have led Babcock Winery in a whole new atmospherical and spiritual direction. Under Lisa’s guidance the tasting room at the winery has undergone a complete renaissance, and free spirited new labels have been developed such as Bright Fortune, Soulstruck and GrapeHunters.

Hippest tasting room ever? Babcock’s hangar-sized “retro-rock-and-roll” venue in Lompoc is chockablock with vintage photos, antler chandeliers, mid-century furnishings, board games, and a party atmosphere. The old tasting room is now the cozy, funky Soulstruck Lounge for private events. For those who’d like to base themselves here, Bryan Babcock’s own handsome Mediterranean house is available, B&B-style. Best of all for fans: The Pinots and Chardonnays. Visit Sunday through Thursday from 11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Friday from 11 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. babcockwinery.com

Babcock has fabulous wines with very knowledgeable and attentive staff. The store has awesome rock in roll memorabilia. They have added many sunshades and allow you to bring food in to picnic while enjoying their wines.

Tasting Room Address 5175 East Highway 246, Lompoc, CA Tasting Room Hours Open 11-5:30, 7 days a week. Serving 2 unique tasting flights M-Th, short flights and wines by the glass & bottle available every day. No reservations needed except for parties of 8 or more Principal Varieties Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Carignane, Chardonnay, Clairette, Grenache, Grenache Blanc, Petite Verdot, Pinot Noir, Sauvignon Blanc, Syrah, Viognier

3 Brewer-Clifton

Founded in 1995 by Greg Brewer and Steve Clifton, Brewer-Clifton quickly became one of Santa Barbara County’s hottest wine brands, bringing critical and popular attention to the region during its formative years. The ownership went through multiple shifts in recent years until the brand was sold in 2017 to Jackson Family Wines. That move brought Brewer back into full-time winemaking, and he seems as energized as he’s ever been, focused on cementing his legacy with the backing of a major company.

The whole Brewer-Clifton portfolio is focused on Pinot Noir and Chardonnay from the Sta. Rita Hills — the reds are all fermented whole-cluster, and everything gets only neutral oak aging. There are appellation blends, clonal studies and single-vineyard expression from sites such as Hapgood, Machado and 3D vineyards. The Pinots all offer clean, pure red-fruit expressions, tinged with freshly plucked forest herbs, while the Chards are truly unique, pairing citrus pith energy with dairy notes and nutty finishes. Brewer is also making a savory Syrah under the brand Ex Post Facto and stainless steel, tropical-leaning Chardonnays under the brand Diatom.

Brewer-Clifton’s site-specific Chardonnays and Pinot Noirs are critical darlings and consumer favorites, and some of them may be challenging to find in some states, giving all the more reason to stop by and experience them right here.

The new tasting room in town is located at 2367 Alamo Pintado Avenue, and is open daily from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.  Reservations are available Thursday through Monday from and are all done on the patios off the tasting room. For $25, the Vineyard Designate Flight is a delicious introduction to their single-vineyard bottlings from the Sta. Rita Hills. brewerclifton.com

Note : Prices for testing fees subject to change, please check with winery

4  Dierberg & Star Lane Vineyards

Founded in 1996, owners Jim and Mary Dierberg began this journey with the intent of creating World-Class wines from three different AVA’s in Santa Barbara County. The evolution of Dierberg and Star Lane Vineyards began by planting vineyards in both Santa Maria Valley and at the beautiful Star Lane Ranch in Happy Canyon. With the final addition of the Drum Canyon Vineyard in Sta. Rita Hills, Jim and Mary were able to achieve their vision of harvesting and crafting unique, terroir-driven wines that capture the best of these three distinctive sites.

owners Jim and Mary Dierberg started this project with the intent of creating World-Class wines from three different AVA’s in Santa Barbara County. They began by planting vineyards in both Santa Maria Valley and at the beautiful Star Lane Ranch in Happy Canyon. 

Bankers by profession, Jim and Mary are no newcomers to wine. Since 1974, they’ve owned the Hermannhof Winery in Hermann, Missouri, which was one of the United States’ most significant wine-growing regions prior to Prohibition. Located about an hour’s drive west of St. Louis, Hermannhof is one of America’s oldest wineries. The Dierbergs have dedicated the past 40 years to renovating the property and raising its reputation as a place for education and entertainment.

