Of the more than 120 wineries and wine-tasting rooms in the Santa Ynez Valley, nearly a quarter are located in quaint Los Olivos. As one of the six towns that comprise this celebrated wine growing region, Los Olivos is home to 30 labels, the tasting rooms scattered within a walkable, five-block area punctuated by charming, Victorian architecture and a convivial western vibe.
A few of Los Olivos’ downtown buildings and residences date back to the town’s establishment in the late 1800s, the result of it being a stagecoach stop between San Francisco and San Diego; many local structures are more than one hundred years old. It’s this aura of California history, paired with modern hospitality, that creates such an appealing and entirely authentic atmosphere.
THE FESS PARKER INFLUENCE
Just as Napa Valley’s Yountville is playfully referred to as “Kellerville” due to Chef Thomas Keller’s many restaurants that line the small town’s main drag, Santa Ynez Valley’s Los Olivos could be considered “Parkerville” due to Fess Parker’s welcome influence. The star of 50s and 60s television shows Davy Crockett and Daniel Boone is perhaps better known these days as one who helped transform Los Olivos into a wine lover’s destination. Parker lived for decades in Santa Barbara County, and after retiring from acting, he reinvented himself as a respected vintner and hotelier. As a result, he and now his family, have cultivated a world-class hospitality portfolio around the beauty and bounty of Santa Barbara County. Guests to Los Olivos can experience the full breadth of the Parker family’s hospitable offerings with a stay at the quaint Fess Parker Wine Country Inn, which serves as a gateway to their collections of wineries.
Fess Parker Winery Tasting Room // Photo courtesy of the winery
This Preferred Hotels & Resorts LVX Collection boutique inn, now run by Fess’s son Eli Parker and his sister Ashley Parker Snider, is centrally located to the town’s abundance of tasting rooms, art galleries, and boutiques. The inn, and its 19 rooms and suites of varying sizes, offer luxurious indulgences such as a bottle of complimentary wine upon arrival, a heated pool, a lush garden with firepits, a bountiful buffet breakfast, and plush beds and bedding. A stay at the Inn includes complimentary wine tasting at Epiphany, the Parker family’s second label that focuses on Rhône varietals from their estate vineyard Rodney’s, and at the eponymous Fess Parker Winery located nearby along the picturesque Foxen Canyon Wine Trail. Long a top wine-tasting destination for its exceptional Rhône and Burgundian varietals from Santa Barbara County, the winery recently renovated its tasting room to reveal a modern design that pays homage to the family’s roots.
A NEW HOSPITALITY OPTION
A County Historical Landmark and the social center of the Santa Ynez Valley through the 1930s, Mattei’s Tavern was originally a stagecoach stop. Today, the old-growth palm tree-populated site is a luxurious, new Auberge resort with 67 farmhouse chic guest rooms and cottages. The Inn at Mattei’s Tavern, Auberge Resorts Collection features an outdoor pool with a welcoming poolside bar, cabanas and firepits, a signature spa, and modern indoor-outdoor event spaces. Additionally, guests can enjoy a culinary program that celebrates the seasonal flavors of Los Olivos at an open-air destination restaurant.
The Inn at Mattei’s Tavern, Auberge Resorts Collection Guest Room // Photo courtesy of Auberge Resorts Collection
FUN DINING
With its heat-lamp warmed front patio and cozy interior, Nella Kitchen & Bar is the spot to convene after a day of wine tasting to indulge in their star attraction Pinsas, Roman-style pizzas with flatbread-like crusts, and a variety of toppings. For lunch, try the new Michelin-recognized Bar Le Côte, a stylish seafood tavern inspired by the modern cuisine of European seaside capitals. The Fried Oyster Po’Boy with sliced tomato, shredded lettuce, and spicy BLC tartar sauce has become a fast favorite. For a locally sourced, organic, sustainable breakfast, delicious vegan baked goods, and a great cup of coffee, head to Lefty’s Coffee Co., the community’s unofficial living room.
Nella Kitchen & Bar Pinsa // Photo courtesy of Nella
MORE WINE
The Los Olivos tasting room for Refugio Ranch Vineyards, built c.1912, once served as a filling station for Pacific Coast Railway tank cars. It is now one of the largest tasting locations in town, where visitors sample wines sourced from the Gleason Family Vineyards Santa Ynez Valley portfolio’s 415-acre Refugio Ranch estate. Sister estate, Roblar Winery and Vineyards, features 40 acres of grand, oak-studded grounds, including a 5,000-square-foot tasting room, multiple outdoor seating and event areas with vineyard views, organic Roblar Farm, and the portfolio’s state-of-the-art winery. For Burgundian-style Chardonnay and elegant Pinot Noir, stop by Liquid Farm’s tasting room. And for those tiring of wine, try The Other Room, where a great selection of California craft beers shares the stage with unique wines by the glass and hard-to-find bottles from obscure producers.
Photo courtesy of Fess Parker
EVENTS
Annual Los Olivos events include the Jazz & Olive Festival every June, Day in the Country every October, and Olde Fashioned Christmas in December.
