New restaurants, tasting rooms, and more continually refresh the experience, but the Santa Ynez Valley still manages to hold on to its charm
(SANTA YNEZ VALLEY, Calif.) — The magic of the Santa Ynez Valley lies in how it continually innovates its wine country experience with fresh ways to taste, dine, recreate, and more, while never losing the charms that made it special in the first place. The Santa Ynez Valley may no longer be the wine country secret portrayed 20 years ago in the film “Sideways,” but it remains uniquely true to itself even as it freshens the experience.
So, what’s new for 2024? Start with the accolades. Just recently, the 2023 Sunset Magazine Travel Awards named the Santa Ynez Valley a “Best Destination” in the West. The MICHELIN Guide added Mattei’s Tavern for the first time, becoming the sixth Santa Ynez Valley restaurant to earn MICHELIN recognition. When Sideways was first released to movie audiences in 2004, there were none.
Those accolades would never come, though, if not for the unique experiences that the Santa Ynez Valley offers its guests. There is so much new to get excited about, including a new way to explore the culture and history of the Santa Ynez Chumash tribe, new tasting experiences, and additions to the Santa Ynez Valley’s culinary scene.
“One of the joys of visiting the Santa Ynez Valley, especially for those who have visited us before, is to discover all the new restaurants, tasting rooms, and activities,” says Shelby Sim, President & CEO of Visit the Santa Ynez Valley. “Our winemakers, chefs, and more never seem to disappoint. The creative energy and tireless dedication of these business owners and artisans ensure that the Valley evolves while managing to preserve its intrinsic charm. Their unwavering commitment to innovation is pivotal in ensuring that the Santa Ynez Valley remains a unique and beloved destination.”
Following is a list of recent awards and recognition, businesses that have opened their doors in the Santa Ynez Valley in recent months or plan to do so in the coming months, and other new or notable offerings:
RECENT AWARDS & ACCOLADES
Mattei’s Tavern joins MICHELIN Guide — Mattei’s Tavern debuted in 2023, and it didn’t take long for the Los Olivos restaurant to become the sixth MICHELIN-rated restaurant in the Santa Ynez Valley. According to the MICHELIN Guide, Mattei’s “simultaneously reeks of history while feeling decidedly modern. Chef Rhoda Magbitang oversees a shared-plates, Californian menu that benefits from an on-site garden and live fire cooking.” The MICHELIN Guide has paid increasing attention to the Santa Ynez Valley, adding Bar Le Côte in Los Olivos, and Solvang hotspots Coast Range and peasants FEAST (which earned Bib Gourmand recognition) in 2022. Bell’s Los Alamos became the first Santa Ynez Valley restaurant to earn a coveted MICHELIN Star in 2021, and First & Oak in Solvang was the first Santa Ynez Valley restaurant to be included in the California Guide when it was awarded a MICHELIN Plate in 2019.
Sunset Travel Awards, Best Destinations 2023 — The writers and editors of Sunset Magazine are no strangers to the Santa Ynez Valley. Quite the opposite. In 2023, Sunset described the Santa Ynez Valley this way: “The not-so-secret getaway for in-the-know Californians is home to dozens of incredible wineries, hotels for every budget and aesthetic (from mod motel to Danish modern to luxe resort), MICHELIN-approved restaurants, and six charming towns that epitomize Central Coast country-chic charm.”
NEW RESTAURANTS & DINING
Na Na Thai – Chefs Ashley and Nik Ramirez developed a passion for Thai street food while living in Bangkok, and that passion shows with their creative take on the cuisine. The couple broke into the Santa Ynez Valley culinary scene after meeting Greg and Daisy Ryan of Companion Hospitality — Nik working at Companion’s Bar Le Côte in Los Olivos, Ashley at Companion’s flagship restaurant, Bell’s Los Alamos. In 2022, the couple began a series of weekly Na Na Thai pop-ups at Bar Le Côte. It was an immediate hit, and the Ramirezes opened a permanent outpost in Buellton under the Companion umbrella.
Priedite BBQ – Another star restaurant under the Ryan’s Companion Hospitality banner, Nicholas Priedite’s “Franch BBQ” concept initially gained a huge following as a popup behind Bell’s Los Alamos. Now open on weekends at Bodega Los Alamos, Priedite and his team celebrate California ranchero culture by cooking old-school barbecue with modern techniques — brisket, ribs, housemade ranchero sausage and chopped pork all smoked over local oak. Delicious.
Whiskey ‘N Rye — The heavenly smell of barbecue is almost as prominent in Solvang as the town’s Danish bakeries, thanks to Whiskey ‘N Rye. An American-style smokehouse, Whiskey ‘N Rye doesn’t adhere to one barbecue style: not even our beloved Santa Maria-style. Instead, Whiskey ‘N Rye’s menu pays homage to multiple styles of barbecue. And the result could not be any tastier.
