Twenty years ago, a small-budget film greatly impacted the world of wine. The wine-tasting road trip adventures of Miles and Jack in “Sideways” were filmed almost entirely on-location in the small town of Solvang and neighboring spots around the Santa Ynez Valley. As the longest transverse valley (east/west) along the Western Hemisphere’s Pacific Coast, unique geography hints at the movie’s name.
Released in 2004, “Sideways” fundamentally changed perceptions about this Central Coast wine-growing region by empowering its characters’ lines to influence sales of Pinot Noir (positively) and Merlot (negatively). In Northern Santa Barbara County, wine-centric tourism remains the overall winner, where the “Sideways Wine Trail” is still a thing.
Chardonnay and Pinot Noir account for two-thirds of the grapes grown across seven AVAs within Santa Barbara, one of California’s coolest regions. The largest is the Santa Ynez Valley that surrounds Solvang, America’s second oldest AVA. Sandwiched between two mountain ranges, various microclimates, and cool soil types are found in vineyard elevations up to 3,400 feet.

Solvang Trolley during Solvang Julefest Parade // Photo by Slocoastpix SolvangUSA.com
Little Denmark
Solvang was founded in 1911 when three Danish immigrants fled the harsh midwest winters of Iowa to purchase 9,000 farming acres in “sunny fields.” Today, the village’s distinctly Nordic vibe beckons visitors to enjoy the “Danish Capital of America,” displaying half-timbered buildings, four windmills, a replica of Copenhagen’s landmark The Little Mermaid, Hans Christian Andersen and Viking museums, a 19th-century streetcar, and a horse-drawn carriage. For the holidays, a much-anticipated high point in Solvang’s event calendar, everything is decorated in twinkling fairy lights.

Alma Rosa Solvang Tasting Room // Photo by Zach Brown of Atlas Imagery
Danish-Style Julefest
Solvang Julefest is a vibrant family-fun festive extravaganza with music, shopping, food, and drinks staged from Nov. 29, 2024, through Jan. 5, 2025. Traditional local happenings include the Julefest Tree Lighting weekend (December 6-8), plus costumed strolling Christmas carolers and the Julefest Parade with floats and entertainment. “Nisser Adventure” is a Christmas gnome and elf scavenger hunt downtown. Solvang Park has a nightly Light & Music Show alongside the open-air Makers Market for arts and crafts gifts and popular evening candlelight tours. // www.solvangusa.com/things-to-do/solvang-julefest
During Julefest, weekends offer even more activities for children, such as gathering at Santa’s Village in Solvang Park every Saturday and Sunday for free photos with Father Christmas. In nearby Buellton, a Santa Ynez Valley Cowboy Christmas (through Dec. 21) has horseback rides, a petting zoo, an obstacle course, and wooden ornament decorating. Downtown at 2pm on New Year’s Eve, watches are synchronized to European time for the Copenhagen Countdown to midnight. Finally, the annual Solvang Christmas Tree Burn takes place, a large-scale fire safety demonstration scheduled for 5pm on Friday, Jan. 10, 2025. // www.syvcowboychristmas.com
Solvang Danish Days
When autumn arrives, everyone in “Little Denmark” is a Dane for a day, dressing up like a shield-maiden or a Viking for the 88th annual Danish heritage festival on Sept. 19-21, 2025. “Skol!” is heard throughout the town as visitors join Solvang residents to celebrate with pints of Carlsberg and Tuborg, folk dancing, Danish pastries and æbleskiver, Lego, and more. // www.solvangdanishdays.org

