The best Santa Ynez wineries span the whole valley. Plan three or four a day. Start at Sunstone or Firestone at 11am, eat lunch in Los Olivos, then walk between Stolpman and Brewer-Clifton. Pinot people should head west to Melville or Sanford. Tastings run about $25 to $40. Book weekends, and a driver.
The short version
- Pacing yourselvesThree or four wineries
- Morning peopleAn estate at 11am, like Firestone
- Strolling the afternoonStolpman and Brewer-Clifton in Los Olivos
- Counting the costTastings run about $25–40
This week
- Nov6–8Buellton Fall Festival · Visit Buellton
Avenue of the Flags; Fri 4-10pm, Sat-Sun 12-10pm; carnival rides, live music on two stages; Ales on the Avenue beer and wine tasting Sat (tickets) · Free · by City of Buellton
- FriNov 6NatureTrack Film Festival · Visit NatureTrack Foundation
8th annual; reception 6pm, program 6:45pm at the SYV Grange Hall · $25 · by NatureTrack Foundation
- SatNov 7Alma Rosa Fall Harvest Dinner · Visit Alma Rosa Winery
Winery event; check access on the listing · Not published · by Alma Rosa Winery
- SatNov 7SYV Historical Museum Vaquero Benefit Dinner & Auction · Visit Santa Ynez Valley Historical Museum
42nd annual · Tickets (early bird from Aug 1) · by Santa Ynez Valley Historical Museum
Quick facts
- On this list
- 11 places in Refugio Road, Outside Santa Ynez, Los Olivos, Edge of Solvang and 3 more towns
- Book online
- 5 places take online bookings
- Walk-ins
- 6 places
- Dogs welcome
- 6 places
- Good with kids
- Sunstone Winery, The Brander Vineyard and Roblar Winery & Vineyards
- Open Sunday
- Firestone Vineyard and Melville Winery
- Open Monday
- Firestone Vineyard and Melville Winery
- List updated
- Oct 18, 2026
Counted from the listings below. Check hours and booking with each place.
Map
Map loads here. Each listing also has a Directions link.
Scroll the list and the map follows.
The best wineries
This is a valley-wide shortlist: two or three per area, so you can build a day. Staying in the town of Santa Ynez itself? The estates a few minutes from Sagunto Street are just below. For deeper lists by area, see Los Olivos tasting rooms, Solvang wine tasting, the Foxen Canyon Wine Trail and the Sta. Rita Hills. If you're choosing by experience (views, food, kids), see the best Santa Barbara County wineries.
The shortlist at a glance: area, tasting, time
| Winery | Area | Tasting | Allow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sunstone Winery | Refugio Road | $30 | |
| Gainey Vineyard | Outside Santa Ynez | $30 | 60–70 min |
| Buttonwood Farm Winery & Vineyard | Edge of Solvang | $30 | 90 min |
| Stolpman Vineyards | Los Olivos | $25 | |
| Brewer-Clifton (By Greg Brewer) | Los Olivos | $25–35 | 60–90 min |
| Firestone Vineyard | Foxen Canyon | $25 Estate Tasting Flight | |
| Melville Winery | Sta. Rita Hills | $35 | |
| Sanford Winery & Vineyards | Santa Rosa Road | $40 | ~60 min |
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Bazzy11, CC BY-SA 4.0 Editor's pickEstate courtyard & caves · Refugio Road
Sunstone WineryBook
93 pts Wine Enthusiast on the 2022 Teddy's
Taste among lavender and rosemary in the courtyards, or down in the barrel-aging stone caves. Sunstone says its estate transports visitors to the Provençal countryside, and the big lawn has picnic tables shaded by olive and oak trees. Dogs and children are both allowed, so it's the easiest pick for a mixed group.
Go if you want a picnic lawn and barrel caves.
