Santa Barbara
Wine Country

Santa Barbara Wine Country is one of the hot wine travel destinations says the Wine Enthusiast magazine and website. Santa Barbara’s wineries and vineyards rate alongside those of Napa Valley as an exciting wine destination to visit. 

Santa Barbara Wine Country VineyardsSanta Barbara Wine Country Vineyards

Three USA wine destinations made Wine Enthusiast's Top Ten list, the other one alongside Santa Barbara and Napa Valley being Virginia, on the east coast. The other top seven destinations around the world are:

  • The Champagne Region in France (of course!)
  • The Veneto Region in Italy, taking in Venice
  • The Central Otago Wine Region in New Zealand
  • The Colchagua Valley in Chile
  • Priorat-Cambrils in Spain
  • Tokaj-Hegyalja in Hungary
  • The Mosel Valley in Germany

Well, as a list we’d say that is far from being the Usual Suspects. In the United States you might expect to find places like Sonoma, Paso Robles and Oregon ahead of wines from Santa Barbara and Virginia. You might also expect to find more than one wine travel region from France, in addition to Champagne - and why is there nowhere from Australia?

Lists like this are meant to stir up publicity for whoever produces the list, but they do also make you think - and its certainly good news for the vineyards and wineries of Santa Barbara.

Our Pick of the Central Coast Guides

Moon-Santa-Barbara-Central-Coast-2014.png

Santa Barbara Wine Country 

So why is Santa Barbara such a great place to visit for the wine traveler? “That’s thanks in equal parts to its Hollywood-style glamour, palm tree-fringed sandy beaches, fashionable resorts, great cuisine, endless shopping and one of the most beautiful wine regions in California,” says Wine Enthusiast magazine.

Tour of Santa Barbara Wine Country

Right in the heart of downtown Santa Barbara you can tour this Santa Barbara Urban Wine Trail.

Santa Barbara Wine Country Wine Varieties

Wine Enthusiast says that these are the prominent wine varieties that are the best wines to look for in Santa Barbara: “Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Syrah feature in the cool parts of the valley, while Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Sauvignon Blanc and Rhône varieties dominate the warm areas.”

If you want to read what Wine Enthusiast has to say about Santa Barbara wine country, click here. 

Other Santa Barbara pages

  • The Santa Barbara Historical Museum is one of the best things to do in Santa Barbara, California, on the Pacific Coast Highway.

    Santa Barbara Historical Museum

    The Santa Barbara Historical Museum is one of the best things to do in Santa Barbara, California, on the Pacific Coast Highway.

  • Pacific Coast Highway Travel's guide to the best museums in Santa Barbara, which include art, history, natural history, and science museums.

    Best Museums in Santa Barbara

    Pacific Coast Highway Travel's guide to the best museums in Santa Barbara, which include art, history, natural history, and science museums.

  • Pacific Coast Highway Travel picks the ten best things to do in Santa Barbara, including shopping, outdoor activities, and food and wine experiences.

    Ten Best Things to Do in Santa Barbara

    Pacific Coast Highway Travel picks the ten best things to do in Santa Barbara, including shopping, outdoor activities, and food and wine experiences.

  • The Oceana Santa Barbara beachfront hotel has a perfect seafront location, close to Stearns Wharf and State Street, and whale watching cruises.

    Santa Barbara Beachfront Hotel

    The Oceana Santa Barbara beachfront hotel has a perfect seafront location, close to Stearns Wharf and State Street, and whale watching cruises.

  • The historic Franciscan Inn in Santa Barbara, California, near the Pacific Coast Highway, is in a quiet location near the beach ideal for those driving PCH.

    Franciscan Inn Santa Barbara

    The historic Franciscan Inn in Santa Barbara, California, near the Pacific Coast Highway, is in a quiet location near the beach ideal for those driving PCH.

  • Santa Barbara whale watching cruises in southern California can be booked through Condor Express, with whale watching trips leaving from the harbor.

