Santa Barbara Wineries

Santa Barbara Wineries History

Santa Barbara County has a history of winemaking and winegrape growing stretching back more than 200 years to before California was a state (Father Junipero Serra brought grapevine cuttings from Mexico in 1782 to be planted). Actually, California as a whole got its first grapes from the missionaries coming up from Mexico—not the Italians—and they called the original grapes "Mission" grapes for this reason.

Popularity Growth

The movie Sideways brought huge popularity to this wine region. The entire movie was shot in this area and focused on many Santa Barbara wineries. Before Sideways this place was quiet, small and not as busy as other places like Napa or even Sonoma. Everything changed, literally overnight and the region became a destination for many wine fans from across the country (and the world). These otherwise normally small, "mom and pop" type places all of the sudden had tour busses showing up with hordes of people clamoring for Pinot Noir—just like Myles in the movie. Wineries were running out of wine to sell, restaurants were packed and there was nowhere to stay. Nowadays it has toned down a little bit, but is still a very popular destination, especially for Pinot Noir fans. This doesn't really come as a surprise, given that there are so many wonderful Santa Barbars wineries to explore.

Planning Your Tour

First, just like any other winery area, plan your visit ahead of time. There is no possible way you can visit each and every winery in the area, so do your research ahead of time and plan where you want to go. A great place to start is by visiting the winery site for Santa Barbara County. Most wine regions have sites that tell you about the area, the wineries, the hours, what there is to do, etc…it’s a great (and free) tool to use.

Santa Barbara Winery Recommendations

• Au Bon Climat — Great winery with a wonderful winemaker, Jim Clendenen. For the price, this winery has one of the best Pinot Noir’s for under $20. Solid wines and good people.

• Beckman — This place is a gem of a find if you really like Rhone varietals. The winery now produces a full line of estate grown Rhône varietals including Syrah, Grenache, Grenache Blanc, Grenache Rosé, Marsanne and Cuvée Le Bec (a blend of Grenache, Mourvedre, Syrah and Counoise). You don’t get to try these often in California, so this is a great opportunity to learn more about these unusual grapes.

• Fess Parker — Yeah, Davey Crocket has his own winery. It’s one of the largest wineries in the area, actually. The wines are good (try the Frontier Red—an inexpensive red wine blend that is delicious for the price) but this is a great stop for fans of Sideways. The scene where Myles downs the spit bucket was actually filmed at this winery, so it’s kind of fun to retrace his steps.

• Foxen Vineyards — This place is wonderful! Tastings are conducting in a small barn and the family is quite proud of their wines (and they should be). Their Pinot Noir is one of the best in the area…balanced, full of flavor and not overpriced. The winery is located on a small country lane making it a beautiful drive.

• Hitching Post Winery — Gray Hartley and Frank Ostini. Those names are well-known in this region! These guys not only make great wines, they also own a restaurant where their wine and other from the region are showcased. In the movie Myles goes to this restaurant frequently and drinks at the bar and meets Maya where she is a server. Try the “Highliner” Pinot in which these guys are famous for.

• Andrew Murray — This place is all about Syrah. If you like big, bold, dark and age worthy Syrahs, this is your place. These wines are intense and meant to last a long time. They are well sought after, so call ahead to check on availability.

• Melville Cellars — The Chardonnay at Melville Cellars is pleasantly suprising. It was inexpensive, balanced, and had plenty of fruit and acid. Their Pinot Noirs are wonderful too and the winemaker is passionate about what he is doing. The setting is fabulous—a Mediterranean villa, which makes for a great setting for picnics or a bottle purchase to be enjoyed outside.

Be Open to New Experiences

Although these are just a few suggestions, take your time and really plan your trip. Try new wineries and open yourself up to new experiences. Ask the locals there where to go—tasting room staff know where the good wineries are or if a particular winery is doing something special that day, so DO ask! Enjoy your own Sideways tour of Santa Barbara!