WINE AND MORE
Refugio Ranch — Built in 1912 by Pinal-Dome Refining Co., later named Union Oil, Refugio Ranch’s new tasting room was originally used as a warehouse where the tank cars from the nearby railway were filled. The warehouse is now home to two tasting bars, a VIP lounge, and an expansive outdoor deck in what is one of the largest tasting rooms in Los Olivos. Refugio Ranch took great care to preserve the structure and spirit of the building, too. The new space has also allowed the winery to host a new series of outdoor pop-ups, named “29 Ninety,” with food selections provided by Gleason Family Vineyards chefs Peter Cham and Lee Gottheimer.
Kings Carey – Solvang’s newest wine-tasting space has created quite a buzz since its debut in fall 2023. While the tasting room, which is open by appointment only, is new, Kings Carey is not. The winery was founded a decade ago by local winemaker James Sparks, entailing boutique, small-production wines. Sparks’ philosophy is to keep it simple: single varietal and single vineyard. Carefully curated grapes and pick times. Little-to-no manipulation. Kings Carey lets the region tell its story and helps the fruit fulfill its destiny.
Donnachadh Family Wines — The family-owned winery’s first brick-and-mortar tasting room is an exquisite addition to the quaint tasting rooms and bucolic streets of downtown Los Olivos. The wines of Donnachadh (pronounced: DON nuh kuh) have for years built a loyal following, and for good reason. Under the watchful eye of winemaker Ernst Storm, Donnachadh makes organically farmed wines crafted to express the cool climate and ocean breezes of the Santa Ynez Valley.
Rock 12 Distillery — Over the winter, Rock 12 Distillery put the finishing touches on its new tasting room, which is nestled in the rolling Santa Rita Hills of California’s central coast wine country. Founded by Sarah and Marko Suput in 2016, Rock 12 Distillery has been a labor of love from the beginning. Harvesting fruit from their own orchard, Rock 12 distills some of the West’s finest vodka, gin, and brandy using methods from Marko’s native Serbia.
SPECIALTY, ACTIVITIES & OTHER
Sideways turns 20 — And to celebrate the 20th anniversary, Taste of the Santa Ynez Valley, held Sept. 26-29, will feature a special screening of the film at the Solvang Festival Theater as part of the four-day, six-town celebration that offers an experiential exploration of the region’s food, wine, and more — and the people behind it all. The Sideways screening will include tasting before the event and a panel with special guests (to be announced). Filmed almost entirely on location, Sideways helped put the Santa Ynez Valley on the map after the cult classic first hit theaters on Oct. 22, 2004. Miles’ beloved luxurious and nuanced Pinot Noirs remain the hallmark of Santa Ynez Valley wines. And the film’s most memorable locations–including AJ Spurs, Alma Rosa Winery, Andrew Murray Vineyards, Fess Parker Winery, Firestone Vineyard, Foxen Vineyard & Winery, Gaviota State Park, Hitching Post II, Kalyra Winery, Los Olivos Wine Merchant & Cafe, Ostrichland USA, the River Course at The Alisal, and Solvang Restaurant—are still must-visits for any fan of the film.
Santa Ynez Chumash Museum and Cultural Center – Set to open later this year, the Santa Ynez Chumash Museum and Cultural Center will invite guests to explore the vibrant culture of the Chumash people and their more than 8,000 years of history. The 14,000-square-foot museum and cultural center will display more than 20,000 cultural and historic artifacts and offer one-of-a-kind displays of the Chumash’s modern-day traditions.
Little King Coffee – The husband-wife team of Ryan Dubash and Grace Gates, both Companion Hospitality alumni, recently opened a stylish new coffee shop in the heart of Buellton. As former general managers of Bell’s Los Alamos and Bar Le Côte, the couple brings together years of expertise in the hospitality industry with a passion for coffee. And judging by the early buzz, it’s a perfect combination.
For more information on new or planned lodging, restaurants, wineries, and other openings, or to research attractions, book lodging, and activities, and create a custom travel itinerary, visit VisitSYV.com.
About the Santa Ynez Valley
Barely two hours from Los Angeles and a scenic four-hour drive from San Francisco, the Santa Ynez Valley is home to six distinct towns each with its own culture, vibe, and menu of experiences. Blanketed with fruitful farms and vineyards, the California Central Coast wine region’s temperate weather allows for year-round activities of all sorts, spread throughout the historical communities of Ballard, Buellton, Los Alamos, Los Olivos, Santa Ynez, and Solvang. Destination dining and world-class wines await, accompanied by lodging at every level, all painted into atmospheric backdrops that colorfully mesh Old World and Old West. Visit more than 100 wineries, feast on chef-driven cuisine, and enjoy festive events and design details from Victorian-era to mid-century to modern Danish. For more information, including a listing of wedding venues, restaurants, wineries, tasting rooms, and events, go to VisitSYV.com.
