Come for Pinot Noir and Chardonnay from the cool western end of the valley, between Buellton and Lompoc. Drive the Highway 246 and Santa Rosa Road loop for Melville, Sanford, Peake Ranch and Lafond, and book The Hilt ahead. On a budget? Lompoc's small rooms take walk-ins, with tastings from $15.
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 7Beaver Dam Analogs workshop at Jalama Canyon Ranch · Visit White Buffalo Land Trust, with SLO Beaver Brigade and Nature's Engineers
Aimed at landowners, restoration practitioners and students. The events list calls it two-day; the event page says one full day. · $175 (limited scholarships) · by White Buffalo Land Trust, with SLO Beaver Brigade and Nature's Engineers
Go for
- Happy hour: Longoria Wines
- A patio: Spear Vineyards & Winery and Dierberg Vineyard
- Families: Peake Ranch and Montemar Wines
- A picnic: Babcock Winery & Vineyards
Map
Map loads here. Each listing also has a Directions link.
Scroll the list and the map follows.
What is the Sta. Rita Hills AVA known for?
Cold-climate Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. According to the Sta. Rita Hills Wine Alliance, the marine layer and ocean breezes move through the valley corridors between the Purisima Hills and the Santa Rosa Hills, creating "a perfect environment for growing Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and other cool climate wine grape varieties" [1]. The first vineyard, Sanford & Benedict, was planted in 1971. The AVA was granted in 2001 and covers 30,720 acres [2].
Chasing the big names, like Sea Smoke, Domaine de la Côte or The Hilt? Our cult wineries guide has verified critic scores and who takes appointments.
Where it started
Sanford & Benedict, on Santa Rosa Road, is ground zero: Richard Sanford and Michael Benedict planted it in 1971, and its cuttings went into many of the vineyards around it. Sanford lost control of Sanford Winery to the Terlato family in the mid-2000s, and he and Thekla Sanford started Alma Rosa in 2005. The Terlatos still farm the original vineyard. Taste both sides of the story at Sanford and at Alma Rosa, then see who else bottles the site in our famous vineyards list.
Cult and club-only producers (no visits)
Sea Smoke is the big Sta. Rita Hills name you can't visit. Its FAQ says: "At this time, we do not regularly offer winery visits." To buy, join the list on seasmoke.com: you start on a waitlist, active members get the Estate Chardonnay and the "Ten" and "Southing" Pinot Noirs in the first quarter, and a small fall release of "Grand" Pinot Noir and "Sea Spray" Blanc de Noirs goes to members in exceptional standing. Botella, its label from neighboring vineyards, sells on the site without the list.
In Happy Canyon, P!nk's Two Wolves Wine works the same way: no visits, wine by waitlist and allocation.
What's the highest-rated Sta. Rita Hills Pinot Noir right now?
Among the newest vintages, Babcock's 2022 Ocean's Ghost (95, Jeb Dunnuck) and Fess Parker's 2022 Sanford & Benedict (96, Jeb Dunnuck) lead the list. The 2021s from Alma Rosa, Melville and Dragonette scored higher still. We only list Pinot Noirs scoring 94 or more where the winery's own site credits the critic.
