Santa Ynez wine

[shf66shf]

I have taken a few trips to the Santa Ynez area and I am planning to go back soon. I was wondering your opinion about your favorite wineries. I have a wine club membership at Koehler. I really love their sangiovese, viognier(one of the best whites I have had in a long time). Their prices seem pretty good. I also like Zaca Mesa's blends. Rusack's chardonay and pinot. Bridlewood's syrah's. Are there any that I am missing that are reasonable in price?I hear Gainey produces great wines at a good price. I didn't care for Beckman and Sunstone. On my next trip I was going to try Epiphany, Gainey, Foxen, Firestone, maybe Melville and Sanford. What do you think? Thank you!

[BogTarheel]

You should check out Ampelos Vineyards. Excellent Syrah, Pinot, Viognier and Rose from estate, biodynamically farmed vineyard in Sta. Rita Hills. Foxen is excellent. Of the newer wineries, I would highly recommend Dragonette Cellars. Vogelzang is worth checking out for their whites and the D'Alphonso/Curran wines.

[njfoodies]

Couldn't agree more in Bruno and Kris Curran's wines. Both are awesome! Love Bruno's pinot noir under the Badge label, and Kris's wines are fantastic as well, especially her Gewürztraminer, Grenache Blanc, and chardonnay from the Sea Smoke Vineyard.

[bogie]

We have had some impressive syrahs from Herman Story.

[mayache]

I went last summer and loved Lafond. Gainey was really good too.

[njfoodies]

Two other great recommendations here! Both producing solid wines at good QPR's! -mJ

[DeniseB]

If you have time do taste wine AND have dinner, drop into Hitching Post in Casmalia or Solvang. Excellent restaurant and they produce some very reds, especially Pinot Noirs.

[mengathon]

Qupé makes some very solid Rhône styled wines.

[njfoodies]

Totally agree. Check out their Marsanne....great summer sipper! -mJ

[Ginger9]

Roblar's wines are great too, especially their Pinot Noirs.

[perk]

I'm a fan of Stolpman. All of the wineries you mentioned trying this trip are good ones.
Brander does a very nice Sauvignon Blanc. I agree with Steve about Cold Heaven.

[SteveTimko]

If you like viognier, make sure you check out Cold Heaven.
Palmina makes some nice Italian varietals.
If you like Foxen, Melville or Sanford, check out Loring.
Epiphany's owner also works at Fess Parker wines and they tend to be reasonably priced.

[Tripeler]

A few years back I had a Viognier dessert wine from Cold Heaven.
It was, er, heavenly.

[njfoodies]

I absolutely love pinot from Sanford, Foxen, and Melville, and I would throw Foley and Alma Rosa into that mix as well. We really enjoy Fess Parker's pinot, as well as some of their other wines. If you are into Rhone styled blends, check out Tercero. Larry who owns Tercero is also an assistant wine maker at Fess Parker.

I love Brian Loring's high octane pinot, but not sure I would put them in the same league as those mentioned above. To me, they are a bigger style, but I absolutely love them. Solid wines year in year out! -mJ