Los Olivos, California is renowned for the wineries in the area, as well as charming art galleries in its scenic downtown area. Top attractions in the area include the famous Neverland Ranch, the Gallery Los Olivos, and some fabulous restaurants.
Los Olivos General Store
The Los Olivos General Store is historic, but it wasn’t always a general store. For a long time, this space was the historic Los Olivos Garage, a gas station and car repair shop, so when current owners Christina and Michael Larner bought the space, they also purchased and put in a historic gas pump out front as a callback to the building’s history. The Los Olivos General Store is a great place to find souvenirs, and it is filled with trinkets, pieces of art, local goods and handmade crafts like jewelry, leather goods, greeting cards, and more. Guests can find gourmet food products, candles, and wine-themed art, and the next-door Larner tasting room provides a great space for sipping a drink and enjoying life.
2900 Grand Avenue in Los Olivos, California 93441
Andrew Murray Vineyards
Andrew Murray Vineyards has not one, but two tasting rooms where guests can go to enjoy some of their delicious wines. One of their tasting rooms is located in downtown Los Olivos, and the other is located on the Foxen Canyon Wine Trail, but both are beautiful, recently remodeled, and great places to taste some of the product that Andrew Murray Vineyards has to offer. Visitors should definitely try some of the E11even Wines, which are Andrew Murray Vineyard’s signature estate-grown wines, and consider joining their Wine Club, which sends out amazing wine directly to your doorstep three times a year.
5249 Foxen Canyon Road, PO Box 718, Los Olivos CA 93441
Beckmen Vineyards
Since 1994, the Beckmen family has been pouring their time and passion into creating and producing wine. With hundreds of acres of vineyards currently in use, Beckmen takes full advantage of the limestone subsoil that is often found in the French Rhone region to produce grapes that have a smaller plant and lower yield than other vineyards, but a much more intense flavor which comes through in their product. Beckmen makes wines that they hope leave an impression, and visitors can get their own impression of their wine in their tasting room, located next to the winery just outside of Los Olivos.
Beckmen Vineyards, 2670 Ontiveros Road, Los Olivos, CA 93441
Coquelicot Estate Vineyards
Bernard Rosenson, owner of Coquelicot Estate Vineyards, has been immersed in the world of wine from a young age, when he lived in Paris as a young boy. He went on to revive Sky Room Restaurant in Long Beach, where he developed his skills as a restauranteur and winemaker until 2005, when he purchased a vineyard. That vineyard today is Coquelicot Estate, where Rosenson makes wine for his restaurants, tasting room, and for members. The Coquelicot tasting room is gorgeous and comfortable, with an outdoor garden seating area featuring trees and flowers amidst the red umbrellas and tables where guests sip wine and chat, laugh, and enjoy their time.
Coquelicot Estate Vineyards, 2884 Grand Avenue, Los Olivos, CA
Demetria Estate Winery
Demetria Estate Winery, named for the owners’ daughter and for the Greek goddess of the harvest, was one of the first vineyards in Santa Barbara county to experiment with biodynamic farming, using only natural pesticides and fertilizers to grow their grapes. With 46 acres of Rhone varietals of grape - five of which are white and five of which are red - Demetria Estate Winery makes complex but drinkable wines for the every day wine lover, grown at 1100-1450 feet above sea level. Demetria also sources some of the grapes for their Burgundy-style wine from other local vineyards.
6701 Foxen Canyon Road, Los Olivos, CA 93441
Koehler Winery
Koehler Winery sits on a beautiful 100 acre estate, with nearly seventy of those acres devoted to the vineyard. Its history stretches back decades, and one of its former owners was the producer who created Wonder Woman, The Love Boat, and other well known television shows. Today, Koehler Winery is owned by the Koehler family, who take great pride in their work and the creation of their estate grown wines, which include an amazing Grenache rated 94 points, which has a mild fruity flavor of strawberries and year after year is a standout variety of Koehler’s products. Their tasting room is part of the Foxen Canyon Wine Trail.
