Start with Justin Willett and Matt Dees. Willett makes Tyler, Lieu Dit and Ad Ripa, a Happy Canyon Cabernet first made in 2021; Tyler pours by appointment near Lompoc. Dees, winemaker at Jonata and The Hilt, is a partner in Mail Road, a mailing-list label. Sashi Moorman's Piedrasassi pours by appointment in Lompoc.
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
Jump to: At a glance · Tyler Winery · Lieu Dit · Ad Ripa · Mail Road Wines · Domaine de la Côte · Sandhi · Piedrasassi · Storm Wines · Grimm's Bluff · Liquid Farm · Kings Carey · Tatomer · Jaffurs Wine Cellars · Solminer · Holus Bolus · Zotovich Vineyards · SAMsARA · Greg Brewer's other labels · Not verified · Nearby · Quick answers
Insider short list
- Justin Willett
- Tyler · Lieu Dit · Ad Ripa
- Matt Dees
- Jonata · The Hilt · The Paring · Mail Road (partner)
- Sashi Moorman
- Piedrasassi · Sandhi · Domaine de la Côte
- Ernst Storm
- Storm Wines · Grimm's Bluff
- James Sparks
- Kings Carey (and Liquid Farm)
- Mailing list only
- Domaine de la Côte, Mail Road, Piedrasassi Syrah
Which side labels can you taste?
In the last column, Yes means a label pours by appointment or has no public tasting room; Tasting room means it has one you can visit.
| Label | Who makes it | Appointment or no visits? |
|---|---|---|
| Tyler Winery | Justin Willett | Yes |
| Lieu Dit | Justin Willett | Tasting room |
| Ad Ripa | Justin Willett | Yes |
| Mail Road Wines | Matt Dees (winemaker at Jonata, The Hilt and The Paring), with Michael Palmer and Ron Piazza | Yes |
| Domaine de la Côte | Sashi Moorman and Rajat Parr's Sta. Rita Hills estate | Yes |
| Sandhi | Rajat Parr and Sashi Moorman, per Sandhi's own story | Yes |
| Piedrasassi | Sashi Moorman (winemaker) | Yes |
| Storm Wines | Ernst Storm, from Stellenbosch, South Africa | Tasting room |
| Grimm's Bluff | Winemaker Ernst Storm, viticulturist Garrett Gamanche | Yes |
| Liquid Farm | Started with guidance from Brandon Sparks-Gillis of Dragonette Cellars, per Liquid Farm | Tasting room |
| Kings Carey | James Sparks, who started at Dragonette in 2009 and made Liquid Farm | Tasting room |
| Tatomer | Graham Tatomer | Yes |
| Jaffurs Wine Cellars | Jaffurs | Tasting room |
| Solminer | Solminer | Tasting room |
| Holus Bolus | Hosted by Amy and Peter in Los Olivos | Tasting room |
| Zotovich Vineyards | The Zotovich family | Tasting room |
| SAMsARA | Winemaker Matt Brady, who joined in 2017 after Jaffurs | Tasting room |
| Greg Brewer's other labels | Greg Brewer, founder of Brewer-Clifton | Yes |
Tyler Winery: who makes it and how to get it
Who: Justin Willett. What: Sta. Rita Hills Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, from estate vineyards Mae and Fiddlestix.
Taste or buy: Mae Estate Vineyard House, 4805 E Hwy 246, Lompoc: appointment only, seated tastings from $50 a person; the winery says visits "are not open to the public" without a booking. The Tyler x Lieu Dit tasting room and wine bar in Santa Barbara's Presidio neighborhood is "closed for the season, will be back this spring." (Tyler: visit)
Club or allocation: Mailing list and club on the winery site.
Lieu Dit: who makes it and how to get it
Who: Justin Willett. What: Loire varieties grown in Santa Barbara County, including Cabernet Franc.
Taste or buy: Shares the Tyler x Lieu Dit tasting room in downtown Santa Barbara (closed for the season, per Tyler's visit page). (Lieu Dit)
Club or allocation: Club Lieu Dit.
