Santa Ynez Valley attractions

Richard Sanford left the powerhouse winery bearing his name to start this new winery with his wife, Thekla, using sustainable, organic farming techniques. The vineyard is closed to visitors at the moment, but tastin…

Australian Mike Brown traveled halfway around the world to combine his two loves: surfing and winemaking. Try his full-bodied red blends, unusual white varietals or sweet dessert wines (the orange muscat is a crowd-…

Bring a picnic to one of the pond-side gazebos at this tranquil winery, where estate-grown Rhône varieties flourish on the unique terroir of Purisima Mountain. Biodynamic farming principles mean natural methods are …

Respected winemaker Bill Foley, who also owns Firestone Vineyards in Foxen Canyon, founded this vineyard in the 1990s on a former dairy farm. Today, the attractive, original 1926 farmhouse (built from a Sears catalo…

Wander inside what looks like an 18th-century stone farmhouse from Provence and into a cool hillside cave housing wine barrels. Sunstone crafts Bordeaux-style wines made from 100% organically grown grapes. Bring a p…

Just west of Hwy 101 by a hillside olive orchard, this casual red carriage house pours unusual Cal-Italian varietals, including a lip-puckering, fruit-forward Dolcetto and a crisp, citrusy estate-grown Cortese. Be f…

Natural beauty awaits just outside Los Olivos at this friendly, organic, family-owned farm, where purple lavender fields bloom like a Monet masterpiece, usually peaking mid-June to late July. Cruise the olive-tree-l…

Bordeaux and Rhône varieties do well in the sun-dappled limestone soil at this friendly winery best for wine-tasting neophytes and dog owners. The trellised back patio, bordering a fruit-tree orchard, is a pleasant …

Wine snobs are given the boot at this shabby-chic tasting room pouring estate-grown, small-lot Syrah, Grenache Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon and Sauvignon Blanc. Pair your wine flight with a mini-cupcake and watch Los Ol…

Inside a rickety 19th-century general store, this tasting room stocks rare vintages you won’t find anywhere else. Well-oiled servers are by turns loquacious and gruff, but refreshingly blunt in their opinions about …