Anyone have anything new re: Santa Barbara?

[Zinner]

Hi again Elizabeth,

You don't have to go all the way to Lompoc to visit Babcock and Melville. They are in between Buellton and Lompoc on Hwy 246. If you are travelling 246 from Buellton, they are on the right side of the road and the drive forks left for Babcock and right for Melville.

Is your brother in Santa Barbara? If so, to me it looks like you may take State 154 up toward Los Olivos(or Hwy. 101 toward Buellton) to get to the central Santa Barbara wine country. Hwy. 246 runs east/west across these roads and if you go to Buttonwood, it's off 246 near Solvang on Alamo Pintado Road.

There's a bunch of tasting rooms in Los Olivos, just north of Solvang. If you can grab a copy of a magazine-format guide called Vintages(Wine Tasting and Touring on California's Central Coast), I think that will help you a lot. Think it's free at some of the wineries and has lists and simple maps. It's published by The Tribune(Central Coast newspaper) and their phone is 805-781-7844, if you want to check where it might be given out.

From my copy, I see that Au Bon Climat has wine tasting at 2905 Grand Avenue in Los Olivos 11-6 daily. In fact they list a bunch of wineries with tastings on Grand. I'd suggest you also go by 2531 Grand for Qupe(Bob Lindquist was making terrific Syrah and Viognier before the term Rhone Ranger came along and works out of the same facility as Au Bon Climat) Jaffurs, Lane Tanner, Flying Goat, Vandale, Whitcraft, Fiddlehead and Clos Pepe(also 11-6). Should be lots of interesting stuff there. And there's even more on Grand, including Daniel Gehrs(we used to get a lovely Chenin Blanc from him)at 2939 Grand(Heather Cottage). Geez maybe you better eat something in Los Olivos too.

Another winery in Los Olivos that I'd visit would be Beckmen Vineyards at 2670 Ontiveros Road(website at beckmenvineyards.com). They have been developing a vineyard on Purisma Mountain and when I was at the Family Winemaker's trade tasting in San Francisco, there seemed to be a nice buzz about the Purisma fruit. Other wineries are making Purisma designated wines too.

Have you seen the movie Sideways? It's about guys going wine tasting in this area, so you might want to see it with your brother and then go out and see some of the places.

The Hitching Post is featured in the movie (very popular steak place in Nipomo near Buellton, also along Hwy. 246, if memory serves me). Fun place to have dinner(phone 805-929-4097 for reservations) and they also make Hitching Post wines under the Hartley Ostini label. Which unless they've changed since I was there, is also made out of the Au Bon Climat facilities. Saw Gray Hartley at the Family Winemakers too and they have some lovely Pinot.

Ask away, if you have have more questions and I'll see if I can find out.

Hope you and your brother have a great time!