As I began doing some research, I realized something. I am going to have a DAMN good time spending Tomo’s money.

I have decided to start with a Santa Barbara wine tour trip for him and found a fabulous site that has compiled a listing of Santa Barbara area wineries, many of which the site owner has personally visited. From this site, I have culled several wineries of particular interest, based upon my personal taste, the first of which is Chimere. They reportedly have a fabulous Pinot Noir, which is a favorite of mine. It’s a versatile wine that is light and crisp enough to move from season to season, so a winery with a reputation for having a great Pinot Noir is going to be a good choice in my book.

The Andrew Murray Vineyard lured me in with their claim of duplicating Rhone wines. I also enjoy Chateauneuf-du-Pape reds immensely, and feel that this California vineyard is owed the chance to see if their wine truly does compare to these French greats.

I like the idea of Stearns Wharf Vintners due to the fact that they offer a sampling of various California wines as opposed to those from just a single winery. This seems like the place to go for a “starter” tasting, or if you only plan on visiting one tasting room on your trip. You will be able to enjoy many different local wines from various vintners, which is a nice concept for those who are pressed for time or uncertain which specific winery they’d like to sample.

If all of these choices seem overwhelming, or Tomo plans on “drinking” more than merely “tasting,” then a definite option is a professionally-led wine tour. Wine Adventures of Santa Barbara offers several options including a full-day tour or tours by the hour. They are geared toward providing actual history and education rather than merely a shuttle service from winery to winery. The will choose 4 from over 100 local wineries based upon which wines are being released and the interests of the guests in the group.

And how fun does this look?!? Cloud Climbers Jeep Tours takes people on tours in Jeeps which seat up to seven. They offer a choice of choice of Mountain, Wine Country or a Sunset tour, and each tour includes the following: Professional Driver, Narrated Tour, Bottled Water, Blankets, First Aid Kit, and an Outfitters Guide Permit. They also conduct non-wine excursions, but, ya know….what’s the point?

On this visit to Santa Barbara, the next question is where to stay? I love this place: Simpson House Inn. I am totally feelin’ one of the cottages—I think. No, I don’t care for the décor of any of those, so let’s go for one of the rooms in the restored Barn. Definitely the Carriage Room. A king bed, wood-burning fireplace, Jacuzzi tub for two, pine floors, and a private exit to the garden—how can you go wrong? All for only $615 per night! (Hey, it’s not my money, remember?)

If, like me, $615 per night is not in your budget, visit Uptake.com for a list of reviewed hotels in Santa Barbara. You can take a look at Family-Friendly or Romantic hotels and decide on which one fits your budget with reviews that please you.

With suggestion #1 for Tomo’s short getaway complete, he should feel better already. Of course, not as good as if he were on the trip right now, but hopefully it won’t be long!

Posted on April 16th, 2008 by Thomas
Filed under: Santa Barbara, Vacation, Wine