Santa Ynez Valley wine tour: Private, 6 hours, customized stops

Build your own route through Santa Ynez Valley wineries

A private, six-hour wine tour of Santa Ynez Valley where you and your guide design the itinerary together, choosing from the valley's wineries and up to 30 tasting rooms. The guide handles transportation and can add stops in Solvang, at a local olive farm, or at ostrich land if you want them. Pickup is included. Wine tastings are optional and paid separately at each stop.

Step-by-step itinerary

Wine tastings and valley tour

• Visit selected wineries
• Enjoy wine tastings
• Stop at small farmstand and restaurant
• Optional visit to 29 wine tasting rooms

The experience

Santa Ynez Valley sits in the heart of California wine country, and this tour puts the route in your hands. You start by telling your guide which wineries and tasting rooms appeal to you (there are up to 30 to choose from, all within the valley), and the guide handles the driving while you move through the day at your own pace. The six-hour window gives you real time at each stop instead of a rushed checklist.

Transportation, bottled water and snacks are included. Your guide is there to navigate, answer questions and help you find the spots that match what you're looking for, whether that's a particular wine style, a quieter room, or a scenic property. If you want to venture beyond the wineries, you can add a stop in the nearby town of Solvang, taste from a local olive tree farm, or visit ostrich land: all optional and arranged on the day itself. Wine tastings at each location are paid directly to the venue.

The tour works for groups of any size traveling together, and children from age one are welcome. Public transportation options are available nearby if you prefer not to use the included pickup, though the private vehicle means you can relax between stops instead of navigating yourself.

What’s included

• Private transportation throughout the valley.
• a live English-speaking guide.
• bottled water and snacks.
• hotel or location pickup.
• a photographer to capture the day.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 10:00 and 10:30

Book up to1d before

AgesAdult (21 to 64 years) · Senior (65 and older) · Youth (11 to 17 years) · Child (4 to 10 years) · Infant (under 4): free

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 34 pickup points.

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 levelPublic transport nearbyNot for heart conditions

Operated by Tours of Santa Barbara

Is this one for you?You design the stops and the pace, so this tour suits anyone who wants to explore at their own speed rather than follow a fixed schedule. The private vehicle and guide mean you're not waiting for a group or moving on before you're ready to leave a winery.

Traveler reviews

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (11 to 17 years); Child (4 to 10 years); Infant (under 4): free.

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

You and your guide design the itinerary together. You can select specific wineries and tasting rooms from the valley's options, or ask the guide to recommend several of the finest and let them choose the route. Either way, the stops are yours to decide.

What's included in the six hours, and what costs extra?

The tour includes the guide, private transportation, bottled water and snacks. Wine tastings at each winery or tasting room are paid separately at the venue. Lunch is available at farmstands and restaurants along the route, also paid separately.

Can we add Solvang or the olive farm to the itinerary?

Yes. Solvang, the local olive tree farm and ostrich land are optional stops you can request when you book or on the day itself, depending on how much time you want to spend at the wineries.

Is the pickup from a hotel, and does it work for groups?

Pickup is included and can be arranged from your hotel or another location. The tour accommodates groups traveling together, and children from age one are welcome.

Do I need to know about wine to enjoy this tour?

No. The guide can recommend tasting rooms suited to your experience level and interests, whether you're exploring wine for the first time or looking for specific varietals and producers.