Sunstone Winery in Santa Ynez: tasting, the villa and weddings

The backstory

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

Sunstone Winery tasting: what to expect

Sunstone Winery sets out to feel like Provence: you taste in lavender and rosemary courtyards or down in the barrel-aging stone caves. It is on Refugio Road in Santa Ynez, about 35 minutes north of Santa Barbara by its own count. A flight is $30 a person, or you can order by the glass or bottle instead. Allow about 90 minutes. The tasting room opens daily 11am to 5pm, and no tasting starts after 4pm.

Reservations are optional and walk-ins are seated as space allows, but book for a weekend. Book on its site or call 805-688-9463. Everyone tasting needs a photo ID.

Does Sunstone Winery have food?

Yes, in a picnic way. Sunstone sells charcuterie boards and snacks every day, and food trucks park on Friday, Saturday and Sunday when available. You can bring your own picnic any day to the tables on the big lawn under the olive and oak trees, but not outside alcohol. For drivers there's Solis, its alcohol-free range, plus soft drinks and water. Want a full lunch with your tasting? See wineries with restaurants.

Sunstone Winery for groups, kids and dogs

Children are welcome with an adult, and leashed dogs can use the outdoor spaces. Standard tastings are for parties of 1 to 10. For 11 or more, Sunstone offers private tastings or bottle service at the picnic tables: each table seats up to 10, extra tables are $50, there's a minimum of one bottle per two adults, a 20% gratuity is added, and the booking runs up to 3 hours. Limos and buses need a reservation and aren't admitted after 3pm. More group ideas are in our Santa Ynez wine tour ideas.

Sunstone Winery weddings

Sunstone looks like a Provençal estate, and its private events page lists six spaces for weddings, with seated and standing guest counts:

Sunstone doesn't publish wedding prices, so ask through the contact form on its site, which offers site inspections. Visiting before you inquire? The tasting room runs daily 11am to 5pm (last seating 4pm) and closes on Easter, Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, so plan around those.

The villa. Sunstone Villa, built by founders Fred and Linda Rice in limestone from French châteaux, rents as a stay for the wedding party: five king suites, plus a three-suite Guest Cottage, with no pets and no events unless contracted. More winery stays are in stay at a winery, and guest logistics are in our wedding guest guide.

Famous weddings here, per press reports:

• Mark-Paul Gosselaar and Catriona McGinn, July 2012 (source)
• Anna Camp and Skylar Astin, September 2016 (source)
• JoJo Fletcher and Jordan Rodgers, May 2022 (source)
• Sarah Hyland and Wells Adams, August 2022 (source)

Staying near Sunstone

Sleep on the estate if you can: Sunstone Villa has five king suites and a three-suite Guest Cottage (no pets), covered in stay at a winery. Otherwise, the closest hotels are in Santa Ynez township, by approximate OpenStreetMap driving routes: Hotel Ynez, 22 rooms with a heated 21+ pool, 1.9 mi (about 4 min); Polo House, 14 keys with breakfast and a valley-wine aperitif included, 2.5 mi (about 6 min); and The Genevieve, with The Victor and a nightly wine hour, 2.6 mi (about 6 min). In Solvang, The Landsby is 4.0 mi (about 8 min). Coming for a show too? See hotels near Chumash Casino.

Good to know

Can you get married at Sunstone Winery? Yes. Its private events page lists six spaces, from La Cav (40 seated) to the Grand Lawn (200 seated, or 300 with a special events permit). Pricing isn't published; ask through its contact form.

How many guests can Sunstone Winery hold for a wedding? Up to 200 seated on the Grand Lawn, or 300 with a special events permit. Standing receptions there go to 200, or 500 with a permit.

Who got married at Sunstone Winery? Mark-Paul Gosselaar and Catriona McGinn (2012), Anna Camp and Skylar Astin (2016), JoJo Fletcher and Jordan Rodgers (2022) and Sarah Hyland and Wells Adams (2022), per press reports.

Do you need a reservation to taste at Sunstone Winery? Optional; recommended weekends.

How much is a tasting at Sunstone Winery? $30 for five wines.

Are dogs allowed at Sunstone Winery? Dogs allowed.

Can you bring kids to Sunstone Winery? Kids allowed.

Critic scores

Recent scores for Sunstone Winery wines, newest vintage first, as published by each critic and quoted on the winery's own site. See the top-rated wines across the valley.

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.