Do you feel like you’re sweating this summer away? Beat the heat and escape to the coast for some cool ocean weather! It’s not a true visit to the Central Coast without some incredible local wine. There are so many phenomenal wine regions here like Paso Robles, Enda Valley, Santa Ynez, and more. It would be a shame to miss out on the opportunity to try some of them! Luckily, when you’re visiting Santa Barbara, you don’t have to compromise between beach weather and excellent wine. Here are 4 superb wine tasting rooms that are all within walking distance to the beach in downtown Santa Barbara. So you can beach and wine like a pro in Santa Barbara!
First, let’s talk a little bit about what you can expect when you visit Santa Barbara. The average temperature in the summer months is a refreshing 70 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit. Making it a haven if you’re currently experiencing high 90 to 100+ degree weather where you live. That’s not all though! Santa Barbara offers dozens of restaurants, all within walking distance from the beach, all of which serve up a wide assortment of food from Mediterranian to classic American to Mexican to Italian and more. There’s something for even the pickiest person if you’re traveling in a group. Not to mention all of the craft breweries and fun local bars nestled along the coast side. In this article, we’re just covering wineries, but if you click here, you can check out our blog out other tasting rooms/bars in the city. If you’re looking to stay the night in the city, we recommend booking your stay early! Rooms on the coast, much like our wine tour transportation, fill up fast during the summer. (For information on hotels nearby in Santa Ynez, click here.) Now, let’s dive into 4 wine-tasting tasting rooms within walking distance of the beach in Santa Barbara.
1. Deep Sea Tasting Room
The Deep Sea Tasting Room has front row seats to the most spectacular sunsets in Santa Barbara! You can’t get much closer to the beach and ocean than you can at this wine stop. Enjoy their signature tasting flight, a glass of wine, or share a bottle with friends and soak up this amazing view! Are you a red wine enthusiast? They have an entire red wine tasting just for you that you won’t want to miss.
Their wines are crafted in small batches. This allows them to use artisan winemaking techniques that enhance fruit character but are not feasible in large-scale production. They also hand-harvest their grapes during the night or at dawn because the temperature is coolest then. This keeps the grapes cool, prevents spoilage, and improves fermentation quality. To enhance the flavor, they use the technique of “cold-soaking” (cold maceration) for a few days before the grapes are transferred to a fermentation tank. From there, in order to preserve more of the local character and unique flavor of the terroir, they often choose to ferment with indigenous wild yeasts. All of their red wines and some of their whites are aged in oak. They use mostly French oak barrels (très cher) and the occasional American oak, with varying degrees of barrel toasting.
We recommend bringing a jacket, once the sun sets or if it’s a particularly windy day you’ll want something warm. You’ll also want to make sure you have your camera (or phone) ready if you come around sunset. The golden hour is the perfect time to capture some breathtaking shots.
Quick Facts:
- Wine Tasting Fee: Tasting Fees Start At $18 Per Person (Subject To Change)
- Dog-Friendly: Yes
- Do They Serve Food: Charcuterie Platters
- They Don’t Take Reservations
Why We Love It:
- They’re open to 9 PM on Friday and Saturdays.
- They have 360-degree views of the Pacific coastline.
- The sunsets here are incredible!
Wine Tasting Room Information:
Phone: (805) 618-1185
Address: 217 Stearns Wharf, Santa Barbara, CA 93101
Learn More About Their Tasting Room
2. J. Wilkes
Feet from the ocean in the heart of Santa Barbara’s Funk Zone, you’ll find the J. Wilkes tasting room. Explore the unique, sub-appellate Central Coast wines. Enjoy a glass or a tasting and pair it with a bite from their delicious rotating food menu. They offer a great array of 90+ point small-lot wines. Which provides endless opportunities to explore the unique and exquisite flavors of the Central Coast’s sub-AVAs, from their popular Cabernet Sauvignon and elegant Pinot Noir to their distinctive Pinot Blanc and refreshing Chardonnay.
They source their grapes from 4 revered regions known for their unique terroirs, all shaped by a reliable oceanic system – Santa Maria Valley, Paso Robles Highlands, Santa Rita Hills, and Ballard Canyon. The vineyards of these regions bask in the California sun while a reliable Pacific breeze keeps their grapes cool, giving them longer growing seasons and the perfect environment for a range of varietals to thrive.
