Santa Ynez Valley Wine Country — On the Heels of Sideways
DELSEY PARIS and THE UNSEASONAL have teamed
up to take a fresh look at travel destinations that go beyond expectations.
The 2004 comedy-drama Sideways directed by Alexander Payne was nominated for Best Picture, Best Director, and won an Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay. Following the two protagonists, played by Paul Giamatti and Thomas Haden Church, on their road trip through the fabulous Santa Ynez Valley wine country is a rare pleasure. The film is not only moving and thoughtful but also surprisingly funny and can be considered one of the best human comedies. Like wines need to sit and breathe to expand to their full potential, humans also long for the space and time to make way for their beautiful wholeness putting their flaws and fears behind and embracing all the complex facets of their personalities.
With more than 275 wineries, Santa Ynez Valley has the highest concentration of wineries in Santa Barbara yet remains the less-known wine region in comparison to world-famous Napa Valley or Sonoma County, which are located further north in California. The movie Sideways offers a fantastic road map for exploring Santa Ynez Valley wine country with its fine restaurants, charming towns, spectacular outdoors, and hidden treasures.
Full sunshine throughout the year and cool nights with coastal fogs in tow are the reasons for the region’s world-class grapes. The diverse climate of the area along the course of the Santa Ynez River allows for a wide diversity of wines from Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Syrah to many more like Cabernet Sauvignon and even Riesling. The soil ranges from limestone, clay, and sand at the base of the valley, producing wines that are typically well-balanced with a good level of acidity. Finding your favorite wine is a wistful task best done with an experienced guide on a wine tasting tour — if you like in a limousine, jeep, van, private sedan, or even on a bike. Los Olivos, Santa Ynez, Solvang, and Buellton are among the stops on the Santa Ynez Valley tour, and the reason why this area is magic for all the senses.
Solvang, located about 30 minutes north of Santa
Barbara, is the Danish Capitol of America and one of the highlights in the area. The small town is full of bakeries, windmills, and Danish traditions which were once brought by a handful of Danish immigrants. The little town’s architecture, with its cute timber-framed houses, draws countless tourists every year. The Landsby boutique hotel blends the relaxed Scandinavian hygge vibe with a clean contemporary design and envelops the visitor with an overall coziness and comfortability that’ll make you want to stay forever at this perfect escape.
The Los Olivos Rotary Club hosts an annual Jazz & Olive Festival where music, wine, and fine food blend seamlessly. The main street of Los Olivos is lined with marvelous antique shops offering hand-crafted jewelry, wine, antiques, collectibles, vintage pottery, and charming cottage furniture. The local olive oils of the area are one of a kind in scent, texture, and flavor. Immerse yourself in a full-body experience. After nurturing the senses, Los
Olivos is also a wonderful starting point for exploring the outdoors. Our favorite hike is the 4-mile Lover’s Loop. On the way, you’ll also pass by the gates to the late Michael Jackson’s Neverland Ranch. Lover’s Loop climbs past lush meadows and out of the deep oak forest until it culminates in a breathtaking view of the Santa Ynez Valley.
In Buellton, another special experience awaits the traveler. At Ostrichland, an ostrich and emu ranch, families can get up close and even feed these rare, tall birds. After the last corn is fed, it’s time to cast out to the best restaurants in the region. Our two favorite places are to be found in Santa Ynez. The Trattoria Grappolo was founded in 1997 and serves authentic Italian meals in a vibrant southern Italian atmosphere full of life, laughter, garlic, good wine, and excellent espresso.
The Brothers Restaurant At The Red Barn boasts an old west atmosphere paired with outstanding service and innovative cuisine. Traditional mesquite wood-grilled steaks and chops are getting reimagined by the brothers Jeff and Matt Nichols who elevated the place and turned it into a sleek but comfortably rustic eatery with an open kitchen and updated bar where we love to spend the night before strolling to our quarters under a wide blanket of stars.
Images: Ger Ger Words: Tina Ger
The Unseasonal is a purpose-driven special projects magazine and alternative take on the world – a magazine about passion, travel, beauty, the change in seasons, the unusual, and the human condition. It features timeless pictorials, thoughtful stories, and unique collaborations. The Unseasonal embodies the feeling of a getaway, of slowing down, of exotic places, optimism, breathtaking dreams, unique architecture, and a lightness of being, traced with elements
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