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Wine Facts
Local Facts
- The wine grape is Santa Barbara County’s first most valuable agricultural crop.(based upon 2001 statistics)
- Cottonwood Canyon Winery is the only vineyard in Santa Barbara County with wine caves.
- Father Junipero Serra brought grapevine cuttings from Mexico in 1782 to be planted in what is now known as the Milpas district of Santa Barbara.
- The first of the modern vineyards were planted in Tepusquet area of the Santa Maria Valley in the early 1960s. Shortly after that, vineyards were planted in several parts of the Santa Ynez Valley.
- Lafond Winery and Vineyards is the county’s oldest winery, established in 1962 by Pierre Lafond.
- In California, it is possible to "doggy bag" the wine you order at dinner if you can’t finish the bottle. According to the California Highway Patrol, the bottle just has to be corked and put out of reach so that the open container is not within close proximity of the driver or occupants of the vehicle.
- Not into winetasting? You can still enjoy visiting our local wineries – such as Zaca Mesa Winery, which offers hiking trails throughout the property to enjoy the scenic views of the surrounding countryside. Bring a picnic lunch and enjoy a peaceful day trip driving or biking along the Foxen Canyon Wine Trail.
- The east-west running Santa Maria and Santa Ynez Valleys open up to the Pacific Ocean, allowing the inland flow of fog and ocean breezes and making this region one of the coolest viticultural areas in California. All of the classic grape varietals are able to be grown in Santa Barbara County due to the many microclimates.
- Santa Barbara County as a whole, is a vital viticultural area due to its geology, climate, soil and water conditions.
- Within Santa Barbara County there are three distinct appellations: The Santa Maria Valley, Santa Ynez Valley, and Santa Rita Hills.
- The Foley Estates Vineyard & Winery is located in what was once a dairy farm.
- Firestone Vineyard became Santa Barbara County’s first estate winery in 1972.
- The Foxen Canyon Wine Trail connects the two wine growing regions of the Santa Ynez Valley and the Santa Maria Valley. This scenic 20 mile drive winds through gentle rolling hillsides and vineyards, taking you to thirteen local wineries ranging from small, rustic, family-owned operations to large, modern facilities.
- The Foxen Canyon Wine Trail was named after the seafaring pioneer Benjamin Foxen. The road originated in the mid-1800's to access the coast and the city of Santa Barbara through the mountains by stagecoach. Richard Dore of the Foxen Vineyard is a direct descendent of the Foxen family, and the winery is located in the original vintage house and barn built by Benjamin Foxen
- The Foxen Canyon Wine Trail may be enjoyed by car, bike, carriage, limo or even helicopter. Several tour companies also provide group tours.
- Many of the wineries have tasting rooms in which visitors are invited to learn about the various wines and offer tours to teach guests about the winemaking process. Some wineries host special dinners to demonstrate the pairing of wine with food and they hold events such as concerts, dramatic readings and art shows which are open to the public.
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