Santa Barbara County Wineries
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