Ad Ripa: who makes it and how to get it
Who: Justin Willett. What: His newest label: Happy Canyon Cabernet, first vintage 2021, bottlings RSW and China Blue. The name is Latin for "to the shore," after the Santa Ynez River.
Taste or buy: No tasting room listed. Distributed by Skurnik (producer page), so look for it at retailers and restaurants.
Club or allocation: No public club found.
Mail Road Wines: who makes it and how to get it
Who: Matt Dees (winemaker at Jonata, The Hilt and The Paring), with Michael Palmer and Ron Piazza. What: Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and a sparkling wine ("The Sparkler") from Mt. Carmel Vineyard in the Sta. Rita Hills.
Taste or buy: No tasting room; the listed contact is an office at 133 E De La Guerra St, Santa Barbara. (Mail Road: about)
Club or allocation: Mailing list on the site.
Domaine de la Côte: who makes it and how to get it
Who: Sashi Moorman and Rajat Parr's Sta. Rita Hills estate. What: Estate Pinot Noir from the far west of the Sta. Rita Hills.
Taste or buy: Visits "by appointment only" via wine@domainedelacote.com (DDLC: contact page).
Club or allocation: Wines are "allocated exclusively to our mailing list members"; there is a wait list.
Sandhi: who makes it and how to get it
Who: Rajat Parr and Sashi Moorman, per Sandhi's own story. What: Sta. Rita Hills Chardonnay and Pinot Noir.
Taste or buy: No public tasting room listed. (Sandhi)
Club or allocation: Sandhi Wine Club; its club page offers select Domaine de la Côte wines to members.
Piedrasassi: who makes it and how to get it
Who: Sashi Moorman (winemaker). What: Syrah first, plus a bakery run by Melissa Sorongon that sells at the Santa Barbara farmers market.
Taste or buy: Private tastings at the Lompoc tasting room, by appointment only, through the site's form (Piedrasassi).
Club or allocation: Single-vineyard Syrah goes to mailing list members each year.
Storm Wines: who makes it and how to get it
Who: Ernst Storm, from Stellenbosch, South Africa. What: Small-lot Pinot Noir and Sauvignon Blanc.
Taste or buy: The site has a tasting room and events page; contact the winery to set up a tasting (Storm Wines).
Club or allocation: Storm Wine Club, three shipments a year.
Grimm's Bluff: who makes it and how to get it
Who: Winemaker Ernst Storm, viticulturist Garrett Gamanche. What: Organic Bordeaux varieties in Happy Canyon since 2012.
Taste or buy: By appointment only, 2 to 8 guests (Grimm's Bluff). Prices are on our Happy Canyon page.
Club or allocation: Club members at 6 and 12 bottles get complimentary reserve tours.
Liquid Farm: who makes it and how to get it
Who: Started with guidance from Brandon Sparks-Gillis of Dragonette Cellars, per Liquid Farm. What: Chardonnay, rosé and Pinot Noir.
Taste or buy: Tasting room at 2445 Alamo Pintado Ave, Suite 101, Los Olivos, open daily from 11am (Liquid Farm).
Club or allocation: Wine clubs.
Kings Carey: who makes it and how to get it
Who: James Sparks, who started at Dragonette in 2009 and made Liquid Farm. What: Single-varietal, single-vineyard small lots.
Taste or buy: See the "Visit Us" and "Where are we?" pages (Kings Carey).
Club or allocation: Wine club.
Tatomer: who makes it and how to get it
Who: Graham Tatomer. What: Dry Riesling, including Kick-on Ranch in western Los Alamos.
Taste or buy: No tasting room listed (Tatomer).
Club or allocation: Wine club and newsletter.
Jaffurs Wine Cellars: who makes it and how to get it
Who: Jaffurs. What: Rhône-focused small lots in Santa Barbara.
Taste or buy: Santa Barbara winery (Jaffurs).
Club or allocation: "Many of the reserve wines we produce are only available to our wine club members."
