Santa Barbara

The coastal community of Santa Barbara offers cosmopolitan wine tasting experiences that can be adventurous. The Santa Barbara Urban Wine Trail provides a sampling of the region's wines within blocks of downtown and the beach.

The downtown "Wine Triangle" centers around the Wine Cast Restaurant and its Intermezzo Bar + Cafe. Tasting rooms include Grassini Family Vineyards, Au Bon Climat and Margerum Wine Company.

The "Funk Zone" on State Street is a three-by-four block bayside area accessible by train, pedicab or the Downtown Waterfront Electric Shuffle. There is a confluence of tasting rooms and galleries. Wineries include Riverbench and Area 5.1, Kunin Wines, Pali Wine Company, and Kalyra Winery as well as a brewery.

East towards nearby SoCo features Carr Winery, Jaffurs Wine Cellars and Sanguis Wines.

The Lompoc Wine Ghetto, a thirty minute drive north of the city of Santa Barbara on Highway 101 at the western end of Highway 246, includes about 20 tasting rooms packed into two blocks of an industrial park including Palmina, Flying Goat Cellars, Fiddlestix, Arcadian, and Ampelos Cellars. Nearby is Brewer-Clifton.

Recommended Lodging

Canary Hotel
Phone805-884-0300
CommentsA Kimpton boutique mission style hotel with an open-air roof with a 360-view and a pool. Steps from State Street in the heart of Downtown Santa Barbara. Urban Wine Trail Package available.
Hotel Indigo
Phone877-846-3446

Recommended Restaurants

The Lark
Phone805-284-0370

Appellation Websites