The Vintners’ Association publishes a guide to
Santa Barbara Wine Country, complete with a full listing
of member vineyards, wineries and tasting rooms. Go
to the Maps
section to have one sent to you.
Breathtaking
vistas overlook valleys and mountains studded with ancient oaks,
brilliant wild flowers and magnificent vineyards. Taking a leisurely
country drive allows you to fully appreciate the winemaking
experience while viewing the ever changing seasons. Pruning
in the winter, bud break in spring, canopy management in summer,
culminates with the fall harvest. It is a wonderful discovery
for any traveler! You'll find great restaurants, galleries,
country inns and exceptional tasting rooms. Friendly and knowledgeable
people are waiting to welcome, serve and delight you.
‘Tis the Season
We are now seeing the first signs
of the 2008 vintage – Bud Break! Those first green
leaves are sprouting on the pruned vines, as vineyard
crews continue preparing for the growing season. The
hills and valleys are lush with green cover crops and
wildflowers and excitement is in the air! In the cellar,
winemakers are tasting through the barrels of the 2007
vintage, and first indications are that it is a stellar
year. The first whites and pinks of 2007 are being bottled,
and everyone is looking forward to sharing them at the
Vintners’ Festival on April 19th!
Weather
At this time of year, we look for
“winter weather” here in wine country. This
hopefully means some rain to replenish the soils and
cold enough temperatures to keep the vines dormant until
March or April. Days are generally cool, in the high
50’s – 60’s. We have more “weather”
this time of year than others, so bring raingear just
in case and dress in layers as temperatures can change
throughout the day. It’s a nice time to visit
– the stark contrast of the dormant vines against
wintery skies is striking, and crowds are much thinner
than in the summer months!
Wineries & Vineyards
An overview of each
member of the Vintners’ Association can be
found in the Wineries
& Vineyards section.
We hope to get to know you over
a glass of fine Santa Barbara County wine! Our wineries
host a huge variety of events - from special tastings
to winemakers' dinners. Check out our calendar
of events.
