J Ludlow Vineyard

Why visit J Ludlow vineyard’s tasting room?

If you are ever in the Santa Ynez valley, part of the Santa Barbara wine country, and want to taste old-world Bordeux style wines, come to the little gray clapboard house in downtown Los Olives. It’s the one with half-barrels being used as planters for marigolds. Inside is décor reminiscent of the old California Missions, with wooden ceilings and reclaimed wood drawers. Bright red walls back the wooden bar, and the floors themselves are a polished pine.

Served here are the Merlots and Cabernet Sauvignon blends of J Ludlow Vineyards. This is a small, family-run affair, owned by Jane and Allen Jones. The small staff and intimate room mean that any group larger than 12 must call ahead for reservations. However, the wait is thoroughly worth it. The tasting room carries the laid-back Santa Barbara vibe that makes the area such a fun place to visit. The wines are made by Alan Phillips, who started out in Montcello Winery, and now makes wines that are critically acclaimed. One wine made it to the Wine Spectator’s “Top 100.” All his fruit is grown right there in the Santa Ynez Valley, which leads to clean, fruity wines characteristic of the area. So, here you have excellent Californian hospitality with some of our best wines in one place: you can’t ask for much more in a spot.

Visiting J Ludlow Vineyard’s tasting room has an added advantage. The downtown of Los Olivos is home to a number of tasting rooms and restaurants. You can park and walk to some of the best winery tasting rooms in Santa Barbara county here. After you taste, you can grab a tasty sandwich or head into one of the sit down restaurants near the tasting rooms. This makes for a great afternoon getaway.

Address: 2890 Grand Avenue, Los Olives, CA
Phone: (805) 688-8989
Tasting Room Hours: Thursday, Friday, Sunday and Monday 12:00 pm through 5:00 pm. Saturday 12:00 pm through 8:00 pm