We recommend coming hungry, so you can try a few items from their delicious menu and pair them with your wine tasting. You can start with their beautiful and fresh charcuterie board, followed by a Caprese Sandwich with fresh mozzarella, and then end on a sweet note with a chocolate truffle assortment. Yum!
Quick Facts:
- Do They Serve Food: Charcuterie Boards & Rotating Food Menu
- Reservations Are Strongly Recommended
Why We Love It:
- It’s in the heart of the Funk Zone.
- They have a mouthwatering selection of food to pair with their wines.
Wine Tasting Room Information:
Phone: (805) 456-6376
Address: 35 State St suite b, Santa Barbara, CA 93101
Make A Wine Tasting Reservation
3. Margerum Tasting Room
Right off of downtown and, of course, just about two blocks from the beach sits Margerum Tasting Room. They offer offers distinctive flights and wines by the glass from their premium wines produced at their state-of-the-art Buellton winery.
The tasting room is across from the entrance to the Hotel on Mason Street, convenient if you plan on staying the night in Santa Barbara. Here you’ll enjoy a balanced mix of quintessential Santa Barbara Spanish Colonial architecture and a multi-faceted modern style. On the inside, it’s a place where modern farmhouse meets couture boutique. The tasting room is centered around an expansive bar made of a reclaimed and flattened oak barrel staves from the winery. They also offer an outdoor patio so you can really take in that fresh ocean air, and a private upstairs room for elevating tastings or private parties.
Margerum Wine Company produces limited quantities of wines made from grapes grown in both their Estate Vineyard and grapes purchased from other top vineyards in and around Santa Barbara County. Their 18-acre Estate Vineyard plants exclusively to Rhône grape varietals.
While you’re here, we definitely recommend trying their private tastings. Not only do you get to try a phenomenal assortment of wines, but it offers an elevated and truly memorable Santa Barbara wine tasting experience. (Learn more about their private tastings by clicking here.)
Quick Facts:
- Do They Serve Food: Wide, Seasonal Food Menu
- No Reservation Is Needed – If They Have The Space And Staff To Serve You They Will
Why We Love It:
- They offer Margerum Rewards for returning/supportive customers.
- They’re serving up hot pizzas in addition to a wide food menu.
- They offer private, off-menu tastings for an elevated wine tasting experience.
Wine Tasting Room Information:
Phone: (805) 845-8435
Address: 19 E Mason St, Santa Barbara, CA 93101
Learn More About Their Wine Tasting Room
4. Skyenna Wines
While this may be our last stop here in the blog for Santa Barbara wine tasting rooms by the beach, there are by no means only four wineries by the beautiful coast. There are still countless others that reside along the ocean that you can explore. Now, without further delay, here’s what you need to know about Skyenna Wines.
Skyenna Wines is a family-owned and operated small business. Founded in 2014, their high-quality wine was created as a tribute to Lenny & his wife Susanne’s two daughters, Skyla and Sienna. If you enjoy Rhone varietals, this place is a must to visit! They specialize in Rhone varietals from top vineyards located in Santa Barbara County. Their wine is additive-free with no oak extraction, and they work with some of the best vintners and winemakers in the Valley.
Are you a pizza lover? If so, we recommend that you save your appetite for this spot. They recently partnered with the Lucky Penny, a neighboring pizzeria, for their food menu. It’s tasty!
Quick Facts:
- Do They Serve Food: Partners With A Local Pizzeria
- No Reservation Is Needed – If They Have The Space And Staff To Serve You They Will
Why We Love It:
- It’s a local, family-owned winery.
- It’s partnered with a local restaurant for a more expansive Santa Barbara experience.
- They specialize in Rhone varietals.
Wine Tasting Room Information:
Phone: (805) 403-8085
Address: 12 Helena Avenue
Santa Barbara, CA 93101
Learn More About Their Wine Tasting Room
Transportation For Your Santa Barbara Beach Vacation
Our transportation options for summer are filling up fast! Summer wine tours, craft beer tours, and distillery tours (not to mention our private charters to Tin City) are in high demand. With dates filling up quickly, if you’re looking for safe, and reliable transportation for your group, friends, or family for your summer vacation to Santa Barbara or anywhere else along the Central Coast, we recommend booking sooner rather than later. Choose from a wide array of comfortable to luxury vehicles to cruise in, from our Limo Bus to our Mercedes Sprinter LandJet. Email Info@SLOSafeRide.com, or fill out the form below for a free transportation quote.