| Winery | Wine | Score | Critic | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fess Parker Winery & Vineyard | 2023 Sanford & Benedict Vineyard Pinot Noir | 94 | Wine Enthusiast | fessparker.com, as of Oct 17, 2026 |
| Fess Parker Winery & Vineyard | 2022 Sanford & Benedict Vineyard Pinot Noir | 96 | Jeb Dunnuck, JebDunnuck.com | fessparker.com, as of Oct 17, 2026 |
| Babcock Winery & Vineyards | 2022 Ocean's Ghost Pinot Noir | 95 | Jeb Dunnuck, JebDunnuck.com | babcockwinery.com, as of Oct 17, 2026 |
| Melville Winery | 2022 Anna's Block Pinot Noir | 94 | Jeb Dunnuck, JebDunnuck.com | melvillewinery.com, as of Oct 17, 2026 |
| Alma Rosa Winery & Vineyards | 2021 Caracol Pinot Noir | 97 | Jeb Dunnuck, JebDunnuck.com | almarosawinery.com, as of Oct 17, 2026 |
| Dragonette Cellars | 2021 Pinot Noir (Black Label) | 97 | Jeb Dunnuck, JebDunnuck.com | dragonettecellars.com, as of Oct 17, 2026 |
| Melville Winery | 2021 Anna's Block Pinot Noir | 97 | Matt Kettmann, Wine Enthusiast | melvillewinery.com, as of Oct 17, 2026 |
| Alma Rosa Winery & Vineyards | 2021 El Jabali Pinot Noir | 96 | Jeb Dunnuck, JebDunnuck.com | almarosawinery.com, as of Oct 17, 2026 |
| Alma Rosa Winery & Vineyards | 2021 Radian Pinot Noir | 96+ | Jeb Dunnuck, JebDunnuck.com | almarosawinery.com, as of Oct 17, 2026 |
| Presqu'ile Vineyard & Winery | 2021 Sanford & Benedict Vineyard Pinot Noir | 96 | Antonio Galloni, Vinous | presquilewine.com, as of Oct 17, 2026 |
Jeb Dunnuck published his 2024-vintage Santa Barbara County and Sta. Rita Hills reports on Sept 29, 2026. We add those scores as each winery publishes them. More: top-rated wines by area.
Which Sta. Rita Hills wineries can you visit on Highway 246 and Santa Rosa Road?
These are the estate tastings out among the vines. The Alliance suggests giving the loop two days to do it properly [3]. Pence, Spear, Dierberg and Babcock sit near the Drum Canyon Road turn, the back way to Los Alamos: see our Drum Canyon wine route. For the Santa Rosa Road side, with D'Alfonso-Curran and Vega too, drive times between every stop and day plans, see our Santa Rosa Road wine route.
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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
- Open every day. 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 for A drop-in visit
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
- 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
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Editor's pickEstate winery · Santa Rosa Road
Peake Ranch
93 pts JebDunnuck.com on the 2022 Sta. Rita Hills Chardonnay
Estate Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Syrah on Santa Rosa Road. Seated tastings run at set times, and on select Saturdays there's a guided walk through the vineyard. Kids can come if you reserve a spot in the kids zone.
- Open
- Classic Tasting $50; seatings 11am, 1pm, 3pm
- Booking
- Open daily 11am–5pm; reservations strongly recommended
- Getting there
- Out on Santa Rosa Rd, about 14 min by car from Avenue of Flags in Buellton
Go with The kids
More details
Press Jeb Dunnuck gave its 2022 Sta. Rita Hills Chardonnay 93 points. JebDunnuck.com
- Visit in the Vines walking tour $75 + 20% service charge, select Saturdays
- Kids welcome with a kids-zone reservation
7290 Santa Rosa Road, Buellton, CA 93427 · 805-688-7093
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Estate, by appointment · Santa Rosa Road
The Hilt EstateBook
Estate Pinot Noir and Chardonnay from three vineyards in the windy southwest corner of the AVA: Radian, Bentrock and Puerta del Mar. Visits are by appointment only, so book before you drive out.
- Booking
- Experiences by appointment only
- Getting there
- On Santa Rosa Rd, about 5 min by car from Old Town Lompoc
More details
Connections Matt Dees makes Jonata, The Hilt and their younger sibling The Paring. On the side he's a partner in Mail Road, a separate project farming the old Mt. Carmel Vineyard. Source
- Three estate vineyards: Radian, Bentrock, Puerta del Mar
2240 Santa Rosa Road, Lompoc, CA 93436 · 805-564-8581
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Winery & tasting room · Santa Rosa Road
Lafond Winery & Vineyards
No reservation needed, which helps on a loop where several neighbors ask you to book. The relaxed winery and tasting room on Santa Rosa Road is part of the Lafond family of Santa Barbara businesses.
