Top Santa Barbara Wineries "Off The Beaten Path"

[update] We are updating and expanding our list of the top Santa Barbara wineries "off the beaten path". After the feedback we received from Santa Barbara wine lovers on our Facebook page, it was obvious that we need to increase the number of wineries on our list. We found more amazing Santa Barbara wine tasting experiences at a mix of urban and rural boutique wineries. We hope you enjoy the new options!

The top Santa Barbara wineries "off the beaten path" reflect the diversity of this massive wine region.

It can feel overwhelming when you first visit Santa Barbara. Many visitors stick to the better-known wine trails and more commercial vineyards because of this. That means you may miss out on the joys of visiting the unique, out of the way, wineries.

We created this list to give you tasting experiences that will expand your view of the region. This list will take you to some corners of Santa Barbara that are enjoyed by locals, but rarely by visitors.

This list is NOT meant to discourage you from visiting places like Los Olivos, The Funk Zone or Solvang. There are many great wineries and wine tasting experiences to be found in each of those areas. We do think you should add one or two of these top Santa Barbara boutique wineries to your tasting plans. You will be rewarded for the extra effort!

This list isn't in any particular order. If you are staying in the city of Santa Barbara, you can prioritize the wineries we mention that are located there. Spending the night in Solvang? There are some wineries on our list that will be easier to visit from there.

Finally, we want to point out that this list includes some wineries that are in urban settings. If you are looking for rolling vineyards and grand estates, maybe these aren't for you. We happen to love urban wineries. You typically get to see more of the winemaking process, you can often walk between wineries, and there are usually great restaurants close by.

Please enjoy our list and let us know whether you agree or disagree with our choices. We are always happy to hear ideas for future lists!

Want more tasting room details? Click on the winery name!

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1. Jaffurs Wine Cellars

If you are serious about wine, you need to know about Jaffurs. Owner Craig Jaffurs and his team produce some of the best Rhone varietal wine in California. Jaffurs' wine regularly receives glowing reviews from The Wine Advocate, Vinous and other top reviewers.

The tasting room offers a great urban wine tasting experience. The wines are made onsite in what looks like a converted garage. What the facility lacks in ambiance the staff makes up for in hospitality and knowledge. For anyone who loves seeing how wine is made, this is the place for you. You can witness the process playing out right behind the tasting table! We highly recommend a stop here for anyone tasting in the city of Santa Barbara.

Try Jaffurs Wine: Jaffurs Santa Barbara Syrah 2013

2. Rancho Sisquoc

Our next pick takes you far north of the Jaffurs tasting room to an oasis off of the Foxen Trail. Rancho Sisquoc is the place to visit if you want to get away from it all. With spotty cell phone reception, a large comfortable lawn to hang out on and great wine, it is tempting to hide out here for the day.

The 300 acres of vineyard are just a small part of the 37,000 acre ranch. Much of the ranch is dedicated to cattle, but with a climate that is comparable to that of Napa and Sonoma, the owners thought planting some grapes made sense. The result is 90+ rated wines and a chest full of gold medals from wine competitions.

Pack a lunch and hang out on the lawn while you enjoy Rancho Sisquoc's award winning wines.

Try Rancho Sisquoc Wine: Rancho Sisquoc Cabernet Sauvignon 2013

CLICK NOW | 2 FOR 1 AND 50% OFF WINE TASTINGS

3. Silver Wines (Special 2 for 1 tasting and 10% off with the Priority Wine Pass)

Back to urban wine tasting. Silver Wines isn't a showy storefront that features wines sent from a far away winery. Their wines are made onsite. The whole process is happening steps from where you taste their wine.

The person responsible for making the wine is Benjamin Silver. Benjamin is a very talented winemaker with a deep knowledge of the science behind the process. If you are lucky enough to visit when Benjamin is on-site, you can get insights into the mysteries of turning grape juice into wine.

You can sample Italian varietals and some older vintages at Silver Wines. This is pretty unique in Santa Barbara. We recommend this tasting room for real wine lovers!

4. The Bar @ Hitching Post II Restaurant

The restaurant and the Hitching Post wines were major stars of the movie Sideways.

The attention was well deserved. You can enjoy memorable Santa-Maria-style BBQ in their unpretentious dining room. Pair the grilled meats with some of their red wine and you will understand how a restaurant can become the star of a movie.

Not everyone knows you can visit the Hitching Post just for wine tasting. Tasting flights are available seven days a week at their "sidebar". We aren't sure how you could pass up a meal once you smell the BBQ, but it is an option if you are just into their wines!

