Days of Wine and Horses

For those with an itch for Danish kitsch, Solvang is down the road a hitch.  For those scabbed over by touristy Solvang, Santa Ynez is an upscale rural community with horse filled rolling hills,  and wineries around every corner.

The place to stay is the Santa Ynez Inn. http://www.santaynezinn.com

Our room

Balcony of our room, with view of the inn.

Rooms are not cheap.  Rack rate is over $500, but specials often bring the rate down to about $250.  The quality of accommodations coupled with generous perks make the room fair value.

Happy hour includes good local wines, cheese and other appetizers often including raw shrimp.  Fellow travelers become friends over a good Pinot.

Show your room key, and tastings are free at over 20 local wineries.  This is a savings of twenty to thirty dollars per couple at each winery.

Buttonwood pictured above is included. We also went to Gainey and Qupe.  The latter was our favorite, of the free tastings.

In the same delightful room used for happy hour, enjoy a yummy free breakfast, and late evening dessert.

Within a 2 block radius are a number of excellent restaurants.  No need to fear an extra glass of wine when you walk from your pick.

This visit we enjoyed Brother's Restaurant at the Red Barn.  Pictured above is my perfect prime rib, and Roslyn's tuna tartare.  Equally as good, but not pictured, was a stilton salad with poached pears, and a dish of brown butter ice cream.  On previous trips we have enjoyed the farm fresh California cuisine at S.Y. Kitchen,  with the same ownership as Toscana in Brentwood.  Another option we enjoyed on a previous trip was Trattoria Grappolo.

Santa Ynez is horse country.  Among the prominent thoroughbred horse farms is Tommy Town.

Tommy Town

Our weanling, Campaigner.

Our two favorite local wineries are on the other side of the 101 freeway in Lompoc.  Neither are part of the Santa Ynez free tasting program, but we taste free as wine club members.

Melville produces solid whites including their Chardonnay and Viognier.  Their reds, particularly Pinots and Syrahs, are world class.

Babcock, in the same Santa Rita appellation, produces lovely wines with exceptional specials for club members.

Traveling back to Los Angeles, I recommend two restaurants, one in Santa Barbara and the other in Ventura.  Good news for those with a bad memory, both have the same name http://www.brophybros.com/.  The original Brophy Brothers at the Santa Barbara Harbor, has a harbor view, slightly better food, but can be quite crowded.  Locals love it.

The Ventura harbor location also has great views, and has the advantage of a happy hour.  Fish and chips, peel and eat shrimp, garlic clams, and oysters Rockefeller, are among the offerings for about seven dollars.  Both are known for excellent seafood, and for those with a designated driver, an honest pour.  In Ventura,  Jameson Irish Whiskey is $3.50 during happy hour.

The Ventura Harbor is a nice place to walk after your meal.