Sip and Savor Santa Barbara County
At Alisal Guest Ranch, you are in the heart of Santa Barbara County—one of the best wine-producing regions in the country, with over 100 different wineries and tasting rooms. The county’s varied microclimates and soils, as well as its unique geography, provide ideal growing conditions for many types of grapes—from the beloved Chardonnays, Pinot Noirs, and Syrahs, to unique varietals like Albariño and Grenache Blanc. Alisal is perfectly situated so that our guests can visit a wide variety of nearby wineries. Our dining room offers an extensive wine list that focuses primarily on wines from Santa Barbara County and Central California, so you can have a taste at the Alisal before you venture out.
Our Ranch Concierge team is happy to help you plan a picnic and a day spent wine tasting at some of our favorite vineyards.
The following recommended wineries and distilleries offer complimentary tastings¹ for guests staying at the Alisal.
( ¹ Parties of six or more may incur a fee. )
Alma Rosa Winery
Buellton
almarosawinery.com
Alma Rosa Winery is dedicated to making Pinot Noir and Chardonnay wines that express the unique terroir of our appellation, the Sta. Rita Hills. Our wines are layered, vibrant and balanced, reflecting the cool climate impact of the Pacific Ocean breezes that funnel through the unique East-West transverse mountain range of the region
Andrew Murray Vineyards
Los Olivos
andrewmurrayvineyards.com
Passionately focused on Rhône varieties, Andrew Murray has consistently crafted highly acclaimed red wines and white wines in the Santa Ynez Valley for 20 years. His Viogniers, single-vineyard Syrahs, and blends led Robert Parker, Jr. to refer to Andrew Murray Vineyards as, "...one of the shining stars in the Santa Barbara firmament."
Beckmen Vineyards
Los Olivos
beckmenvineyards.com
Tom Beckmen’s 365 acres (which are all biodynamically farmed) are perfectly situated to produce fantastic Rhone varietals. Guests can get a taste for themselves at Beckmen’s Los Olivos tasting room.
Carhartt Vineyard
Los Olivos
carharttvineyard.com
Making Wine from Ground to Glass, by Hand and Heart in Rancho Santa Ynez for Three Generations, Carhartt is a family owned and operated vineyard and winery.
Carr Winery
Santa Ynez
carrwinery.com
The vast microclimates of Santa Barbara County allow the winery to produce several great wines including Pinot Gris, Pinot Noir, Cabernet Franc, Grenache and Syrah. Carr Winery has two locations for guests to enjoy wine tasting in downtown Santa Barbara and Santa Ynez.
CrossHatch Winery
Solvang
crosshatchwinery.com
All of the wines produced by CrossHatch Winery are co-fermented blends sourced from Santa Barbara County vineyards. The idea of co-fermented wine is nothing new. Some of the best and oldest wines in the world are made this way, but with the micro-climates of Santa Barbara it really adds another layer to the process.
Dragonette Cellars
Los Olivos
dragonettecellars.com
We are vignerons, they have committed themselves, above all else, to the mindful farming of precise blocks in exceptional vineyards for low yields and high quality and to the shepherding of these grapes into wines of purity, complexity and balance.
E11EVEN Wines
Los Olivos
andrewmurrayvineyards.com/this-is-e11even-wines
The Wine Maker spent 25 years making Rhône-style wines. With each vintage, I work relentlessly to divine the slightest nuances out of my favorite varieties. With This is E11even Wines, I break into new direction and explore the best of the other varieties that we grow here in Los Olivos
Fess Parker Winery & Vineyard
Los Olivos
fessparker.com
The home ranch vineyard, named for Fess’s late son-in-law, Rodney, has earned a great reputation for the quality of its Rhône varietals, while long term contracts with some of the finest vineyards in the Sta. Rita Hills AVA are the fruit sources for the winery’s Burgundian offerings.
Fiddlehead Cellars
Lompoc
fiddleheadcellars.com
As one of Lompoc's wineries, Fiddlehead Cellars stands apart for its textural, place-drive wines, its passion for winemaking, and its commitment to sustainability.
*Tasting by appointment only*
Firestone Winery
Los Olivos
firestonewine.com
Firestone Vineyard belongs to an entrepreneurial and adventurous family tradition that dates back more than a century to legendary tire innovator Harvey Firestone.
