Bridlewood Winery

If you haven't visited Bridlewood winery it should be top on your to-do list. The winery has a very picturesque landscape, that was once an Arabian horse farm and rehabilitation center. The design of the winery pays homage to California's missions, with a Spanish-style bell tower, and a fountain surrounded by a stone courtyard. Climb the stairs at the bottom of the bell tower to enjoy breathtaking views of the grounds and vineyards.


We stopped by the members lounge to pick up our wine and headed down to the lake to enjoy a nice picnic lunch. Freshly made sandwiches, chips and a home-made blueberry muffin from one of our favorite deli's, inside the Round up market. The bread and muffins are made locally and Russ had the jalapeno bread which was actually very delicious. 

If you are looking for a beautiful, romantic spot to enjoy a picnic lunch, this is it. You have to be a club member to have access to the lake and horses, so with the exception of the horse drawn carriage that went by a few times, we pretty much had the place to ourselves. This is truly God's country!

Alma Rosa Wine Event

We were back at Alma Rosa this weekend, since we loved the wines and they were having a fun wine tasting event. We really enjoyed meeting members from all over as well as more of the staff. I let Russ take the pictures so I could mingle and enjoy the wine and food! hehe. We got to meet Chris, the tasting room manager as well as being a famous movie star. You might recognize him from being in the movie "Sideways". You can check out some of the recipes he has created to pair with their nice assortment of fine wines. The Sanfords are only producing the Alma Rosa vintage wines as of now, and they are delicious, well balanced wines. If you are in the Buellton area I would highly recommend stopping by to enjoy some of the finest fruits on the vines produced anywhere.

Alma Rosa Winery

Russ and I came across the most delightful little winery on Santa Rosa Road. The wine tasting room was once an old milking barn built in the early 1900's and is very quaint and rustic. Wood burning in an old fashioned fire place gave it a very homey feel and Emily and Sharon were very knowledgeable and friendly. I loved the wines but was most impressed with the fact that they are certified organic.  Richard Sandford came to Santa Ynez Valley 40 years ago and was the first to recognize the potential of the Santa Rita Hills and first to plant Pinot Noir vines. He is a pioneer with an established reputation for excellence in winemaking. His wine is a reflection of the Alma (soul) of the Rancho. Traditional corks have been replaced with twist off closures to eliminate the mustiness imparted by bad corks and I am finding I like them much better.

Bluebird and owl boxes are maintained for rodent control and the vineyard provides refuge for endangered birds and other wildlife. We became wine club members and I am looking forward to a picnic lunch at one of the picnic tables down by the creek under the redwood trees.

The wine tasting room manager is and accomplished cook and creates a dish to pair with each wine that is released. You will find his recipes along with some of their favorite chefs here. 


For hours of operation and directions click here. I hope you enjoy your experience as much as we did.

Roblar Winery in Santa Ynez, Ca.

Roblar is jut one of our favorite wineries to visit. Located in Santa Ynez Valley just off highway 154 Roblar’s focus is on wine and gourmet foods. The wine tasting room has a little gift shop with a nice selection of cookbooks that Russ would love to own. The wood-sided complex has gardens, terraces, lawns, verandas, exqisite oaks and a lovely outdoor fountain. The spacious tasting room is a beautiful setting for enjoying their Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon, Syrah and Cabernet Franc. It sits on 18 acres of vineyards that are planted to Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon and Merlot. They serve delicious food, grown right on their own grounds, or purchased from local farms. Roblar offers food and wine pairing or you can do wine tasting for $14.00, which includes a nice mixture of reds and whites and a souvenir glass to take home. Upstairs is a beautiful, members only lounge, that is very quaint with an outside patio to enjoy the beautiful weather the valley has to offer, or an indoor fireplace for those chilly fall and winter days. Not to worry if you are not a member, they also have a very nice fireplace downstairs. Roblar prepares a wonderful food and wine pairing event every two months for their club members. You can click here for some of their yummy recipes. Just minutes from Los Olivos, it is a place you will definitely want to check out. Be sure to tell Bryon we sent you!

3010 Roblar Ave. Santa Ynez, CA 93460