Finally, with the addition of the Drum Canyon Vineyard in Sta. Rita Hills Jim and Mary were able to accomplish their goal of crafting unique, terroir-driven wines that capture the best of these three distinctive sites. Under the Dierberg label, the focus is on the delicate and elegant Burgundian varietals; whereas, at Star Lane, the focus is on the more robust and powerful Bordeaux varieties. Their dedication to producing the highest quality wines can be seen from the care in the vineyards, through the winemaking process, to the wine in your glass! Like 

Dierberg wines present delicate and elegant Burgundian varietals; whereas at Star Lane, the taste experience is more robust and powerful Bordeaux varieties. The passion and dedication to producing premium wines is visible in all aspects of the winery’s approach to winemaking

Thirteen miles from the Pacific Ocean in one of the cooler winegrowing corners of Santa Barbara County, Dierberg Vineyard is on the western edge of the Santa Maria Valley appellation and is comprised of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Perched on a mesa above the south bank of the Santa Maria River, the property consists of sandy loam soils, heavily infiltrated by the marine sediments of yesteryear and kissed by the fog from the Pacific.

Founded in 1997, the family planted twelve “heritage clones” of Pinot Noir (tracing back to Burgundy). This diversity of material is rare in California and allows the selection and discovery of the ideal clones to build the backbone of DIERBERG Pinot Noir. Chardonnay selections were derived from marquis cuttings of historic Wente clones — and the closely related Clone 4 grape. These California-developed clones are high quality and low yielding, producing expressive but graceful Chardonnays by retaining fresh structure with delicious ripe fruit.

Address 1280 Drum Canyon Road, Lompoc, CA Tasting Room Hours Thursday – Monday from 11:00 AM – 5:00 PM, Reservations Recommended but not Required. Private Tastings and Winery Tours Available by Appointment Only Star Lane Vineyard & Winery 2121 Alisos Rd, Santa Ynez, CA 9346

DIERBERG explores Pinot Noir and Chardonnay within Santa Barbara County’s Santa Rita Hills and Santa Maria Valley AVAs. The vineyards are located just 20 miles apart. The cool coastal influence of both vineyards represents ideal conditions for growing Californian expressions of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.

Dierberg and Star Lane wines are excellent any time you pop a cork, but even more so when savored in the chic, barn-like setting of the Sta. Rita Hills tasting room, just to the back of their famous Drum Canyon Vineyard. Tours of that vineyard are available by appointment,  The experience includes six wines, costs $35, and is available  website : dierbergvineyard.com

5 Fess Parker

Driving north along the pastoral Foxen Canyon Wine Trail feels like traveling back to California’s early days. Rolling hills frame vast meadows, deer and wildlife roam free, and pristine landscapes stretch as far as the eye can see. This peaceful environment enticed the late Fess Parker into buying a 714-acre ranch here back in 1988. The Texas-born actor, who played the television roles of Davy Crockett and Daniel Boone in the 1950s and 1960s, had moved his family to Santa Barbara in the early 1960s and begun construction of a blufftop home. When heavy rains caused it to collapse onto the beach, he revised his plans and headed inland.

About Fess Parker Winery & Vineyard: Since their first vineyard planting in 1987, the Fess Parker family has enjoyed a long, successful history in Santa Barbara County, helping to pioneer the region’s reputation as an international destination for wine, hospitality and discovery, as well as developing many of the county’s prestigious vineyards. The Fess Parker Winery and Vineyard at 6200 Foxen Canyon Road in Los Olivos now owns and farms more than 125 acres and works with more than 700 acres in Santa Barbara County.

The late television actor’s family runs a mini-empire in Los Olivos, which includes the main winery tasting room — rustic-chic and very welcoming — the sparkling wine-focused Bubble Shack, and the upscale, boutique Fess Parker Inn. The winery turns out a considerable range of expressions, including the Rhône-oriented Epiphany label, most of it of high quality, and at a welcoming range of prices. 90-minute tastings can be booked online. fessparker.com

The basic wine tasting experience is available to walk-ins and costs $15 per person. Reservations are recommended for the $25 per person enhanced wine tasting experience. On Sunday mornings, visitors can also enjoy the $50 tasting and barrel room tour experience with reservations.  Open Daily | 10:00 am – 5:00 pm Fess Parker Winery & Vineyard 6200 Foxen Canyon Road Los Olivos, CA, 93441    800 841-1104 | (805) 688-1545 info@fessparker.com

6 Foley Estates

Founded by Bill Foley in the late 1990s, Foley Estates has earned a solid reputation for its ultrafine, handmade, cool-climate wines from Sta. Rita Hills. The Foley name resonates with wine enthusiasts. Bill has always had a passion for wine and did not falter when he realized his hometown region’s potential for producing top quality Chardonnay and Pinot Noir.

