Grenache in Santa Barbara County: where it grows and where to taste it

Grenache is on more lists than you might expect. Of the 198 places we list that take visitors, 64 name it, which makes it the fourth grape on our lists after Pinot Noir, Syrah and Chardonnay. Here is what to expect, where it is poured and when you can walk in.

What it is like

Grenache is a warm, easygoing red, with juicy red fruit and a touch of spice. It suits relaxed food, such as pizza, grilled sausages, roast pork or paella.

We count the red grape only. Grenache Blanc is a different grape, and we count it separately.

Where it is poured

We hold no planting figures, so this guide sticks to where the wine is poured. By AVA, counting places located in the area or pouring its wine:

• Sta. Rita Hills: 26
• Santa Ynez Valley: 26
• Los Olivos District: 23
• Ballard Canyon: 12
• Happy Canyon of Santa Barbara: 8
• Santa Maria Valley: 6
• Alisos Canyon: 6

Most places pour from more than one AVA, so these overlap. Another 12, most of them in Santa Barbara and Goleta, do not tie their wines to an AVA with us.

By town, Los Olivos has 14, Santa Barbara 12, Lompoc 10, Buellton 9, Solvang 7 and Los Alamos 5. Santa Barbara is the place for a late visit: seven of its rooms that list Grenache stay open to 7pm or later on at least one day.

Open every day, walk-ins welcome

Eleven places that list Grenache say they open every day and welcome walk-ins. Hours are as each place posts them.

• Santa Barbara: Margerum Santa Barbara Tasting Room, 12pm–8pm. Jaffurs Wine Cellars, 11am–5pm, to 6pm Thursday to Sunday. Jamie Slone Wines, 12pm–6pm, to 7pm Friday and Saturday (from 11am Saturday). Carr Winery, open daily; we do not hold its times.
• Los Olivos: Saarloos + Sons, 11am–5pm. Blair Fox Cellars, 12pm–5pm, to 6pm Friday and Saturday. Koehler Wine Estate, north of town, 10am–5pm.
• Solvang: Alma Rosa Winery & Vineyards, from 12pm, to 8pm Wednesday to Sunday and 6pm Monday and Tuesday. Kaena at The Ranch, 11am–5pm. Rideau Vineyard, 11am–4:30pm.
• Lompoc: Babcock Winery & Vineyards, 11am–5pm, to 5:30pm Friday and Saturday.

Into the evening

Besides Margerum, Jamie Slone and Alma Rosa above, these stay open to 7pm or later on at least one day:

• Santa Barbara: Skyenna Wines, daily to 8pm. Melville Winery Tasting Lounge, daily 12pm–7pm, to 8pm Friday and Saturday. The Valley Project, daily 12pm–7pm. Kunin Wines, 12pm–7pm, closed Monday, walk-ins welcome. La Lieff Winery, to 8pm Friday and Saturday, closed Tuesday.
• Goleta: SAMsARA Wine Co., daily to 7pm.
• Los Olivos: Four Brothers Wine Co., daily 11am–7pm.
• Solvang: Sevtap Winery, to 8pm Friday and Saturday, walk-ins welcome.
• Los Alamos: Clementine Carter Wines, to 7pm Thursday to Saturday, walk-ins welcome.
• Lompoc: Montemar Winery, to 7pm on Friday.

Plan it

Grenache in the county lists every place on one page. Add a few to My day and the planner checks each stop against its posted hours for your date. In Santa Barbara, our Funk Zone walk takes in five of the rooms above; in Los Olivos, Los Olivos on foot includes Saarloos + Sons and Four Brothers. Two AVA guides show where Grenache turns up in the valley: Ballard Canyon and its Syrah and Alisos Canyon.

A note on these numbers

We counted on October 13, 2026, from our approved listings, each checked against the winery's own website. A place counts when Grenache is on its list of wines and it takes visitors; five more producers list the grape but have no tasting room open to the public. Grenache Blanc and blends that do not name Grenache are not counted. "Pours an AVA's wine" means its own sources show wine from there, not that every bottle is. Hours and walk-in policies are as each place posts them.