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| TOP WINERIES |
| (Quality & Experience) |
Alma Rosa
Ampelos Cellars
Beckmen Vineyards
Core Wines
Flying Goat Cellars
Fiddlehead Cellars
Foxen Vineyards
Lafond Winery
Melville Vineyards
Palmina Winery
Qupé
Saarloos and Sons
Samsara
Stolpman Vineyards
Summerland Winery
Tensley
Tercero
Zaca Mesa Winery
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*These are my current choices after many, many trips and are weighed on the quality of the wines vs. the price, as well as tasting experience.
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Here you'll find a list of area wineries that I've been to in the last year. The KEY to the symbols in each review can be found below. This is not a comprehensive list. I have visited almost every winery in the region, but am trying to keep my reviews as current and accurate as possible. Will be revisting many over the next few months so check back for additions. My focus is on the smaller producers and finding hidden gems. Anyone you can buy in your grocery store will generally not be represented here. For the record, SIDEWAYS, while bringing attention to the region, has ruined it for the real wine lover. The drunks outnumber the tasters and the prices are not what they should be. There is great wine being made here, it just takes a lot more effort to find. Most tasting fees start at $10 so bring a lot of cash.
DISCLAIMER: I do not tell anyone I have my own website and am reviewing their winery. I want to get the true experience of a place and their wines. Granted my knowledge may get me special treatment, but that's mostly because I show interest. Show you care, they may as well.
EXPLANATION OF SYMBOLS:
Type (of Tasting Room): R=Rustic, A=Average, F=Fancy
Size (of Tasting Room): S=Small <10ppl), M=Medium (10-20ppl), L=Large (20+)
Price (of Wines on Average): $=Under $22, $$=22-32, $$$=32-45, $$$$=45+
W-Rating (Quality of Wines): Drinkable, Enjoyable, Very Good, Great
E-Rating (Tasting Room Experience): Rude, Hit/Miss, Ordinary, Friendly, Fun
Name: Links to Winery Website
| Alexander & Wayne | Open Daily – TF: $5 |
| Type |
Size |
Price |
W-Rating |
E-Rating |
Specialties |
| A |
M |
$$ |
Enjoyable |
Friendly |
Bordeaux |
| Established: 1992 |
Location: Los Olivos |
2500 Cases |
| Alma Rosa Winery | Open Daily – TF: $10 |
| Type |
Size |
Price |
W-Rating |
E-Rating |
Specialties |
| A |
S |
$$ |
Very Good |
Friendly |
Chard/Pinot Noir |
| Established: 2005 |
Location: Santa Rosa Rd. |
17000 Cases |
| → Read more detailed report |
| Andrew Murray Vineyards | Open Daily – TF: $10 |
| Type |
Size |
Price |
W-Rating |
E-Rating |
Specialties |
| A |
S |
$$$ |
Very Good |
Ordinary |
Rhone |
| Established: 1990 |
Location: Los Olivos |
9000 Cases |
| Arthur Earl | Open Daily – TF: $5 |
| Type |
Size |
Price |
W-Rating |
E-Rating |
Specialties |
| A |
S |
$ |
Enjoyable |
Friendly |
Rhones/Italian |
| Established: 1996 |
Location: Los Olivos |
2000 Cases |
| Beckmen Vineyards | Open Daily – TF: $10 |
| Type |
Size |
Price |
W-Rating |
E-Rating |
Specialties |
| A |
M |
$$$ |
Great |
Friendly |
Rhones/Cab |
| Established: 1994 |
Location: Ballard |
17,000 Cases |
| Picnic Area |
| Bedford Thompson Winery | Open Daily – TF: $5 |
| Type |
Size |
Price |
W-Rating |
E-Rating |
Specialties |
| R |
S |
$$ |
Very Good |
Friendly |
Rhones |
| Established: 1994 |
Location: Los Alamos |
7000 Cases |
| Blackjack Ranch | Open Daily – TF: $12 |
| Type |
Size |
Price |
W-Rating |
E-Rating |
Specialties |
| A |
M |
$$$$ |
Enjoyable |
Ordinary |
Rhones/Bordeaux |
| Established: 1997 |
Location: Alamo Pintado Rd. |
9000 Cases |
| → Read more detailed report |
| The Brander Vineyard | Open Daily – TF: $8 |
| Type |
Size |
Price |
W-Rating |
E-Rating |
Specialties |
| A |
M |
$$ |
Enjoyable |
Ordinary |
Sauvignon Blanc |
| Established: 1977 |
Location: Santa Ynez |
10,000 Cases |
| Bridlewood Winery | Open Daily – TF: $10 |
| Type |
Size |
Price |
W-Rating |
E-Rating |
Specialties |
| F |
L |
$$ |
Very Good |
Friendly |
Rhones/Bordeaux |
| Established: 1998 |
Location: Santa Ynez |
40,000 Cases |
| Gourmet Food on-site/Picnic Area/Tours |
| Carhartt Vineyard | Open Th-Tu – TF: $10 |
| Type |
Size |
Price |
W-Rating |
E-Rating |
Specialties |
| R |
S |
$$ |
Drinkable |
Friendly |
Rhones |
| Established: 1998 |
Location: Los Olivos |
2000 Cases |
| Carina Cellars | Open Daily – TF: $10 |
| Type |
Size |
Price |
W-Rating |
E-Rating |
Specialties |
| A |
M |
$$$ |
Very Good |
Hit/Miss |
Rhones |
| Established: 2004 |
Location: Los Olivos |
3000 Cases |
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