Kings Carey Wines // Photo by Janelle S. Koch
Downtown Solvang Wine Tasting
Without question, sun-soaked Solvang is a year-round food and wine destination. Among more than two dozen tasting rooms, several are located along Mission Drive. Beyond this main drag, check out Copenhagen Drive and several wineries just outside of town.
Dedicated to showcasing the unique terroir of Sta. Rita Hills, Alma Rosa produces delightful Pinot Noir and Chardonnay wines. At the indoor/outdoor downtown space open seven days a week on Mission Drive, taste from a selection of five wines, including Rhône varietals Grenache and Syrah, plus sparkling wines.
The El Jabali vineyards were planted in 1983 by founder Richard Sanford, the Pinot Noir pioneer of Santa Barbara County, who in 2020 entrusted his legacy to head winemaker Samra Morris, America’s first female Bosnian winemaker. Reflecting the essence of specific vineyard sites, Alma Rosa’s wines are typically produced in small quantities of 300 or fewer cases. Four private experiences are offered at the winery’s 628-acre ranch, the county’s first certified organic vineyard, a few miles away in the Sta. Rita Hills. // www.almarosawinery.com
In addition to sipping outstanding wines from Santa Ynez Valley, guests at McClain Cellars Wine Tasting Lounge are treated to a 36-foot-long fire pit, pool table, and live jazz and blues most weekends. One of the few Black-owned wineries in California, try Owner’s Wine Flight, six wines personally chosen by Jason McClain. Play pool and sample the artisanal popcorn. The Solvang location, one of four in Southern California, is open daily on Mission Drive. // www.mcclaincellars.com
Casa Cassara has been growing grapes and making wine in the Santa Rita Hills and Santa Ynez Valley since the 90’s. Open every day, hosts Bridget and Dan Cassara are often on hand at the tasting room, where they’ve been known to appear as Santa & Mrs Claus. // www.ccwinery.com
The Sanger Family of Wines serves tasting flights based on their three core European-inspired wine labels: Consilience, Marianello, and Tre Anelli. Open daily except for Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s, there’s a contemporary indoor space and fire pits on the patio. Olive oil tastings, too. // www.sangerwines.com/tasting-room/solvang
For more pours on Mission Drive, Crawford Family Wines Tasting Room shares their micro-production Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Syrah, and other Rhône varietals. Dascomb Cellars is another local family wine enterprise with a tasting room and a wine shop. The Good Life Cellar, Kings Carey Wines, Cordon of Santa Barbara, and Arrowsmith’s Wine Bar are also located on Mission Drive. // www.crawfordfamilywines.com // www.dascombcellars.com

Aebleskiver at Solvang Restaurant // Photo by Anna-Ferguson Park
Where to Eat
“Home to Arne’s Famous Aebleskiver” reads the welcome sign at Solvang Restaurant, where “What is that?” is the number one question. Neither a waffle nor a pancake nor a donut, the pastry is shaped like a tennis ball, and the concoction is topped with raspberry jam and a dusting of powdered sugar. Order the Danish Sausage Medisterpolse to make a meal of it. // www.solvangrestaurant.com
Solvang has bakeries galore. For pastries, Napoleons, eclairs, butter cookies, shortbread, and more, head to Mortensen’s Danish Bakery, an old-time café where the Danish owners have followed recipes from the old country for over 40 years. // www.mortensensbakery.com
Stay in the Scandinavian mood at Red Viking Restaurant, where the menu lists open-faced sandwiches, Frikadeller, Medisterpølse, and Rullepølse. Open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, it’s been owned and operated by the Olsen family since they moved from Denmark in 1970. // www.theredvikingrestaurant.com
Velkommen! In Solvang’s oldest building, Bit O’ Denmark has been serving fine traditional Danish cuisine for over half a century. Try gravlax and herring to start followed by Flaeskesteg (roast pork stuffed with prunes), the house favorite. // www.bitbarandbistro.com

Casa Casara // Photo courtesy of SolvangUSA.com
Where to Stay
The village of Solvang has accommodation options, from a luxury ranch resort to boutique inns. Several have outdoor pools, complimentary breakfast, free parking, EV charging, and pet-friendly policies.
Since 1946, Alisal Ranch has operated this working cattle ranch and as an upscale dude ranch. Over 10,000 acres provide guest activities, including equestrian pursuits, stargazing, fly fishing, canoeing, kayaking, two 18-hole championship golf courses, and six tennis and pickleball courts. Stays of two nights or longer. // www.alisalranch.com
Mirabelle Inn is home to MICHELIN Guide-listed First & Oak for fine dining. The 12-room boutique hotel has free breakfast, parking, and Wi-Fi. Under the landmark clock tower in downtown Solvang, Wine Valley Inn & Cottages offers a complimentary hot breakfast, free Wi-Fi, free parking, and no resort fees. Hotel Corque has views of the surrounding wine country and mountains, yet is in the downtown core. Craft House at Corque offers on-site dining. // www.mirabelleinn.com // www.winevalleyinn.com // www.corquehotel.com
For more information www.solvangusa.com
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