 Bill Foley in 1996, wine producer, marketer and distributor Foley Family Wines has added to its expansive Californian wine portfolio. The purchase of Ferrari-Carano, known for its fumé blanc, includes the winery in Dry Creek Valley; the Villa Fiore tasting room and three other tasting facilities; the PreVail Mountain Winery in Alexander Valley; and 3,183 of land, which includes 1,223 acres under vine planted across 21 sites in the Alexander Valley, Russian River Valley, Dry Creek Valley, Carneros, Mendocino Ridge and Anderson Valley AVAs. The deal also includes several residential properties, a temperature-controlled warehouse, and the estate winery garden, which is home to over 2,000 species of plant.

According to Wine Spectator, Foley is said to have paid in the region of $250m. Foley Family Wines now owns 16 wineries in California, which as well as Ferrari-Carano, include Foley Sonoma (Geyserville), Chalone Vineyard (Monterey), Foley Estates (Sta. Rita Hills), Lincourt Vineyards (Solvang), Merus (Napa Valley), Foley Johnson (Napa Valley), Kuleto (Napa Valley), Chalk Hill (Sonoma County), Sebastiani (Sonoma County), Lancaster Estate (Sonoma County), Langtry Estate (Lake County), Firestone Vineyard (Santa Ynez Valley), Eos Winery (Paso Robles), Roth Estate Winery (Sonoma County), Banshee (Sonoma County). The group also owns Three Rivers in Walla Walla, Washington, and two wineries in Oregon: Acrobat and The Four Graces. It has a subsidiary company in New Zealand which controls wineries including Vavasour (Marlborough), Clifford Bay (Marlborough), Grove Mill (Marlborough), Dashwood (Marlborough), Martinborough Vineyard (Martinborough), Te Kairanga (Martinborough), and Mt. Difficulty (Bannockburn, Central Otago).

After a scrupulous search, he decided to purchase the rolling Rancho Santa Rosa Vineyard in the western reaches of Santa Ynez Valley. Soon thereafter, he purchased Rancho Las Hermanas Vineyard and divided it into two separate vineyard sites. He named the sites after his two daughters: the first, Lindsay’s and Courtney’s Vineyard East and the second, Lindsay’s and Courtney’s Vineyard West. These vineyard names are important to remember, because they represent one of California’s preeminent producers of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay from the cool-climate Sta. Rita Hills AVA.

For wine enthusiastic , Foley Estates is an instant favorite. They travel down a beautiful tree-lined drive through the property to the stunning tasting room. The tasting room building measures an expansive 3,500 square feet, including an enchanting event center for weddings and other memorable events.

Just last year, Lorna Kreutz became the winery’s Director of Winemaking. As a self-professed Pinot Noir oenophile, she has truly found her home at Foley Estates in the Sta. Rita Hills. This stunning vineyard corridor offers visitors so much— from its beautiful mountain ranges, coastal oaks, and contoured hillside vines, to its amazing wines. Foley Estates welcomes guests to drop in or make a reservation for a guided wine and cheese pairing featuring six Foley wines paired with artisan cheeses and breads. Wine lovers who have stopped to taste the wines are the first to say that a visit to the Sta. Rita Hills isn’t complete without a leisurely stop at Foley Estates.

Foley Estates 6121 E Hwy 246 Lompoc, CA 93436  Phone: 805.737.6222 Email: tastingroom@foleywines.com Web Site:  foleywines.com www.foleywines.com

Foley’s 3,500-square foot, and very comfortable Lompoc tasting room is a familiar stop for Sta. Rita Hills wine tourists. Foley’s Pinots and Chardonnays may get most of the attention, but don’t overlook the rosé of Grenache. Tastings are by reservation only, daily from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., and can be booked online. While you’re on their website, make sure to check out their roster of events; the Mother’s Day brunch, for example, looks fantastic. 

