Iconic and outstanding houses in Santa Ynez Valley.
Pinot noir and syrah thrive in Santa Ynez's cool pockets, where winemakers chase restrained fruit and spice over ripeness—a deliberate counter to the valley's warmer southern floors.
Save these houses, build your route through Santa Ynez Valley, and navigate when you're there.
Region DNA
The character of Santa Ynez Valley
Based on 536 wines with structural data
Style profile
Broad range with a recognisable character
FEM score distribution
Based on 57 rated wineries in this region
Flavor territory
Most frequent primary flavor groups
Style breakdown
Wine style frequency · Bar length = relative count
Top grape varieties
Varieties ranked by number of wines · Number = wine count
Most representative winery
The estate whose wines are closest to the regional average — the truest expression of Santa Ynez Valley
Frequency
VisitSanta Ynez Valley wineries worth the stop
The 12 best critic-rated producers in Santa Ynez Valley with a cellar-door address, ranked by their highest critic score. Check opening hours and book tastings ahead.
- 01Stolpman Vineyards
2434 Alamo Pintado Ave, Los Olivos, CA 93441
Critics' peak 95 · Decanter · Wine Advocate · Wine Enthusiast
- 02Terre et Sang
2982 Grand Avenue, Los Olivos, CA 93441, United States
Critics' peak 95 · Wine Advocate · Vinous · Vivino
- 03Kimsey Vineyard
90 EASY ST, BUELLTON, CA, 93427
Critics' peak 94 · Wine Advocate · Wine Enthusiast · Vinous
- 04Roark Wine Company
84 Industrial Way c, 93427, Buellton, United States
Critics' peak 94 · Decanter · Falstaff · Wine Advocate
- 05Brave & Maiden
649 N Refugio Rd, Santa Ynez, CA 93460
Critics' peak 94 · Decanter · Wine Advocate · Wine Spectator
- 06Outward
Santa Ynez Valley, Santa Barbara County, California, United States
Critics' peak 94 · Decanter · Wine Advocate · Wine Enthusiast
- 07Frequency
PO Box 454, 93460, Santa Ynez, United States
Critics' peak 94 · Decanter · Wine Advocate · Wine Spectator
- 08Beckmen
2670 Ontiveros Rd, Los Olivos, CA 93441
Critics' peak 93 · Decanter · Wine Advocate · Wine Spectator
- 09
- 10Boscoe
CA 93460 ; Postal codes: 93460 and 93460 ; Latitude. 34.6129° or 34° 36′ 46″ north ; Longitude. -120.0817° or 120° 4′ 54″ west ; Population. 4,510., Missing: Boscoe Coordinates, People also search for, Solvang CA climate, La solvang, Old German town in California, Atterdag College, Solvang owner, United States
Critics' peak 93 · Wine Enthusiast · Vivino
- 11Andrew Murray Vineyards
2901 Grand Ave, Los Olivos, CA 93441
Critics' peak 93 · Wine Advocate · Wine Spectator · Wine Enthusiast
- 12Refugio Ranch
2990 Grand Ave, Los Olivos, CA 93441
Critics' peak 93 · Decanter · Wine Advocate · Wine Spectator
Santa Ynez Valley is a wine region in United States, home to 103 producers tracked on Femente, 23 of them rated 90+ on the critic index. Its vineyards are led by Shiraz/Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Grenache, producing Californian Syrah and Californian Sauvignon Blanc wines with notes of Red fruit, Black fruit, and Oak. It takes in Los Olivos and Ballard Canyon.
Santa Ynez Valley — good to know
- What grape varieties are grown in Santa Ynez Valley?
- The most planted varieties in Santa Ynez Valley are Shiraz/Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon, Grenache, and Merlot, based on the wines Femente tracks across the region.
- What wines is Santa Ynez Valley known for?
- Santa Ynez Valley is known for Californian Syrah, Californian Sauvignon Blanc, and Californian Red Blend wines and flavors of Red fruit, Black fruit, and Oak.
- How many wineries are in Santa Ynez Valley?
- Femente tracks 103 producers in Santa Ynez Valley, of which 23 are rated 90+ on the critic index.
- Where is Santa Ynez Valley?
- Santa Ynez Valley is a wine region in United States, taking in Los Olivos and Ballard Canyon.
Santa Ynez Valley
Pinot noir and syrah thrive in Santa Ynez's cool pockets, where winemakers chase restrained fruit and spice over ripeness—a deliberate counter to the valley's warmer southern floors.
Producers in Santa Ynez Valley
- Quinta Refugio — undiscovered
- Pegasus Estate Winery — distinction
- Alebru Vino — undiscovered
- Kings Carey — distinction
- Oak Savanna Cellars — honest
- Hudson Bellamy — undiscovered
- Trattoria Grappolo — undiscovered
- Rasi — distinction
- Los Olivos Vintners — undiscovered
- Topa Mountain Winery — distinction
- Arrowsmith — honest
- Gaviota Peak — undiscovered
- Cebada — distinction
- San Sé — undiscovered
- Frequency — distinction
- No 15 — undiscovered
- Archium — distinction
- Millésimé Cellars — distinction
- Roark Wine Company — distinction
- Buttonwood — distinction
- Refugio Ranch — distinction
- Royal Oaks — distinction
- Brander — distinction
- Petros — undiscovered
- Beckmen — distinction
- Brave & Maiden — distinction
- Jorian Hill — distinction
- Firestone — distinction
- Esquivel — undiscovered
- Brick Barn — distinction
- Folded Hills — distinction
- Tierra y Vino — honest
- Vincent Vineyards — distinction
- Boscoe — distinction
- E11even — distinction
- Loubud — distinction
- Strider — undiscovered
- Cult Vines — undiscovered
- Lama Dog — undiscovered
- Valley To The Sea Winery — undiscovered
- Dafoe Wines — undiscovered
- Black Bench — honest
- Long Creek Wines — undiscovered
- Santa Barbara Winery — distinction
- Sapien. — honest
- Fallen Grape Wine Co. — undiscovered
- Baehner Fournier Vineyards — distinction
- Summer Somewhere — honest
- Doctor's Orders — distinction
- Ferguson Crest — distinction
- Wildflower Winery — undiscovered
- Roblar Winery — distinction
- Ibarra — honest
- Sevtap — honest
- Outward — distinction
- Larner — distinction
- Wandering Dog — undiscovered
- Penville — honest
- Kimsey Vineyard — critic
- Terre et Sang — critic
- Stars & Dust — undiscovered
- Calivence — undiscovered
- Chris Caruso Wines — undiscovered
- Andrew Murray Vineyards — distinction
- Stolpman Vineyards — critic
- Wathen — undiscovered
- St. Avalo — honest
- Dovecote — distinction
- Table Eleven — distinction
- Toussaint — undiscovered
- Orgullo Wine — undiscovered
- Gleason Family Vineyard — undiscovered
Restaurants in Santa Ynez Valley
Restaurants in Santa Ynez Valley