Savvy Picks
Tasting rooms
Fifteen South Coast tasting rooms locals send friends to, from a $24 flight on Stearns Wharf to a $70 reserve flight in the Funk Zone, with what to pour, what it costs and whether you need a reservation.
- 15 picks
- 15 locations
- 2 towns
- Updated November 3, 2026
You don't have to drive to the Santa Ynez Valley to taste its wine. Most of these rooms pour wine grown over the mountains, and most are within walking distance of each other in the Funk Zone and around El Paseo. Here are fifteen, in order of how often locals recommend them, each checked against its own site.
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Deep Sea Tasting Room
A tasting room at the end of the wharf.
The Conway family's room on Stearns Wharf, pouring wines from Santa Barbara County vineyards.
OrderSanta Barbara Signature Flight: five pours, two whites, a rosé and two reds. $24. Reds only is $26.
TipNo reservations; every table is first come, first served. Groups of ten or more should call ahead or come between 11 and 1. A cheese plate is $20.
Checked Nov 3, 2026 on conwayfamilywines.com (opens in a new tab)
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Frequency Wine Co.
Small-batch wines, a fountain courtyard.
Small-production Santa Barbara County wines, poured on a courtyard patio by a fountain or inside at the window bar.
OrderThe tasting, $25, waived when you buy two bottles. Ask about the 2023 GSM, which the winery says made Wine Spectator's Top 100 for 2025.
TipOpen daily noon to 6, last seating 5:30. Walk-ins welcome; reservations encouraged.
Checked Nov 3, 2026 on frequencywines.com (opens in a new tab)
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Margerum Wine Company
A tasting room with a full kitchen.
Two tasting flights and wines by the glass, with boards, salads, sandwiches and pizza from its own kitchen.
OrderA flight and the Three Cheese & Two Meats board ($34). The Margherita pizza is $20.
TipMargerum has moved to 19 E Mason St. Open daily noon to 8. Walk-ins encouraged; groups of six or more should get in touch first.
Checked Nov 3, 2026 on margerumwines.com (opens in a new tab)
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Grassini Family Vineyards
Happy Canyon Bordeaux in El Paseo.
Estate-grown Bordeaux varietals from the family's Happy Canyon vineyard, poured a few steps off State Street.
OrderEstate Flight: five estate wines, from $30.
TipOpen daily, seatings noon to 5. Reservations encouraged, and online booking takes up to six. 21 and over to be served.
Checked Nov 3, 2026 on grassinifamilyvineyards.com (opens in a new tab)
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Paradise Springs Winery
Open until 9 every night.
Pours wines from its Santa Barbara winery alongside bottles from its sister winery in Virginia.
OrderA tasting flight. Prices aren't posted on its site.
TipFirst come, first served, noon to 9 daily. Parties of nine or more need an event agreement.
Checked Nov 3, 2026 on paradisespringsofsantabarbara.com (opens in a new tab)
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Melville Winery
Sta. Rita Hills Pinot and Chardonnay.
Estate Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Syrah from the family's organically grown Sta. Rita Hills vineyards.
OrderEstate Tasting Flight: five pours. $35.
TipHappy hour Monday to Wednesday, 4 to 7. Open noon to 7, until 8 Friday and Saturday. Seating inside and out.
Checked Nov 3, 2026 on melvillewinery.com (opens in a new tab)
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Potek Winery
Wine on a brewery patio.
Single-vineyard wines from the Municipal Winemakers team, with a patio shared with Third Window Brewing, which handles the food.
OrderA guided lounge tasting, or a flight on the patio with food from Third Window. Tasting fees are waived with a two-bottle purchase.
TipBook for the lounge; the patio is walk-in. The Muni pop-up bar runs Friday evenings and Saturdays. Open until 8, or 9 Thursday to Saturday.
Checked Nov 3, 2026 on municipalwinemakers.com (opens in a new tab)
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Au Bon Climat
Library wines back to the 1990s.
Jim Clendenen's Chardonnay and Pinot Noir label, pouring current releases and cellar-aged library wines.
OrderA current-release tasting. For a splurge, the Curated Library Tasting: up to six older vintages with a charcuterie plate, $120.
TipClosed Tuesdays; otherwise noon to 6, last tasting at 5:15. Book online, or walk in if there's room.
Checked Nov 3, 2026 on aubonclimat.com (opens in a new tab)
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Pali Wine Co.
Two flights, one of them natural wine.
Estate Pinot and Chardonnay on one flight and native-yeast natural wines from its Neighborhood label on the other.
OrderPali Flight, five pours, $40, or the Neighborhood Flight, $38. Frozé is $16.
TipPouring at 137 Anacapa while 205 Anacapa is remodeled. Walk-ins always welcome. Opens at 2 on weekdays, noon on weekends.
Checked Nov 3, 2026 on paliwineco.com (opens in a new tab)
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La Lieff Wines
Dogs welcome, bring your own lunch.
Rhône varietals on a patio with couches and rocking chairs. It doesn't sell food, so bring some from its Funk Zone neighbors.
OrderThe Rosé Flight.
TipClosed Tuesdays. Opens at 1; closes at 4 on Monday, 6 midweek and Sunday, and 8 on Friday and Saturday. Non-alcoholic drinks too.
Checked Nov 3, 2026 on lalieffwines.com (opens in a new tab)
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Riverbench
Chardonnay, Pinot and bubbles.
Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and sparkling wine from a Santa Maria Valley estate planted in 1973.
OrderA Taste of Riverbench, $25. Sip and Savor adds a glass and a cheese and charcuterie plate for $55.
TipReservations recommended, for parties of one to six. Larger groups go through private events.
Checked Nov 3, 2026 on riverbench.com (opens in a new tab)
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The Society: State & Mason
Caviar and bubbles in the Hotel Californian.
A tasting room inside the Hotel Californian pouring the Foley Family Wines labels, from Sonoma to the Sta. Rita Hills.
OrderSociety Signature Wine Flight, $40. The Riviera Reserve flight is $70.
TipOpens at 2 on weekdays and noon Friday to Sunday. Oysters and a meat and cheese board are on the menu.
Checked Nov 3, 2026 on hotelcalifornian.com (opens in a new tab)
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Carr Winery
A working winery in a Quonset hut.
An urban winery in a 1940s Quonset hut, with two patios and wines on tap.
OrderStandard Tasting, $30, from Vermentino to Syrah. The cheese plate is $20.
TipOpen daily, walk-ins welcome. 21 and over after 5 pm. Groups of six or more can book a library or barrel-room tasting.
Checked Nov 3, 2026 on carrwinery.com (opens in a new tab)
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Silver Wines
Nebbiolo in El Paseo.
Italian varietals like Nebbiolo and Sangiovese from older Los Alamos and Santa Ynez Valley vineyards.
OrderThe tasting, $25 with tax. The 2018 Nebbiolo North Block is the top seller.
TipThursday 3 to 6, Friday and Saturday 1 to 6, Sunday 1 to 5:30; Monday to Wednesday by appointment. 21 and over with ID.
Checked Nov 3, 2026 on silverwines.com (opens in a new tab)
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Sunstone Wine Lounge
The Santa Ynez winery, in Montecito.
Sunstone's first room outside its Santa Ynez estate, pouring estate and reserve wines, wine cocktails and non-alcoholic ones.
OrderThe Montecito tasting, $30.
TipOpen daily from 1. Walk-ins welcome; book only for holiday weekends or big groups. Happy hour every day.
Checked Nov 3, 2026 on sunstonewinery.com (opens in a new tab)
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