Santa Maria Wine Tours

Santa Maria Valley Foxen Canyon

Enjoy a day in the scenic Central Coast Wine Country, with 58 wineries and nearly 20,000 acres of vineyards that span 50 miles of beautiful countryside. Santa Barbara County is one of the youngest wine-producing regions with some of the finest premium wines in the world. As Conde Naste Traveler put it, the county's wine producing region is a "soft land whose shoulders are vine-velveted, oak dotted, and fog-flourished producing the equal of any of the great winemaking regions in the world."

Warm days, dry summers and cool nights create a favorable environment for both the wine grapes and for visitors. Indulge your taste buds on Santa Maria wine tours with a lively group and come away with knowledge that you can apply on your own - either in your kitchen or the next time you order a bottle of wine. Join us for a food and wine weekend - enjoy food and wine pairing classes, along with a variety of events put on by local wineries. Choose from a wine tour in Solvang, San Luis Obispo Vineyards, the Santa Maria Valley Wine Trail or the Foxen Canyon Wine Trail. Call us at (800) 331-3779 for more information.

Santa Maria Valley Wine Trail. Savor the tranquility and beauty of the Santa Maria Valley and it's picturesque settings. Enjoy the sunny days of summer and the crisp breeze of autumn that create the perfect conditions for sensational, award winning wines. One of the remarkable things about Santa Maria Valley wines is the vintner's ability to produce exceptional wine across a broad spectrum of styles. From early ripening varieties such as Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc, to the later Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, it is a region dominated by classic wines. Drive yourself to vineyards or join one of the professional wine tours operated by experienced wine guides. Escape for a few days, or take a day trip up the Wine Trail.

• Byron Vineyard & Winery. The winery was founded in 1984 by winemaker Ken Brown, who has more than 25 years wine-growing experience. Byron is well known for their production of handcrafted world-class Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Wine tasting is by appointment only. Located at 5230 Tepusquet Rd. For more information, call (805) 937-7288 or visit www.byronwines.com.
• Cambria Winery & Vineyard. A private, family-owned estate winery that has a reputation for producing lush, tropical Chardonnay, velvety-textured Pinot Noir and rich, spicy Syrah. Their tasting room is open 10-5 weekends and holidays. Located at 5475 Chardonnay Lane. For more information call (805) 937-9063 or visit www.cambriawines.com.
• Cottonwood Canyon Vineyard & Winery. Taste distinctly different estate grown Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. Enjoy appetizers or espresso from the Cottonwood Café, a game of Bocci ball under the oaks or a unique cave tour with barrel tasting. The tasting room is open 10:30-5:30 Monday-Friday, 10-6 Saturday and Sunday. Located at 3940 Dominion Rd. For more information, call (805) 937-9063.
• Foxen Vineyard. Bill Wathen and Dick Dore have been making wine together since 1985, when they founded Foxen Winery. Since that time, their dedication has remained the same - the creation of very small-production, vineyard-designated wines using a "minimalist" approach to winemaking. Located at 7200 Foxen Canyon Rd. For more information, call (805) 937-4251.
• IO. IO was introduced in 1999. It is a Rhone-inspired blend of Syrah, Grenache and Mourvedre. Made under the care of Byron Vineyard's winemaker, Ken Brown, fruit for IO is sourced from two vineyards, Byron in the Santa Maria Valley and the Stolpman Vineyard in the Santa Ynez Valley. Tasting is by appointment only. Located at 5230 Tepusquet Rd. For more information call (805) 937-7288 or visit www.iowine.com.
• McKeon-Phillips Winery. Wines at McKeon-Philips, including Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Merlot, Sangiovese, Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon, are aged in oak barrels to provide rich, multi-layered complexity, great fruits and delicate tannins. The tasting room is open Monday - Sunday (7 days a week) - 11am - 6pm with the last tasting at 5:45pm or by appointment. Located at 2115 S. Blosser, Suite 114. For more information call (805) 928-302 or visit www.mckeonphillipswinery.com.
• Rancho Sisquoc Winery. The winery, one of the region's first, is nestled on a vast ranch in the Santa Maria Valley. Lush green pastures and fruit trees surround the winery and capture the serene beauty of early California at its best. The tasting room is open 10-4 daily. Located at 6600 Foxen Canyon Rd. For more information call (805) 934-4332 or visit www.ranchosisquoc.com.
• Costa de Oro Winery. Come taste our award-winning wines, as well as take home our "estate-grown" strawberries and seasonal fresh produce, gourmet foods, and gifts. "The most unique tasting room on the Central Coast" - Kathy Marks-Hardesty, New Times. Open daily 11am-6pm. Located at 1331 S. Nicholson Avenue, Santa Maria, CA 93454, at the 101Freeway and Stowell Road exit. For more information, call (805) 922-1468.  [Top]

