Start Your Wine Day
Start Your Santa Ynez Valley Wine Journey With Us
We often hear from delighted first-time customers, "I wish I knew about this town sooner!" or "I pass by on the 101 freeway and never knew this was here!" We take it as a chance to spread the word about this hidden gem of a wine region, even after the popularity of the movie "Sideways."
Whether you're planning a one-day visit or a weekend escape, we recommend starting your day with us. After you taste the wines in our room and we get to know which varietals you like, we'll guide you to the wineries and tasting rooms in the Santa Ynez Valley that suit your palate. We're also a great place to get the "lay of the land" with our vineyard maps, and we'll point you to great restaurants, hotels, shopping and other local activities.
One-day itinerary
If your time is limited, there's no better place to start your day than at Taste of Santa Rita Hills. Without driving from winery to winery, you can taste a variety of top quality local wines in one seating. And we're within walking distance of other tasting rooms and restaurants. Here's a suggested one-day itinerary:
11:00 am: Taste with us in Los Olivos!
12:30 pm: Lunch in Los Olivos. There are four sit-down restaurants in town, plus a few casual spots for sandwiches, salads, pizza and coffee. (Don't forget to ask us where to get the best chocolate chip cookie!) Leave time to pop into a couple of local artisan shops.
2:15 pm: A second tasting in Los Olivos, based on your preferences.
3:30 pm: A final tasting at a vineyard. Allow a 10 to 20 minute drive to the Sta. Rita Hills for Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, or to Ballard Canyon for Syrah, Grenache and other Rhône varietals.
5:00 pm: Most wineries close by 5 pm, so make your way to dinner in Buellton, Solvang or Santa Ynez before your drive home.
Three-day itinerary
Day 1: Taste with us in Los Olivos. Based on your preferences, we'll point you to other tasting rooms, eateries and shops you can walk to, so you can stretch your legs after your drive. Have dinner at one of the four restaurants in town, or near your hotel.
Day 2: After breakfast, visit the wineries in the Sta. Rita Hills along Highway 246 and Santa Rosa Road. We can help with reservations as needed and recommend wineries that serve food, or you can pack your own lunch. We recommend dinner at a restaurant in Santa Ynez, and if you're up for some nightlife, there's a saloon with live music that stays open late.
Day 3: After breakfast (and probably checking out of your hotel), wander the shops along Copenhagen Drive in Solvang (an hour, tops). Visit one more winery before you leave, depending on which direction you're headed: Ballard Canyon or Foxen Canyon Road for Rhône varietals, Happy Canyon for Bordeaux varietals, or the little town of Los Alamos if you're headed north.
Planning your visit
Can you visit Santa Ynez Valley wine country in one day?
Yes. Start with a tasting at Taste of Santa Rita Hills in Los Olivos at 11 am, have lunch in town, do a second tasting in Los Olivos, then finish at a vineyard 10 to 20 minutes away. Most wineries close by 5 pm.
Where should I start a day of wine tasting in the Santa Ynez Valley?
Start at our tasting room in Los Olivos. You can taste a variety of top quality local wines in one seating, and once we know which varietals you like, we'll point you to the wineries and tasting rooms that suit your palate.
Where should I go for Pinot Noir, Syrah or Bordeaux varietals?
The Sta. Rita Hills for Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, Ballard Canyon or Foxen Canyon Road for Syrah, Grenache and other Rhône varietals, and Happy Canyon for Bordeaux varietals.
How do I get to the Santa Ynez Valley?
From Santa Barbara, drive northwest on Highway 154 for approximately 35 miles. This is a curvy, uphill route through scenic mountains and past Lake Cachuma. Alternatively, take Highway 101 along the coast for a straighter, but slightly longer, route.
From Paso Robles, drive south on Highway 101 for approximately 90 miles.