- Open
- Daily 11am–5pm, last seating 4pm
- Fee
- $30
- Booking
- Reservations optional (recommended weekends)
- Getting there
- On Refugio Rd, about 5 min by car from Sagunto St in Santa Ynez
Go with The dog · The kids
More details
Connections Sunstone's courtyard has hosted some famous I-dos: Mark-Paul Gosselaar (2012), Pitch Perfect's Anna Camp and Skylar Astin (2016), JoJo Fletcher and Jordan Rodgers (May 2022) and Sarah Hyland and Wells Adams (Aug 2022). Source
Press Wine Enthusiast gave its 2022 Teddy's 93 points. Wine Enthusiast
Dogs: Dogs allowed
- Food
- Picnic lawn
- 5-wine flight $30; wine by the glass and bottle
- Reservations optional, strongly recommended on weekends
- Groups of 11+ must book a private tasting
- Dogs and children allowed (ID required to taste)
125 N Refugio Rd, Santa Ynez, CA 93460 · 805-688-9463
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Courtesy of Gainey Vineyard, Press kit Editor's pickEstate terraces · Outside Santa Ynez
Gainey Vineyard
94 pts Wine Enthusiast on the 2021 Pinot Noir (Sta. Rita Hills)
Two minutes from downtown Santa Ynez, the Gainey family's Home Ranch pours on outdoor terraces over the vines, or in the barrel room if the weather turns. Buy a cheese and charcuterie board, and with a glass or bottle you can picnic on the lawn, where dogs are welcome.
Go if you want a picnic on the lawn with the dog.
- Open
- Visit takes 60–70 min
- Fee
- $30
- Booking
- Walk-ins welcome
- Getting there
- On Highway 246 east of town, about 4 min by car from Sagunto St
Go for A picnic · The views
More details
Press Wine Enthusiast gave its 2021 Pinot Noir (Sta. Rita Hills) 94 points. Wine Enthusiast
Dogs: Vineyard View Lawn (by-the-glass/bottle)
- Food
- Cheese & charcuterie boards
- Allow
- 60–70 min
- Flight of Limited Selection estate wines $30; allow 60–70 minutes
- Reservations and walk-ins welcome, based on availability
- Dogs welcome on the Vineyard View Lawn with a glass or bottle
- Cheese & charcuterie boards, demi baguettes; picnic on the lawn with wine purchase
3950 E Hwy 246, Santa Ynez, CA 93460 · 805-688-0558
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Courtesy of Buttonwood Farm Winery & Vineyard, photo by Heather Daenitz, Press kit Outdoor farm tasting · Edge of Solvang
Buttonwood Farm Winery & VineyardBook
Olives, pomegranates and peaches surround the tasting room on this 107-acre farm with a 42-acre vineyard. Tastings are outdoors and tableside and take a full 90 minutes, so give it a whole morning or afternoon slot. Book ahead at weekends.
Go if you want a garden tasting and a horseback ride on the same day.
- Open
- Visit takes 90 min
- Fee
- $30
- Booking
- Walk-ins space permitting
- Getting there
- On Alamo Pintado Rd north of the village, about 2 min by car from Copenhagen Dr
Go for A drop-in visit
More details
- Allow
- 90 min
- $30 for a 90-minute tableside tasting
- Outdoor tastings 11am–4pm daily
- Walk-ins space permitting; reservations encouraged on weekends
1500 Alamo Pintado Road, Solvang, CA 93463 · 805-688-3032
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Los Olivos · $25 · Los Olivos
Stolpman Vineyards
The in-town tasting room for Stolpman's limestone estate, which the family calls one of the greatest vineyard sites on earth. It's one of the cheaper tastings in town, but book ahead: walk-ins are only taken when there's space.
Go if you want a top-tier estate at one of the cheaper tastings.
- Fee
- $25
- Booking
- Book ahead; limited walk-ins
More details
Connections Sashi Moorman runs Sandhi, Domaine de la Côte and Evening Land, owns Piedrasassi, and was Stolpman's winemaker from 2001. Co-founder Raj Parr split off in Oct 2025 and now farms Phelan Farm in Cambria, a worth-the-drive day trip north. Source
- Tasting $25 (free for club members)
- Reservations strongly encouraged; walk-ins on a limited basis
2434 Alamo Pintado Avenue, Los Olivos, CA 93441 · 805-688-0400
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Los Olivos · $25–35 · Los Olivos
Brewer-Clifton (By Greg Brewer)Book
Greg Brewer has spent more than thirty years making Sta. Rita Hills Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, and this is where you taste them without driving out to the hills. The signature flight takes 60–90 minutes, so give it a proper slot. It's closed Monday and Tuesday.