7 Carr Winery

Carr Vineyards & Winery is a small, handcrafted winery producing 4500 cases in downtown Santa Barbara. Owner and winemaker Ryan Carr established the winery in 1999. All of the wines made by Carr are sourced from Santa Barbara County vineyards and are made in a traditional winemaking style to capture the essence of the grape varietal and region.  The vast microclimates of Santa Barbara County allow the winery to produce several wines including Pinot Noir, Sauvignon Blanc, Sangiovese, Grenache, Cabernet Franc and Syrah.  

Carr Winery has two locations for guests to enjoy wine tasting, wines by the glass and wine on tap:   

Carr Winery – The Barrel Room in Santa Barbara
414 N. Salsipuedes Street, Santa Barbara, CA 93103
Hours: Open daily (reservations recommended)
Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday 12:00pm – 6:00pm
Thursday, Friday, Saturday 12:00pm – 8:00pm

Carr Winery – The Warehouse in Santa Ynez
3563 Numancia Street #101, Santa Ynez, CA 93460
Hours: Friday, Saturday, Sunday, Monday 12:00pm – 6:00pm

Carr Winery has two locations for guests to enjoy wine tasting, wines by the glass and wine on tap:   

Carr Winery – The Barrel Room in Santa Barbara
414 N. Salsipuedes Street, Santa Barbara, CA 93103
Hours: Open daily (reservations recommended)
Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday 12:00pm – 6:00pm
Thursday, Friday, Saturday 12:00pm – 8:00pm

Carr Winery – The Warehouse in Santa Ynez
3563 Numancia Street #101, Santa Ynez, CA 93460
Hours: Friday, Saturday, Sunday, Monday 12:00pm – 6:00pm

8 Melville Vineyards & Winery

Founded in 1989, Melville is a family-owned and operated estate winery with its roots in Sonoma County’s Knights Valley, where Ron Melville grew high-quality and greatly sought-after grapes.  In 1997, working side by side with his father Ron and brother Brent, Chad helped to establish Melville’s Estate vineyards in the Sta. Rita Hills, a journey that began and continues to endure with tremendous passion and dedication. Since that time, Chad has received great critical acclaim for his wines. Through both his intimate knowledge of the vineyards and his relentless commitment to winemaking practices that honor tradition and the land, Chad understands the magical evolution each bottle of wine undertakes from vine to glass.

Melville Winery is a family owned and operated Estate vineyard and winery in the heart of Sta. Rita Hills. farming 120 acres of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Cold climate Syrah in the most exciting AVA in California. ! They are famous for their pinots, but you can also try some their outstanding sparkling wines. Beautiful view and lovely patio/yard made for a very enjoyable visit.

Chad Melville and his team are beyond hospitable. WInery make you feel at home every time. The environment and vibe is gorgeous, relaxing, and you never want to leave. Their wine in my opinion, is unmatched in that they use only their grapes, and take such care from growth to bottle. It is truly a special winery!

One of the region’s most sought-after labels, Melville is a popular stop for lovers of Santa Barbara Syrah, Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Fortunately, they make visiting easy.  Melville Winery  is another incredible Santa Barbara Winery with lovely Pinot Noirs and Chardonnay so bring your bring a picnic. 

5185 E. Highway 246 Lompoc, CA 93436 Ph. 805.735.7030

The Santa Barbara Tasting Lounge is open Sunday – Thursday from noon to 7 p.m. and Friday through Saturday from noon to 8 p.m.; and the tasting room at the estate winery hosts tastings Sunday through Thursday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Friday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.. $25 gets you five samples, though that fee vanishes if you purchase three bottles. melvillewinery.com

9 Grassini Family Vineyards

Voted Best Winery and Best Tasting Room by the readers of both the Santa Barbara Independent and the Santa Barbara News-Press! Family owned and operated winery and vineyard with a love for the land and a commitment to making the finest wines that vineyard can produce. If you’re a fan of Cabernet Sauvignon, Sauvignon Blanc and other Bordeaux wines, this winery is your spot!

Instead of joining the rest of the family at church on Sundays, Larry Grassini’s grandfather Articondo Grassini was more religious about keeping a garden. Articondo came to the United States from Pisa, Italy in the early 1900s with his wife Afiora Tinucci. He would stay home on Sundays to make that evening’s ravioli from the green bounty of his garden, while enjoying a glass of wine (or two)…. He also kept several chickens as part of his garden. As a nod to Grandpa Articondo, industrious fowl roam our vineyard while sustainably fertilizing the vines.

