Santa Barbara Wine Trail

Central California is home to many vineyards & wineries yet it's not always easy to make the trek to the countryside. An alternative is the Santa Barbara Urban Wine Trail. Many wineries have brought the tasting experience into downtown. You can pick up an Urban Wine Trail map, rent a bicycle or put on your walking shoes, and be tasting within minutes! There are 15 wineries on the trail that serve up everything from Moscato to Zinfandel. Each tasting room is as unique in character as it is in wine. And with every shop under the sun - literally, the Urban Wine Trail makes for a more than enjoyable way to spend the day.

I can't talk about the wine trail without mentioning Corks & Crowns, a unique wine and beer shop located in the midst of the tasting rooms. The flight selection here is superb, and your choice ranges from Gold to Diamond. What more could you want?! It's no wonder their motto is "the best tasting experience on the planet"! Truly inspiring....





First stop on the trail is Kunin. Most known for making Rhone-style wines with old-world sensibility, Kunin reminded me of how much nature plays a role in the life of wine. Everything about this place brings you back to the vineyard. It's no surprise that these wines get top notch ratings. "Seth Kunin's winemaking style offers the elegance and complexity found in top-class French wines, as well as the sweet, ripe, tasty fruit the better California offerings routinely possess" . . . Robert Parker

Enough said. Just go try it!

How fitting to have a wine named after it's playground. And play here, you will. Probably the best thing about wine tasting (besides the obvious, the wine!) is meeting the wonderful people who love it as much as I do. So here is where I fell in love with Chardonnay, olive oil infused with basil, and made a new friend in Kelsey. The girl knows a lot about vino and she's pretty cool too so you should ask for her. Santa Barbara Winery has a lot to offer in gifts as well, a one stop shop for wine lovers!

Closest to the beach sits Kalyra Winery and it has the fitting atmosphere for it. Owned by an Australian winemaker, Kalyra by the Sea hosts a tropical party like atmosphere and the wine to keep it going all night long. There's only one word for this place and it's FUN. As for the vino, the Syrah Angelique is a sweet twist on your typical Syrah and the Puerto Bianco will leave you feeling like you just left the island. It's a white port served chilled with hints of honey and hazelnut. Yummmm

How about tasting wine in a renovated tire shop? Don't worry, the metal garage doors and cement floors don't affect the wine. This place is an eclectic mix of winery, tasting room, and art gallery. Best of all, they serve up some rare Italian varietals amongst their ever popular Pinot Noir. Best spot for tasting is on the garden patio. Be sure to come early to get the big yellow chairs!

When you're finished hitting the trail, be sure to continue your wine and dine experience here at the Wine Bistro. Started in 1962 by Pierre Lafond, a pioneer of grape growing in Santa Barbara, the bistro has an extensive wine list and the food to match it. Sitting outside on the patio alongside State Street is both an entertaining and a relaxing experience. It's the perfect ending to your wine adventure.