Go if Pinot and Chardonnay are your thing and you have time for a proper flight.
- Open
- Visit takes 60–90 min
- Fee
- $25–35
- Booking
- Appointments preferred; walk-ins welcome
Go for A drop-in visit
More details
Connections Greg Brewer co-founded Brewer-Clifton in 1996 and was Melville's winemaker from day one in 1997 through 2015. Diatom, his stripped-back Chardonnay label, is the side project. Source
- Allow
- 60–90 min
- Signature Sta. Rita Hills flight $35 (60–90 min); Different Dialects tasting $25
- Appointments preferred, walk-ins welcome
2367 Alamo Pintado Avenue, Los Olivos, CA 93441 · 805-866-6080
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Foxen Canyon · $25 Estate Tasting Flight · Foxen Canyon
Firestone Vineyard
On Zaca Station Road at the Los Olivos end of the trail. Firestone is open daily and takes walk-ins, which makes it the easiest first stop if you haven't booked anything.
Go if you haven't booked anything yet.
- Open
- Open every day. Open daily 11am–5pm
- Fee
- $25 Estate Tasting Flight
- Booking
- Walk-ins welcome
- Getting there
- Off Foxen Canyon Rd on Zaca Station Rd, about 18 min by car from Grand Ave in Los Olivos
Go for A drop-in visit
More details
- Walk-ins welcome as space allows
5017 Zaca Station Road, Los Olivos, CA 93441 · 805-688-3940
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Editor's pickEstate winery · Sta. Rita Hills
Melville WineryBook
98 pts JebDunnuck.com on the 2021 Donna's Block Syrah
Five pours of cold-climate Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Syrah, farmed organically and sustainably, on Highway 246. You can book ahead. Not driving out? Melville also has a tasting lounge in Santa Barbara at 120 State St.
Go if cool-climate wine is your thing and you want an estate visit.
- Open
- Open every day. Sun–Thu 11am–4pm; Fri & Sat 11am–5pm
- Fee
- $35
- Booking
- Vineyard tours by reservation
- Getting there
- Out on Highway 246, about 12 min by car from Old Town Lompoc
More details
Connections Greg Brewer co-founded Brewer-Clifton in 1996 and was Melville's winemaker from day one in 1997 through 2015. Diatom, his stripped-back Chardonnay label, is the side project. Source
Press Jeb Dunnuck gave its 2021 Donna's Block Syrah 98 points. JebDunnuck.com
- Estate Tasting Flight $35, 5 pours
5185 E Highway 246, Lompoc, CA 93436 · 805-735-7030
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“Perennial top performers in Santa Barbara County”
Wine Spectator, Aug 28 2025 Pioneer estate · Santa Rosa Road
Sanford Winery & VineyardsBook
Wine Spectator Wine Spectator profile of the Sta. Rita Hills' Pinot Noir pioneer
This is where the AVA began. The Sanford & Benedict vineyard, planted in 1971, was the first in the region. Today the estate on Santa Rosa Road offers seated tastings, from the standard estate flight to single-block Pinot Noir comparisons.
Go if you care about history and want to compare single-block Pinots.