New tasting room in the Historic El Paseo center in the heart of the Presidio Neighborhood, just steps off State Street to try  estate-grown wines for yourself! Spacious tasting room features a crackling fireplace indoors, and a sun-soaked outdoor patio, creating the ideal space for guests to enjoy a glass or two in Santa Barbara’s evolving Presidio Neighborhood. They’re dog-friendly, so bring Fido, but on a leash, please.

Larry’s father Leo Peter Grassini—when not making ravioli on Sundays—was equally passionate about keeping a garden to grow much of the family’s food. He shared his love for the soil with his children and grandchildren, and this firmly-entrenched tradition has been lovingly passed on and extended to include a vegetable garden that has been planted at the vineyard.

These earthy traditions have now been entrusted to the third and fourth generations. From day one, Larry’s wife Sharon and daughters Katie, Corey, Mandy and Molly have been there in support of this exciting and enriching undertaking. At Grassini Family Vineyards and Winery, our extended family’s passion for beauty, the commitment to hard work and a memorable place all come together to make the wine in bottles bearing our family’s label something special. It is our hope that you will enjoy the poetry of the wine and its sense of place and tradition with your friends and family. Articondo would have been proud.

If you haven’t sipped your fill, continue down the walkable Urban Wine Trail, which consists of 28 different tasting rooms within a few blocks of each other, and stop at Grassini Family Vineyards. The owners purchased the property in the 1980s but can trace their family history back to Italy, and their wines speak to this heritage. But what’s wine without a little chocolate on the side? For a perfect cap to his afternoon exploring Santa Barbara, Burgess heads to Twenty-Four Blackbirds to meet with founder Mike Orlando, who started off as a chemist but got sucked into chocolate-making by a fascination with the treat’s origins. You’ll have to watch the episode to find out the origin of the chocolate shop’s name — and to see what Orlando is growing in the back. If your mouth is watering, book your own trip to Santa Barbara here.

Grassini Family Vineyards: Tasting Room: 24 El Paseo Santa Barbara, CA (805) 897-3366 *Open Daily from 12pm – 6pm, with the final seating at 5pm

10 Zaca Mesa Winery

It has been 41 years since Zaca Mesa Winery & Vineyards first broke ground in the northern reaches of Santa Barbara County’s Santa Ynez Valley. From its earliest days, this pioneering winery has cultivated superior quality grapes from its well-drained mesa soils. 

After two decades of experimentation with planting numerous varieties—including Santa Barbara County’s first Syrah in 1978—it was evident that Zaca Mesa was a particularly sweet spot for grapes from the Rhône Valley of France. Since 1997, this Los Olivos winery has replaced more than half of its original vines with a high density planting of new rootstock and clone combinations. Home to the oldest Syrah vines on the Central Coast, the Black Bear Syrah Block vines, Zaca Mesa now has nine clones of Syrah and the greatest number of high density vineyard acres in the county.

All Zaca Mesa wines are estate grown and bottled. No grapes are bought or sold from other vineyards. The winery wholeheartedly embraces the California Code of Sustainable Winegrowing to achieve balance in the vineyard and view the estate as one living, breathing system. Under the leadership of Winemaker Eric Mohseni, the wines are crafted using traditional methods to express the unique spirit of the land and their vintage.

The wines have enjoyed the spotlight often. Zaca Mesa wines have been served by President Clinton at a White House state dinner and at President Reagan’s 80th birthday party. The 1993 Estate Syrah was listed #6 in Wine Spectator’s Top 100 Wines of 1995; and more recently, the 2006 Estate Syrah was listed #29 in 2010.

Those who have the opportunity to visit Zaca Mesa’s tasting room come to appreciate the wines even more. The knowledgeable tasting room staff is quick to engage guests in a lively education on Rhône varietals as they taste their way through the wines. Outside, a short hiking trail leads up the mesa to a great viewing point where they can admire the estate vineyards where all Zaca Mesa’s superb wines are born. 

One of Santa Barbara County’s trailblazers, Zaca Mesa continues to produce fine Rhône-style wines at relatively gentle prices. The winery offers a wide range of tasting experiences, from Mixed Flight and Reds-Only Flight tastings in the courtyard to the Reserve Flight at The Lounge and Courtyard, and beyond. You can even book the tables beneath The Vineyard Oak Tree if you’d like to open full bottles with your family and friends. Reservations are available online. zacamesa.com