Santa Barbara County Wineries: My Recommendations
Santa Barbara California, situated nearly 90 miles to the north of Los Angeles , is thought by many to be one of the most beautiful cities on the coast . Besides sweeping views of the Pacific Ocean and Santa Ynez Mountains, Santa Barbara offers imbibers access to the outstanding wineries located in the nearby Santa Ynez Valley, in the southern most part of the Central Coast viticultural region.
Central Coast wines, especially wines produced in the Santa Barbara area , have steadily won recognition and acclaim for their consistently high quality . But it is not only the quality of the wine that has been raised , there has also been a huge increase in the number of wineries in the area . Santa Barbara County now boasts over 200 wineries, in four appellations : Santa Ynez Valley, Sta. Rita Hills, Happy Canyon of Santa Barbara, and Santa Maria Valley. The great variety of wine makers presents a conundrum for the wine tourer : Of all the many wineries to select from, which ones are the best to visit?
To narrow things down a bit, Santa Ynez Valley is the best of the four appellations for a wine tasting tour because it has the highest concentration of wineries and is located the nearest to the city of Santa Barbara– by leaps and bounds the most interesting place to stay in the area .
For many , the 2004 flick Sideways put the Santa Ynez Valley on the map. There is even a literal “Sideways map,” available online or from the local tourist information office, which guides you to all of the locations that Miles and Jack made on their desperate road trip of wine tasting and midlife angst. But, even though the Sideways locations made for exciting theater and filming, they are not necessarily the best places to drink great wines.
So, If you can’t wait to sip the great wines the area can offer , who should you turn to for the skinny on which wineries pour out the best vino ? The most likely individual, of course , would be a well-informed native . By happenstance , I happen to be on excellent terms with exactly such an individual . By a happy coincidence, my father–for some years the president of the Santa Barbara Wine Society–has been visiting Santa Barbara County wineries to have a taste or two of their merchandise for the past 45 years, during which time the Santa Barbara wine industry grew from practicaly nonexistent to being the wine lover’s mecca it is today. His recommendations follow :
“The very best winery in Santa Barbara city is Jaffurs Wine Cellars, on Montecito Street near Milpas. It is kind of funky, but they make truly outstanding syrah and you will often be able to talk to the winemakers. The rest are over in Santa Ynez Valley, and for ambiance and good wine I would suggest Gainey Vineyards (both reds and whites), Sunstone Winery (reds), Blackjack Ranch Vineyards (reds), and Rideau Vineyard (reds and whites). These wineries are all situated not too far from each other. The best places for wine and a picnic lunch are Beckman Vineyards (reds) and Rideau. I would suggest Kalyra (reds and whites) in the valley (it’s near Sunstone) to the younger set because it’s fun, but a bit noisy. For someone who wants to drive further out, I would recommend Brander Vineyard (whites), Curtis Winery (whites), Fess Parker Winery (reds and whites), and Zaca Mesa (reds).”
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