Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Wineries
The big-name appellations for Santa Barbara's Wine Country are the Santa Ynez Valley,
Santa Maria Valley and Santa Rita Hills, plus smaller Happy Canyon and upstart Ballard
Canyon. Wine-tasting rooms abound in Los Olivos and Solvang, handy for anyone with
limited time.
The Santa Ynez Valley, where you'll find most of the wineries, lies south of the Santa
Maria Valley. Hwy 246 runs east-west, via Solvang, across the bottom of the Santa Ynez
Valley, connecting Hwy 101 with Hwy 154. North-south secondary roads bordered by vine-
yards include Alamo Pintado Rd from Hwy 246 to Los Olivos, and Refugio Rd between
Santa Ynez and Ballard.
A half-day trip will allow you to see one winery or tasting room, have lunch and return to
Santa Barbara. Otherwise make it a full day and plan to have lunch and possibly dinner be-
fore returning to the city.
WINE COUNTRY CELEBRATIONS
Santa Barbara Vintners
( 805-668-0881;
www.sbcountywines.com
)
publishes a free touring
map brochure of the county's vineyards and wine trails, which you can pick up at just
about any winery or visitors center, or download their free mobile app. Special events
worth planning your trip around include the
Spring Weekend
(
www.sbvintnersweekend.com
)
in mid-April and mid-October's
Celebration of Harvest
Foxen Canyon Wine Trail
The scenic
Foxen Canyon Wine Trail
(
www.foxencanyonwinetrail.com
)
runs north from
Hwy 154, just west of Los Olivos, deep into the heart of the rural Santa Maria Valley. It's a
must-see for oenophiles or anyone wanting to get off the beaten path. For the most part, it
follows Foxen Canyon Rd.
Foxen
WINERY
