Why you should visit wineries in Buellton, California
This blog post covers the best wineries in Buellton, California.
The wineries in Buellton are located in the Santa Ynez Valley of Santa Barbara County just off US Highway 101.
Buellton is easily accessible. It’s a short drive to neighboring towns and a few hours by car from Los Angeles.
Buellton isn’t as trendy as its cousins Los Olivos and Los Alamos. But make no mistake: Buellton is home to some world-class wine.
This blog post covers four wineries in Buellton, CA that focus on sustainability. Sustainable winemaking prioritizes vineyard health.
The word “sustainable” isn’t interchangeable with “organic.” But I’ve noticed that wineries that identify as sustainable usually adhere to organic or biodynamic practices.
All four wineries on this list have winemaking facilities in Buellton. Two of these wineries maintain a tasting room in Solvang as well. You could visit their Solvang tasting rooms and have a nice time. But if you’re the kind of person who’d prefer a behind-the-scenes look into winemaking, then you should tour their Buellton winemaking facilities.
How to access the best wineries in Buellton
Buellton is accessible from major California cities
The wineries in Buellton are within easy driving distance of several major cities and towns.
If you already live in Santa Barbara County, then great! You can simply drive to the wineries in Buellton on this list. But if you live out of state you’ll need to plan ahead. Your best bet is to fly into one of the cities I mention below, rent a car at the airport, and drive from the airport to these wineries in Buellton.
Although Buellton does not have its own commercial airport, it is relatively easy to access nearby airports.
The closest commercial airport is Santa Maria Public Airport (SMX) located in Santa Maria, CA. It’s about 30 miles from the airport to Buellton, which should take you about 29 minutes by car.
The next closest airport is located in Santa Barbara. Santa Barbara Airport (SBA) is about 36 miles from Buellton, which should take about 34 minutes by car.
The San Luis Obispo County Regional Airport (SBP) is also an option. It’s 59 miles from SBP, which should take 55 minutes by car.
The closest major city is Los Angeles. Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) is 140 miles from Buellton. The drive should take about 2 hours and 20 minutes. But of course the drive could take longer. It’s LA traffic after all.
Buellton is near other Santa Ynez Valley towns
Buellton is near several other small towns in Santa Barbara wine country.
- Los Olivos is 9.4 miles, which is 10 minutes by car.
- Solvang is 3.6 miles away, which is a roughly 6 minute drive.
- Los Alamos is 14.5 miles, which should take you 15 minutes by car.
- The town of Santa Ynez is 7.4 miles away, which is about a 13 minute drive.
As you can see, a car is required to actually reach Buellton. And you’ll want a car to visit the other small towns throughout the Santa Ynez Valley.
The best wineries in Buellton for a wine tasting
The Central Coast Group Project
Scott Sampler has a simple philosophy: “Nothing added. Nothing taken away.”
His minimal intervention approach results in wines that are wild and alive.
Sampler enjoyed a childhood steeped in art and good food. He dabbled in writing and directing before eventually falling head over heels for winemaking.
Today Sampler’s company has three branches: the Central Coast Group Project, L’Arge d’Oor, and Scotty Boy!
All three labels utilize high quality fruit that is grown locally and farmed sustainably. Grapes such as Pinot gris, Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Viognier, Cabernet Sauvignon, Sangiovese, and Mourvèdre make an appearance.
If you’re interested in trying wines from L’Arge D’Oor, Scotty-Boy!, and the Central Coast Group Project (CCGP) then you can schedule a private tasting and tour. You can book a reservation through what CCGP refers to as the Salon des Refusés Wine Bar. The facility is located on Industrial Way in Buellton.
Alma Rosa Winery & Vineyards
Alma Rosa Winery has one goal: to make vibrant wines that showcase the cool climate terroir.
Since their inception in 2005, Alma Rosa has made great wine from sustainably farmed grapes. So it appears founder Richard Sanford has succeeded!
Alma Rosa Winery specializes in Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. They also work with Rhone varietals such as Grenache and Syrah. In addition to still wines, Alma Rosa Vineyards also makes Brut, Brut Rosé, and Blanc de Blanc sparkling wine.
You can visit the Alma Rosa estate located in Buellton. This 628-acre ranch in the Sta. Rita Hills AVA offers beautiful vineyards and an historic Ranch House.
Make a reservation via the Alma Rosa Winery & Vineyard Tock profile. Sign up for the “Exclusive Estate Experience,” which is a seated tasting beneath the oak trees. You’ll try a flight of wines followed by a cheese plate. This experience costs $75 per person and lasts 90 minutes. The “Vineyard Tour & Tasting” begins with a vineyard tour in a golf cart and ends with a wine flight and cheese. This experience costs $100 per person.
If you’d prefer to explore on foot there are two hikes. The Caracol Hike is a 1 mile roundtrip hike through Chardonnay and Pinot Noir vineyards. You’ll end the hike with a wine flight and cheese. This option costs $95 per person, begins at 10 AM, and is available by appointment only. The 2 mile Attente Hike finishes with wine and cheese at the Ranch House. Booking are requirement for this experience, which is only offered at 9 AM.
