The typical drive from Buellton to Lompoc in Santa Barbara County is down Highway 246. This is the primary road running through the Sta. Rita Hills AVA, a sub-region of the larger Santa Ynez Valley AVA. But there is another road you can take, Santa Rosa Road. Surrounded by main highways on all sides (Hwy 246 to the north, Hwy 1 to the southwest, 101 freeway to the east), Santa Rosa Road is the road less taken.
This scenic 17-mile road offers views of the rolling Sta. Rita Hills. While it only takes 30 minutes to drive from one end of Santa Rosa Road to the other, you can take the entire day to drive down the road, stopping along the way to taste delicious wines from a handful of producers. Your journey will begin at the beginning of Santa Rosa Road just off the 101 Freeway.
Stop 1: Vega Vineyard and Farm (9496 Santa Rosa Rd. Buellton, CA 93427)
https://www.vegavineyardandfarm.com/.
Vega Vineyard and Farm sits at the beginning of Santa Rosa Road off the 101 Freeway. Established in 2021, the property dates to 1853 and was called Rancho de Vega. Bill Mosby purchased the 206-acre property in 1976. When Demetrios and Karen Loizides purchased the property, they renamed it Vega Vineyard and Farm. Vega Vineyard and Farm is a full-service winery. In addition to the wines made by Steve Clifton, there is an onsite farm and a restaurant.
Make your first stop at Vega Vineyard and Farm for a farm-to-table brunch (on weekends) or lunch, paired with wine. Try a crisp Vermentino or Malvasia or a fruit-driven Barbera or savory Dolcetto. Winemaker Steve Clifton produces primarily Italian varieties, but you can also try Albariño, Syrah, Pinot Noir, Viognier, and Chardonnay.
Before heading out, visit the farm animals and feed them some lettuce, take a tractor ride, and shop in the Farm Mercantile.
Stop 2: Peake Ranch Winery (7290 Santa Rosa Rd, Buellton, CA 93427)
The next stop is 5.3 miles away at Peake Ranch. Peake Ranch is a 105-acre property with 50 acres planted to Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Syrah, and Grenache. John and Gillian Wagner purchased the property in 2012. They also own the John Sebastiano Vineyard on the eastern edge of the Sta. Rita Hills AVA and the Sierra Madre Vineyard on the western side of the Santa Maria Valley.
The grounds of Peake Ranch Winery are a stunning place to taste wine. Head indoors for the modern, elegant, and sophisticated tasting room, or take a seat outside with views of the vast landscape. If time permits, make a reservation to hike through the vineyard for more beautiful views.
Stop 3: Alma Rosa Ranch House & Vineyard (7250 Santa Rosa Rd, Buellton, CA 93427)
https://www.almarosawinery.com/
Next door to Peake Ranch Winery and sharing the same driveway is stop 3 of the trip: Alma Rosa Ranch House & Vineyard. Alma Rosa was started by wine pioneer Richard Sanford in 2005. He planted the estate El Jabali Vineyard in 1983, La Riconada Vineyard in 1997, and La Encantada Vineyard in 2000. These are all part of Alma Rosa.
Alma Rosa was purchased by Bob and Barb Zorich in 2014. In 2019 Samra Morris, the first female Bosnian winemaker, joined the team and is responsible for the elegant Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Rhone-varietal wines.
At Alma Rosa, they love to take you into the vineyard. Of course, you can do a seated tasting at the estate, but you can also book one of their hikes through the estate vineyard and get close to the vines while enjoying the views. Or you can sit back for a fully guided, two-hour driving tour and tasting experience at the winery’s historic El Jabali, followed by a tasting accompanied by a cheese plate.
Stop 4: Lafond Winery & Vineyards (6855 Santa Rosa Rd, Buellton, CA 93427)
1.4 miles down the road is Lafond Winery & Vineyards. Pierre Lafond began as a wine and cheese retailer in Santa Barbara. In 1962, at thirty-two years old, he founded the first post-prohibition commercial winery in Santa Barbara County. One of the first to plant in what is now the Sta. Rita Hills AVA, Lafond planted the Lafond Vineyard in 1971.
The tasting room opened in 2001, the same year the Sta. Rita Hills was declared an AVA.
Enjoy a tasting of five wines, including Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Syrah, either inside the tasting room or outdoors in the idyllic picnicking area. A VIP Tasting & Tour includes a tour, tasting, and cheese spread to enjoy with your wines.
