Santa Barbara Wine Country has so much to offer visitors.
These are my observations for my 3rd installment.
Where to Eat in the Santa Ynez Valley
My favorite restaurants are SY Kitchen (Santa Ynez), Nella (Los Olivos) and The Hitching Post II (Buellton). My favorite Delis are Central Coast Specialty Foods (Lompoc) and Panino Restaurant (Los Olivos). They all provide first-class food that you long remember. The Delis provide more food than you can consume.
Favorite Wineries in the Santa Ynez Valley
Santa Maria AVA is the second largest AVA in the Santa Barbara Wine Country. Santa Maria is the largest and the only true city in the wine country. The primary grapes and wines are Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Syrah. Santa Maria is home to more than 30 wineries. My favorites are Presqu’ile and J. Wilkes. Presqu’ile was voted the favorite winery on my last tour. You can eat off the floor there it is so clean. The experience is amazing in this winery with distinctive architecture.
Where to Stay in the Santa Ynez Valley
The Wine Valley Inn is beautiful and cozy with a lot of different floor plans and cottages as well. It’s cozy! It’s right in the middle of Solvang which makes it convenient for walking to restaurants and shops. The Fess Parker Wine Country Inn (Los Olivos) and the Ballard Inn (Ballard) are also top-notch lodging options.
I hope that you have enjoyed my Santa Barbara Wine Blog. More wine country blogs coming up.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Orson Hall
Orson Hall is the Founder and Owner of Wine Parties by Design in Atlanta. He runs a wine travel company that is sort of the domestic equivalent of Wine Lovers Travel. He organizes vacations to the best wine regions in the USA and has a particular affinity for the Santa Barbara County AVA’s.