- Open
- Open Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday; closed Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday. Thursday–Sunday 11am–4pm
- Booking
- Reservations welcomed, not required
- Getting there
- Out on Santa Rosa Rd, about 15 min by car from Avenue of Flags in Buellton
More details
6855 Santa Rosa Road, Buellton, CA 93427 · 805-688-7921
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Courtesy of Alma Rosa Winery, Press kit Estate, by appointment · Santa Rosa Road
Alma Rosa Estate Ranch House
Alma Rosa’s 628-acre estate ranch on Santa Rosa Road. It takes appointments daily from 10am to 4pm and now says walk-ins are welcome. Its Solvang tasting room pours the same wines.
- Open
- Estate Ranch House open by appointment, daily 10am–4pm; walk-ins welcome (site, Oct 17, 2026)
- Getting there
- Out on Santa Rosa Rd, about 14 min by car from Avenue of Flags in Buellton
Go for A drop-in visit
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
- Solvang tasting room: 1623 Mission Dr, Ste M
7250 Santa Rosa Road, Buellton, CA 93427 · 805-691-9395
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Estate ranch, by reservation · Sta. Rita Hills
Pence Vineyards & WineryBook
A 200-acre working ranch about 3 miles west of Buellton, with 45 acres of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Gamay. Every tasting is seated and led by an estate sommelier, and even the $60 Foundry includes time in the vineyard before you move into the reclaimed barn. Peacocks wander the ranch: our founder reports them, and the Santa Barbara Independent wrote about them in 2018, though Pence's own pages don't mention them. Book ahead, leave the dog at home and eat elsewhere, because there are no picnic areas.
- Open
- Open Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday; closed Tuesday. Daily 10am–4pm, closed Tuesdays; reservations required, drop-ins case by case (call 805-735-7000)
- Getting there
- On Highway 246 west of Buellton, about 5 min by car from Avenue of Flags
More details
- The Foundry $60: estate wines, vineyard time, then the barn tasting room
- The Lincoln $100: library Chardonnay and Pinot Noir in the private Heritage Room
- PerLage $100: traditional-method sparkling with caviar and small bites
- Vigneron $200: with the winemaker, barrel samples and charcuterie
- Peacocks on the ranch (owner firsthand, 2026-10-17)
- No dogs or other pets; no picnic areas; book on Tock, parties of 1–6
1909 West Highway 246, Buellton, CA 93427 · 805-735-7000
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Estate winery, by appointment · Sta. Rita Hills
Spear Vineyards & Winery
Six minutes' drive from Dierberg, just west of the Drum Canyon turn. The tasting room is new, built on the footprint and roofline of the ranch's 1920s dairy barn, and there's seated tasting on the patio among the vines too. The Signature tasting pours five wines, two Chardonnays, two Pinot Noirs and a Syrah, over about 90 minutes. The seasonal vineyard tour adds a private walk through the vineyard and winery. Adults only: Spear is 21 and over.
- Open
- Thu–Mon 10am–5pm by appointment; last start 3pm; closed Tue & Wed
- Getting there
- Out on Highway 246, about 17 min by car from Old Town Lompoc
Go for Patio time
More details
- Signature tasting $40, paid on site; one fee waived per 3 bottles
- Vineyard tour & tasting $80 (includes the $40 tasting), seasonal, 1.5 hours
- Ages 21+ only; groups over 8 call 805-735-2190
- Book on Tock
6700 E Highway 246, Lompoc, CA 93436 · 805-735-2190
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Estate tasting room · Sta. Rita Hills
Dierberg Vineyard (Drum Canyon tasting room)Book
The tasting room on Drum Canyon Road itself, 1.6 miles up from Highway 246, and the easiest stop on the route: it's open every day and takes walk-ins when there's room. The $35 estate tasting is five wines, seated, and introduces both family estates: Pinot Noir and Chardonnay from the hillside vineyard out front, plus wines from Star Lane in Happy Canyon. The patio is family and pet friendly. From here it's 19 minutes over the hill to Bell Street.
