Join us In Santa Barbara in 2023
SOLD OUT ~ August 6th to the 11th, 2023 ~ SOLD OUT
Look for 2024 dates to be announced
or call us for a private tour here or anywhere
Look for 2024 dates to be announced
or call us for a private tour here or anywhere
- Santa Barbara has an over 200 year long history of wine grape growing
- There are five official wine regions in Santa Barbara
- There are over 275 wineries in Santa Barbara
- Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Syrah are just some of the wines made here
Santa Barbara wine country is nestled between two mountain ranges with elevations ranging from 200 feet in the valley to 3400 feet in the mountainside vineyards. The transverse (ahem… East to West) nature of these mountain ranges is unique to the region and forms a collage of microclimates and soil types while keeping the region cool. Soils range from pockets of calcareous limestone that help maintain acidity, diatomaceous earth creates concentrated wines, sandy soils make more fruit-driven styles, and finally, clay loam mixtures retain moisture for thirsty vines.
Monday ~ Day 1
Arrive at Santa Barbara airport, which is minutes from town.
We will meet at Santa Barbara's Funk Zone. The Funk Zone is a short walk from our hotel and home to many wine tasting rooms. Here we will stop at Santa Barbara Winery. They are the oldest winery in this region, founded in 1962!
We will then walk around to Melville and Pali wine tasting rooms.
Then off to dinner at Toma! Here we will relax with the Pacific Ocean just across the street! Enjoy some of the best Italian food in the city!
Stroll along the Pacific Ocean as we make our way back to the Santa Barbara Inn.
We will meet at Santa Barbara's Funk Zone. The Funk Zone is a short walk from our hotel and home to many wine tasting rooms. Here we will stop at Santa Barbara Winery. They are the oldest winery in this region, founded in 1962!
We will then walk around to Melville and Pali wine tasting rooms.
Then off to dinner at Toma! Here we will relax with the Pacific Ocean just across the street! Enjoy some of the best Italian food in the city!
Stroll along the Pacific Ocean as we make our way back to the Santa Barbara Inn.
Tuesday ~ Day 2
Good morning! We are off to a local eatery for breakfast before heading into Foxen Canyon. Foxen Canyon is home to many great wineries! This is also the wine trail that they took in the movie Sideways. And we will be stopping at some of those wineries!
First stop in Foxen Winery in Foxen Canyon. Yes, the valley is named after the winery. The Foxen family settled here 200 years ago and owned the majority of the land here at one point. Foxen makes some brilliant Chardonnays and Pinot Noirs plus a few others like Chenin Blanc. We will enjoy the outdoor tasting area as we work through these award-winning wines!
Next stop is off to Fess Parker Winery. Yes, Fess Parker AKA Davy Crockett. Fess invested in Santa Barbara many decades ago. The winery is still family-run and owned. You will see his kids and grandkids around the property. Here we will have a VIP tasting, lunch, and tour. This is the winery in Sideways were miles pours the wine waste bucket on himself.
Then we head just down the street to Andrew Murray Winery. Known for their flagship Rhone Blend they also make other terrific wines. Here we will sit outside and do our tasting in the garden.
Then off to Los Olivos for Epiphany Winery and Dinner.
Epiphany was founded by Eli Parker in 2000 as a way for him to expand on his passion for and fascination with winemaking. Here they make different styles than Fess Parker Winery.
It's a short walk to dinner here in Los Olivos to Barlacote. Then back to Santa Barbara Inn.
First stop in Foxen Winery in Foxen Canyon. Yes, the valley is named after the winery. The Foxen family settled here 200 years ago and owned the majority of the land here at one point. Foxen makes some brilliant Chardonnays and Pinot Noirs plus a few others like Chenin Blanc. We will enjoy the outdoor tasting area as we work through these award-winning wines!
