Wine tasting is one among Santa Barbara County’s most cherished actions, and for good purpose. With greater than 275 wineries within the area, and a plethora of world-class wine available, it’s no surprise why locals and vacationers alike make time to style wine, and accomplish that usually.
However what occurs while you plan to take pleasure in a day of wine tasting and your babysitter flakes, or you could have a brand new child however don’t need to quit your pre-baby life-style? Fortunately, there are many wineries and tasting rooms you may enterprise to with the kiddos, and many who even let your fur infants be a part of, too. So collect the child wipes and coloring books, as a result of we’re sharing among the space’s most family-friendly wineries.
Earlier than we bounce in, although, let’s pause for a second to handle these of you who could also be doubting the idea of wine tasting as a household exercise. If that’s you, we get it, however allow us to simply say this: It’s not simply concerning the wine. Certain, you need to be aware of how the wine seems to be, smells, and, in fact, the way it tastes, however wine tasting is a real sensory journey, so every little thing from the setting and ambiance to the conversations you could have and the folks you bond with can play equally vital roles.
“Visiting a vineyard might be a lot greater than tasting wine,” affirms Chad Melville, proprietor and winemaker of Melville Vineyard. “At Melville, we invite visitors of all ages to absorb the great thing about our vineyards, study farming, contact the soil, and create reminiscences.”
Echoing this sense of connection to the land is Santa Barbara resident Geneva Ives, who brings her little one alongside not just for comfort causes. “We wish our son to grasp the native agriculture and all of the work that goes into producing wine,” she explains. “If he chooses to take pleasure in wine when he will get older, we wish him to realize it shouldn’t be one thing mass-produced that you just purchase with out considering. Wine is the folks and the area.”
Certainly, wine tasting transcends the act of savoring what’s in your glass — it’s about fostering a connection to the land and group, and creating shared experiences each with the individuals who make the wine and with those that savor it collectively.
Says Santa Barbara mother of two, Ashley Hollister: “We like to convey our youngsters to family-friendly wineries as a result of it’s such a beautiful expertise to calm down with a glass of wine whereas the kids can frolic round, making associates with the opposite kids from neighboring tables, sharing cherished moments of play and connection concurrently their mother and father.”
Keith Saarloos, a third-generation member of Saarloos + Sons, believes “wine is a communal expertise.” He provides that, to his household, “Youngsters are a part of our group.”
This family-oriented strategy resonates with Andrew Murray, proprietor and winemaker of Andrew Murray Vineyards, who says, “We’re a household enterprise and we raised our personal kids in and round our vineyard.” Recognizing the significance of family-friendly environments, Murray emphasizes their dedication to catering to households touring collectively by making certain their vineyard is a welcoming place for each adults and youngsters alike.
It’s evident that many wineries in Santa Barbara supply extra than simply superb wines — they supply experiences for folks who, like myself, enjoyment of merging their ardour for wine with their kids’s firm. So, while you’re able to craft your personal wine-tasting reminiscences with your loved ones, no matter age, listed here are a couple of inviting locations to contemplate:
Saarloos + Sons
Credit score: Courtesy
With a reputation like Saarloos + Sons, you may think about that cultivating a spot the place households really feel welcomed is a precedence for the Saarloos clan. At their Los Olivos tasting room, you’ll discover a cupcake station for youths, in addition to some previous pedal tractors within the yard — excellent for burning off that sugar rush. Not surprisingly, canines are welcome, too. (saarloosandsons.com)
Melville
Credit score: Courtesy
Apart from Melville’s vary of acclaimed wines, the vineyard provides a choice of non-alcoholic drinks and snacks for visitors of all ages to take pleasure in — suppose lemonade, cheese and charcuterie, and even ice cream sandwiches from Rori’s Artisanal Creamery. Cease in for a tasting, play a sport of cornhole or life-size Join 4, then let the children dive into their winery-themed exercise books, full with a scavenger hunt. Mother and father of pups will even respect the bottle-shaped canine toys out there for buy. (melvillewinery.com)
Vega Winery & Farm
Credit score: Danielle Laudon
This Buellton vineyard, restaurant, and farm is a vacation spot the entire household (even the four-legged variety) will like. Right here, Mother and Dad can sip on Italian and French varietal wines and picnic whereas the children feed cattle and play garden video games. Be looking out for the opening of the Vega Normal Retailer, which is able to supply seize ‘n’ go picnic lunches, snacks, toys, video games, and extra, together with on-property tractor rides being supplied within the close to future. (vegavineyardandfarm.com)
Presqu’ile
Credit score: Courtesy
Although adults are the one ones who can respect the wines of this lovely Santa Maria Valley vineyard, the entire household will certainly relish its relaxed setting and views. The very best half? You don’t need to be 21 to dig into the Mezze Picnic, a tasty unfold of seasonal fare highlighting components grown in Presqu’ile’s personal natural backyard. (presquilewine.com)
Andrew Murray
Credit score: Courtesy
At this picturesque Foxen Canyon vineyard, you’ll discover a big garden superb for households who need to unfold out a bit, in addition to exercise packs designed particularly for the little ones. Inside these welcome kits are crayons, toys, and even a letter from the Murrays’ personal daughter. Furry associates are welcome, too. (andrewmurrayvineyards.com)
Storm Wines
Credit score: Courtesy
The indoor-outdoor setting of this relaxed family-owned and -operated tasting room units the proper stage for sipping chilled reds and refreshing sauvignon blancs. Fortunately, you don’t have to go away the household behind to take pleasure in all of it, as Storm Wines is each kid- and dog-friendly. In actual fact, it’s not unusual to see the Storms’ personal kids on-site. (stormwines.com)
Fess Parker Vineyard
Wine is a household affair at this multigenerational family-owned vineyard, so it’s solely pure that households can be welcomed. Whereas Fess Parker doesn’t permit anybody beneath 21 for the wine experiences, the expansive, picnic-friendly garden is a superb spot to let the children run round and play. Don’t fear, you may order wine to savor on the garden. (fessparker.com)
Future Good
Credit score: Courtesy
Youngsters of all ages are at all times welcome at this cheerful Los Olivos tasting room. Mother and father will respect Future Good’s easy-drinking wines and welcoming setting, whereas the kiddos will get a kick out of the whimsical house — full with disco ball on the porch — to not point out the glitter stickers, crayons, and customized rainbow and robotic pages they’ll get to paint throughout a go to. (futureperfectwine.com)
Potek
Credit score: Courtesy
At Potek, situated at The Mill, Mother and Dad can pattern a variety of pleasant wines in between bites of smashburger. And for the children? Fries and milkshakes, in fact. With a big, informal patio; common stay music; and a brewery on-site, too, The Mill has grow to be a vacation spot the entire household can take pleasure in. (municipalwinemakers.com/pages/potek)
In fact, that is only a small sampling of the family-friendly wineries Santa Barbara County has to supply. There are loads extra all through the area — akin to Kunin, Roblar, Zaca Mesa, and Longoria, to call a couple of — which are prepared and prepared that will help you create lasting reminiscences you and your kiddos can cherish endlessly.
