Los Olivos

Los Olivos is a small community in the Santa Ynez Valley in Santa Barbara County in Southern California. The area is home to many highly-rated wineries, and with many well-maintained, low-traffic rural roads, also has some of the best bicycling routes in the region. The town itself is quaint, pleasant, and compact, and makes for good walking, people-watching, shopping, and coffee- and wine-drinking. It is a common weekend destination for people throughout southern and central California. Many people famous in the entertainment industry have homes or ranches nearby.

Get around

By car

Most visitors arrive by car, but many also come by bicycle from adjacent towns.

See

• 1 Neverland Ranch, 5225 Figueroa Mountain Rd (5 miles north of Los Olivos). The 3,000 acre former home of Michael Jackson is not open to visitors, but is still a pilgrimage site for some former fans. Visitors can park across the street and take a picture at the nondescript brown gate - the guardhouse can be seen hidden back in the sycamores. While Jackson was alive the ranch hosted sick children and featured an amusement park. Starting in May 2015 the property was for sale with a price tag of $100 million, but it eventually sold in 2020 for less than a quarter of that total. (updated Apr 2021)

Drink

Wineries

• 1 Andrew Murray Vineyards, 2901 Grand Ave (Downtown), ☏ +1 805-686-9604. In terms of Santa Barbara wine tasting, Andrew Murray is recognized as one of the better wineries in Santa Ynez for Syrah and other Rhone style wines. Andrew Murray sold his vineyards in the earl 2010s. (updated Nov 2015)
• 2 Beckmen Vineyards, 2670 Ontiveros Rd, ☏ +1 805-688-8664. 11AM-5PM. They generally pour good wines. Beckmen is among the smaller Santa Barbara wineries. Their setting is pleasant, though they don't offer much view compared with other Santa Barbara wine tasting options. (updated Nov 2015)
• 3 Brander Vineyard, 2401 N Refugio Rd, ☏ +1 805-688-2455. May 1 - Oct 31: 11AM-5PM, Nov 1 - Apr 30: 11AM-4PM. One of the smaller Santa Barbara wine tasting rooms, among Santa Barbara wineries this is worth a stop if you're in Los Olivos. (updated Nov 2015)
• 4 Daniel Gehrs Wines, 2939 Grand Ave, ☏ +1 805-693-9686. 11AM-6PM daily. One of the numerous tasting rooms along the main street in Los Olivos. A different kind of tasting experience than other Santa Barbara wineries, in that you can walk from one to the next. They've open later than most. They have a nice mix of wines. (updated Nov 2015)
• 5 Fess Parker Winery & Vineyard, 6200 Foxen Canyon Rd, toll-free: +1 800-841-1104. 10AM-5PM daily. Some of the best wine among Santa Barbara wineries. They have a very large lawn which is well-suited for a picnic. They welcome groups and have a separate tasting counter for private events. They pour more whites than red, which may disappoint some. (updated Nov 2015)
• 6 Firestone Vineyard, 5017 Zaca Station Rd, ☏ +1 805-688-3940. 10AM-5PM daily. Perhaps the most common stop in a day of Santa Barbara wine tasting. They serve consistently good wines. Firestone opened in 1972 and has become one of the leading Santa Barbara wineries. Their tour is perhaps the best in the region. Firestone is set on a hill with great views, making it a perfect picnic spot. Firestone has three distinct picnic grounds. The one on the east side of the parking lot and slightly downhill has the best view. (updated Nov 2015)
• 7 Koehler Winery, 5360 Foxen Canyon Rd, ☏ +1 805-686-8484. 10AM-4PM daily. They have a nice picnic area. They are located on a small hill with decent view. They are among the least crowded Santa Barbara wineries. (updated Nov 2015)
• Los Olivos Vintners, 2923 Grand Ave, ☏ +1 805-688-9665. 11AM-6PM daily. Another of the tasting rooms in Los Olivos, as an alternative to the Santa Barbara wineries to which you have to drive. They also have a small picnic area. 
• 8 Qupe, 2963 Grand Ave, ☏ +1 805 686-4200. 11AM-5PM daily. Qupe is based at the Bien Nacido Vineyard in Santa Maria, but like many Santa Barbara wineries, it has its tasting room in Los Olivos. (updated Nov 2015)
• 9 Zaca Mesa Winery, 6905 Foxen Canyon Rd, ☏ +1 805 688-9339. 10AM-4PM. Zaca Mesa is one of the northern-most Santa Barbara wineries. They have rather pretty grounds, though only a limited view. Tastings are free for groups under 10. Zaca Mesa's grapes are grown on the winery property in Foxen Canyon. (updated Nov 2015)

Go next

• Santa Ynez - Five miles southeast of Los Olivos, Santa Ynez sits at the heart of the rural Santa Ynez valley, an area that attracts travelers to its many wineries. The valley was the setting for the 2004 film Sideways, and fans of the film are known to make pilgrimages to the inns and restaurants from the movie.
• Buellton - Located 9 miles to the southwest, Buellton is home to several Santa Ynez Valley wineries. Visitors will also find the ostrich & emu farm interesting, with the opportunity to get up close and personal with the giant birds.

Routes through Los Olivos

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