Taste Exceptional Wines in Lompoc, California

For those interested in wine – and a wine country getaway north of Santa Barbara – it’s no secret that Lompoc, CA winemakers are producing some of California’s best wines.

The combination of climatic conditions, rare east-west hill orientation, and calcium-rich soil is making wine magic in Lompoc, California. In summer, while most of Santa Barbara County is basking in high temperatures, the geography of the Sta. Rita Hills funnels cool maritime fog from the coast up the valley, creating the ideal climate for exceptional Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.

The Lompoc Wine Ghetto – a collection 20 or so small tasting rooms in a nondescript industrial park – has become a mecca for artisan wine production. One stop, and all the tasting rooms are within a block or so. Don’t let the ambiance fool you, though. Inside these tiny tasting rooms you’ll find serious wines and knowledgeable wine people. Sometimes the wine is even produced on the premises. With names like Fiddlehead and Flying Goat, what’s not to love? Most Wine Ghetto Tasting Rooms are open Thursday thru Sunday.

For those looking for wine country glam and ambiance, take the Lompoc Wine Trail loop, along Highway 246 and Santa Rosa Road. You’ll find breathtaking vistas and estate wineries around every bend that rival the most spectacular California vineyards. Almost all wineries and vineyards are open Friday thru Sunday, but some are open daily including Babcock, Foley, Melville and Sanford.

With more than 30 wine tasting rooms and wineries to choose from, come see for yourself why Sunset Magazine has named Lompoc, California “the new wine country.”

Taste at your own pace, or take a wine tour and leave the driving to someone else. Plan for at least two full days for all that Lompoc has to offer the wine aficionado. With Lompoc’s affordable hotels, you’ll have plenty of spending money to bring home a case or two of your favorites!