The state of California is known worldwide for its wines which seem to be made in almost any part of the state you go to. While places like Napa and Sonoma may get most of their fame and attention, there are many other towns where great wines are grown. Perhaps some of you have already heard of a little town called Santa Ynez but maybe some of you haven’t. This laid-back town is situated just up the highway from Santa Barbara where the climate seems so different.
One of such places you can explore is Presque Isle winery. A guide will take you on a grand tour to show you how the wines are made. You will get a bit of a history and science lesson all at once as you will learn about what made the Santa Ynez Valley where Santa Ynez is located such a special place for winemaking. You will even get to sit down and sample some of the favorites here as the guides explain the different nuances of what made each particular blend different and how the soils and weathers affected those flavors.
Just down the street is the tiny town of Solvang which is an enclave of Danish influence. Here nearly all the town’s buildings looked like they have been plucked right off the streets of Copenhagen. Solvang draws a lot of tourists from around the world. It definitely has a lot of charm and you can even try one of the Danishes from the Danish bakery across the street.
For the afternoon, you can saddle up the Fess Parker Winery and fox and canyon or ride the horseback through the family’s pastures and vineyards. This land was home to most of the meat wine and vegetables that are sold in the local farmers market. The story of the farm-to-table culture that is really caught on not only here in Santa Ynez but across much of California is really an interesting one. 714 acres of this estate are dedicated to sustainable farming practices and they are well known for raising their Wagyu cattle here that produces superior beef.
At night, you can have dinner at the Bear and Star restaurant where Chef John Cox gets to take you on a quick tour of the chef’s room as well as a private dining area hidden behind a wall of wine. The menu featured many dishes showcasing the Wagyu beef from down the street as well as many other culinary delights. One of the most prized specialties here is the dry-aged cowboy cut rib eyes.
If you are looking for a little trip to get away and enjoy somewhere that has a slower pace on your average big city, you should check out Santa Ynez and its surrounding towns.