- Open
- Visit takes ~60 min
- Fee
- $40
- Booking
- Open daily 10am–4pm; reservations recommended, walk-ins welcome
- Getting there
- Out on Santa Rosa Rd, about 22 min by car from Old Town Lompoc
Go with The dog
More details
Connections Richard Sanford planted Sanford & Benedict in 1971, the first vineyard in what became the Sta. Rita Hills. After the Terlato family took control of Sanford Winery in the mid-2000s, he and Thekla Sanford started Alma Rosa in 2005. Today the Terlatos farm the old vineyard, and both wineries carry the story. Source
Press Wine Spectator profile of the Sta. Rita Hills' Pinot Noir pioneer: "perennial top performers in Santa Barbara County". James Molesworth, Wine Spectator, Aug 28 2025
- Allow
- ~60 min
- Estate Tasting $40, about 60 minutes
- Dogs welcome; under-21s must be on the reservation
5010 Santa Rosa Road, Lompoc, CA 93436 · 805-735-5900
Santa Ynez wineries near town
Santa Ynez is one small town in the valley, with Sagunto Street at its center and the Maverick Saloon on it since 1963. Sunstone and Gainey from the shortlist are 4 to 5 minutes out. These three round out the estates near town, and here's how all five compare:
| Winery | Tasting | Walk-ins | Food | Kids | Dogs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sunstone Winery | $30 | Reservations optional (recommended weekends) | Picnic lawn | Kids allowed | Dogs allowed |
| Gainey Vineyard | $30 | Walk-ins welcome | Cheese & charcuterie boards | Vineyard View Lawn (by-the-glass/bottle) | |
| The Brander Vineyard | From $25 | Walk-ins always welcome | Charcuterie; outside food welcome | Kid friendly | Dog friendly |
| Roblar Winery & Vineyards | Varies (book online) | Walk-ins as possible; book Thu–Sun | Full restaurant, 7 days | Kid friendly | Outside, leashed |
| Brave & Maiden Estate | $55 | By appointment | Pre-order cheese & charcuterie | Tell them when booking | Seated outside; tell them when booking |
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Château patio · Refugio Road
The Brander Vineyard
Brander has been making Sauvignon Blanc since 1975, and its all-white flight of five estate wines is the reason to come. You sit on the château patio, built in 1980, or in the courtyard. It's the most relaxed winery on this list: dogs and kids are welcome, and you can bring your own food.
- Fee
- From $25
- Booking
- Walk-ins always welcome
Go for Patio time
More details
Dogs: Dog friendly
- Food
- Charcuterie; outside food welcome
- Mixed or All-White flight from $25; charcuterie offered
- Reservations appreciated, walk-ins always welcome; up to 8 per party (call for 9+)
- Dog & kid friendly; outside food welcome
- Closed New Year's Day, Easter, Thanksgiving and Christmas
2401 N Refugio Rd, Santa Ynez, CA 93460 · 805-688-2455
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Winery restaurant · Outside Santa Ynez
Roblar Winery & Vineyards
95 pts Wine Enthusiast on the 2023 Cabernet Franc Reserve
The pick if you want a proper meal with your tasting. Roblar runs a full restaurant with produce from its own farm next door, serving lunch every day, brunch on Sundays and dinner on Thursdays and Fridays. Dogs are allowed outside on a leash, and kids are welcome. The Farm to Fork Winery Tour runs Friday and Saturday ($95).
Go if you want a real meal with your tasting.
- Open
- Tasting & lunch Mon–Sat 11am–5pm; Sunday brunch 10am–4pm; dinner Thu & Fri
- Fee
- Varies (book online)
- Booking
- Walk-ins as possible; book Thu–Sun
- Getting there
- On Roblar Ave at Hwy 154, about 9 min by car from Sagunto St in Santa Ynez
Go for Brunch
More details
Press Matt Kettmann gave its 2023 Cabernet Franc Reserve 95 points. Wine Enthusiast
Dogs: Outside, leashed
- Food
- Full restaurant, 7 days
- Kid friendly; dogs outside on leash; no outside food
- Walk-ins as possible; reservations strongly encouraged Thu–Sun and for 6+
- Farm to Fork Winery Tour & Tasting $95, book 24 hours ahead
3010 Roblar Ave, Santa Ynez, CA 93460 · 805-686-2603
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Private seated tastings · Refugio Road
Brave & Maiden Estate
Every tasting is a private, hosted, seated appointment, usually indoors, so treat it as the splurge. Expect Cabernet Sauvignon first, with Syrah, Grenache, Cabernet Franc and Sauvignon Blanc too, just off Highway 246 between Santa Ynez and Solvang. Mention kids or dogs when you book; dogs are seated outside.