Stop 5: Sanford Winery (5010 Santa Rosa Rd, Lompoc, CA 93436)
https://www.sanfordwinery.com/
Before Richard Sanford founded Alma Rosa Winery, he planted the Sanford & Benedict Vineyard in 1971. His pioneering vineyard established what would become the renowned cool-climate Sta. Rita Hills AVA and garnered Richard Sanford the name “Father of Central Coast Pinot Noir". Planted more than 40 years ago, this iconic vineyard is home to the oldest Pinot Noir vines in the country.
Taste wines at this historic vineyard, located 4.2 miles from Lafond Winery & Vineyards. Enjoy single-vineyard and single-block wines that truly exemplify the Sta. Rita Hills.
To see the vineyard up close, venture out of the winery and into the vineyards on the Sanford Winery All-Terrain Vineyard (ATV) Experience & Tasting to view some of the most picturesque and coveted estate vineyard blocks.
Stop 6: D’Alfonso-Curran Wines (4457 Santa Rosa Rd, Lompoc, CA 93436)
Another 1.8 miles further down Santa Rosa Road you will find D’Alfonso-Curran Wines. The D’Alfonso-Curran brand was started in 2006 by Bruno D’Alfonso and Kris Curran. They have over 50 years of combined winemaking experience. The husband-and-wife team focuses on showcasing ultra-premium, vineyard-designated Pinot Noirs and Chardonnays from the Sta. Rita Hills AVA, as well as top vineyards in Santa Barbara County.
D’Alfonso-Curran is a working winery so a visit might include tasting wines from the tank or barrel. It is also possible to book a Private Winemaker Tasting where you will be joined by either Kris Curran or Bruno D’Alfonso who will take you through a unique and educational experience.
Stop 7: The Hilt (2240 Santa Rosa Rd, Lompoc, CA 93436)
https://www.thehiltestate.com/
Another 4.6-mile drive will take you to the iconic Barn at The Hilt Estate, designed by architect Howard Backen. Situated between Bentrock, Radian, and Puerta del Mar vineyards, The Hilt Estate is a perfect final stop on the Santa Rosa Road winery tour.
The Hilt Estate vineyards are planted 13 unobstructed miles from the ocean on the west. The hard and harsh conditions result in beautifully elegant and structured wines made by winemaker Matt Dees.
Reservations are required to visit The Hilt. Enjoy a curated tasting inside The Barn at The Hilt which offers elevated sophistication and cozy comfort. The views from the wall-length windows are breathtaking.
Enjoy a seating tasting experience, a private library tasting experience, or their bottle service.
For a real splurge, book The Hideaway Experience, an exclusive package giving access to the winery’s intimate Hideaway room, complete with cozy indoor and outdoor seating, a fire pit, and a private patio, where you will enjoy a curated bottle service with wines from both The Hilt and the sister property JONATA.
The Perfect Ending
Just past The Hilt, Santa Rosa Road ends when it meets Hwy 1. A right turn will take you to the Lompoc Wine Ghetto. But turn left and wind down 18 miles to Jamala Beach for the legendary Jalama Burger. Jalama Beach is a scenic beachfront with partial hookup sites, group sites, and cabins.
In addition to the beauty of the windswept beach, it is the world-famous Jalama burger that people are willing to drive out of their way for. There is something about the one-third pound of lean grilled beef that comes with your choice of toppings, including the secret sauce, that garners rave reviews from burger enthusiasts. I can say that it is a very tasty burger but all the more so because of the adventure of driving there, followed by the beautiful scenery.
The Jalama Burger can be found inside the Jalama Beach Store which also sells clothing, hats, camping supplies, food items, and beach equipment and toys. If you head to Jalama Beach just for a burger, tell the park ranger at the entrance as you do not have to pay for parking. Also, note the hours as the grill closes at 4:30 pm daily.
On your next trip to the Santa Ynez Valley, take the road less traveled and enjoy a day of wine tasting along Santa Rosa Road.
About the author:
Allison Levine is the owner of Please The Palate, a boutique marketing and event-planning agency. Allison is Level 3 WSET Certified from the Wine & Spirits Education Trust and is certified as an Italian Wine Specialist from the North American Sommelier Association. She also has a Master's Degree in International Communications with a focus on cross-cultural training from the American University School of International Service. As a freelance writer, she contributes to numerous publications, including California Winery Advisor and the Napa Valley Register, while eating and drinking her way around the world. She is also the host of the Wine Soundtrack podcast. You can find additional content on her blog at Please The Palate; Twitter and Instagram @plsthepalate; Facebook: Please The Palate
