Wine Tasting Ideas in Santa Barbara

For you Santa Barbararans who want to stay in town, or our friends visiting Santa Barbara, here are suggestions for a day of local wine tasting in town:

Begin at Whitcraft Winery at 36 S. Calle Cesar Chavez: Besides having phenomenal wines, Whitcraft’s founder, the late Chris Whitcraft, was part of the trio of gents who started our festival all those years ago (the first of its kind on the Central Coast).

Then head up the road to Jaffur’s Wine Cellars 819 E. Montecito St. Don’t miss their Syrah.

If you have time to plan ahead, call Silver Wines and set up a tasting, you won’t regret it.

A visit to these three wineries is a stellar experience and we recommend topping it off by a trip to The Shop 730 N. Milpas. Already a huge success, if you haven’t been to this locally owned, sustainable café you are in for a real treat. My favorite are the fish tacos, the best I’ve had this side of the Mexican border, from Vegan to Meat, they do it right. If they have any Brown Sugar Cookies left, get them, they are addictive. We greatly appreciate The Shop being one of the Wine Fest’s food vendors.

After lunch head to the El Paseo for more tastings in a refined atmosphere: Au Bon Climat,Margerum Wines, and Grassini Family Vineyards are situated in my favorite spot in all of Santa Barbara. They have seating areas where you can enjoy savoring their varietals in comfort.

Then for a final treat, enjoy appetizers at Intermezzo, select your favorite wine from the ones you tasted that day and enjoy a full glass!
The Santa Barbara Wine Festival™ is a major fundraiser for the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History.
Tickets on sale now for great holiday gifts!
For more information about the Santa Barbara Wine Festival please contact Meridith Moore at805-682-4711 ext. 112.

(information from the Santa Barbara Wine Festival Website)