Is Santa Barbara in January Still Good for Wine Tasting, or Too Cold?
Short answer: Yes. Santa Barbara in January is not only good for wine tasting, it might actually be better than peak season. Average daytime highs still hit around 65°F. Rain only shows up about 5 to 7 days out of the month. And the tasting rooms that are packed shoulder-to-shoulder in July? Nearly empty. That…
What Is the Urban Wine Trail Santa Barbara, and Is It Worth Skipping the Drive Out?
The Urban Wine Trail Santa Barbara is a collection of 20+ tasting rooms spread across several walkable downtown neighborhoods, letting visitors sample wines from across Santa Barbara County without driving 45 minutes into the valleys where the grapes actually grow. It is free to join, requires no reservations at most stops, and covers areas like…
Where To Find the Best Santa Barbara Pinot Noir Beyond the Tasting Room
The tasting room is not the only way. Most people visiting Santa Barbara wine country spend their time hopping between reservation-only estates in the Santa Ynez Valley, which is still amazing. But truly great bottles can be found beyond the tasting room. They move through mailing lists, quiet restaurant cellars, and urban tasting rooms that…