Foxen Canyon Wine Trail. Discover the Central Coast Wine Country by exploring the Foxen Canyon Wine Trail. The Foxen Canyon Wine Trail is a natural destination, offering travelers and wine connoisseurs a bite-size look of the wine country in all its splendor. Thirteen wineries, representing the largest to the smallest in the region, are located along one of the most beautiful roadways in California. This scenic drive is a 20-mile passage that connects two wine-growing appellations - the Santa Ynez Valley and the Santa Maria Valley. The trail may be enjoyed by bike, carriage, car, limousine or even by helicopter. Local companies can arrange a customized wine tasting tour. As you cruise through the gentle rolling hills and vineyards, you'll feels as if you have stepped back in time. Intimate, relaxed wineries seem like they opened just for your enjoyment.

• Foxen Canyon Wine Trail. A perfect one-day adventure. In northern Santa Barbara County there is a beautiful 20-mile rural road connecting the Santa Ynez Valley with the Santa Maria Valley that winds through rolling hills lined with wildflowers, ancient oaks and eight first-class wineries. Come experience the California wine country.
• Byron Vineyard & Winery. The winery was founded in 1984 by winemaker Ken Brown, who has more than 25 years wine-growing experience. Byron is well known for their production of handcrafted world-class Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Wine tasting is by appointment only. Located at 5230 Tepusquet Rd. For more information call (805) 937-7288 or visit www.byronwines.com.
• Cambria Winery & Vineyard. A private, family-owned estate winery that has a reputation for producing lush, tropical Chardonnay, velvety-textured Pinot Noir and rich, spicy Syrah. Their tasting room is open 10-5 weekends and holidays. Located at 5475 Chardonnay Lane. For more information call (805) 937-9063 or visit www.cambriawines.com.
• Cottonwood Canyon Vineyard & Winery. Taste distinctly different estate grown Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. Enjoy appetizers or espresso from the Cottonwood Café, a game of Bocci ball under the oaks or a unique cave tour with barrel tasting. The tasting room is open 10:30-5:30 Monday-Friday, 10-6 Saturday and Sunday. Located at 3940 Dominion Rd. For more information, call (805) 937-9063.
• Fess Parker Winery & Vineyard. Focusing on fine fruit as the beginning of great wines, they take advantage of unique terrain at their vineyard sources to obtain the best grapes possible. Located at 6200 Foxen Canyon Road, Los Olivos. P. O. Box 908, Los Olivos, CA 93441. Tours, tasting, sales: 10-5 Daily. Picnic area. Special event locator. For more information call (805) 688-1545, 1-800-841-1104 or visit http://www.fessparker.com/.
• Firestone Vineyard. Firestone Vineyard has a history of acclaim for its tradition of fine wines. Located at 5017 Zaca Station Road, Los Olivos. P. O. Box 244, Los Olivos, CA 93441. Tours, tasting, sales: 10-4 Daily. Picnic Area. Special event locator. For more information call (805) 688-3940 or visit http://www.firestonewine.com/.
• Zaca Mesa Winery. One of the first wineries established in Santa Barbara County since prohibition, their focus is on the grape varieties from the Rhone Valley in France. Located at 6905 Foxen Canyon Road, Los Olivos.P. O. Box 899, Los Olivos, CA 93441. Tours, tasting, sales, gifts: 10-4 Daily. Picnic area. Special event locator. For more information call (805) 688-9339, 1-800-350-7972 or visit http://www.zacamesa.com/.  [Top]