The Santa Ynez Valley lies between the Santa Ynez Mountains and the San Rafael Mountains. Its landscape recalls its agricultural roots, which include pastures for raising cattle and horses. This area is recognized as the land of the Chumash. Today, vineyards dot the countryside. The fertile soils contribute to the rise of the farm-to-table dining concept in this area.
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Visiting Santa Ynez Valley
Visiting Santa Ynez Valley provides diverse options for a getaway, from its six distinct communities—Solvang, Santa Ynez, Buellton, Ballard, Los Alamos, and Los Olivos—to the influence of the Chumash tribe on the area, ensuring that you will uncover some unique, flavorful cuisine and wine tastings during your stay. Here is what I found on one of my jaunts to the Santa Ynez Valley.
Chumash Casino Resort
On a recent visit to the area, I visited the Chumash Casino Resort. The resort is an AAA Four Diamond-rated resort hotel. Amenities include a rooftop pool and spa. Although I have no interest in gambling and the casino is not smoke-free, I found the smoke-free accommodations at the Chumash very comfortable and spacious. My room in the tower overlooked some vineyards.
From there, I visited several wineries and restaurants in Los Olivos and the Santa Ynez Valley.
The Willows Restaurant
I first visited the Willows Restaurant in 2013. At that time, I said it was Santa Ynez Valley’s best-kept secret. I still hold that belief after dining there again recently.
The restaurant is named for the indigenous willow trees located around the Chumash Casino Resort’s property. The restaurant has a quiet ambiance with décor in soft, muted colors, perfect for those desiring a romantic dinner or a peaceful atmosphere after a day of wine tasting in the Santa Ynez Valley. It is warm and inviting, and although it is known as a steak and seafood restaurant, it has an eclectic menu beyond your typical steak house.
The cuisine features flavorful and fresh ingredients from local farms, gardens, ranches, and worldwide. There is an outstanding wine list featuring many local wineries. Chef de Cuisine Sergio Renteria, who has been with the Willows for over 19 years, ensures you enjoy your meal, especially if you have dietary restrictions like mine.
The Willows Restaurant has received the AAA 4 Diamond Restaurant award every year since 2005, which speaks to its quality. The pricing is reasonable for a steakhouse, and with 50% of patrons returning repeatedly, it shows the restaurant strives to achieve loyalty and a consistent reputation.
From scallops to rack of lamb or a seafood platter, you will not be disappointed with your meal. Willows offers fine dining with a wine country relaxed vibe.
Vincent Vineyards
When visiting the Santa Ynez Valley, I try to explore a winery I have never been to. In this case, it was Vincent Vineyards. The winery is located in the Los Olivos District. It offers limited-production wine focusing on Bordeaux’s five noble red grapes: Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Malbec, and Petit Verdot. In whites, they concentrate on the white Bordeaux grape, Sauvignon Blanc. Vincent also grows Syrah.
The winery was established in 2007 by Tony and Tanya Vincent. Tony, a real estate developer, knew the value of the land and purchased the 25-acre vineyards in 2005. Their first vintage was in 2010. Currently, their grapes are 100% estate-grown. Like everything Tony laid his hands on, attention to detail was paramount when building the winery tasting room and production.
In 2022, winemaker Zach Perron joined the team. Zach began his career at Lucas and Lewellyn and worked at Beckman before coming to Vincent Vineyards. At Vincent, Zach has the freedom to create some unconventional wines. The perfect example was when they had extra grapes from a vintage, and he could experiment and create a Pet Nat from Cabernet Sauvignon and Sauvignon Blanc. The Pet Nat from Cabernet is the winner and one of my favorites, with its bright nuances showcasing strawberry and pepper.
Vincent’s most popular wine is the Cabernet Franc. Its flagship wine is the V Cuvee, a blend of the five Bordeaux grapes.
My favorites were the Merlot and the Petit Verdot. The latter was a pretty wine with elegance and lovely perfumes.
Tercero
Tercero is one of my favorite wineries in the Santa Ynez Valley, specifically in Los Olivos. The best word to describe owner Larry Schaffer is curiosity. Curiosity is the name of one of his wines, which befits Larry’s personality. The wine is a blend of Carignane, Cinsault, and Counoise. The wine is bright, fresh, and lively.
Larry’s inquisitiveness is evident in his winemaking. He loves to explore varieties and brings out the unique expression of each. I am especially fond of his white wines.
Larry spent 20 years in the music industry before discovering his passion for winemaking. He took courses at UC Davis online and earned an MS in Viticulture and Enology. After moving to Santa Barbara County in 2005, he began his wine career at Fess Parker.
Larry is a natural educator, loving to share his journey in wine. His love of wine is part of his curiosity and is what makes him an advocate of experimentation and terroir. Initially known for his Rhone varietals with a few other varieties mixed in, Larry is a strong promoter of the Rhone Rangers movement in California and nationally.
Along with his love of the Rhone, Larry experiments with Carbonic winemaking and has recently produced Pinot Noir. He uses whole cluster fermentation on his reds. His whites are full of aromatics, which makes them exceptional. The wines exude bright acidity.
My all-time favorite wine, Larry produces is the Outliner, a Gewurztraminer. The aromatics and florals engulf you with flavor. It is a Gewurztraminer with elegance and not overpowering. Other favorites in the whites are the Picpoul Blanc, Clairette Blanche, and Malvasia Bianca.
Breakfast, Lunch, or Dinner at Pony Cocktail + Kitchen
I first visited the Pony when it was Pony Espresso, open for breakfast and most of the day for coffee. The Pony is a favorite coffee house for locals because it serves Italian coffee and espresso. Owner Alberto Battaglini decided to change the restaurant’s concept and now serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Find a casual atmosphere with a Santa Ynez Country vibe and high-quality food. The cuisine expresses his Italian background with Latin influences thrown in. The ingredients focus on local, too. The restaurant’s name pays homage to Alberto’s wife, a veterinarian for horses.
On my first visit, the Avocado Toast grabbed me. On my second visit, I enjoyed a selection of his lunch entrees, including unique salads.
The Pony has both indoor and outdoor seating.
Visiting Wine Country
It does not take much to tempt me into taking a trip to Santa Barbara wine country, especially the Santa Ynez Valley. My adventures in the area are driven by the excellent wine, cuisine, and friends I have made there while visiting.
Note: As is common in the travel and wine industry, this writer received hosted visits to many of the activities listed in this article. While it has not influenced this review, the writer believes in full disclosure.