The Funk Zone

Santa Barbara’s Urban Wine Trail originated in The Funk Zone neighborhood, so it has a large number of tasting rooms in a relatively small footprint of 13 blocks between lower State Street, Cabrillo Boulevard, Garden Street and Montecito Street. Founded in 1962, Santa Barbara Winery has deep roots in the community. They took full advantage of their outdoor patio to welcome guests for tastings, wines by the glass, and bottle service and offer cheese plates from Pierre Lafond Deli. The Valley Project is another great place to get the lay of Santa Barbara’s winegrowing land with a patio tasting structured around Santa Barbara County’s six American Viticultural Areas (AVAs). Sunday through Thursday, you can experience the same funk and flair of Municipal Winemakers’ indoor tasting room while sipping wine under their palm tree-shaded patio. Nearby, pop into Pali Wine Co. for a sip and seat within their newly expanded outdoor patio offerings. 

Margerum Wine Company and Barden Wines brought the elegance of their Hotel Californian tasting room to the red-tiled sidewalk out front, and introduced a menu of gourmet level bites and pizzas. (They are not taking reservations, so it’s first-come, first-served.) Also located in the Hotel Californian complex, reservations are required at the new J. Wilkes Tasting Room. Cheese and charcuterie boards perfectly complement the wines—as does the people watching on State Street!

Haley Corridor

The Haley Corridor neighborhood stretches from State Street to Milpas Streets between West Cota and Montecito Streets. It’s easily accessed on foot from downtown State Street and the Funk Zone, too. Here you’ll find Carr Winery Barrel Room whose stellar, spacious patio is open daily for tastings bookable online. Less than three blocks away, Jaffurs Wine Cellars makes some of the smoothest syrah around, and thanks to their sizable lot, there’s ample outdoor territory for tasting.

Santa Ynez Valley

The Santa Ynez Valley includes the towns of Los Olivos, Buellton, Santa Ynez, Solvang, Ballard, and Los Alamos. Expect small walkable towns and villages with dozens of wineries dotted around the surrounding countryside. Folded Hills Estate Tasting Room & Winery at the Homestead is the first winery accessed just beyond the Gaviota coast as Highway 101 bends inland. Reservations are currently required for tastings set in their refined ranch atmosphere. Set on 100 acres of rolling hills in Santa Ynez, Gainey Vineyard is limiting tastings to one-hour per traveling party in order to make reservations more accessible. You might just think you’re in Provençe at nearby Sunstone Winery, whose postcard-worthy courtyard and picnic area look straight out of France. The equally stunning Bridlewood Estate Winery is offering weekend tastings by appointment on their Spanish-style veranda and patio.

Over in Los Olivos, Zaca Mesa Winery is a longtime staple of the region’s winemaking legacy dating back to 1973. Daily tastings take place at good old-fashioned picnic tables and appointments are encouraged. Sustainability-minded Beckmen Vineyards boasts one of the best views in the Santa Ynez Valley, and they are welcoming tastings by appointment Friday through Sunday. Mosey on over to Los Alamos to taste Casa Dumetz Wines’ on the spacious garden patio adjacent to Babi’s Beer Emporium—and yes, that means beer and cider are also on the menu! Appointments are required Monday through Wednesday but walk-ins are welcome Thursday through Sunday.

Santa Maria Valley

Some of Santa Barbara Wine Country’s oldest vineyards and most revered pinot noirs and chardonnays come from grapes grown in the Santa Maria and Lompoc Valleys. Take in sweeping views of the Santa Maria Valley at Presqu’ile Winery, who are welcoming guests by appointment Wednesday through Sunday for their Food+Wine Experience. You’ll want to linger on their vast patio and terrace while savoring the “Mezze Picnic” prepared by Chef Julie Simon using the bounty from their garden onsite and ingredients sourced from local purveyors. Certified sustainable Riverbench Vineyard & Winery is a leading producer of sparkling wines, and you can taste at the source at their original Foxen Canyon property on the Sisquoc River. Choose between a 60-minute wine-only tasting or a 90-minute wine country picnic and tasting, with advance reservations bookable through Tock.

Lompoc Valley

The Lompoc Valley is renowned for its cool climate wines—especially the pinot noirs from the Sta. Rita Hills. Right along rural Highway 246, Babcock Winery & Vineyards has several picnic tables and umbrellas spread out on the property. Tastings are first-come, first-served Friday through Sunday, and by reservation Monday through Thursday. A menu of snacks, cheese, and charcuterie is available throughout the week. Last but definitely not least, find Sanford Winery on the winding Santa Rosa Road that connects Lompoc to Buellton. They are open to guests 21+ for tastings by appointment daily. You can’t beat their views of the hallowed ground that is the Sanford & Benedict vineyard planted in 1971, which first put Santa Barbara wine on the map.