| Most people forget that southern California has a | | | | winery's wine club has the additional benefit of |
| wine country of its own. You hear about Napa | | | | arranging a complimentary six-selection wine |
| and Sonoma all the time, so it's easy to let the | | | | tasting. You're probably asking what the |
| fact that Santa Barbara and Temecula have | | | | difference is, other than the price. Well, the wine |
| dozens of wineries there. The Temecula wine | | | | club member can have 3 accompanying guests, |
| country is located east of Los Angeles and San | | | | and the member gets to pick the wines. For the |
| Diego, while the Santa Barbara wine country is | | | | regular tasting, the winery pre-selects the wines. |
| located north of both. There are good wineries | | | | Huber Cellars is also in Lompoc, and is one of the |
| along the coast. There are also wine tours | | | | oldest Santa Barbara wine vineyards in the Santa |
| abound, taking thirsty and interested patrons along | | | | Rita hills. The wines are hand-crafted in very small |
| the winding paths along the coast to visit wineries | | | | lots. The un-oaked 2007 Estate Chardonnay ($20 |
| and sip their finest products. | | | | per bottle) has traces of honeydew melon and |
| The Sanford Winery in Lompoc is not only a | | | | apricot. Only 180 cases were produced, so get |
| great place for Santa Barbara wine, but also for a | | | | them while they last. Fess Parker Winery in Los |
| visual representation of the winery itself. The | | | | Olivos is a multi-faceted attraction, functioning as |
| winery is hand-built with adobe made by Sanford | | | | a winery, inn, spa, restaurant, and as a general |
| employees, and the 30-inch thick walls keep the | | | | store. The Petros Los Olivos, located within the |
| wine cellar temperature between 55 and 65 | | | | winery, is a Greek restaurant featuring classic |
| degrees, so neither heating nor air conditioning is | | | | Greek recipes. The tasting room fee is $10 per |
| necessary. There is a nominal fee for a | | | | person, with an average of 6 wines poured per |
| six-selection wine tasting, but membership in the | | | | tasting. |