Santa Barbara's Urban Wine Trail

So you’ve traveled up to Santa Barbara for the weekend with your friends and you’re staying somewhere posh. Before you went out on State Street Friday night, you had every intention of traveling up to wine country the next day. Saturday morning, er - afternoon, rolls around and you’d rather stay around town. The beach, the weather, the people watching… we get it. It’s impossible to pull away.

Thank God there are TWO CITY BLOCKS of winery owned tasting rooms, right on the beach!

Here’s a list of our recommendations:

Stearns Wharf Vintners (Stearns Wharf) – There’s a picnic deck with views of the pacific.

Kalyra Winery (212 State Street) – Popular in Santa Ynez, Kalyra just opened their second tasting room; open daily 12pm-7pm (‘til 8pm weekends).

Santa Barbara Winery (202 Anacapa Street) Great quality by the county’s oldest winery; open daily 10am-5pm.

Oreana Winery (205 Anacapa Street) An abandoned tire shop turned winery collective. Hip vibe. Open daily.

Carr Vineyards & Winery (414 North Salsipuedes Street) Housed in a 1940's Quonset Hut cave, it’s like going from the beach to Burgundy. Open daily 11am-5pm.

Whitcraft Winery (36 South Cesar Chavez) They’re all about non-interventional winemaking. Open Friday-Sunday 12pm-4pm and by appointment.

Coquelicot Vineyard (813 Anacapa Street, Intermezzo Cafe) Organically farmed from the Santa Ynez Valley. Open Saturdays & Sundays, 11am-3pm, by appointment only (805-966-9463).

Need directions? Just hit the beach and plant yourself at Cabrillo Blvd. (runs along the ocean) and Anacapa St., in downtown Santa Barbara. Or download a map here.