Private Santa Ynez Wine Tour: Three Wineries with Lunch

Three wineries, one afternoon, no driving yourself

A private wine tour of Santa Ynez Valley departing from your Santa Barbara hotel, with tastings at three full production wineries, lunch among the vineyards, and a knowledgeable guide who shares local history and wine production secrets. The tour runs seven hours and includes door-to-door shuttle service, all tasting fees, snacks, and a locally sourced meal with cold beverages.

Step-by-step itinerary

Santa Ynez Wine Tour and Tastings

• Meet guide at Santa Barbara hotel
• Board luxury passenger van
• Travel to Santa Ynez Valley
• Visit first winery and taste wines
• Visit second winery and taste wines
• Enjoy lunch at vineyard
• Visit third winery and taste wines
• Return to hotel

The experience

Your guide picks you up at your central Santa Barbara hotel in a comfortable air-conditioned van and heads into the Santa Ynez Valley, leaving the city behind for vineyard-filled countryside. Along the way, you'll hear about the region's history and how the local wineries operate. Pickups are also available from Santa Ynez Valley and Solvang if that works better for your group.

You'll spend about an hour at each of three full production wineries. The guide can take you to local favorites like Andrew Murray Vineyards, Firestone Vineyard, Sunstone Winery, Gainey Winery, or others depending on what appeals to your group. Lunch happens at one of the stops, eaten amidst the vineyards themselves, with roughly an hour to sit and eat. Cold beverages come with the meal.

Tasting fees at all three wineries are covered, along with snacks throughout the day. You'll get a reusable water bottle that you can refill at each stop. The 15% gratuity for your guide is built into the price, so there's no math at the end of the day.

What’s included

• Door-to-door shuttle service from your Santa Barbara hotel (or from Solvang or Santa Ynez Valley).
• tasting fees at three wineries.
• lunch with cold beverages eaten among the vineyards.
• snacks throughout the day.
• a reusable water bottle you can refill at each stop.
• a knowledgeable guide who shares local history and wine production insights.
• 15% automatic gratuity for your guide.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 10:00

Book up to1d before

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Easy physical levelStroller friendlyPets welcomePublic transport nearby

Operated by Santa Barbara Wine Country Tours

Is this one for you?This is a private tour, so your group travels alone with your guide and can set the pace and winery selections together. Choose it if you want to taste without driving yourself and prefer a guide who knows the valley's history and can steer you toward the wineries that match your taste.

Traveler reviews

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Top questions

Can I choose which wineries we visit, or does the guide pick them?

Your guide selects from a roster of partner wineries (Andrew Murray Vineyards, Firestone Vineyard, Sunstone Winery, Gainey Winery, Beckmen Vineyard, Brander Vineyard, and others) based on what suits your group. If you want something specific, the office can build a custom profile for your tour before you go.

How much time do we spend tasting at each winery?

You'll spend about an hour at each of the three wineries, which gives you time to taste multiple wines and ask questions without feeling rushed.

Is lunch included, and where do we eat?

Yes, lunch is included and you'll eat it at one of the winery stops, surrounded by the vineyards. The meal is locally sourced, and cold beverages come with it.

What if I'm staying in Solvang or the Santa Ynez Valley instead of Santa Barbara?

Pickups are available from Solvang and from hotels in the Santa Ynez Valley as well as from central Santa Barbara, so you can arrange the most convenient starting point for your group.

Does the price include the wine tastings?

Yes, tasting fees at all three wineries are included in the tour price. Snacks and a reusable water bottle are also included, along with the guide and transportation.