Santa Barbara, CA – Folded Hills Winery has reopened both of their tasting rooms to the public. The Homestead location, located just 4 miles as the crow flies from the Pacific Ocean, between Nojoqui Falls Park and the Gaviota Pass on Hwy. 101, and the Montecito location, on Coast Village Road just across from the Montecito Inn are now welcoming guests for both in-house tastings and carry-out bottle sales.
“My father always said that making friends is our business,” says Andrew Busch. Busch, son of August Anheuser “Gussie” Busch Jr., who built and grew the Anheuser-Busch Companies into the largest brewery in the world by 1957, adds, “We are committed to sharing our Homestead, Montecito Tasting Room and Farmstead safely with friends old and new. These are stressful and uncertain times, and now more than ever, we wish to provide fun, solace and great wines to our visitors within a safe environment.”
Folded Hills will be following all CDC guidelines, with staff wearing masks and gloves at all times; gloves will be sanitized between each transaction. Tables, chairs and handrails will be sanitized after each guest/party leaves, and before another arrives. Designated employees will be sanitizing restrooms on an hourly basis. All point-of-sale iPads, keyboards and credit card terminals will be sanitized after each use. All staff members will be practicing social distancing with visitors and with each other. Upon arrival at work each day, each staff member will complete a health screening form and temperature check before they are able to begin their shift.
As mandated by the state of California, food service will be available, as will the service of glasses and bottles of wines. Food will be safely pre-boxed by a caterer or a food truck, with pre-rolled cutlery, following all food service guidelines. All wine and food service menus are offered as disposable one-time use only, or digitally via QR code for guests to pull up on their phones, if they prefer.
Guests will be expected to follow visitor protocols, which include completing a health screening form upon entry. Wine glass and bottle service, along with meals, will be offered outside only. Guests will wait to be seated by a host/hostess to ensure maximum safety. Guests will be required to wear masks while indoors. All visitors are to remain seated as they await both food and wine service. No more than thirty-six guests will be allowed at the Homestead at once.
Adjacent to the Homestead is the Folded Hills Farmstead, a rustic barn that houses an organic produce store, alongside farm animals grazing in the pastures. Produce, baked goods, and locally sourced items are available for purchase, and all CDC protocols will be practiced at the Farmstead, as well.
Visitors must make reservations in advance. Please call 805-694-8086 or email reservations@foldedhills.com to book your reservations. To learn more about Folded Hills, please visit https://foldedhills.com/tasting-rooms/.
