Anyone have any recs for off the beaten track wineries in this area? We have been there a few times and have a friend from Europe visiting and would like to show him some interesting wines. Any sparkling up there? Any recommendations appreciated.
Thanks,
Chris
Could do the west loop, mosby, alma, sanford, then head into the wine ghetto…
I’m there now, we are heading up Foxen trail and then back into Los O for today’s adventure.
The co-op facility is home to twenty four (24) small top notch producers, has a large tasting bar, serves great tapas and is maybe 3 minutes off of Highway 101.
We stop any time we are in the area.
Also see larry at tercero in Los O, he is family and makes great wine. The guy is an animal in the tasting room, everyone has a great time.
If you’re on Santa Rosa Road (Alma Rosa, Sanford) also stop by Lafond, which is owned by the same folks as Santa Barbara Winery. My friend Kimball just got married there last weekend. The wines seem to get mixed reviews on the boards, but it’s a pretty site and I really like the Syrahs.
In Los Olivos I would stop by Alta Maria - they alone have some fine wines (and three amazing original California survey maps on the wall - the oldest being from 1850) but they also serve two other wines, side projects of one of the owners and another of the wine maker. These two tiny labels offer amazing diversions from the majority of the Santa Ynez/Santa Maria wines. The labels are Native9 and Autonom. Delicious.
Two doors further north is Longoria - stop in to try their two Spanish variatals - Albarino and Tempranillo - which are excellent and distinct - and taste in the little garden next to the tasting room.
For lunch I enjoy the Los Olivos Cafe and wine store which is south of the flagpole. It has a great fresh menu and also a tasting flight at the bar. All in addition to having the ability to buy many of the Valleys wines all in one place.
Not quite off the beaten path are two distinctive tasting rooms on the Foxen Wine trail. Zaca Mesa is a beautiful, distinctive tasting room and Foxen has the old rustic setting which reminds you that this really is America and the old west. They also have a new tasting room but you can taste at either or both. At the Rustic setting I love the sauvignon blanc/viogner field blend (under the label Foxen 7200) from Vogelzang vineyard in Happy Canyon.
About a mile to the West of Los Olivos is Ballard Canyon, which is a little more off the beaten path. Just south of the Stolpman vineyard is Rusack. Great wines and a beautiful setting for a picnic lunch, on a large patio under three old oak trees overlooking the vineyard. Google search for some info about their vineyard on South Catalina Island and the history of one of the families behind Rusack (the Wrigleys of the gum and Boston Red Sox fame).
+1 on Rusack in Ballard Canyon.
Cubs, not red sox. But good information.
Also in Los O is Dragonette, which I was unable to visit because if time but they are doing really nice things.
Yes Cubs. Wrigley Field. Duh. . So many tasting rooms in Los Olivos now. You really can’t go wrong. Some good diversity as well - so no matter which grapes you prefer you can find it - especially as the newer vineyards to the east come of age and the Bordeaux vines mature, to go along with the excellent Burgundy and Rhone wines.
Another interesting spot is Rideau - south of Los Olivos. Not one of my favorites as far as wines go but some interesting experiments with varieties like Rousanne, Grenache Blanc, Sangiovese and Mouvedre.
While in the tasting room this morning the two gals working were talking about the wedding. Too funny.
All good suggestions but are any of these off the beaten track? When talking off the beaten path I think more along the lines of Storm wines but I don’t think they take appointments.
Brian,
I guess ‘off the beaten track’ is in the eye of the beholder and as this was Chris’ first post we certainly have no reference for what he does and doesn’t know about the area. You are right though, if you’ve taken this path before these aren’t really any suggestions that qualify as new, rare, unknown, or different. Though I would say many of these choices are only available winery-direct for folks from outside of CA, so I would say they are ‘off the beaten track’ to new visitors.
Thank you all for the recs! yes off the beaten track is in the eye of the beholder but this gives us some good ideas for planning a day up there. we’ve been a couple of times but really hit the sideways vineyards and a couple of others. I appreciate the info on what people have tasted and why they like certain places. it make the wine searching more fun. thanks,chris
Heres one off the beaten path http://www.grassinifamilyvineyards.com/ in Happy Canyon. We went on a day trip with Ian Blackburn of http://www.learnaboutwine.com/ last summer and it is a pretty cool place. Apparently the senior Grassini is a VERY successful ambulance chaser in LA and wanted to create something special, boy did he ever.
As you drive through the front gate you will not beleieve your eyes, the most beautiful grounds I have seen south of Napa. Planted with bordeaux varietals (very tightly spaced) both red and white (sauv blanc). They only make 2 wines and they are really good. The SB is left in oak for a while which I normally dont care for but these are great. Appointment only tours/tasting so check them out.
The winery building is insane for the small production size <2500 cases I believe. As you are touring the facility it is apparent that there is something missing… barrels of wine. Just a few here and there. His daughters run the tasting/touring facility and are very pleasant.