
Santa Barbara Wineries
Santa Barbara wine country is one of the coolest grape growing regions in California. If it was to be described with one word, this word would be “Diversity”. Santa Barbara wineries offer a humongous choice of wine types for thirsty wine tasters.
Santa Barbara is rightfully called America’s Riviera, giving visitors ability to go to trendy wine tasting rooms and visit vineyards in the wine country.
Santa Barbara wine country is surrounded by Santa Ynez mountains in the western segment of transverse ranges. It’s fertile valleys consist of a wide range of various soil types. One should also take into account very specific weather conditions, with climate driven by the ocean air, and marked with cold western winds cooling down the area. This specific geologic setting combined with very special weather gives wine makers opportunity to produce an uncommon range of world class wines.
There are currently six federally-sanctioned American Viticultural Areas (AVAs) within Santa Barbara County:
- Santa Maria Valley
- Santa Ynez Valley
- Santa Rita Hills
- Happy Canyon of Santa Barbara
- Ballard Canyon
- Los Olivos District
Most commonly planted wine strains include
- Chardonnay
- Pinot Noir
- Syrah
- Sauvignon Blanc
but one can also find regions where wine growers cultivate Cabernet Sauvignon and other Bordeaux varieties as well as white and red Rhône varieties.
Some of the best known wineries and wine tasting rooms in the area are:
Santa Barbara Winery
202 Anacapa (corner Anacapa/Yanonali)
Santa Barbara CA 93101
Kunin Wines
28 Anacapa St
Santa Barbara, CA 93101
Gainey Vineyard
Gainey Vineyard Tasting Room
3950 East Highway 246
Santa Ynez, CA 93460
Jamie Sloan Wines
23 E. De La Guerra Street
Santa Barbara, CA 93101
Margerum Wines
Margerum Tasting Room
at the Hotel Californian, corner of Mason St and Helena Ave
Santa Barbara, CA 93101
Deep Sea Conway Family Wines
217-G Stearns Wharf
Santa Barbara, CA 93101
Jaffurs Wine Cellars
819 E. Montecito St,
Santa Barbara, CA 93103
Grassini Family Vineyards
24 El Paseo
Santa Barbara, CA 93101-2230