- Open
- Open every day. Open seven days, 11am to 5pm
- Booking
- Private estate tasting by reservation, with a library pour and rare vineyard selections (price not published)
- Getting there
- Up Drum Canyon Rd, about 21 min by car from Old Town Lompoc
Go with The dog
More details
- Estate tasting $35: five wines, seated, from both family estates
- Family and pet friendly
- Walk-ins welcome when available; reservations at reservations@dierbergvineyard.com or (805) 697-1452
1280 Drum Canyon Road, Lompoc, CA 93436 · 805-697-1452
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Editor's pickEstate winery & vintage shop · Sta. Rita Hills
Babcock Winery & Vineyards
95 pts JebDunnuck.com on the 2022 Ocean's Ghost Pinot Noir
Nine minutes west of Dierberg, and the stop for a picnic: bring your own food for the grass under the oaks (not inside, and no coolers, cooking gear or outside alcohol). Inside, Lisa Babcock's Soulstruck Vintage shop sells clothes and furniture while 70s and 80s songs play. There are two flights, $24 and $34, plus wine by the glass and bottle, and it's pet friendly.
Go if records and vintage finds go with your Pinot.
- Open
- Open every day. Sun–Thu 11am–5pm; Fri & Sat 11am–5:30pm
- Booking
- No reservations for 7 or fewer; groups of 8+ book
- Getting there
- Out on Highway 246, about 12 min by car from Old Town Lompoc
Go for A picnic · A drop-in visit
More details
Connections Bryan Babcock was one of three names on the 1998 petition that created the Sta. Rita Hills AVA, with Richard Sanford and Wes Hagen. Source
Press Jeb Dunnuck gave its 2022 Ocean's Ghost Pinot Noir 95 points. JebDunnuck.com
- SB County Selections flight $24; Terroir Selections $34
- Pet friendly; your own food OK outside, not in the tasting room
- Snacks and nonalcoholic drinks for sale
5175 East Highway 246, Lompoc, CA 93436 · 805-736-1455
What about the Lompoc Wine Ghetto?
Lompoc's tasting rooms are small and casual, and they're the cheapest way to taste Sta. Rita Hills wine. The Alliance groups them as "Wineries at The Lompoc Wine Ghetto and Around the Town" [3]. Most are open Thursday or Friday through Sunday, so plan a weekend.
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Organic estate, town tasting room · Lompoc
Ampelos Cellars
The tasting room for a Sta. Rita Hills vineyard farmed organically. Its hours run Thursday through Monday, longer than most of its Lompoc neighbors.
- Open
- Open Monday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday; closed Tuesday, Wednesday. Thu–Sun 11am–5pm; Mon 11am–4pm
-
Family winery · Lompoc
Camins 2 Dreams
A family-owned winery founded in 2017 by winemakers Tara Gomez, a member of the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians, and Mireia Taribó, from Catalunya. The tasting room is in Lompoc's Wine Ghetto.
- Open
- Open Friday, Saturday, Sunday; closed Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday. Fri 1–6pm; Sat 12–6pm; Sun 12–5pm
- Booking
- Walk-ins accepted; reservations recommended
More details
- $20 tasting, waived with a 3-bottle purchase
1520 East Chestnut Court, Lompoc, CA 93436 · 805-741-7047
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Small family winery · Lompoc
Montemar Wines
Some of the lowest tasting fees around, plus a big outdoor space and a garden. The small family winery sits in Lompoc's Wine Ghetto, and well-behaved kids and pets are welcome.
- Open
- Open Friday, Saturday, Sunday; closed Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday. Fri 12–7pm; Sat 11am–6pm; Sun 11am–5pm
Go with The kids · The dog
More details
- $15 mixed, $20 all-Syrah, $25 all-Pinot tasting; free with 3 bottles
- Children and pets welcome
1501 E Chestnut Court, Lompoc, CA 93436 · 805-735-5000
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Pioneer winemaker · Lompoc
Longoria Wines (Lompoc)
Rick Longoria founded the label in 1982 and helped bring the AVA into being. The Lompoc room has a Friday happy hour, and there's a second room on State Street in Santa Barbara.
- Open
- Open Monday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday; closed Tuesday, Wednesday. Sun & Mon 12–5pm; Tue & Wed closed; Thu 12–5pm; Fri 12–7pm; Sat 12–6pm
Go for Happy hour
-
Small-lot winery · Lompoc
Sweetzer Cellars
Try the Dornfelder, one of a few unusual bottlings alongside small-lot Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Open on weekends and by appointment.
