California Wine Guide: Santa Barbara
F&W's guide to Santa Barbara's best, including recipes from local chefs (at right), hotels and wineries to visit. Plus, picks from Addison sommelier Jesse Rodriguez.
Santa Barbara's Best
Wines from California's Central CoastPlaces to Eat in Santa Barbara
The Blue Owl
Three nights a week, from 11:30 p.m. to 2:30 a.m., Thai restaurant Zen Yai becomes the Blue Owl, a spot for Asian-style street food like tri-tip sandwiches with chili mayo.—Jen Murphy theblueowlsantabarbara.com
Bouchon
Jesse's Pick "I had one of the best pairings I've ever had at this restaurant," says Jesse Rodriguez. "The sommelier matched Dungeness crab cakes (left) with local Cold Heaven Cellars Viognier. The rich wine brings out the buttery sweetness of the crab." —Megan Krigbaum
Brothers' Restaurant at Mattei's Tavern
The wine list at Brothers' is chocka-block with Santa Barbara Pinots. Consider ordering a bottle to go with the pan-sauteed Idaho rainbow trout with lemon-chive sauce—a prospect made all the more tempting by a sweet oak fire burning in the fireplace. —Brad A. Johnson matteistavern.com
D'Angelo Bread
This bakery has an incredibly moist dark sour rye bread called Rudolf Steiner (presumably after the 20th-century health-food guru).—Kate Krader
French Press
The French Press, an artisanal coffee shop, is the place to try Fair Trade beans from Santa Cruz's Verve Roasters and blueberry buckle.—JM
The Hitching Post II
Truckers, cowboys and Los Angeles socialites converge at this unpretentious roadside steak house, made famous by the film Sideways.—BAJ hitchingpost2.com
The Hungry Cat
This branch of the Hollywood joint is run by David Lentz.—Chip Brown thehungrycat.com
Julienne
The young husband-and-wife team behind this 40-seater serves an adventurous seasonal menu of dishes, like ricotta ravioli with sweetbreads and braised pig tongue on grilled sourdough.—JM restaurantjulienne.com
Olio Pizzeria
The wood-gas hybrid oven cranks out thin, blistered pies (left). All wines are available by the glass, quartino, half liter and bottle.—JM oliopizzeria.com
Paradise Cafe
Jesse's Pick "As a native Californian, I grew up loving the famous In-N-Out Double-Double," says Rodriguez, "but the Paradise Burger (oak-grilled with cheddar, onions and tomato) blows it away." Have it with a local Rhône-style red. —MK
Santa Barbara Shellfish Company
This adorable restaurant was favored by Julia Child (who lived her last years in Santa Barbara). Since it's at the end of a pier, you can watch pelicans fly by as you eat tacos made with shrimp or local lobster, cabbage and creamy dressing.—KK sbfishhouse.com
Taqueria El Bajio
Jesse's Pick "The made-from-scratch food here reminds me of my grandparents' Mexican family restaurant" says Rodriguez. "I get the carnitas and pollo asado tacos." —MK
Places to Stay in Santa Barbara
Biltmore Four Seasons
Exotic plants fill the expansive botanical gardens of this beautiful, recently renovated Spanish Colonial–style hotel overlooking the Pacific Ocean (left). Built in 1927, it attracts celebrity guests like Tom Cruise. Rooms from $425.—CB fourseasons.com
Presidio Motel
The Presidio Motel's 16 whimsical rooms were designed by local art students. Bikes are available for tooling around the city.—JM
San Ysidro Ranch
The resort, which dates back to 1893, was completely and luxuriously renovated in 2007. Comprised of 40 well-appointed cottages on 500 acres at the foot of the Santa Ynez Mountains, it's a short drive from downtown Santa Barbara. Cottages from $1200.—CB sanysidroranch.com
Canary Hotel
The Slatkin brothers' Spanish Colonial Revival–style boutique hotel, with ornate iron railings and vaulted doorways. —KK canarysantabarbara.com
Wineries, Wine Shops & Tasting Rooms in Santa Barbara
Alma Rosa
Richard Sanford produces acclaimed Pinot Noirs made from organically grown grapes.—CB almarosawinery.com
Blair Fox Cellars
The winemaker of Fess Parker Winery also creates single-vineyard Syrahs and an excellent Viognier under his own Blair Fox label.—CB blairfoxcellars.com
Fess Parker Winery
However you might feel about souvenir T-shirts, cheesy wine paraphernalia and bus parking, it is hard to quarrel with the quality of wines created by winemaker Blair Fox under the Fess Parker label.—CB fessparker.com
Foxen
Though it has a solar-powered tasting room, Foxen winery still pours some of its wines in a funky shack that looks like it could be a cool bar in the Caribbean. foxenvineyard.com
Jonata
This Ballard Canyon winery is a new project from the owners of cult Napa winery Screaming Eagle. Winemaker Matt Dees turns out big Syrahs and Bordeaux-style Cabernet-dominant blends at Napa Valley prices.—CB jonata.com
Kunin Wines
Jesse's Pick Rodriguez likes Seth Kunin's Kunin Wines tasting room for its surfer vibe. Try the red 2009 Pape Star, a juicy Rhône-style blend.—MK
Municipal Winemakers
Fess Parker's Dave Potter is the man behind this tasting room, where the wine is on tap, info is on iPads and visitors who come by bike get free wine delivery (left).—JM
Wine Cask
Jesse's Pick The legendary Wine Cask tasting room, wine shop and restaurant is now once again run by winemaker Doug Margerum.—MK
Santa Barbara Wines to Try
Jesse's Pick "The Flying Goat Cellars Pinot Noirs come from some of Santa Barbara's best plots," says Rodriguez. "They're darn good Pinots. And sommelier Rajat Parr, from San Francisco's RN74, has a new winery here called Sandhi. I've already sold 30 cases of his minerally Chardonnay." Another RN74 sommelier, Eric Railsback, made a killer Sauvignon Blanc with Tyler Winery. Railsback will have his own label starting in 2011." —MK
More Top Bottles
- 2007 Au Bon Climat Knox Alexander Pinot Noir
- 2008 Brewer-Clifton Mount Carmel Pinot Noir
- « 2006 Qupé Bien Nacido Hillside Estate Syrah
- 2008 Alma Rosa Chardonnay
- 2009 SeaGlass Sauvignon Blanc
