Home to more than 220 wineries and more than 23,000 acres of vineyards, Santa Barbara wine country is one of the fastest-growing viticultural regions in the USA. Here are our five tips to have your own adventure in the region.
With the east-west running mountains ranges of Santa Ynez and San Rafael, the region has as an unusual advantage for growing the grape.
Fog and cool ocean air is funnelled from the Pacific Ocean to the vines through the east-west mountain orientation.
This ultimately moderates temperatures and extends the growing season so that grapes of exceptional ripeness, flavour and balance are produced.
The result? World-class wines of distinctive character.
Santa Barbara wine country has six appellations – Ballard Canyon, Happy Canyon, Santa Maria Valley, Santa Rita Hills, Santa Ynez Valley and Los Olivios District.
Almost half of the grapes grown in these appellations are used by local vintners to produce splendid varietals including chardonnay, pinot noir, shiraz, sauvignon blanc, cabernet sauvignon and riesling.
With breathtaking vistas overlooking valleys and brilliant wild flowers and magnificent vineyards, it’s no wonder people from the planet over are drawn to this part of the world to smell for tannin tasting.
Thirsty to know more? Read on for our top five tips to experience Santa Barbara’s Wine country.
1. Dedicate a whole day to Santa Barbara Wine Country, and a night
Los Olivos Wine Country_credit Visit Santa Barbara
With over 220 wineries and a myriad of tasting rooms, you could easily spend a week venturing around and sipping the nectar of Santa Barbara’s vine.
A visit to just four or five wineries will see you filling out a full day!
An overnight stay is always recommended to really soak it all in and there are many places to stay in the region – from village inns to luxury resorts and spas.
And to put the cherry on top, Santa Barbara Wine Country has a real thriving culinary scene so dining out is a treat. As they say – where there is good wine, there are great chefs!
2. Plan ahead
Mapping out a route for the day comes highly recommended – you may wish to visit wineries that are 80 kilometres apart.
It’s also a great idea to check the tasting room hours, as there’s nothing worse than missing out due to a badly timed visit.
Assign a dedicated driver or better yet, leave the driving to someone else!
There are many transportation companies in Santa Barbara Wine Country if you prefer to leave the driving to someone else.
3. Fill your petrol tank before you head out to the country
Los Olivos Wine. Photo Credit: J Sinclair
This might sound funny to some, but there’s nothing worse than being stranded in the middle of nowhere without petrol (or maybe being bound to the vine is your dream come true?)
The distances between service stations in Santa Barbara may be spread out in the region you’ll visiting, so if you’re embarking on a self-drive tour, ensure you fill the tank before you set off.
4. Check the events calendar
Santa Barbara Vineyards. Photeo credit: Visit Santa Barbara
If being a top destination for tickling the taste-buds wasn’t enough, there is usually something special happening in Santa Barbara’s wine country year round!
One of the region’s most renowned events is the upcoming Celebration of Harvest Festival, which will kick-off October 7 for four days to celebrate the region’s annual harvest.
For upcoming events in Santa Barbara’s wine region, click here.
5. Pushed for time? Enjoy Santa Barbara’s Urban Wine trail
Wine pour. Photo Credit: J Sinclair
For those who simply cannot make it out to Santa Barbara Wine Country but don’t want to miss out on a good sampling of what the region has to offer, fear not!
Downtown Santa Barbara’s Funk Zone has an array of boutique tasting rooms amidst cafes, galleries and shops.
The Urban Wine Trail, consisting of 20+ tasting rooms, invites visitors and locals alike to taste some of the finest wines produced in the region, all within blocks of downtown and the beach.
