New Wine Tasting Rooms for Liquid Farm & Crawford Family Wines

A trip up to Santa Ynez, Solvang, and Los Olivos is always fun, especially when visiting old wine friends. My visit took in both Liquid Farm and Crawford Family Wines. Although I love their wines, they both have new wine tasting rooms that I wanted to check out, which I found worth the visit.

I have followed the evolution of both these wineries since their beginnings and am very fond of their wines. For Liquid Farm, they keep their Lompoc wine tasting room for private events and opened a new tasting room in Los Olivos. For Crawford Family Wines, they moved their tasting room from Los Olivos to Solvang.

Liquid Farm

The tasting room in Los Olivos used to be a bank building. There is a rotunda styled alcove surrounded by glass windows, an inviting area for large groups coming to taste wine. The wine tasting room is rustic yet very comfortable with a central bar tasting area that is accented with a bottle motif that holds all the Rosé bottles. The orange hue emanating from the Rosé that lies inside each bottle adds warmth to the rustic atmosphere. The Tasting Room also incorporates an interior designer’s gift shop, which works well with the décor and ambiance of the tasting room.

Liquid Farm Wines

Speaking of Rosé, the current release is a winner. Known by friends of Liquid Farm as their pink crack, I could smell the wonderful aromas emanating from my glass at a distance. The wine is everything it is cracked up to be and more. A Rosé created from Mourvédre with 5% Grenache added, I found a bright, lively wine is perfect for any time of the year.

You cannot leave Liquid Farm without trying their Chardonnay. They started strictly as a Chardonnay maker, but of course, things changed. If you like Burgundian-styled Chardonnay, you cannot miss tasting these Chardonnays. My favorites were the White Hill, which reminds me of a Chablis, and the Golden Slope, with its perfect balance.

For years owner Jeff Nelson said we will never make Pinot Noir. Well, guess what Liquid Farm now makes four different Pinot Noirs. The style is very Burgundian with a lighter texture. My favorites were the SBC Pinot Noir and the Sanford & Benedict. Both exhibit the perfect amount of fruit and show off the elegance of Pinot Noir that my palate finds enjoyable.

Crawford Family Wines

A visit with Wendy Horvath, co-owner with her husband Mark, is always a treat. I would call her super mom, wife, and wine salesperson. Her energy flows through the tasting room. Recently opened, the wine tasting room is located in the middle of Solvang on Mission St. Still waiting for some of the finishing touches, the tasting room is a very cute, clean space that showcases the key to experiencing all Crawford Family Wines.

The interior space is shared with the Cailloux Cheese Shop. It makes the perfect pairing of a shared space on many levels. You can enjoy your choice of cheese selections while enjoying a glass of Crawford Family wine. The tasting room is on the west side of the building, and the cheese shop is on the east side, with a cute sitting area in between.

The tasting room will be the perfect summer hangout because there is a cute outdoor patio. I can see sipping wine and watching a glorious Solvang sunset come in at the end of the day. A perfect spot for those with a dog in tow. Best of all, the tasting room is across from Solvang’s Wednesday Farmers Market, so you can peruse the market for local fruits, veggies, and more and then walk across the street and finish off with a sip of the latest releases of Crawford Family Wine. Another perfect match.

Crawford Family Wines

Speaking of Rosé, Crawford Family Wine has a dynamite Rosé that this current release is a blend of Grenache, Syrah, and Mouvédre.

With unique whites, all the fad, Crawford’s Albarino is a must. With flavors of stone fruit, the wine delivers a clean, fresh finish.

My favorite Pinot Noir was the Walk Slow. Combining grapes from Radian and Spear vineyards, the wine presents itself as elegantly balanced with a medium body.

Finally, the cool climate Syrah Zotovich Vineyard is a winner. This very drinkable wine with its smooth, rich, and balanced in every aspect. The flavors of dark fruits are accented with subtle spices. I liked the fact this was not an overpowering Syrah. It was the perfect finish to a wonderful day in Santa Barbara Wine Country.

Wine Tasting Rooms

I highly recommend visiting both of these wine tasting rooms. You will not be disappointed.

Liquid Farm Los Olivos Tasting Room
2445 Alamo Pintado Ave Suite 101
Los Olivos, CA 93441
805.697.7859

Open daily Mon-Thur 11 am – 5 pm and Fri-Sun 11 am – 7 pm

Crawford Family Wines
1661 Mission Drive,
Solvang, CA 93463
805.698.3889

Open Monday & Thursday noon – 5 pm, Wednesday noon – 6 pm, Saturday & Sunday noon – 7 pm