You can also sample Alma Rosa wines at their downtown Solvang tasting room.
Crawford Family Wines
Crawford Family Wines has a “garagiste” mindset.
A “garagiste” is a winemaker who makes wine in their garage (as the name suggests). A garagiste makes wine on a small scale in a nontraditional way.
Although Crawford Family Wines doesn’t exactly qualify as a garagiste, I grasp their meaning. It’s like an established company calling themselves “scrappy” like a startup.
Crawford Family Wines make small lots of Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Syrah from grapes grown in Santa Barbara County vineyards. They also work with Rhône varieties such as Mourvédre and Grenache. Crawford’s second label Low Tide Wine Co. focuses on fresh crisp whites perfect for relaxed gatherings.
Crawford Family Wines has a Solvang tasting room, which accepts walk-ins. Or you can book a private tasting at their industrial winemaking space in Buellton.
Winemaker Mark Horvath leads the private wine tastings in Buellton. These private tastings cost $50 per person and include samples of current release wines plus some tastes straight from the barrel. You can call or email the winery directly to make a reservation.
Luna Hart Wines
Winemaker Gretchen Voelcker creates fruit-forward wines in Buellton, California.
Voelcker views her label Luna Hart Wines as “a canvas for showcasing the distinct character of each grape variety she cherishes.”
She works with Syrah and Grüner Veltliner as well as Bordeaux varietals Cabernet Franc and Sauvignon Blanc. Voelcker sources these grapes from Santa Barbara County vineyards that practice sustainable, organic, or biodynamic farming.
Luna Hart Wines are structured and bright. They’re also very small production; you can’t find these amazing wines everywhere. If you’d like to sample Luna Hart Wines you can contact the winery directly via email or phone. They host private wine tastings by appointment only.
A quick note about the location… According to Google Maps, Luna Hart Wines is located at 84 Industrial Way in Buellton, CA. However, the Luna Hart Instagram account lists their address as 2825 Tapadero Road, Solvang, CA. That address actually belongs to Piazza Family Wines. Gretchen is the winemaker at Piazza Family Wines. It’s unclear whether private tastings take place in Buellton or Solvang. Be sure to double check the address when you make a tasting appointment.
Other California wine regions to visit
Other charming towns in the Santa Ynez Valley you should visit
Several charming towns are spread throughout the Santa Ynez Valley. All of these are within easy driving distance of Buellton.
Los Olivos is a 10 minute drive from Buellton. Los Olivos is a charming town with old-fashioned buildings, great restaurants, art galleries… and wineries! These six Los Olivos, California wineries make delightful organic wines.
Los Alamos, California is another small town nestled in the Santa Ynez Valley. Los Alamos is about 15 minutes by car from Buellton. This list covers the four best organic Los Alamos wineries to add to your Santa Ynez adventure.
Solvang is about 10 minutes by car from Buellton. Known as the “Danish capital of America,” Solvang has thatched roofs and traditional windmills galore. Guess what else they have… wine! Here are six Solvang wineries to make your visit even more delicious.
The town of Santa Ynez is situated within the Santa Ynez Valley. These five Santa Ynez wineries range from big ranches to Tuscan-style estates to small family run operations. These wineries are beautiful and special in equal measure.
California wine country towns worth a trip
The Santa Ynez Valley in Santa Barbara County is gorgeous. It’s one of the best destinations for wine tasting on California’s Central Coast. But it’s certainly not the only region worth visiting.
The Santa Ynez Valley borders the Santa Maria Valley. The Santa Maria Valley is known for its excellent cool-climate Pinot Noir, Syrah, and Chardonnay. These six Santa Maria wineries showcase the beauty of this special region.
The Russian River Valley is another California wine country destination known for its world-class Pinot Noir. We cover four Russian River wineries that farm organically or biodynamically. These organic wines are carefully crafted by producers who adhere to strict farming practices.
Buellton is within driving distance of Los Angeles. But did you know that LA has its own set of wonderful wineries? We cover six amazing Los Angeles wineries that offer everything from fresh natural wines to big bold reds.
As you know Malibu is just up the road from LA. So you may as well go, eh? These Malibu wineries and wine bars are nestled in the Malibu hills and perched near the Pacific Ocean.
Southern California has its charms but we all know Northern California is the epicenter of California wine country. And who are the major attractions? Napa, Yountville, and Healdsburg, of course!
We’ve got two Napa lists. One covers the best boutique Napa wineries and the other outlines the best downtown Napa wineries. Our list of the best Healdsburg wineries explores another town. Last but not least this list of a dozen Yountville wineries may entice you to make a trip.
Auburn is another Northern California town with lovely wineries. These Auburn wineries offer tasty wine and great views in a relaxed setting. Plus it’s under an hour by car from downtown Sacramento.
