Itineraries / First-Timer's Santa Barbara Day

First-Timer's Santa Barbara Day

An approachable introduction to Santa Ynez / Sta. Rita Hills — three rooms, a Los Olivos lunch, and time to actually enjoy each.

This plan keeps to 3 tastings with real drive times and a lunch break, because more than 3-4 in a day means rushing. Times are a suggested pace; call ahead, as many rooms take reservations.

Before you go. This is a plan for a day of drinking. Line up a designated driver, a car service or a tour operator before you leave. Drive times assume a sober driver. Spitting and dumping is normal at every room on this list.

10:30 AM

Core

Santa Barbara. $5 tasting

Drive ~23 min to the next stop

12:08 PM

Riverbench Vineyard & Winery

Santa Maria Valley · Santa Barbara. $10 tasting · Outdoor · Sustainable

1:23 PM

Lunch break

We have not picked a spot for you here. Many rooms on this route allow picnics, and Santa Maria Valley has places to eat. Budget about 75 minutes so the afternoon stays relaxed.

Drive ~24 min to the next stop

3:02 PM

Koehler Winery

Santa Ynez Valley · Santa Barbara. $25 tasting · Outdoor · Dog-friendly · Sustainable

After

Dinner

Most rooms close by 5:00 to 5:30, so plan dinner in Santa Barbara once you are done tasting.

See these on the map