Pick the town by the kind of day you want: Los Olivos has 35-plus tasting rooms on a few walkable blocks, Solvang is the Danish-style village with windmills and kringle, Santa Ynez is the old western township where the Maverick Saloon has been open since 1963, and Los Alamos puts Michelin-starred Bell's and the 1880 Union Hotel on one main street. Buellton sits right off Highway 101 with Hitching Post 2's red-oak grill, and Ballard is a tiny hamlet between Solvang and Los Olivos.
Two nearby side trips sit outside the six: Lompoc, with the Wine Ghetto (more than 20 tasting rooms in a walkable cluster) and the Sta. Rita Hills, and Santa Maria, for the Santa Maria Valley and its BBQ.
Which town should you base yourself in?
| Town | Pick it if | Guides |
|---|---|---|
| Los Olivos The tasting-room capital. | You want to taste on foot. | Eat · Stay · Taste · Town guide |
| Solvang Windmills, kringle, a Bib Gourmand. | Pastry comes before wine. | Eat · Stay · Taste · Things to do · Town guide |
| Santa Ynez Saloon nights since 1963. | You want dinner, then a band. | Eat · Stay · Taste · Things to do · Town guide |
| Buellton The Sideways steakhouse, off Highway 101. | You're coming off Highway 101 hungry. | Eat · Stay · Things to do · Town guide |
| Ballard Tiny town. Ballard Canyon Syrah. | You want a small inn base between Solvang and Los Olivos. | Town guide |
| Los Alamos One street. A Michelin star. | Dinner is the main event. | Eat · Stay · Taste · Town guide |
A note on addresses: many wineries out on Foxen Canyon Road, Santa Rosa Road or Refugio Road have a town in their mailing address but sit a drive from that town's center. Each town guide lists those under "Nearby, a short drive" with the drive time, so you know what's walkable before you park.
Not sure where to start? Use the weekend planner, browse guides by occasion, or read the stories.
