A Vintage Affair: 9 Best Solvang Wineries

Solvang is a small city in Santa Barbara California. Very often it is called The Danish Capital of America since it was founded by Danish people in 1911. In translation, the name of the city means “sunny fields.” People who established Solvang wanted to preserve their Danish heritage and culture while enjoying the benefits of life and weather conditions in the USA. That`s why you can find it here and admire Danish-style architecture like half-timbered buildings and windmills. Besides its cultural heritage and Danish pastries, Solvang Wineries also keeps attracting many visitors every year.

There are approximately 120 vineyards in the region and 20 tasting rooms in downtown Solvang. Many of them are boutique and family-owned. The harvest time is usually early fall. September is California Wine Month but people can visit the place and taste wine all year long.

Rusack Vineyards

1819 Ballard Canyon Rd | Website

Rusack Winery is the first on the list of the Solvang Wineries. It is 3 miles away from Solvang. In the middle of town, you have to find Atterdag and head north until the road changes to Chalk Hill Drive and then to Ballard Canyon Road.

The place is open from Thursday to Monday from 11am-5pm but only by appointment. In case you are a group of 6 or more people you have to pay a $50 reservation fee. The winery is dog friendly and it has a Canyon Terrace Deck, Garden, and Lounge. The seating can be a maximum of 90 minutes long.

Rusack Vineyards often emphasizes the use of sustainable and eco-friendly practices in their vineyard management, reflecting their commitment to quality and environmental responsibility.

The winery offers a wide selection of wines:

Chardonnay: Rusack produces both unoaked and oak-aged Chardonnays, known for their balance and fruit-forward character.

Pinot Noir: They have a reputation for crafting Pinot Noir wines that capture the unique terroir of the Santa Ynez Valley.

Syrah: Rusack’s Syrah wines are known for their rich, dark fruit flavors and complexity.

Sauvignon Blanc: They offer Sauvignon Blanc wines that are vibrant and refreshing.

Alma Rosa Winery

1623 Mission Dr Suite M | Website

The winery was founded in 2005 by Richard Sanford and Thekla, his wife. Located in Solvang, 3 miles off Highway 101 and about 45 minutes from downtown Santa Barbara. The place is open 7 days in week Sun-Wed 11am-6pm, Thu-Sat 11am-7.30pm. The winery offers visits to its vineyards too usually only as a private ranch house wine-tasting experience.

The tasting room offers 5 wines to taste: sparkling wines, Pinot Noirs, Chardonnays, and Rhone varietals. The tasting fee is $30 per person.

Lincourt Vineyards

1711 Alamo Pintado Rd | Website

The winery was founded in 1996 by Bill Foley. He named it after his 2 daughters, Lindsay and Courtney. Lincourt Vineyards provides a welcoming and charming tasting room environment where visitors can enjoy their wines while taking in the scenic beauty of the Santa Ynez Valley. Winery also uses sustainable farming techniques, small-lot vinification, or block harvesting.

The seating can be 90 minutes long. The place is dog friendly and open from Thu-Mon, 11am-5pm. It costs $35 per person. You can also order your wine online and pick it up near the back barn.

Lincourt Vineyards is known for its small-lot, cool-climate wines, with a focus on Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Here are some of the wines they typically offer: pinot noir (flavors of red berries, earthy notes, smooth), chardonnay (balance of fruit flavors, acidity, oak influence), other varietals like Sauvignon Blanc, or Syrah.

Royal Oaks Winery

1687 Mission Dr, Solvang | Website

The Royal Oaks Winery is another of Solvang Wineries that is open daily – from 12-5pm and on Saturday 12-7pm. You can try a variety of sweet, semi-sweet, and dessert wines – fruit, white, rose, or red. From Moscato to the more popular Concord. Besides wine, you have an opportunity to combine wine with chocolate tasting. Some of the chocolate is handcrafted and made especially for the winery. It is also possible to rent a private room when you need to organize an event or any bigger gathering. In case you are a big wine enthusiast you can become a member of of Royale Club and get special discounts or invitations to exclusive events like art classes, and pick-up parties.

Casa Cassara Winery & Vineyard Tasting Room

1607 Mission Dr #112, Solvang | Website

The winery is open daily from 12-6pm, Friand Sat 12-7pm. You don`t have to make any reservations before your visit. Case Cassara is a family-owned winery that has been growing grapes since 1992 and making wine since 1998 in the Santa Rita Hills as well as Santa Ynez Valley. For the biggest wine lovers, the winery offers a royalty club that offers additional discounts. Casa Cassara Winery is known for producing a variety of wines, with a focus on both red and white varietals. For example Chardonnay (balance of fruit and acidity with flavors of apple, pear, and citrus), Pinot Noir (bright red fruit flavors with elegance), Syrah (rich dark fruit notes), Sauvignon Blanc, or Cabernet Sauvignon.

