Enjoying Santa Ynez Valley Wine Tours

Go on Santa Ynez Valley wine tours and you'll have access to about 75 wineries in the area, all of which are excellent for long weekends and wine tasting tours. While the Pinot Noir, Syrah, and Chardonnay are the most common grape varietals in the area, you will find that there are a whole lot more for you to taste and experience if you go on Santa Ynez Valley wine tours. Not to mention that the environment in the valley sets an ideal backdrop for anyone who wants to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city.

The Valley by which the Santa Ynez Valley wine tours are a part of is made up of five communities that around 20,000 people call home. In between the Santa Rafael and Santa Ynez mountains, you will find Santa Ynez, Solvang, Los Olivos, Los Alamos, Buellton, and Ballard, with each of the small towns taken care of to retain their historic characteristics and original charm. It's true that there will be more than enough wineries and vineyards in the valley but there will also be a lot of houses and buildings in the area, some of which have been standing there since the 1800s. Be warned though--Santa Ynez Valley is nothing like Napa. Fortunately, that's what a lot of people find appealing about Santa Ynez Valley wine tours.

To know more about the communities you will be part of when you go to the valley, here some features for you to take note of:

Ballard town is home to a little red schoolhouse that has been part of the town since 1883, along with a restaurant that has been deemed to be the best in Santa Barbara, the Restaurant at The Ballard Inn. Run by Chef Budi Kazali, the Zagat-rated delight of a restaurant is at par with the best restaurants in the world, like Restaurant Gary Danko. The only problem is that this little treasure only has 12 tables so make sure you reserve early if you want to have a meal while you are on Santa Ynez Valley wine tours.

Halfway between the Highways 101 and 246 sits Buellton, most well-known as the home of the Pea Soup Andersen's Restaurant. The Pea Soup Andersen's Restaurant is famous for having displayed prominent signs along the highway for many years, making an unforgettable impression on anyone who has passed along the 101 in the last 90 years.

On the northeast portion of the Valley is the town of Los Alamos, a small town with just seven blocks for a main street. While definitely small and unassuming, Los Alamos is quite the treasure throve for antiques.

If you're headed for Los Olivos, make your way through where the Highways 154 and 101 meet. Around there, you can go on Santa Ynez Valley wine tours where there are more than 20 wineries sitting along what is fondly known as the Los Olivos Promenade you can go to. Since the wineries are so near each other, you can literally go and walk back and forth through the streets to get to various tasting rooms. Depending on what will work for you, you can either start or end your wine tour in Los Olivos.

Officially known as a township, Santa Ynez is situated about a mile away from the Highways 154 and 246, both of which are easily reached from the scenic Highway 101 in California. Named after the Old Mission Santa Ines established in 1804, the town is still rich in history, enough to let you appreciate taking a horseback ride on a trail or visiting a saloon as it was 200 years ago.

While you're on Santa Ynez Valley wine tours, it is probably a good idea to get a wine touring service or a professional driver to take you around. Serving the Santa Ynez Valley and the Paso Robles, the Wine Line is a unique way to experience wine country. Instead of being taken wherever your driver wants to bring you, you have the opportunity to choose wherever you want to go and stay how long you want to let you enjoy your wine tasting tour the exact way you want to.

While on Santa Ynez Valley wine tours, wineries will typically pour you between four and six tastes of the wines they currently have. It is normal for wineries to charge you a small fee for the tasting, but this is normally waived or credited if you buy a bottle of wine. And while you're in the Valley, you'll surely have to eat so take advantage of all the scenic spots in the area. Most wineries will have picnic areas or will let you just throw that blanket down and lay out a spread so you dont have to worry about anything. It won't hurt though if you show your appreciation by buying a bottle from the winery you'll be eating out from.