Tag archives: Santa Ynez Valley

Party in the Valley Culinary Fête Aims to Impress
By Gabe Saglie   |   September 19, 2023

Taste of the Santa Ynez Valley makes its grand return this month, though you could really say this will be the feast’s true premiere. The pandemic put on the brakes after the event’s first year. And while last year marked its official post-Covid return, all signs point to the 2023 rendering of this multi-day, multi-city, […]

Two Days Tucked Away in Heavenly Santa Ynez Valley
By Leslie Westbrook   |   August 12, 2021

I’m swaying in a heavenly hammock on the porch of an absolutely charming room (#18 of 18 guestrooms) with views of the creatively landscaped central courtyard at the Hotel Ynez and life is good. Located just off Highway 246, in the heart of the Santa Ynez Valley, and nestled between Solvang and Santa Ynez, this […]

Healing Power of Horses: Montecito Bank & Trust Aids Therapeutic Riding Program
By Zach Rosen   |   May 13, 2021

Nonprofits often have to work closely with banks to help support their growth and launch new initiatives. Like a horse and rider working together, the bank can help the organization get to where it is trying to go.  As part of their ongoing goal to give back to the community, Montecito Bank & Trust (MBT) […]

Zaca Creek Reopens with New Chef to Help Rebuild Legacy
By Claudia Schou   |   March 25, 2021

This winter, public officials asked restaurant owners, workers, and diners to mostly stay home as lockdowns once again took effect. Now that progress is being made with vaccinations going up and COVID-19 cases going down, restaurants are opening up again just in time to unveil spring menus and debut new outdoor dining spaces. That means […]

McMansion on the Market
By Richard Mineards   |   November 12, 2020

A stunning 554-acre ranch once owned by McDonald’s mogul Ray Kroc in the Santa Ynez Valley is up for grabs, for $29 million. Kroc and his wife, Jane, a former secretary to the actor John Wayne, bought the property in the Happy Valley area 16 miles from the late singer Michael Jackson’s Neverland Ranch in […]

The Bet on Rhone that Paid Off: Epiphany Cellars Turns 20
By Gabe Saglie   |   February 27, 2020

When Eli Parker launched his pet project, Epiphany Cellars, 20 years ago, his dad had doubts. “He was not thrilled with what he perceived to be a distraction at the time,” says the vintner, referencing Fess Parker, the Disney icon who launched his eponymous wine brand in 1989. Ten years in, the label, anchored on […]

More Than Just Food: Santa Ynez Valley Restaurant Weeks Target Wine Lovers, Too
By Gabe Saglie   |   January 23, 2020

Have you seen all the promos for Restaurant Week? It’s a national phenomenon throughout the winter season, actually: destinations leveraging the appeal of their top chefs (and the allure of value) to entice consumers and beef up foot traffic during a historically slow travel time of the year. Santa Barbara’s Restaurant Week returns February 21 […]

Everything’s Coming Up Sideways: Cult Wine Country Film Turns 15
By Gabe Saglie   |   September 5, 2019

Little known fact about the 2004 cult film Sideways: if George Clooney and Brad Pitt had gotten their way, the heartthrob pair would have seen their own names on the movie’s marquee. Director Alexander Payne turned them down, though, opting instead to cast lesser known names that wouldn’t steal the spotlight from the story or […]

A Toast to Age: Older Pinots Tell a Story
By Gabe Saglie   |   August 22, 2019

The pinot noir you buy at the local shop is, almost always, that winery’s latest release, and usually its youngest wine. A younger pinot – from the 2017 vintage, for example – usually delivers exactly what we pinot lovers want: it’s fruity and fresh, soft and supple, luscious and delicious. Vibrancy and flavor make a […]

A Milestone for Fess Parker Winery
By Gabe Saglie   |   July 25, 2019

The folks at Fess Parker Winery are already in the holiday spirit! The winemaking team at the sprawling winery in the heart of the Santa Ynez Valley sent out a notice last week highlighting “Wines for the Holiday Table.” They hand-picked three wines that they feel “could help create a fun-filled holiday,” according to a […]

On the Market
By Richard Mineards   |   July 18, 2019

A 400-acre estate in the Santa Ynez Valley that belonged to the late actor James Garner is up for grabs. Garner, star of the TV series The Rockford Files, who died in 2014, commissioned the property, Rancho La Zaca, in the ‘90s with architect Hugh Newell Jacobsen designing a 8,000 sq. ft. house showcasing the […]