Lions Peak Vineyards Tasting Room

659 Copenhagen Dr suite a, Solvang | Website

The winery was founded by Jennifer Arant in the 90s when a farm of 128 acres with 40 acres of own-rooted Cabernet Sauvignon became her family home. Formerly they wanted to use the yard for the dogs and cats. Throughout the 90s and 20s while living on the vineyard she added new varietals such as Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and Petit Verdot.

The tasting room in downtown Solvan opened in 2004. The room is also called Wine Salon inducing a more intimate character of the room. Its eclectic design with old-world charm reflects the owner’s background in design, traveling, and winemaking expertise. You can find here the newest wines or some ultra-premium ones which are three decades old. It is open from Fri-Mon 1pm-6pm, Sa 12-7pm, and Wed 9am-5pm.

Lions Peak Vineyards is known for producing a range of wines, with a focus on Bordeaux-style varietals. Lions Peak Vineyards often offers Cabernet Sauvignon wines that showcase the rich and robust character of this varietal. Merlot is another Bordeaux varietal they produce, known for its soft and approachable nature with flavors of red fruit. Other wines include Syrah (a touch of spice), Cabernet Franc, or Malbec.

Lucas & Lewellen Tasting Room

1645 Copenhagen Dr, Solvang | Website

The first foundations of this winery go back to 1975 when Louis Lucas, grape owner, met with Royce Lewellen, the passionate wine enthusiast. Both of their families become very close and the mutual friendship serves as the foundation for Lucas & Lewellen Vineyards.

The tasting room is open daily from 10am-4.30pm, even during holidays except Christmas Day, Easter Day, and Thanksgiving Day. The staff is often knowledgeable about the wines they offer and can provide insights into the flavors and characteristics of each varietal.

Lucas & Lewellen is known for producing a wide range of high-quality wines, including both red and white varietals. It often offers Cabernet Sauvignon wines known for their rich and full-bodied character. Their Chardonnay wines can showcase flavors of apple, citrus, and oak, depending on the style. Pinot Noir is a standout varietal for the region and it is present in this winery too. Other types include Merlot, Syrah, Sauvignon Blanc, and more.

Dascomb Cellars

1623 Mission Dr Suite E, Solvan | Website

The foundation of the winery goes back to the 70s when Don Dascomb purchased 5 acres and decided to plant Cabernet Sauvignon. His son Dave returned to the area in 1998 and started to help his father with the vineyard. Other varieties of wine they started to blend are Merlot, Petit Verdot, and Cabernet Franc.

The winery is open daily all week long from 12am-7pm. You can do glass tasting or just pick up a bottle or two. If you want to save money or want to get access to library wines or exclusive wines you can consider becoming a member of Wine Club.

Sanger Wine Tasting Room

1584 Mission Dr, Solvang | Website

The last of Solvang Wineries on this list is Sanger Wine. The tasting room is open daily from 12-6pm on Mon, Tue, Wed, on Thursday, on Sunday 12-7pm, Fri, Sat 12-9pm.

You can enjoy wines inspired by the traditions of France, Spain & Italy and taste three different brands – Consilience, Marianello & Tre Anelli wines. The winery offers tasting flights, each one with 6 different wines. Each flight comes with its own set of wines.

Its founders are Bill and Jan Sanger, Bill has an Italian-American background, while Jan is French and English. Brett Escalara is another essential figure and winemaker who is behind brands like Consilience and Tre Anelli Wines.

Where to stay

The Landsby is a stylish boutique hotel located in the heart of Solvang. It offers a contemporary Danish-inspired design, comfortable rooms, an on-site restaurant, and a wine-tasting room. The hotel also has a cozy courtyard with a fire pit.

Hotel Corque is a modern and upscale hotel with comfortable rooms, a fitness center, a pool, and an on-site restaurant known for its farm-to-table cuisine.

The King Frederik Inn embraces the Danish heritage of Solvang with its charming design. It offers comfortable and affordable rooms, complimentary breakfast, and a central location near shops and restaurants.

The Wine Valley Inn is a lovely hotel with a relaxing garden courtyard and comfortable accommodations. It’s known for its wine-themed décor and offers easy access to downtown Solvang’s attractions.

The Hadsten House Inn offers comfortable rooms with amenities like fireplaces and whirlpool tubs. It has an on-site restaurant, a spa, and a wine-tasting room. The location is convenient for exploring Solvang’s attractions.

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