Go if it's a splurge day and Cabernet is your thing.
- Open
- Appointments 10am–3:30pm daily; parties up to 6
- Fee
- $55
- Booking
- By appointment
- Getting there
- On Refugio Rd, about 4 min by car from Sagunto St in Santa Ynez
Go with The dog
More details
Dogs: Seated outside; tell them when booking
- Food
- Pre-order cheese & charcuterie
- Private Seated Tasting $55 (60 min); tour + tasting $100 (90 min)
- 48-hour cancellation policy
- No outside food; boards from Cailloux Cheese Shop can be pre-ordered
649 N Refugio Rd, Santa Ynez, CA 93460 · 805-693-2989
Food near town. Roblar runs a full restaurant with lunch daily, Sunday brunch and dinner on Thursdays and Fridays, using produce from its farm next door. Gainey sells cheese and charcuterie boards and lets you picnic on its lawn, and Brander offers charcuterie and welcomes outside food. Brave & Maiden is appointment only, for parties of up to six. For dinner after tasting, see Santa Ynez restaurants.
How many in a day
Three or four is realistic. Most tastings are seated and take an hour or more: Gainey suggests 60 to 70 minutes, Brewer-Clifton 60 to 90 and Buttonwood 90. Most wineries pour from about 11am until 4 or 5pm, and last seatings are often an hour before closing. Guided tours plan the same way. Stagecoach and Grapeline both include three wineries and lunch. Pick a lane: a Los Olivos day, or a Pinot day out west.
The best tasting town
Los Olivos is best if you want to walk, with more than 20 tasting rooms within a few blocks. Solvang has the most places to stay and eat, plus its own tasting rooms. Santa Ynez puts you a few minutes from the estates on Refugio Road and Highway 246. Buellton and Lompoc are the gateway to the Sta. Rita Hills. To stay over, see Los Olivos hotels, Solvang or Santa Ynez Valley hotels.
Santa Ynez Valley wine by AVA
The Santa Ynez Valley AVA is split into four sub-AVAs. From west to east, they are the Sta. Rita Hills (Melville, Sanford), Ballard Canyon (home to Rusack, which takes visitors by appointment only), the Los Olivos District and Happy Canyon of Santa Barbara. The valley runs east to west rather than north to south, which the Vintners say creates a patchwork of microclimates. The county's other AVAs are the Santa Maria Valley, at the north end of Foxen Canyon Road, and Alisos Canyon, near Los Alamos.
Do you need reservations?
For a couple on a weekday, usually not. Firestone, Gainey, Sanford and Brewer-Clifton all welcome walk-ins, and Sunstone's reservations are optional. Weekends are different: Sunstone strongly recommends booking then, as does Buttonwood, and Stolpman strongly encourages reservations at any time. The Santa Barbara Vintners say most wineries require reservations for groups of six to eight or more. Appointment-only estates like Brave & Maiden always need booking.
Getting around without driving
Nobody has to be the designated driver. You have three options. Book a wine tour: Stagecoach is $225 a person including three wineries and lunch, and Grapeline starts at $159. Rent a bike: Santa Barbara Wine Country Cycling rents bikes from $55 a day, and the Los Olivos town site notes you can rent bicycles there. Or stay in Los Olivos or Solvang and taste on foot. Don't count on ride-shares at rural wineries. FOXEN warns that pickups can be hard to get, so arrange one in advance. Santa Barbara is about 45 minutes away over Route 154 or Highway 101.
Non-drinkers and drivers
Yes, and a few tasting rooms make it easy. These are the ones whose own sites say so:
- Strange Family Tasting Room, 2933 Grand Avenue, Los Olivos: offers "nonalcoholic tasting options," and its Happiest Hours (Tuesday to Thursday, 4pm to 6pm) price zero-proof mocktails at $10, the same as a glass of still wine. Website.
- Final Girl Wines, 485 Alisal Road, Solvang: says "non-alcoholic options" are available, and virgin spritzes are $10 (flights of five wines are $25). Open daily from noon. Website.
