"Wine is sunlight held together by water," Galileo. Highlights from the SANTA YNEZ VALLEY
As soon as you enter the valley your senses are overtaken by the still, vivid, rich purity of the land. From the smell of blooming peach blossoms (and grapes, obviously!), to the dry heat and the rolling hills dotted with olive trees, wildflowers and horses, it's such a display of nature's bounty that we are risking sounding very, very sappy! But seriously we love going up (only two and a half hours north of LA) to reset and get back to the roots-- we feel like we're in the Heartland!
STAY
The Ballard Inn
2436 Baseline Ave.
Ballard, CA 93463
800-638-2466
www.ballardinn.com
Although the Inn is a bit dated in terms of some of its decor, the Vineyard Room has hardwood floors and alcove windows making it bright and cheerful. The Gaviota Room is smaller but cute and has a seashell theme while the Davy Brown room has exposed beams and a wood fireplace making it cozy and reflective of the area. If you're looking for frills like flat screen televisions and phones in the room, this is not the place for you, but they have a lovely porch where you can enjoy complimentary wine and cheese each evening. The Inn is centrally located between the towns of Los Olivos and Santa Ynez and the restaurant is notoriously the best in the valley.
Another idea...
Santa Ynez Vacation Rentals
800-557-5939
www.santaynezvacationrentals.com
EAT
Breakfast
Los Olivos Grocery
2621 Highway 254
Santa Ynez, CA 93460
805-688-5115
www.losolivosgrocery.com
We love their breakfast burritos and blueberry pancakes. Take it to go or have breakfast in the quaint sunfilled dining area.
Lunch
Petros
2860 Grand Ave
Los Olivos, Ca 93441
805.686.5455
www.petroslosolivos.com
A newer spot in town, Petros is the restaurant located on the first floor of the Fess Parker Inn and Spa in Los Olivos. The food is a Californian spin on Greek and everything is fresh and delicious.
Dinner
Brother's Restaurant at Mattei's Tavern
2350 Railwy Ave
Los Olivos, CA 93441
(805) 688-4820
www.matteistavern.com
Originally built in 1886 as a stagecoach stop, this bar and restaurant are brimming with history. Our steak here was out of this world and we were tipped off to order the fries which are cooked in duck fat and not on the menu. Possibly the best french fries ever.
Dos Carlitos
3544 Sagunto Street
Santa Ynez, CA 93460
(805) 688-0033
www.doscarlitosrestaurant.com
A new restaurant in Santa Ynez from Carlos Lopez-Hollis whose family runs the hit restaurants Carlitos in Santa Barbara, and Cava in Monecito. Welcoming upscale decor with a roaring fireplace and charming outdoor patio from which to enjoy a tequila tasting, or the best margaritas we've ever had! The guacamole and seafood stew are out of this world.
THE WINE TOUR
Foxen Winery & Vineyard
Foxen is one of the most picturesque and historic wineries in valley. Several miles back on Foxen Canyon road it is situated on the rolling hills and green pastures that were once English sea captain William Benjamin Foxen's original cattle ranch. The anchor that was the cattle ranch brand is now the logo of the vineyard that boasts two tasting rooms. The historic and adorable "tasting shack," Foxen 7200, features their Bordeaux and Cal-Ital-Style wines. Foxen's chardonnays, pinots and Rhone-style wines are available for tastings in the new solar-powered tasting room. We were lucky enough to do our tasting with Riley Walthen, the daughter of Foxen's winemaker and co-owner, Bill Walthen. You'll arrive at Foxen's new tasting room first, continue for another two minutes to get to the original tasting room that oozes old world charm.
Foxen Winery & Vineyard
(business address & tasting room)
7600 Foxen Canyon Road
Santa Maria, CA 93454
Phone: (805) 937-4251
FAX: (805) 937-0415
www.foxenvineyard.com
Foxen 7200 (the shack)
7200 Foxen Canyon Road
Santa Maria, CA 93454
(805)937-4251
(805)937-0415
Koehler Winery
As Kohler is just down the road from our family's winery, Curtis, we were lucky enough to stumble into this gem and learn about the art of wine-making with French winemaker, Oliver Rousset, while enjoying the dry humor and sarcastic tips of tasting room manager, Dan. The experience here is cozy and comfortable with Amanda the cat and her sister poking their heads into the tasting room to see how it is all going down. Emus and sheep are also happy to socialize below the beautiful picnic table area that Koehler offers.
5360 Foxen Canyon Road
Los Olivos, California 93441
Telephone: 805.693.8384
Fax: 805.693.8383
www.koehlerwinery.com
Carhartt Vineyard
The Carhartt family (yes, of the clothing company) run their vineyard in a very hands on fashion. Brooke, is the winemaker- one of the only female winemakers in California, Mike oversees the farming and the cutest tasting room in the area, while their son Chase studies Viticulture at Cal Poly and works the tasting room when he has a break in his studies. Their Sauvignon Blanc is truly unusual as it is transferred to oak barrels from stainless steel barrels halfway through it's aging process giving it a smooth, delicious taste.
Carhartt Vineyard Tasting Room
2990A Grand Avenue,
Los Olivos CA 93441
805.688.0685
www.carharttvineyard.com
(closed Tuesdays)