    Santa Barbara Whale Watching

    Santa Barbara whale watching cruises in southern California can be booked through Condor Express, with whale watching trips leaving from the harbor.

  • Standing on the Pacific Coast Highway in California, Santa Barbara is an attractive resort with a historic downtown, sandy beaches, a mission, and good museums.

    Santa Barbara

    Standing on the Pacific Coast Highway in California, Santa Barbara is an attractive resort with a historic downtown, sandy beaches, a mission, and good museums.

  • Pacific Coast Highway Travel describes MOXI in Santa Barbara, also known as the The Wolf Museum of Exploration + Innovation, including its main exhibits.

    MOXI Santa Barbara

    Pacific Coast Highway Travel describes MOXI in Santa Barbara, also known as the The Wolf Museum of Exploration + Innovation, including its main exhibits.

  • Pacific Coast Highway Travel visits the best restaurants in Santa Barbara and recommends where to eat for the finest food and top local wines.

    Best Restaurants in Santa Barbara

    Pacific Coast Highway Travel visits the best restaurants in Santa Barbara and recommends where to eat for the finest food and top local wines.

  • The Santa Barbara Guidebook from Moon Handbooks also covers California’s Central Coast with Ventura, San Luis Obispo, wine country, and Hearst Castle.

    Santa Barbara Guidebook

    The Santa Barbara Guidebook from Moon Handbooks also covers California’s Central Coast with Ventura, San Luis Obispo, wine country, and Hearst Castle.

  • The Santa Barbara Italian restaurant Olio e Limone serves some of the best Sicilian-Italian food in California, and is well-located downtown.

    Santa Barbara Italian Restaurant

    The Santa Barbara Italian restaurant Olio e Limone serves some of the best Sicilian-Italian food in California, and is well-located downtown.

  • Pacific Coast Highway Travel tells the story of the Santa Barbara County Courthouse, its history, the courthouse today, & the Michael Jackson trial held there.

    Santa Barbara County Courthouse

    Pacific Coast Highway Travel tells the story of the Santa Barbara County Courthouse, its history, the courthouse today, & the Michael Jackson trial held there.

  • Pacific Coast Highway brings you all you need to know about the Santa Barbara Mission including its history, location, what to see and full contact details.

    Santa Barbara Mission

    Pacific Coast Highway brings you all you need to know about the Santa Barbara Mission including its history, location, what to see and full contact details.

  • Pacific Coast Highway Travel visits the Santa Barbara Museum of Art and describes some of the highlights of its collection as well as giving contact details.

    Santa Barbara Museum of Art

    Pacific Coast Highway Travel visits the Santa Barbara Museum of Art and describes some of the highlights of its collection as well as giving contact details.

  • PCH Travel picks the best time to visit Santa Barbara, with a monthly summary of the weather, plus hotel prices and special events to help plan a visit.

    Best Time to Visit Santa Barbara

    PCH Travel picks the best time to visit Santa Barbara, with a monthly summary of the weather, plus hotel prices and special events to help plan a visit.

Recent Articles

RSS

  1. Closed portion of PCH to ‘soft’ reopen Monday after mudslide cleanup

    Apr 29, 25 11:16 AM

    Crews are making “good progress” in cleaning up the mudslides on Pacific Coast Highway, according to Caltrans, and the roadway is expected to open back up shortly. The closed area is expected to be ac…

    Read More

  2. 7 Best State Parks in California—Including a ‘Mini Yosemite’ and an Ancient Redwood Forest

    Apr 28, 25 11:04 AM

    The Golden State may be famous for its national parks, but its state park system is worthy of praise, too.

    Read More

  3. Five-mile stretch of PCH closed by mudslide in Malibu

    Apr 27, 25 12:30 PM

    Laurie Perez reports from Malibu, where a five-mile stretch of the Pacific Coast Highway was closed on Saturday due to yet another mudslide that prevented residents from reaching their homes.

    Read More