- Sanger Family of Wines, Mission Drive, Solvang: allows outside food and non-alcoholic beverages, so a driver can bring their own. Listing.
- Analogue Room, 1693 Mission Drive, Solvang: a wine and beer bar that lists zero-proof pours. Listing.
- The Victor, Santa Ynez: not a tasting room, but its Sober Curious menu of spirit-free cocktails runs all year, so it works for the meal between tastings. Listing.
Designated-driver fees: the rooms on this list don't publish a designated-driver price or a free-driver policy. Ask when you book whether a non-drinking guest needs a reservation spot. If nobody wants to drive, book a wine tour with a driver.
By the glass or bottle
38 wineries and tasting rooms say on their own visit or booking pages that you can skip the flight and order wine by the glass or bottle. It's the move for a group with one serious taster and three people who just want to sit in the sun. Some, like Brave & Maiden and The Hilt, make it a separate reservation, so book that type rather than a tasting.
"Bottle" here means a bottle to drink on site, not one to take home. A blank cell means the page doesn't say either way.
Solvang & Buellton
| Winery | Where | Glass | Bottle on site | What the winery says |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rideau Vineyard | Solvang (Alamo Pintado Rd) | Yes | Yes | Order by the glass or bottle instead of a flight; walk-ins daily 11am–4:30pm. Source |
| Kaena Wines | Solvang (Highway 246) | Yes | Yes | Books tables for tastings, by the glass or by the bottle. Source |
| Dascomb Cellars | Solvang (Mission Dr) | Yes | Wines by the glass in the tasting room; bottles to take home. Source | |
| Final Girl | Solvang (Alisal Rd) | Yes | Glasses of wine and Spritzes from $13; open daily from noon. Source | |
| Brick Barn Wine Estate | Buellton | Yes | Bottle service settings alongside the flights. Source | |
| Hitching Post Wines | Buellton | Yes | Wine by the glass, with or without the Hitching Post 2 lunch. Source |
Santa Ynez
| Winery | Where | Glass | Bottle on site | What the winery says |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sunstone Winery | Santa Ynez | Yes | Yes | Wine by the glass and bottle, or the $30 flight; reservations optional, dogs and kids allowed. Source |
| Brave & Maiden Estate | Santa Ynez | Yes | Yes | Its own reservation type: unhosted courtyard seating for up to 90 minutes, by the glass or bottle. Source |
| Gainey Vineyard | Santa Ynez | Yes | Yes | "Wine Service by the Glass or Bottle" is a separate booking; buy a glass or bottle to picnic on the Vineyard View Lawn. Source |
| Grassini Family Vineyards | Santa Ynez (Happy Canyon) | Yes | Reserve a table for wines by the bottle outdoors; reservations required. Source | |
| Crown Point | Santa Ynez (Happy Canyon) | No | No | No: it says it isn't a tasting room or wine bar, and every visit needs a tasting reservation. Source |
Los Olivos & Foxen Canyon
| Winery | Where | Glass | Bottle on site | What the winery says |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fess Parker Winery & Vineyard | Foxen Canyon Rd | Yes | Yes | Glass or bottle on the veranda (1 to 6 online, 7 to 10 by phone); the Oak Grove allows outside food. Source |
| Andrew Murray Vineyards | Foxen Canyon Rd | Yes | Yes | "The AMV Bottle Experience": a bottle or glass at a reserved table under the oaks. Source |
| Koehler Winery | Foxen Canyon Rd | Yes | Yes | Glass, bottle or flight; Bottle Service on the Oak Terrace; kids and pets welcome. Source |
| Beckmen Vineyards | Los Olivos (Ballard Canyon) | Yes | Yes | By the glass and bottle on the deck, or bottle service at a private gazebo or dock. Source |
| Liquid Farm | Los Olivos | Yes | Yes | Flights, wines by the glass and bottle service. Source |
| Piazza Family Wines | Los Olivos | Yes | Yes | By the glass or bottle; walk-ins as space allows. Source |
