Santa Barbara Wine has not always been on the wine map…
They certainly are now. Santa Barbara County is home to 283 wineries and 7 officially recognized American Viticultural Areas or AVA. If you are curious, they are Santa Maria Valley AVA, Santa Ynez Valley AVA, Sta. Rita Hills AVA, Ballard Canyon AVA, Los Olivos District AVA, Happy Canyon AVA, and Alisos Canyon AVA.
Fun Fact:
The very first winery in Santa Barbara was Santa Barbara Winery by Pierre Lafond. They were the first winery founded post prohibition in 1962. In 1964, they opened the wine making facility/tasting room which was located in a little industrial area, now better known as The Funk Zone (and recently moved their winery down the street from their original location!)
A few OG and a few New Tasting Rooms in Santa Barbara to Note:
Jim Clendenen, Founder of Au Bon Climat (ABC) started making wine in 1982. ” left an indelible mark on the wine industry as wine pioneer, mentor, ambassador, and impresario.” To read more about the ABC wine story please click here.
In 1999 enters Carr Winery. Carr Vineyards & Winery specializes in limited production wines from Santa Barbara County. Owner and Winemaker Ryan Carr also oversees the management of over 100 acres of vineyards, allowing him to handcraft each vintage from grapes grown to his specification. Varietals include Pinot Gris, Pinot Noir, Syrah, Grenache and Cabernet Franc.They are also in an industrial area, that is funk zone adjacent. Super awesome, large indoor space, lovely little outdoor space. They have awesome events and were one of the first wine tasting rooms to have evening events and they continue those fun events today.
As you know, some of my favorite local wineries are…
Grassini Family Wines planted their first grape vines in 2002. I don’t remember when their small little tasting room opened, I feel like somewhere around 2013. –> is a picture of their original tasting room.
Grassini has since moved their downtown tasting room into a larger space around the corner from the original. They have two great outdoor spaces and inside is lovel
Margerum wines, started by Doug Margerum in 2001, just around the corner from Grassini. Doug was part owner of the Santa Barbara legendary restaurants Intermezzo and The Wine Cask. Margerum tasting room opened in a tiny space, very close to the restaurant. They also launched the Barden wine label in 2014 (read more about the Barden wines here). Eventually selling the restaurants and outgrowing the tiny wine space.
Margerum get Funky in the Funk Zone
Margerum moved into a much larger space that offered both wine AND food. Moving from a tiny downtown location into a large space on the corner of the Funk Zone. There is a huge indoor and outdoor space and like I said, a kitchen.
You may have heard of an actor named Fess Parker…
Fess and his family have a long history in Santa Barbara County. in 1989 Fess Parker Wines came to be! They have a great tasting room in the funk zone. The grandson start a brewery called Third Window at The Mill in 2016. They don’t just offer beer but they now offer some of the best smash burgers around (there is always a line for any of the food they offer) AND they also have hotels and inns.
Let’s here it for Syrah and all the others
Kunin Wines originally focusing on Syrah, Zinfandel and Viognier and then over the years Seth added additional Rhone and Loire Valley varieties such as Grenache, Mourvedre, Rousanne, Sauvignon Blanc and Chenin Blanc opened in 1998 by the came to be. Launched by the now late Seth Kunin. Seth wife’s Magan is also his business partner and continues to crank out beautiful wines and are up to 5,000 cases a year. They originally opened in the Funk Zone and recently moved to downtown Santa Barbara. Into the space where Frequency Wines first opened their doors. And Santa Barbara Winery moved into w here Kunin first began.
2010 the very small batch and family owned, Frequency wines came to be. Familyowned and operated by the Wasserman Family. Zac is the wine maker, his wife Nicole is the GM of ABC. They make a variety of small batch wines and have one of the best wine clubs in all the land. Their tasting room has a beautiful and very welcoming outdoor patio (and great bathrooms). Also, very kid friendly, without being annoying.
We clearly love our local (and non local) wines, but we also really love food.
So go book your food and wine tour and taco tour and custom tours with us today.
