Solvang/Los Olivos

[vineberg]

My adult son and I are heading out to the Solvang/Los Olivos area for some wine tasting this weekend. Any hints on excellent small wineries and good restaurants to visit?

[LA CA Foodie]

We also highly recommend the Los Olivos Cafe. The food is fantastic, they have an incredible wine selection, and the staff is helpful and very professional. Our lunch there was the best meal of our trip up the coast.

[Juji]

Brothers at Mattei's Tavern and Cold Spring Tavern are a couple of my favorite restaurants in the area. Also great for breakfast is Paula's Pancake House in Solvang. Right next door is Honeywood Farm Gourmet Foods and they specialize in local wines under $50; they also do tastings. I would suggest visiting Foley in Lompoc and nearby is Melville. I haven't been to the Melville winery, but I love the wine. Along Grand Avenue in Los Olivos you will find several tasting rooms. Andrew Murray and Daniel Gehrs are very good. I also liked Carhart, even though the space is super tiny.

[glbtrtr]

Grappolo in Santa Ynez. Very nice Northern Italian.

[Diana]

Not a winery, but in solvang there is a neat little wine bar called Wandering Dog. It has a lot of different local wines as well as microbrewed beers, and sometimes sake!

Wandering Dog Wine Bar
1539 Mission Dr.
Suite C
SOLVANG, CA 93463
Contact Name: Charles Williams
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]

[Diana]

Rusack winery, Beckman, Kalyra, Alma Rosa are all good.

Dine at the Los Olivos Cafe. despite the "Sideways" hype, it really is incredibly good.

Also, stop in Solvang at Casa Cassara for a wine and olive tasting, and grab sandwiches at Paninos (Panini's?). get a kringle at the Oleson's Bakery for dessert.

[Geoff]

Agree with Los Olivos Cafe; it was wonderful on a recent visit. Also enjoyed tasting at the very understated Foxen.

[chickendud]

I have enjoyed a few meals for Los Olivos Cafe, I second the recommendation.

They also have a high quality wine list, including wine by the glass.

[Bruce in SLO]

Make a reservation at the Ballard Inn and be sure to visit Rusack Winery.
Get a SB county wine map online or pick one up at most locations.
Ask tasting room staff for their favorites.