Need Suggestions for Santa Barbara trip

[lizardbrains]

Hi, all. I'm headed to Santa Barbara to visit my brother for a few days, and we figured we'd like to do some wine tasting. I have read the forum for wine country, read the one post regarding Santa Barbara, and I'm wondering if anyone has any good information to share.

Do you have a favorite winery in the Santa Barbara area? Do you have a favorite place to go to taste wines?

Or, hey, do you even have a favorite restaurant to go to?

I'd appreciate any tips/advice!

Thanks!,
Elizabeth

[wondersofwine]

Babcock and Au Bon Climat might be considered. Actually I'm going on recommendations from others as I'm not sure I've had their wines. Babcock makes a red wine called Fathom that might appeal to you since I think I recall that you enjoy hearty red wines.

[hotwine]

Will be interested to read any notes you post on the ABC Santa Barbera juice. Haven't tried it, but it's on stand-by for grilled pork loin as we speak. Tried the Santa Maria bottling last year and wasn't impressed, just too fruity for my taste.

[wondersofwine]

Another website recommended the cuisine at Ballard Inn between Santa Barbara and Solvang. (Got the impression it is a splurge-type restaurant--rather expensive.)
http://www.ballardinn.com/ You can go to the inn website and then click on restaurant, menu, wine list, etc.
I've only spent one night in Santa Barbara and don't remember where I ate that night so no personal recommendations.

[lizardbrains]

I put my comments regarding SB wine country over in the forum of Wine Country, if you care to read. :-)

Thanks for your recommendations. Although it ended up I wasn't able to take advantage of any of them we still were able to find some good places to go.

-Elizabeth