Epiphany Cellars
When Fess Parker started his famous winery of the same name, he created a legacy, one that his children followed. Fascinated by his father’s trade, Eli Parker started Epiphany Cellars, a venture meant to be an outlet for his creativity and passion for the winemaking industry. Eli Parker has since taken the reins of his father’s business, but Epiphany retains an impressive portfolio of Rhone style wine varietals, including many award winning Grenaches, Syrah’s, Marsanne’s, and more. Epiphany’s head winemaker, Blair Fox, brings his expertise and creativity to each of Epiphany’s wines, and works hard to incorporate the individual flair of the vineyard into the wine itself.
Stolpman Vineyards
The farming process at Stolpman Vineyards focuses on natural and dry farming as well as through sustainability in their employment practices. The wine itself is fermented natively, with as little manipulation and help from other agents as possible, and the result is a spectacularly delicious product. Stolpman Vineyards grows amazing Syrah and Roussanne grapes, which are used to create their excellent varietals including Grenaches, Syrahs, Petite Sirahs, and Angeli - a particularly great Syrah made from the winemakers’ favorite block of grapes. The tasting room at Stolpman is charmingly referred to as the “Little Red Cottage”.
2434 ALAMO PINTADO AVENUE, LOS OLIVOS CA 93441, Phone: 805-688-0400
Carhartt Vineyard
Carhartt Vineyard’s tasting room is located in a tiny wooden cabin, and though it is not big - in fact they advertise it as the world’s smallest - but it is cozy, with a fenced in wood patio with a rustic wood deck floor, and strung white lights hanging over the farmhouse style tables and barstools for a comfortable and home-like feel. Carhartt boasts over 20 different types of wine, many of which can be sampled at the tasting room. Enjoying a glass of wine at Carhartt doesn’t feel a lot like some of the other, fancy tasting rooms on this list, but it does feel a lot like drinking wine in a friend’s backyard, and it’s a great place for social gatherings and groups of friends.
2939 Grand Ave, Los Olivos, CA 93441, Phone: 805-693-5100
Clairmont Farms
Lavender has made a comeback. Used in everything from soaps and lotions to baked goods and cocktails, this beautiful and fragrant herb is as versatile as it is trendy. At Clairmont Lavender Farm in Santa Barbara, visitors can check out the beautiful purple fields in bloom, learn about the healing powers of lavender and the specific benefits of the original Grosso strain of lavender that Clairmont grows. The entirely organic farm cuts lavender by hand, sells bundles to customers, and also sun dries and extracts oils from the plant which is then used in their lavender products. Visitors can purchase lavender essential oils, hand and body lotions, scented sachets, lavender culinary products, honey, and even pet products from Clairmont’s shop.
Clairmont Farms, 2480 Roblar Avenue Los Olivos California, 93441, Phone: 805-688-7505
SAARLOOS + sons
There are a lot of wineries and companies out there that claim to be family run and family-oriented, but SAARLOOS + sons really puts that to the test. This company is truly a family that just so happens to enjoy making wine, rather than a winery that happens to be family. Their love for the grapes they grow and the product they make is truly evident, and the truth is that their wine was never actually meant to be sold to the public. SAARLOOS and Sons prides itself on being a small winery with a lot of passion for their products, and what began as just a little bit of wine to drink at home and give to family and friends has grown into an amazing business venture, complete with a great tasting room where everyone can go to be treated like part of the family.
Barbieri Wines
Paolo Barbieri, a Master Sommelier, started Barbieri Wine Company with the intention of creating great wines from the best grapes available, with minimal intervention and technique. Barbieri’s wines don’t have much oak influence, and the winery produces some amazing Syrah, which Barbieri believes has everything a great wine should offer. Barbieri Wines is also home to Kempe Wines, a label formed by Paolo Barbieri’s winemaking parnet, Erin Kempe. The Kempe label focuses on varietels from Bordeaux, as well as a great rose and some white blends. All of the great wines from the Barbieri Wine Company can be tried in the tasting room, which is open seven days a week during the summer and fall, and is closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays during the winter and spring.