Next stop is off to Fess Parker Winery. Yes, Fess Parker AKA Davy Crockett. Fess invested in Santa Barbara many decades ago. The winery is still family-run and owned. You will see his kids and grandkids around the property. Here we will have a VIP tasting, lunch, and tour. This is the winery in Sideways were miles pours the wine waste bucket on himself.
Then we head just down the street to Andrew Murray Winery. Known for their flagship Rhone Blend they also make other terrific wines. Here we will sit outside and do our tasting in the garden.
Then off to Los Olivos for Epiphany Winery and Dinner.
Epiphany was founded by Eli Parker in 2000 as a way for him to expand on his passion for and fascination with winemaking. Here they make different styles than Fess Parker Winery.
It's a short walk to dinner here in Los Olivos to Barlacote. Then back to Santa Barbara Inn.
Wednesday ~ Day 3
It's off to breakfast before we head out to the wineries of Santa Rita Hills!
We are headed to Lompoc to visit a couple of cool wineries. First off is Ampelos. We love their Viognier and Syrah. But they make much more than that. This was the very first Certified Organic vineyard in the US! And there is something about them that makes their wines stand out. The Viognier is really concentrated.
Then it's off to Lafond Winery. LaFond, founded by Pierre LaFond in the early '60s. Pierre's other winery is Santa Barbara Winery, which we visited the tasting room on day 1. Here we will do a tour, tasting, and lunch.
Then it's off to Bells restaurant for dinner in Los Alamos.
We are headed to Lompoc to visit a couple of cool wineries. First off is Ampelos. We love their Viognier and Syrah. But they make much more than that. This was the very first Certified Organic vineyard in the US! And there is something about them that makes their wines stand out. The Viognier is really concentrated.
Then it's off to Lafond Winery. LaFond, founded by Pierre LaFond in the early '60s. Pierre's other winery is Santa Barbara Winery, which we visited the tasting room on day 1. Here we will do a tour, tasting, and lunch.
Then it's off to Bells restaurant for dinner in Los Alamos.
Thursday ~ Day 4
Enjoy breakfast at the hotel this morning.
Today we will explore more iconic wineries of this region.
Our first stop is Au Bon Climat. Founded in 1982, ABC only focuses on Burgundian-style wines. If you can't find it in Burgundy, then ABC isn't making it. As a result, ABC produces some of the best Chardonnay and Pinot Noir in Santa Barbara.
While we are in this area we can't not stop at Alma Rosa Winery. Enjoy a tasting here of more French inspired wines.
We will head back to Santa Barbara to at the Barbareno! Here we will have our farewell dinner.
Today we will explore more iconic wineries of this region.
Our first stop is Au Bon Climat. Founded in 1982, ABC only focuses on Burgundian-style wines. If you can't find it in Burgundy, then ABC isn't making it. As a result, ABC produces some of the best Chardonnay and Pinot Noir in Santa Barbara.
While we are in this area we can't not stop at Alma Rosa Winery. Enjoy a tasting here of more French inspired wines.
We will head back to Santa Barbara to at the Barbareno! Here we will have our farewell dinner.
Friday ~ Day 6
Today our Santa Barbara wine journey comes to an end. Depending on what time you depart you may join us around Santa Barbara for more wine tastings. We will head over to the Carr wine tasting room for lunch and a tasting. And then head down to the Funk Zone and pier to taste at our leisure.
Pricing
As always our wine trips include everything once you arrive at the location. It includes every meal, every winery, every tasting, every tour, every excursion, every transfer and every hotel. There is never any "down-time" where you will have out pocket expenses. No extra excursions. It's all included in our tours.
Five days in Santa Barbara led by Chef Marcus & Jamie Guiliano is only $3499 per person based on double occupancy (add $750 for single occupancy).
To reserve this or any wine adventure with us call (845) 647-3000.
Five days in Santa Barbara led by Chef Marcus & Jamie Guiliano is only $3499 per person based on double occupancy (add $750 for single occupancy).
To reserve this or any wine adventure with us call (845) 647-3000.