Perhaps you are visiting Los Olivos in California or maybe you live there. If you enjoy a glass or two of wine, why don’t you stop by one of the many wineries in and around Los Olivos?
There are many excellent choices, and we are going to tell you about our 13 favorites. We feel sure that you won’t be disappointed with any of them.
1 – Carhartt Family Wines
As the name suggests, Carhartt Wines are family owned. They offer over 20 seasonal wines throughout the year.
Their Tasting Room is open every day and it is table service. The staff is friendly and knowledgeable.
They will tell you about the wines you are tasting, and if you are unsure about what wines you would like to try, they will give you suggestions to suit your palate.
As well as tastings, they also offer a tour of the estate grounds followed by an outdoor tasting. The server gives you in-depth details about each wine you are tasting, the company’s farming and wine-making practices, and the history of the vineyard.
Join one of their wine clubs for customized shipments, complimentary tastings, and invitations to special events.
2 – Stolpman Vineyards
Stolpman Vineyards have two tasting areas. The Los Olivos Patio is open daily and here you can taste estate-grown classics. The Fresh Garage Patio is open from Friday to Tuesday and here you can try their So Fresh range of wines.
The grapes to make these wines are naturally fermented, uncrushed, and whole. They are always served chilled. Every month, you can join a hike through the vineyards.
If you like classic wine, try their Angeli 2017. It is made from Syrah grapes and has an intense dark fruit flavor and a rich texture.
If you prefer something refreshing, choose a wine from the So Fresh range. The Chenin Pet-Nat 2021 has aromas of lime, lemon meringue, ripe tropical fruit, and sour apple. It tastes of soft peach and pear.
Join one of their many clubs for discounts, pre-release access to wines, complimentary invitations to events, and more.
3 – Fess Parker Winery & Vineyard
This is a family-owned business with second and third generations running it. They have won many awards for their wines which are produced using old winemaking techniques. Besides wine, they also brew beer.
There are three tastings that you can choose from: the Classic Tasting, the Barrel Room Tasting, and the Library Room Tasting. The Library Room Tasting is special as it is led by a wine sommelier.
During this tasting, you can find out more about the Winery’s 30 years of winemaking and you can customize the flight to your taste.
Fess Parker Winery & Vineyard also owns a 19-room boutique hotel which gives you a complimentary bottle of wine in your room and wine tasting for 2, among other benefits.
Join their wine club for many discounts, shipments, and more.
4 – Dreamcote Wine Co.
Dreamcote Wine Co is a small producer of low-alcohol wines and low-alcohol ciders. You can enjoy more wine here without getting drunk!
They have both indoor and outdoor tasting areas and offer quality popcorn to enjoy with your wine. They serve a flight of 4 – 5 fruit-driven wines which are all easy to drink. The flights change regularly.
They also offer some wines by the glass or the bottle. They are open from Thursday to Monday.
Join their wine club for shipments and discounts.
5 – Demetria Estate Winery
This is a family-owned winery, named after the owner’s daughter, Demetria, who was named after Demeter, the ancient Greek goddess of love. Demetria now works in the family business. They specialize in small-lot and limited-release wines.
Their tasting room is open every day and they serve food to accompany your wine. You can also bring your own picnic lunch to eat outdoors.
The staff are knowledgeable about the wines and winemaking process and are happy to chat with you about the wines.
Try their 20121 sparkling rose. It is light-bodied with undertones of wild fennel, bubblegum, rose petal, and strawberry. There are flavors of stone fruit and watermelon, and the wine has a bright and vibrant acidity, with a lasting finish.
Join their wine club for discounts, special allocations, complimentary tastings, and priority access to private events.
If you are looking for an attractive venue for your wedding, chat with the owners about holding yours here.
6 – Kaena Wine Company
This winery is open from Thursday to Sunday for tastings. They have an outdoor patio with spectacular scenery where you can sip your wine.
The name, Kaena, means potential for greatness in Hawaiian and the owner chose this name in the hope that his winery would achieve this. If you visit, you will see that his hopes have come true.
They stock a variety of wines but Grenache is their specialty. Try their 2020 Grenache Clone 362 which has aromas of spicy cherry, rhubarb, and raspberry, with flavors of blood orange, sandalwood, red licorice, nutmeg, and cinnamon.
There is a variety of wine club memberships for different wine drinkers.
7 – Samsara Wine Co.
Samsara focuses on the care of their grapes, including the quality and kind of soil the vines grow in and the temperature in the vinery. The grapes take the spotlight rather than the winemaking process.