Folded Hills Winery
Solvang
foldedhills.com
We believe in quality. That’s why everything on the land, both food crops and vineyards, is farmed organically. We wouldn’t do it any other way. It’s also why we are so proud of our wines. After walking these hills, studying their soil and our microclimate, grower Ruben and our team planted Grenache, Syrah, and a collection of Rhône whites.
Foley Wines
Lompoc
foleywines.com
Any visit to Santa Rita Hills must include a stop at Foley Estates. The property was founded by Bill Foley in the late 1990’s and today is one of the most important in the appellation.
Foxen Winery
Santa Maria
foxenvineyard.com
Bill Wathen and Dick Doré (also known as the “Foxen Boys”) have been making wine together since 1985, when they founded FOXEN at the historic Rancho Tinaquaic in northern Santa Barbara County. Since that time, their dedication has remained the same the creation of very small production, sustainably-farmed, vineyard-focused wines.
Gainey Vineyard
Santa Ynez
gaineyvineyard.com
Gainey has been family run since the 60's when it was a cattle farm. The first vines were planted on the property in the mid 80's and they have been producing great wine ever since.
Kaena Wine Company
Los Olivos
www.kaenawine.com
Kaena was launched in 2001 to showcase Mikael’s deep passion for Grenache. Kaena is a boutique winery that sources from Tierra Alta Vineyard, La Presa Vineyard, and Larner Vineyard in the Ballard Canyon AVA , primarily. Mikael who is part Hawaiian and raised on the Oahu shores, uses a shortened version of his given name for the brand – Kaena –
Kohler Winery
Los Olivos
koehlerwinery.com
Situated on the celebrated Foxen Canyon Wine Trail in the Santa Ynez Valley, Koehler Winery is located in one of California’s most diverse and distinctive growing regions.
Lincourt Winery
Solvang
lincourtwines.com
Lincourt is known for small-lot bottlings of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay that bear the names of the women who have influenced and shaped Bill Foley’s life including his wife, mother, grandmother and aunt.
M Special Brew Co
Goleta
mspecialbrewco.com
M. Special is a collective of friends and family from across the world of beer, food, and entertainment. Each member contributes something unique to help create a unique, fun experience, and of course some great beer.
McKinney Family Vineyard
Santa Ynez
mckinneyfamilyvineyards.com
Matt began his winemaking career in 2012, nearly three years after planting the first vineyard on the family property in 2010. Now four years into his craft he has begun developing a style of his own. A style he says is a delicate balance between new world & old world winemaking.
*Tastings by Appointment Only*
Pence Winery
Buellton
penceranch.com
Within the 200-acre working ranch is the Pence Vineyard. They are focused on producing the finest Burgundian-inspired wines made in the New World. *Tasting by appointment only*
Presqu’ile Winery
Santa Maria
presquilewine.com
Located in the heart of Santa Barbara County’s singular Santa Maria Valley, Presqu’ile (pronounced press-KEEL) is a small, family-run winery dedicated to making exceptional cool-climate Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc.
Rideau Vineyard
Solvang
rideauvineyard.com
Founded in 1997, Rideau Vineyard has been producing highly-acclaimed, small-lot wines for two decades. Our thirteen acres of estate vines are comprised of five Rhône varietals which are harvested by hand and bottled as highly-expressive blends and varietal wines.
Rusack Vineyards
Solvang
rusackvineyards.com
Located between Solvang and Los Olivos in Ballard Canyon, Rusack meticulously farms its grapes in small lots, which extends the winemaking process, and creates exceptional Sauvingon Blanc, Chardonnay, Rose, Pinot Noir, Sangiovese, Syrah, and more.
Samsara Winery
Los Olivos
samsarawine.com
SAMsARA produces limited releases of Pinot Noir, Syrah, and Grenache from carefully selected micro-sites within Sta. Rita Hill's most distinctive vineyards.
Stolpman Vineyards
Los Olivos
stolpmanvineyards.com
Dedicated to sensible farming & winemaking, Stolpman Vineyards believes that they can create natural, vibrant, site-specific wines, with a focus unique to Ballard Canyon AVA, California.
