Santa Barbara Wine Tasting Events Calendar Special Winemaker Dinners California Gayot

December 5-6
The Santa Maria Valley wine country celebrates the holiday season with their Wine Christmas Passport, featuring 11 local wineries during the weekend of December 5-6. In addition to wine tasting, each winery will feature Christmas décor, music and winning cookie-and-wine-pairing recipes. Tasting rooms will open at 11 a.m. both days. Tickets are available in advance for $30 and include a Riedel glass, a passport program and tasting at all participating wineries---check www.santamariavalleywinecountry.com for a complete list. Santa Maria Valley, P.O. Box 5351, Santa Maria, CA 93456, 866-480-5194.

December 6
Ring in the holidays by stepping back in time with A Taste of the Season at Heritage Square in Oxnard. The progressive dining experience will takes you into the area's historic houses, decorated for the season, where you'll enjoy samplers of Victorian-inspired fare from La Dolce Vita Restaurant and wines from Rancho Ventavo Cellars. The event takes place December 6 from 5 p.m.-8 p.m. Tickets are $49 per person. Heritage Square Oxnard, 715 S. A St., Oxnard, CA 93030, 805-486-6878.

Monday through Thursday
After work, unwind in the Four Seasons Resort, The Biltmore Santa Barbara's luxe Ty Lounge, and enjoy a revolving selection of red, white and sparkling wines for just $5. Affordably priced samplers of Point Reyes blue, Monterey dry Jack and Humboldt Fog goat cheeses will be available as well. Monday through Thursday, 5 p.m.-7 p.m. Four Seasons Resort, The Biltmore Santa Barbara, 1260 Channel Dr., Montecito, CA 93108, 805-969-2261.

Tuesdays
Expanding upon a day-of-the-week theme, Los Olivos Café & Wine Merchant now offers an educational series of wine-tasting classes---"Understanding Your Palate: Tuesdays"---in addition to its popular "Wine Teaser Wednesdays." No reservations are required; $15 per person includes all wine tasting and hors d'oeuvres. Los Olivos Wine Merchant & Café, 2879 Grand Ave., Los Olivos, CA 93463, 805-688-7265.

Wednesday
Every Wednesday at Root 246, guests can meet the winemakers and vintners behind some of the region's best and newest wines, and pair their products with fresh, simple dishes from chef Bradley Ogden. Featured wineries change every week. A recent menu, designed for Niner Wines, included an amuse of cocoa-dusted foie gras mousse, followed by a salad with sweet potato crisp, smoked brook trout and an apple-persimmon salad. The entrée featured Rosen Farms rack of lamb, ratatouille, merguez sausage and an olive tapenade. Dessert? A six-layer devil food chocolate cake with malt ice cream sundae. The cost is $45 per person. Root 246, Hotel Corque, 420 Alisal Rd., Solvang, CA 93463, 805-686-8681.

Fridays
East Beach Wine Co. hosts an urban wine tasting and cheese pairing every Friday evening from 4 p.m.-7 p.m. The wines poured are either from a specific winery or have a unique wine theme. Winemakers or qualified representatives are on hand each evening to help foster education. Local gourmet shop, C'est Cheese, supplies the fromage that pairs with the varietals being offered. $8-$10 admission fee. For more information, visit www.eastbeachwine.com. East Beach Wine Co., 201 S. Milpas St., Santa Barbara, CA 93103, 805-899-1537.

Fridays
Epicurean Picnic, located in the heart of Solvang's Danish village, is a new gourmet cheese shop. Every Friday night, the fromagerie hosts a cheese and wine pairing event, with six different cheeses and a glass of local wine. The "happy hour" styled tasting runs from 5 p.m.-7 p.m. Epicurean Picnic, 1582 Mission Dr., Solvang, CA 93463, 805-693-9212.

Saturdays & Sundays
Spend the day visiting tasting rooms and meeting local winemakers. Sounds like Napa or the Santa Ynez Valley, but now Ventura County has its own wine trail. Though most of the grapes are grown elsewhere, the region is home to a number of quality wineries, ranging from small-batch boutique operations to the kosher goliath Herzog Winery. The tour runs every weekend from 11 a.m.-4 p.m., shuttling passengers to four wineries and a farmers' market. Itineraries change depending on the day. The cost is $75 per person. Ventura Visitors Center, Ventura Visitors Center, 101 S. California St., Ventura, CA 93001, 805-648-2075.

Santa Barbara Wine Tastings & Events