If you enjoy wine, you may start looking for wineries late spring on. Wineries, nestled in our spectacular mountain ranges and valleys, do beckon. These wineries offer a life in sync with the earth, following its rhythms, seemingly so far from the techno-crazed bustle of Silicon Valley. A glass of wine and a picnic with friends in the shade of a tree is the perfect antidote to the humdrum.

So that you can enjoy the bliss of a picnic at a winery, I have put together a list of wineries in the Santa Barbara County, a bit north of Los Angeles, that offer this facility. I have also indicated a price range for the wines.

Some wineries have two tasting rooms – one in the vineyards and another in town; others have only one, in either place. To prevent each entry from becoming unnecessarily complicated, I have not indicated the location of the tasting room. A quick look at their website will give you the answer.

Here is how I have categorized wine offerings from the Santa Barbara County Wineries:

Affordable: Below $25; mid range: $25 to $40; high end: $40 and up. Most wineries have bottles in all brackets. I’ve indicated a price range to show the predominance of wines in a certain group.

As always, please check out the winery’s website before you visit. I’ve given the best information I could find, but things change.

Aether Wine Company
Small batch wines, mid to high range
Tasting by appointment
Picnic area available
714 329-1082
www.aetherwines.com

Ampelos Cellars
Affordable to mid range
Open daily 11 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Picnics welcome
805 736-9957
www.ampeloscellars.com

Andrew Murray Vineyards
All ranges
Winery Open daily 10:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.
Terrace and picnic area available
805 686-9604
Cheese, boxed lunches upon request, truffles
www.andrewmurrayvineyards.com

Babcock Winery & Vineyards
All ranges
March to October, 10:30 a.m. – 5 p.m.; November – February, 10:30 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Picnic area available; tasting room for private events
805 736-1455
www.babcockwinery.com

Beckman Vineyards
All ranges
Daily 11 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Picnic area available through reservation
805-688-8664
www.beckmenvineyards.com

Brander Vineyard
Mar 1 to Oct 31, 11 a.m. – 5 p.m.; Nov 1 to Feb 29, 11 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Picnic area available
805 688-2455
www.brander.com

Bridlewood Estate Winery
Handcrafted wines, mid to high range
Open daily 11 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Picnic area available
800 467-4100; 805 688-9000
www.bridlewoodestatewinery.com

Buttonwood Winery
Affordable to midrange
Open daily, 11 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Picnic area available
805 688-3032
www.buttonwoodwinery.com

Cambria Estate Vineyards & Winery
Mid range
Tasting daily 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Picnic area available; cheese available for purchase
805 938-7318
www.cambriawines.com

Dierberg & Star Lane Vineyards
Mostly high end
Daily 11 a.m. – 5 p.m.,
Picnic area available
805 697-1466
www.dierbergvineyard.com

Flying Goat Cellars
Mid to high range
Thu – Mon 11 a.m. – 4 p.m.
805 736-9032
Picnic area available
www.flyinggoatcellars.com

Foxen Vineyard & Winery
Mid to high range
Daily 11 a.m. – 4 p.m.
805 937-4251
Picnic area available
www.foxenvineyard.com

Imagine Wine
Some affordable wines
Daily 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
805 688-1769
Picnic area available
www.imaginewine.com

J Ludlow Vineyard
Affordable to mid range
Daily 11 a.m. – 5 p.m.
805 688-8989
Picnic area available
www.jludlowvineyard.com

JCR Vineyard
Mostly high range
Tasting room
Picnic area available
www.jcrvineyard.com

Koehler
Affordable to mid range
Daily 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
805 693-8384
Food for purchase, picnic area available
www.koehlerwinery.com

Lafond
Open daily 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
805 688-7921
Picnic area available
www.lafondwinery.com

Melville
The whole range
Open daily 11 a.m. – 4 p.m.; Fri, Sat 11 a.m. – 5 p.m.
805 735-7030
Picnic area available
www.melvillevineyards.com

Point Concepción Wines
Affordable to high
Open Thu – Mon 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
805 691-1300
Picnic area available
Cookies available to pair with wines
www.pointconcepcionwines.com

Presqu’ile Vineyard & Winery
Mostly high end but some white wines are affordable
Open Sat – Thu 11 a.m. – 5 p.m.; Fri 11 a.m. – 6 p.m. or by appointment
805 937-8110
Picnic area available
Cheese, charcuterie, Parisian sandwich
www.presquilewine.com

Rancho Sisquoc
Affordable
Open Mon – Thu 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.; Fri – Sun 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
805 934-4332
Picnic area available
www.ranchosisquoc.com

Rideau
Mostly mid to high range
Open daily 11 a.m. – 5 p.m.
805 688-0717
Picnic area available
www.rideauvineyard.com

Rusack Vineyards
All ranges
Open 11 a.m. – 5 p.m.
805 688-1278
Picnic area available; small private events. No weddings
www.rusack.com

Sanford Winery & Vineyards
Mid to high range
Open daily 11 a.m. – 4 p.m.
805 735-5900 ext 2
Chocolate and wine pairings available
Picnic area available, private events, weddings
www.sanfordwinery.com

Santa Barbara Winery
Affordable
Open Sun – Thu 10 – 6; Fri – Sat 10 – 7
805 963-3633
Picnic area available; special events
www.sbwinery.com

Semler Wines
Mostly affordable to mid range
Fri – Tu 11:30 a.m. – 5 p.m.
805 688-8105
Picnic area available
www.malibufamilywines.net

Stolpman Vineyards
All ranges
Daily 11 a.m. – 5 p.m.
805 688-0400
Picnic area available
www.stolpmanvineyards.com

Sunstone
All ranges
Daily 11 a.m. – 5 p.m.
800 313-9463
Picnic and special events
Wine and brownie pairing. Boxed lunches available through advance reservations
www.sunstonewinery.com

Zaca Mesa
All ranges
Daily 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
805 688-9339
Picnic area available
www.zacamesa.com