The diverse microclimates of the Santa Ynez Valley—known by locals as SYV—produce upwards of 50 different grape varietals, from bold Bordeaux-style reds like Cabernet Sauvignon inland to cool-climate coastal Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Wineries themselves are equally diverse, but most offer a more relaxed, family-run alternative to the larger operations of Napa in Northern California.
Wine tours from Santa Barbara allow travelers to sample a wide variety of Santa Ynez wines, all without appointing a designated driver or trying to choose from among dozens of spread-out tasting rooms.
The Santa Ynez Valley (SYV) is located in northern Santa Barbara County, about 35 miles (56 kilometers) from Santa Barbara. It includes the towns of Ballard, Buellton, Los Alamos, Los Olivos, Santa Ynez, and Solvang. The best way to explore is by car, and most wine tours include transportation.
Most wineries open midmorning and close in the late afternoon, so it's best to get an early start if you plan to visit multiple tasting rooms. Visit in the spring to see hillsides covered in greenery and wildflowers, or go in the fall to participate in annual harvest tastings and events.
With so many wineries to choose from, it can be hard to know how to plan a day of tasting in the SYV. Sunstone offers tasting flights inside a French-style château, while Fess Parker is a traveler favorite for its spacious picnic grounds and rosé of Pinot Noir. Share a bottle on the patio overlooking the vineyards at tucked-away Rusack, or sip Rhône varietals at a historic adobe tasting room at Rideau in Solvang.
