The Santa Ynez Valley AVA is home to beautiful views, picnic areas and thinned crowds. The wineries listed in this selection are destination wineries that are accessed from Highway 246 and Highway 154. It is possible to visit wineries located on opposite ends of the valley on the same day. Driving through the valley will take 20 minutes with favorable traffic and no stops. Many tasting rooms welcome walk-in patrons and picnicking areas for outside food. Santa Ynez Valley is home to Sideways movie locations and well known labels like Fess Parker. Many of the tasting destinations in the region host open air patios, lawn games, and themed properties. Downtown Los Olivos and Downtown Solvang are located within the region but we list them as a separate destinations on this page.
Downtown Los Olivos features award winning wine, open air patios and cowboy tasting bars. The western themes though out the town remain from the 1880’s when the Pacific Coast Railway terminated in Los Olivos. Twenty-six labels within a six block radius makes this an attractive play land for wine lovers. This location is no secret to Southern California wine enthusiasts. Buses filled with patrons make their way to this destination on weekends. Ample parking is available on city streets and shaded picnic tables are available in public park near the flag pole. Many of the themes in Los Olivos remain rustic, wineries are unable to serve meals and public toilets are potable.
Don’t let the windmills mislead you. Solvang is bustling with family tourism, eateries and local night life. Dutch themed hotel rooms downtown place visitors within walking distance to 14 different wine labels. Bed and Breakfasts that cater to food and wine enthusiasm have grown in popularity. New demographics visiting the area have created a space for tasting rooms that incorporate nontraditional wine themes. We recommend Sevtap, Cali Wine and Sort this Out Cellars for if you are looking for a non pretentious approach to wine. Check out the Wine and Beer walk every third Wednesday. It coincides with the farmers market, summer concerts in the park and discounts at local restaurants.
Uniquely placed in the center of the Santa Ynez Valley, Buellton allows access to scenic wineries and urban tasting trails. Wineries on Santa Rosa Road offer the back roads experience with thinned crowds and panoramic landscapes. If you are making a "Sideways" pilgrimage to the Hitching Post, include one of the tasting rooms on Industrial Way. Our featured photo is the new age tasting bar at Bottlest Bistro. Industrial Way is home to Kalyra's new tasting room Helix which serves sparkling whites and dessert wine. New tasting rooms for the Loring Wine Company and Margerum Wine are on Industrial Way. LWC pairs Reserve Pinot Noir with specialized shortbread cookies, which we recommend.
Located in Santa Ynez Valley Mission Saint Agnes of Rome serves as a staging area for cycling events, parades, and the 60 mile Rancheros Visitadores event. The Mission museum hosts a rich collection of paintings, vestments, manuscripts, and artifacts from the 1800’s. Entrance fee for the museum is $5, and children under 12 are free. This location is walking distance from Downtown Solvang and a great location to enjoy the sunset or get some fresh air. The grounds also include beautiful archways, a rose garden and short nature path. For more information please visit missionsantaines.org.