- Open
- Friday–Sunday 11am–5pm, and by appointment
Nearby, but not labeled Sta. Rita Hills: the regenerative vineyard at White Buffalo Land Trust's Jalama Canyon Ranch, south of Lompoc, grows Sandhi's White Buffalo Land Trust Pinot Noir, which carries the Santa Barbara County appellation. There's no tasting room; see field days and how to buy the wine.
Are there Sta. Rita Hills tasting rooms in Buellton?
Yes, on the eastern edge. The Alliance lists these members in Buellton, and suggests pairing them with lunch at Hitching Post 2 [3]. You can also stay in town: see Buellton hotels.
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Pioneer winemaker · Buellton
Ken Brown Wines
Ken Brown has made wine in Santa Barbara County since 1977. The tasting room sits on Highway 246 in Buellton, on the eastern doorstep of the Sta. Rita Hills.
- Open
- Open Monday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday; closed Tuesday, Wednesday. Thursday–Monday 11am–4pm
More details
Connections Ken Brown was Zaca Mesa's first winemaker, planted the county's first Syrah there in 1978 and hired Jim Clendenen, Bob Lindquist and Adam Tolmach. He founded Byron in 1984 and now pours his own label in Buellton. Source
157 W Highway 246, Buellton, CA 93427 · 805-688-9400
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Small winery · Buellton
Tomi CellarsBook
Buy two bottles and the fee is waived. This small Alliance member on Buellton's Industrial Way is open five days a week.
- Open
- Open Monday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday; closed Tuesday, Wednesday. Thu–Mon 11:30am–5:30pm
- Booking
- Appointments recommended; walk-ins welcome
Go for A drop-in visit
More details
- $25 tasting, waived with a 2-bottle purchase
140 Industrial Way #D2, Buellton, CA 93427 · 805-862-7110
Do Sta. Rita Hills wineries require reservations?
Out on the estates, yes, for some. Pence requires a reservation, Spear is by appointment Thursday to Monday, and The Hilt is by appointment only. Dierberg and Babcock take walk-ins (Babcock for parties of seven or fewer), Alma Rosa's ranch takes appointments but says walk-ins are welcome, and Peake Ranch strongly recommends booking. Sanford recommends reservations but takes walk-ins, and Lafond doesn't require one. In Lompoc, walk-ins are the norm. Groups should always call ahead: the Santa Barbara Vintners say most wineries require reservations for groups of 6–8 or more [4].
How do I plan a Sta. Rita Hills tasting route?
Start in Buellton and head west on Highway 246. The AVA begins about four miles west of Highway 101 [2]. Melville is on 246, and Sanford, Lafond, Peake Ranch, Alma Rosa's estate and The Hilt all have Santa Rosa Road addresses. Pick two estates, then finish in Lompoc, where some rooms stay open later on Fridays: Longoria until 7pm, Montemar until 7pm. Or, for a change of scene, cross Drum Canyon Road to Los Alamos (7.9 mi · 19 min from Dierberg to Bell Street). If nobody wants to drive, see our wine tours guide.
Is there a Sta. Rita Hills route map?
Yes. Our Lompoc Wine Ghetto & Sta. Rita Hills route map pins every winery by tasting status (🟢 walk-in, 🟡 reserve, 🔴 appointment only), shows which days each room opens, and has four loops with drive times. Two of them suit this page:
- Loop B, best on a Friday: Alma Rosa, Peake Ranch, Lafond and Sanford on Santa Rosa Road, finishing at Longoria in Lompoc, which pours until 7pm on Fridays.
- Loop C, Thursday to Saturday: out from Buellton on Santa Rosa Road, lunch at Capulín in the Wine Center and back on Highway 246 via Babcock, which closes latest. About 37 miles of driving.
Some names you'll see in older lists don't pour at their vineyard: Foley Estates has no public tasting at the estate (it pours at Lincourt on weekends), and Brewer-Clifton's tasting room is now in Los Olivos.