Solminer: who makes it and how to get it
Who: Solminer. What: Natural wines from Biodynamic and regenerative organic farming.
Taste or buy: Tasting room at 2890 Grand Ave, Los Olivos, plus farm visits (Solminer).
Club or allocation: Clubs with members-only wines.
Holus Bolus: who makes it and how to get it
Who: Hosted by Amy and Peter in Los Olivos. What: Small batches from Santa Barbara County's coolest sites.
Taste or buy: Los Olivos tasting room with reservations and private tastings (Holus Bolus).
Club or allocation: Holus Bolus Wine Club.
Zotovich Vineyards: who makes it and how to get it
Who: The Zotovich family. What: Family-run Sta. Rita Hills winery with Zoto and Z labels.
Taste or buy: Tasting room at the Sta. Rita Hills Wine Center, 300 N 12th St, Lompoc (Zotovich).
Club or allocation: Wine club and mailing list.
SAMsARA: who makes it and how to get it
Who: Winemaker Matt Brady, who joined in 2017 after Jaffurs. What: Cool-climate Pinot Noir, Syrah and Chardonnay.
Taste or buy: Tasting rooms in Goleta and Los Olivos (SAMsARA).
Club or allocation: Clubs and subscriptions.
Greg Brewer's other labels: who makes it and how to get it
Who: Greg Brewer, founder of Brewer-Clifton. What: Diatom, Ex Post Facto and Perilune, sold alongside Brewer-Clifton.
Taste or buy: Book through By Greg Brewer; see our cult wineries guide.
Club or allocation: Wine club on the same site.
What we couldn't verify
A person-to-label link appears here only when the label's own site, or its importer, says so. That leaves out Lo-Fi (the lofiwines.com domain belongs to an unrelated Australian business), Martian Ranch, Stolo, Chad Melville's side projects and Margerum's side labels. The Hilt and Jonata visits are covered in our cult wineries guide, and Happy Canyon's club-only estates in the Happy Canyon guide.
Nearby: eat, taste, stay
- Cult wineries by appointment: Scores and access
- Happy Canyon wineries: Including club-only estates
- Lompoc Wine Ghetto: Where many small labels pour
Plan your day
- MorningBreakfast first: Best coffee in the Santa Ynez ValleyBy town, plus where to work
- MiddayGo tasting: Sta. Rita Hills wineriesCold-climate Pinot, 1971 vines
- EveningBook dinner: Best pizza in the Santa Ynez ValleyWood-fired to delivery
- LateNight out: Solvang happy hoursSpritzes, Industry Night, 8pm deals
- OvernightFind a bed: Santa Ynez hotelsPolo bungalows to a rooftop pool
Your next move
- Then readMore to eat, taste and do in Santa Barbara County. Our Santa Barbara County guide
- Every ThursdayWhat to eat, where to go and what to book this weekend. Get the weekend note
Quick answers
What is Ad Ripa wine?
A Happy Canyon Cabernet label from Justin Willett of Tyler and Lieu Dit, launched with the 2021 vintage, with bottlings called RSW and China Blue. Skurnik distributes it.
Who makes Mail Road wines?
Matt Dees, winemaker at Jonata and The Hilt, with partners Michael Palmer and Ron Piazza, from Mt. Carmel Vineyard. Sales are by mailing list.
Can you visit Tyler Winery?
Yes, by appointment at the Mae Estate Vineyard House, 4805 E Hwy 246, Lompoc, from $50. The Santa Barbara tasting room is closed for the season until spring.
Sources
Updated · tap to open
- Tyler Winery
- Lieu Dit
- Ad Ripa
- Mail Road Wines
- Domaine de la Côte
- Sandhi
- Piedrasassi
- Storm Wines
- Grimm's Bluff
- Liquid Farm
- Kings Carey
- Tatomer
- Jaffurs Wine Cellars
- Solminer
- Holus Bolus
- Zotovich Vineyards
- SAMsARA
- Greg Brewer's other labels
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