Barbieri Wines , 2369 Alamo Pintado Avenue, Los Olivos, CA 93441, Phone: 805-688-8882
Tercero Wines
The beautiful tasting room at Tercero Wines can only be considered small when compared to some of the overly massive tasting rooms of other wineries in the Santa Ynez Valley. With a unique bar crafted from large wooden dowel rods, stainless steel features, and scientific flasks adorning the shelves to reflect the very scientific and alchemical nature of winemaking, the tasting room is comfortable and beautiful, and offers at least five varieties of wine at any given time. Visitors can sample some of Tercero Wines’ impressive menu of products in the tasting room on Thursdays through Mondays, from noon until around five, though Tercero Wines is happy to open by appointment as well.
2445 Alamo Pintado Avenue, Suite 104 (entrance on San Marcos), Los Olivos, CA 93441, Phone: 805-245-9584
Labyrinth at St. Mark's-in-the-Valley Episcopal Church
Since the year 1926, Episcopalians have been gathering in a congregation that has since grown to find its home at Labyrinth at St. Mark's-in-the-Valley Episcopal Church, which was built in the late 1970s. The actual building where St. Mark’s is located was built to emulate a modern version of the style of a church in England called All Saints Church, with an Arts and Crafts architectural style. St. Mark’s hosts Sunday services throughout the year, and there is also a preschool associated witht he church. St. Mark’s also hosts many events throughout the year, like the Fall Faire, holiday Gingerbread Wonderland, music festivals and concert series, and other great community events.
2901 Nojoqui Avenue at Alamo Pintado Avenue, Post Office Box 39, Los Olivos, California 93441, Phone: 805-688-4454
Fess Parker Winery and Vineyard
When Fess Parker first bought land in the late 1980s, he envisioned the 714 acre plot to be a cattle ranch, with maybe a few vineyards. Fast forward a few decades and today it is Fess Parker Winery and Vineyard, a massive operation run by Fess’ children, Eli and Ashley, who work their best to build on to their father’s legacy. Fess Parker Winery and Vineyard is one of the best known and respected vineyards and wineries in the region. Known and acclaimed for the Rhône grape varietals they grow in their vineyards, Fess Parker Winery and Vineyard produces some amazing wines. Visitors to the winery can take a tour of the facilities and experience a guided tasting of their wines.
6200 Foxen Canyon Rd, Los Olivos, CA 93441, Phone: 805-688-1545
Gallery Los Olivos
At any given time, there are more than 40 local and regional artists whose works are showcased at Gallery Los Olivos, which is the largest of several galleries in downtown Los Olivos. Gallery Los Olivos is worth a visit for art collectors, souvenir-hunters, and anyone who enjoys art or shopping. There’s always something new and exciting at the Gallery, and each month one or two artists are specially featured. So many of the great works available there - ranging from paintings in a variety of media, photography, jewelry, sculptures, drawings, and more - make amazing gifts for those back home or as a memento of your trip.
2920 Grand Avenue/P.O. Box 911, Los Olivos, CA 93441, Phone: 805-688-7517
Los Olivos Wine Merchant & Cafe
With so many amazing wineries in Los Olivos and the Santa Ynez Valley, it can be hard to compare them all when visiting each winery individually. Everyone has something to offer, and that’s where Los Olivos Wine Merchant & Cafe comes in. This shop has over five hundred varieties of wine available on their shelves, and most of the bottles customers will find are local to the town or region. The knowledgeable staff is educated about their product and committed to helping guests find exactly what they’re looking for. Los Olivos Wine Merchant and Cafe is also a great place to enjoy a meal, and their cafe boasts a lot of menu items grown from their own certified-organic farm, including produce items, grass-fed beef, and free-range chicken.
2879 Grand Avenue, P.O. Box 205, Los Olivos, CA 93441, Phone: 888-WIN-ES4U
