There are plenty of Santa Barbara winery tours that revolve around popular commercial wineries, but this tour offers the chance to try something a bit more exclusive. Instead of standing at the bar of a crowded cellar door for your tasting, enjoy seated one-on-one tastings at a series of private small-production wineries. Customize your itinerary based on your own tastes and interests, and learn the secrets behind the wines on behind-the-scenes tours of those vineyards and barrel rooms.

• Don’t share your guide or your tastings with strangers on this private tour
• Get around Santa Barbara County in a luxury vehicle on this full-day trip
• Stop along the way for a complimentary organic lunch
• Transport includes convenient hotel pick-up and return

What To Expect

Itinerary
This is a typical itinerary for this product

Stop At: Sustainable Wine Tours, Santa Barbara, CA 93101

We pick up from your location in Santa Barbara, Montecito, Goleta, Buelton, Solvang or Santa Ynez.

Please note: 45 minutes travel time from Santa Barbara to Wine Country.

Duration: 45 minutes

Stop At: Santa Ynez Wine Trail, Santa Ynez, CA

Walk the vineyards with winemakers and tour production facilities at all private locations.

Duration: 5 hours

Pass By: Cold Spring Tavern, 5995 Stagecoach Rd, Santa Barbara, CA 93105-9776

Old Stagecoach stop from the 1800s.

Pass By: Global Gardens, 2450 Alamo Pintado Road, Los Olivos, CA 93441-4500

Depending on itinerary of the day, we could do a private olive oil tasting at tiny market.

Pass By: Solvang, Solvang, California

Charming danish village

Pass By: Los Olivos, Los Olivos, California

Over 40 tastings rooms in this tiny town.

Pass By: Santa Ynez, Santa Ynez, California

This tiny town is reminiscent of the old west.

Pass By: Ballard, Ballard, California

With a population of only 467, Ballard is the smallest of the region’s towns. However, it also holds some of the Valley’s most treasured gems. A genuine “Little Red Schoolhouse” has been educating young Ballard residents since 1883. The bell still rings to summon students, and it is one of the top-performing schools in Santa Barbara County. Ballard is also home to The Ballard Inn & Restaurant, one of the most romantic B&Bs in the region, where you can enjoy delectable wine-country fusion meals. With an abundance of historic homes, churches, miniature donkeys and more, this town is certainly well worth the visit. Experience the serenity and charm of a well-preserved country town.

Pass By: Refugio State Beach, 10 Refugio Beach Rd, Goleta, CA 93117-9717

Located just half an hour west of Santa Barbara, Refugio State Beach offers a unique landscape and calm oasis for families and outdoor enthusiasts. The palm tree-lined cove caters to peaceful picnics, coastal fishing and unforgettable kayaking. Its crystalline waters and secluded setting warrant an entire day of fun and relaxation – and maybe a night of camping, too!

Pass By: Gaviota State Park, U.s. 101, CA

Gaviota State Park takes its name from the Spanish word for seagull, given to the area by soldiers of the Portola Expedition who supposedly killed a seagull while camping here in 1769. Marked by a tall Southern Pacific railroad trestle that crosses Gaviota Creek high above the day-use parking lot, the park is a popular spot for swimming, picnicking, surf fishing and camping, despite high winds that often blow through the area. A pier on the west end of the beach is used by anglers, and scuba divers and surfers use a boat hoist on the pier to access the waters of the Santa Barbara Channel. Visitors can explore the rugged upland portions of the park from a trailhead in the parking area. Ambitious hikers can climb to Gaviota Peak that offers a spectacular view of the coast and the Channel Islands.

Pass By: 2 El Capitan State Beach Rd, Santa Barbara, CA 93117-9726

El Capitán’s peaceful setting, sandy shoreline and close proximity to Santa Barbara make it a popular spot for camping, picnicking, wildlife viewing and other outdoor activities. Stands of sycamore, oak and eucalyptus trees create lots of shady spots throughout the park, and the well-maintained hiking trails lead to picturesque lookouts of the mountains and sea. Follow the stairway from the bluffs down to the beach and keep an eye out for marine life and wildlife. Between November and April, watch for whales in the distance as they migrate to/from Mexico!