| Dreamcôte Wine Co. | Los Olivos | Yes | Yes | A single taste, a glass, a bottle or takeaway. Source |
| Strange Family Vineyards | Los Olivos | Yes | Happiest Hours Tuesday to Thursday, 4–6pm: $10 still and $13 sparkling by the glass. Source | |
| Carucci Wines | Los Olivos | Yes | Buy a bottle and sit out in the Adirondack chairs. Source | |
| Rancho Sisquoc | Foxen Canyon Rd, Santa Maria | Yes | Yes | Flight, glass or bottle; 90-minute tables for up to 6. Source |
Los Alamos
| Winery | Where | Glass | Bottle on site | What the winery says |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clementine Carter Wines | Los Alamos | Yes | Yes | A glass or a bottle to share, with boards and panini from its connected sister business, Babi's Beer Emporium. Source |
| Dovecote | Los Alamos | Yes | Lakeside Bottle Service instead of a flight; no pets. Source | |
| Côtière Wines | Los Alamos (645 Bell St) | Yes | Insider tip from our founder: Côtière pours by the glass as well as flights, and the Los Alamos Tesla Supercharger is in its lot. Source |
Sta. Rita Hills & Lompoc
| Winery | Where | Glass | Bottle on site | What the winery says |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Babcock Winery & Vineyards | Highway 246, Lompoc | Yes | Yes | Two flights, or wine by the glass or bottle with snacks. Source |
| Melville Winery | Highway 246, Lompoc | Yes | Yes | A glass or bottle of current releases instead of the $35 flight. Source |
| The Hilt Estate | Santa Rosa Rd, Lompoc | Yes | Yes | "Bottle or By the Glass Reservation" on Tock for 2 to 6; 21 and over. Source |
| Dierberg Vineyard | Drum Canyon Rd, Lompoc | Yes | Flights or wines by the glass on the family- and pet-friendly patio. Source | |
| Sandhi | Lompoc | Yes | Yes | Wine by the glass and by the bottle at the counter. Source |
| Kessler-Haak Wines | Lompoc | Yes | Yes | Every current wine by the glass or bottle, with vineyard views; dogs and kids welcome. Source |
| Montemar | Lompoc Wine Ghetto | Yes | Yes | Tasting, glass or bottle in a 6,000 sq ft outdoor space. Source |
| Camins 2 Dreams | Lompoc Wine Ghetto | Yes | A tasting or a glass. Source |
Farther afield
| Winery | Where | Glass | Bottle on site | What the winery says |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Folded Hills | Gaviota (Highway 101) | Yes | Yes | Flight, glass or bottle at the Homestead Tasting Room. Source |
| El Viñero | Old Town Orcutt | Yes | Yes | A guided tasting or a glass or bottle; walk-ins, families and dogs welcome. Source |
| Carr Vineyards & Winery | Santa Barbara | Yes | Yes | Wines by the glass and on tap, bottle service and wine to go; walk-ins daily. Source |
| CrossHatch Winery | Santa Barbara | Yes | Yes | Wines by the glass and bottle service. Source |
| Margerum Wine Company / Barden | Santa Barbara | Yes | Any wine it makes by the glass, with a full kitchen. Source | |
| Pali Wine Co. | Santa Barbara (Funk Zone) | Yes | Yes | Flights, or wines by the glass or bottle. Source |
| Santa Barbara Bubbly Lounge | Santa Barbara (El Paseo) | Yes | Yes | Sparkling by the glass, full bottles or flights. Source |
Policies change, so confirm when you book. Pouring by the glass in Solvang after dark? See bars in Solvang.
When to go
Any time of year. The Santa Barbara Vintners say wineries keep regular hours year-round and close only on major holidays (Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year's Day and Easter Sunday). Weekdays are easier, because several wineries ask you to book ahead at weekends. Book several months ahead for holiday and festival weekends and for the busy summer season. The Vintners Festival is typically in October. Bringing a dog? Sunstone, Brander and Sanford welcome dogs, but the Vintners advise checking each winery's pet policy first.