This seems to be working as they produce high-quality wines. The wines they have are limited releases and include Pinot Noir, Syrah, Grenache, and Chardonnay, all produced in micro-sites within the estate.
Samsara is open daily for indoor and outdoor tastings of 5 current releases. If you then buy two bottles of wine, the tasting fee is waived.
They have 4 different wine clubs offering 4 shipments a year. You have the opportunity of customizing your shipments which is always a bonus. You also get complimentary tastings, discounts, and more.
8 – Zara Mesa Winery
The owners of Zara Mesa Winery combine old traditional methods with some modern techniques.
Their most popular wines are their Rhone red wines which are bold and full-bodied. However, they also do produce some excellent white wines as well.
There are two tasting areas, the elegant Lounge & Terrace, and the Courtyard. You can bring a picnic with you and the staff will suggest wine pairings for the food you bring with you.
You can choose a flight of wine, or a glass and the tasting will be free if you buy $70 of wine.
Try their 2017 Mesa Reserve Syrah. It has ripe dark fruit flavors with aromatic notes of dark chocolate, sweet cigar, mead, and earth. Its texture and tannins are bold, and it pairs well with marbled meat.
Join their wine club for shipments, complimentary wine tastings, discounts, and invitations to exclusive events.
9 – Firestone Vineyard
Firestone Vineyards cover a massive 325 acres which are approximately 26 miles from the cold Pacific Ocean. This creates a moderate and arid climate which is ideal for growing wine grapes.
They were the first estate winery in Santa Barbara County and have been around for over 50 years.
They have a wide selection of both red and white wines including some classics such as Bordeaux, Rhone, and Burgundy wines and some of German origin.
They have walk-in tastings from Thursday until Monday and they have both indoor and outdoor seating. Once a month, they have Wine Lab Sundays when you can explore the wines of Firestone.
Try their 2021 Firestone Vineyard Riesling which has aromas of tropical fruit and citrus, as well as rose, honeysuckle blossom, and green tea. It has flavors of tropical citrus and spiced rose.
It is light-bodied and has a bright acidity. It is a refreshing wine to be enjoyed with chicken or fish.
10 – Tercero Wines
The owner of this winery knows what he is doing as he has a master’s degree in viticulture and enology. He is often present at tastings and will impart his knowledge of wines to you. You should find this both interesting and eye-opening.
The tasting room is exciting with its wall of wines and shelves of glassware. If you join one of their 9 clubs or buy a few bottles of wine, your tasting fee will be waived.
11 – Beckmen Vineyards
Beckmen Vineyards have had the honor of supplying their wines to the White House. Their wine is also served in some of the best restaurants in the country.
They produce Rhone-style wines from 25 acres of planted vineyards. They use a biodynamic agricultural system designed to grow grapes naturally. The grapes are tended by human hands, not chemical sprays.
There are options when it comes to tasting the wine or drinking it by the bottle. The Tasting Room is indoors with a scenic view. There is a covered deck as well for warm summer days.
You can hire a gazebo for bottle service, and you can bring your own picnic. It will make for a lovely day out. You can also go to the Poolside Lounge for bottle service. You can book a private tour of the vineyard and a wine tasting with an included cheese and charcuterie platter.
Try one of their natural wines without any additives. The 2021 1INGREDIENT Grenache Blanc has scents of wildflower honey, apple, orange blossom, and fresh ginger.
It tastes of apple skin, powdered ginger, candied citrus, Meyer lemon, and dried orange pith. It is medium-bodied with bright minerality.
12 – Saarloos & Sons
This is a family-owned and operated winery with wonderful hosts who will tell you all about the wines. Their tasting room is open every day and most of the wines are 100% estate grown.
They have converted part of their warehouse into a luxury Airbnb. It has two bedrooms and overlooks the vineyard. It is within walking distance of Los Olivos and the Tasting Room.
Join their wine club for discounts and other benefits.
13 – Larner Vineyard & Winery
This is another winery having an owner with a master’s degree in viticulture and enology so you will know that you are in good hands. You can even enroll in one of his classes to learn more about wine. However, you might just want to sample the wines and their Tasting Room is open daily.
Try the 2019 Syrah which is a full-bodied red wine with interesting complexity. The flavors are sweet cigar, licorice, allspice, baker’s chocolate, and raspberry coulis.
Join one of their wine clubs for deliveries or pick-ups 3 times a year, discounts, complimentary wine tastings, and invitations to members-only events.
Final Thoughts
We hope that we have whetted your appetite and now are keen to visit one or more wineries in Los Olivos. We think that all choices are worth visiting so enjoy!