Can you drive from the Sta. Rita Hills to Los Alamos?
Yes, over Drum Canyon Road, which leaves Highway 246 between Spear and Pence and climbs over the Purisima Hills to Bell Street in Los Alamos: 9.4 mi · 23 min from the junction. Dierberg's tasting room is 1.6 miles up the road. It's narrow, with one lane each way, and it closed for a few days in August 2026 during the Drum Fire. Our Drum Canyon wine route has day plans in both directions, and Los Alamos wine tasting covers the Bell Street rooms at the far end.
Sta. Rita Hills vs Santa Rita Hills: what's the difference?
None, geographically. Federal rules say the area was named "Santa Rita Hills" from July 30, 2001, until January 5, 2006, and has been "Sta. Rita Hills" since January 6, 2006 [5]. The Treasury decision explains why: it was made "to prevent possible confusion between wines bearing the Santa Rita Hills appellation and wines bearing the Santa Rita brand name used by a Chilean winery." The boundary stayed the same [6].
Plan your day
- MorningBreakfast first: Best coffee in the Santa Ynez ValleyBy town, plus where to work
- MiddayGo tasting: Drum Canyon Road wine routeBack-road Pinot to a Los Alamos lunch
- EveningBook dinner: Buellton restaurantsHitching Post 2 to wild ales
- LateNight out: Solvang happy hoursSpritzes, Industry Night, 8pm deals
- OvernightFind a bed: Buellton hotelsA windmill check-in, pea soup lore
Good to know
What is the Sta. Rita Hills AVA known for? Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. The Sta. Rita Hills Wine Alliance describes a cold oceanic climate: marine layer and ocean breezes funnel between the Purisima Hills and the Santa Rosa Hills, which suits Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and other cool-climate grapes. The AVA covers 30,720 acres in the western Santa Ynez Valley.
Do Sta. Rita Hills wineries require reservations? Some do. Pence requires reservations, Spear and The Hilt are by appointment only, Dierberg takes walk-ins when there's room, Alma Rosa's estate takes appointments but now welcomes walk-ins, Peake Ranch strongly recommends booking, and Sanford recommends it but welcomes walk-ins. Lafond welcomes reservations but doesn't require them, and most Lompoc rooms take walk-ins.
Sta. Rita Hills vs Santa Rita Hills: what's the difference? They're the same place. The AVA was named "Santa Rita Hills" from July 30, 2001, until January 5, 2006. Since January 6, 2006, its official name has been "Sta. Rita Hills." The federal government made the change to avoid confusion with the Santa Rita brand of a Chilean winery. The boundaries didn't change.
How far is the Sta. Rita Hills from Santa Barbara? The Alliance puts Santa Barbara about 40 minutes south. The AVA's eastern edge is about four miles west of Highway 101 in Buellton, and it runs west to about two miles from Highway 1 in Lompoc.
Quick answers
Which Sta. Rita Hills wineries can you visit?
On Highway 246: Pence and Spear (both by reservation), Melville and Babcock (walk-ins), with Dierberg just up Drum Canyon Road (open daily). On Santa Rosa Road: Sanford, Peake Ranch, Lafond, The Hilt (by appointment) and Alma Rosa's estate (appointments, walk-ins welcome). In Lompoc: Ampelos, Camins 2 Dreams, Montemar, Longoria and Sweetzer. In Buellton: Ken Brown and Tomi Cellars.
Sources
tap to open
- Sanford Winery: history; Decanter: Sanfords take back their tasting room; Wine Spectator: Michael Benedict
- Sta. Rita Hills Wine Alliance
- Sta. Rita Hills Wine Alliance, A Unique Region
- Sta. Rita Hills Wine Alliance, touring routes
- Santa Barbara Vintners, FAQs
- eCFR, 27 CFR 9.162 Sta. Rita Hills
- Federal Register, Santa Rita Hills name abbreviation (Dec 7, 2005)
- Each winery's own website, linked in its listing above.
Last updated Oct 17, 2026. We list what each winery publishes. We haven't tasted at every one, and we never copy reviews. Fees and hours change, so confirm before you go. Spot something out of date? Tell us.