Plan your day
- MorningBreakfast first: Best coffee in the Santa Ynez ValleyBy town, plus where to work
- MiddayGo tasting: Santa Barbara County wine tastingAu Bon Climat in town, or the vines
- EveningBook dinner: Find a tableTables you can book online, by occasion
- LateNight out: Solvang happy hoursSpritzes, Industry Night, 8pm deals
- OvernightFind a bed: Stay at a winery in the Santa Ynez ValleyVillas, vineyard houses, cottages
Your next move
- Then readThree or four wineries is a full day. Let someone else drive. Wine tours and drivers
- Every ThursdayWhat to eat, where to go and what to book this weekend. Get the weekend note
Good to know
How do you go wine tasting in the Santa Ynez Valley without driving? Book a tour with a driver (Stagecoach, Grapeline and others include three wineries and lunch), rent a bike, or stay in Los Olivos or Solvang and walk. Ride-shares are hard to get at rural wineries, so pre-arrange any pickup.
Can you just order a glass of wine at a Santa Ynez Valley winery without a tasting? At many, yes. Sunstone in Santa Ynez, Rideau in Solvang, Liquid Farm and Piazza in Los Olivos, and Melville and Babcock on Highway 246 all say you can order by the glass or bottle instead of a flight. Brave & Maiden and The Hilt take separate glass-or-bottle reservations. Crown Point says it does not.
When is the best time to go wine tasting in the Santa Ynez Valley? Wineries are open year-round, apart from major holidays such as Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year's Day and Easter Sunday. Weekdays are easier for walk-ins. Book months ahead for holiday and festival weekends, including the Vintners Festival, which is typically in October.
Quick answers
What are the best wineries in the Santa Ynez Valley?
For a first visit, mix one estate with a walkable town. Good estates are Sunstone or Gainey near Santa Ynez ($30 each), Firestone on the Foxen Canyon side (walk-ins), and Melville or Sanford in the Sta. Rita Hills for Pinot Noir. Then walk between Stolpman and Brewer-Clifton in Los Olivos.
How many wineries can you visit in a day?
Three or four. Seated tastings usually take 60–90 minutes (Gainey suggests 60–70, Buttonwood 90), and most wineries pour from about 11am until 4 or 5pm. Wine tours in the valley typically include three wineries plus lunch.
Which town is best for wine tasting in the Santa Ynez Valley?
Los Olivos, if you want to walk between tasting rooms, since it has more than 20 within a few blocks. Solvang has the most hotels and its own tasting rooms. Santa Ynez is the base for estates on Refugio Road and Highway 246, and Buellton and Lompoc are the gateway to the Sta. Rita Hills.
Do you need reservations for Santa Ynez Valley wineries?
For two people on a weekday, often not. Many wineries take walk-ins but recommend booking at weekends, and the Santa Barbara Vintners say most require reservations for groups of six to eight or more. Appointment-only estates, like Brave & Maiden, always need booking.
Can non-drinkers go wine tasting in the Santa Ynez Valley?
Yes. Strange Family Tasting Room in Los Olivos offers nonalcoholic tasting options and $10 zero-proof mocktails at its Tuesday to Thursday happy hour. In Solvang, Final Girl Wines pours $10 virgin spritzes, and Sanger allows you to bring outside non-alcoholic drinks.
Do designated drivers pay for wine tasting?
None of the tasting rooms we checked publishes a designated-driver fee or a free-driver policy, so ask when you book. For a driver who wants something to sip, Strange Family, Final Girl and Analogue Room all list zero-proof or non-alcoholic drinks.
Sources
tap to open
- Each winery's own website, linked in its listing above; rusack.com.
- Drive times from Sagunto Street: OpenStreetMap car routing (routing.openstreetmap.de), free flow, checked October 2026.
- Santa Barbara Vintners: sbcountywines.com (FAQ, Areas & AVAs).
- Tour and bike prices: each operator's site, as logged for our wine tours guide; losolivosca.com.
Last updated Oct 26, 2026. We list what each winery publishes. We haven't tasted at every one, and we never copy reviews. Confirm before you go.