[update] - The Hitching Post is expanding. Plans are underway to expand the restaurant in order to add a full-time tasting room! This is great news for wine lovers. The tasting room will give you expanded access to the amazing Rhones and Pinot Noirs of the Hitching Post Winery.

Try Hitching Post Wine: Hitching Post Highliner Pinot Noir 2014

5. Summerland Winery

The traffic on the 101 is at a standstill. You can wait patiently and stare at the surf or you can pull off and start your weekend. The Summerland Winery tasting room is just south of Santa Barbara in the seaside town of Summerland. This is a perfect place to start your visit to wine country. The breezy front porch is the perfect place to release the stresses of your week while you enjoy a glass of Santa Barbara County Pinot Noir of their highly-rated Chardonnay.

The Summerland Winery tasting room is just south of Santa Barbara in the seaside town of Summerland. The breezy front porch is the perfect place to release the stresses of your week while you enjoy a glass of Santa Barbara County Pinot Noir of their highly-rated Chardonnay.

The tasting room is open later than most and they are known for hosting fun events. Contact them ahead of time to find out if there is anything special happening. You can also check out their blog to see what is happening at the winery.

Try Summerland Wine: Summerland Santa Barbara Pinot Noir 2013

6. Deep Sea Tasting Room (Save on wine tasting at Deep Sea with the Priority Wine Pass)

This is the unique home of Conway wines. The winery's tasting room is on the Pacific Ocean. Walkout on to Stearn Wharf and you are surrounded by the bustling harbor front of Santa Barbara. Conway winery takes full advantage of this unique location. You are treated to 360 views of the ocean, harbor, and mountains as you sip their wines.

Deep sea wine tasting room santa barbara — Image Courtesy: Yelp

You may expect an over-the-top nautical theme in a tasting room on a wharf, but Deep Sea is restrained in its decor. The tasting room allows the natural beauty around it to remind you where you are.

7. Taste of Santa Rita Hills

The Wine Ghetto of Lompoc is well-worn ground for local Santa Barbara wine lovers. For most visitors to the area, this is still a hidden gem.

Tucked behind a shopping center dominated by a Home Depot are rows of what appear to be ugly storage facilities. Upon closer inspection, you will find some of the best wine tasting rooms in Santa Barbara. Small production winemakers were attracted by the low rents and proximity to the vineyards of the Santa Rita Hills.

The area now features some of the top Pinot Noir producers in California. The Wine Ghetto can feel like an oddity for wine lovers used to tasting at posh wineries surrounded by rolling vineyards.

One of our favorite stops in Lompoc is the Taste of Santa Rita Hills tasting room. This one tasting room features a number of small-lot producers who don't have their own tasting rooms. You can taste wine from Sea Smoke, Jonata Winery, and Weatherborne all in one stop! You can also sample some wonderful Italian varietals from Moretti Wines while you are there.

The owners of the tasting room, Antonio and Jenni Moretti had a long history in the wine business. They are wonderful hosts and are happy to educate visitors about the local vineyards.

8. Martian Ranch and Vineyard

This winery and vineyard are a bit remote and that's a great thing. The Martian Ranch and Vineyard is a little oasis in busy Santa Barbara wine country. This is a place to hang out for a while. Take your tasting of their biodynamic wine outside and enjoy the beauty of rural Santa Barbara. The rolling hills, oak trees, dry creek beds, and the gentle hum of nature will lull you into blissful relaxation.

Feel like being more active? You can enjoy the various outdoor games the winery supplies for visitors. There is a bocce court, Jenga, and a Martian toss (cornhole) game set right outside the tasting room. You can also take enjoy a tour of the vineyard that is located behind the hill next to the winery building.

Martian Ranch is also the home of four Irish Dexter Cows, four goats, and a horse. The winery is kid and pet-friendly.

Martian Ranch and Vineyard feel like the anti-Funkzone and that's a great thing!

9. Happy Canyon Vineyard

This is a fun tasting room in the El Paseo building located in the Presidio neighborhood of Santa Barbara. The winery and vineyard is located in northern Santa Barbara County, but the tasting room is conveniently located in the city. The El Paseo building features a number of tasting rooms but has a much different vibe than the rowdier Funk Zone.

The Happy Canyon Vineyard's tasting room is tasteful and inviting. You can sit at the bar and enjoy a sampling of 5 wines for $15. The tasting room staff is friendly and knowledgeable. You will feel welcomed in this tasting room. There is no pretense or snobbery. The wines are mostly Bordeaux blends from the Barrack family's vineyards in the Happy Canyon AVA. This is a great spot to relax with a tasting before dinner at the Wine Cask restaurant around the corner.