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TA S T E
Top to bottom: Pork belly at BOTTLEST ; BOB’S WELL BREAD BAKERY ; a spread by CAILLOUX CHEESE ;
the lobby at SIDEWAYS INN ; a map of the area
at STORY OF SOIL . Opposite, clockwise from top left: KINGS CAREY vintages; THE GATHERING TABLE ;
butternut squash soup with tortellini and sage at
What’s new and noteworthy up in the valley Buellton and Lompoc The tasting room
for FOLDED HILLS is in the works, but the pet project just off Gaviota by beer magnate/polo phenom Andy Busch features THE FARMSTEAD , which is open on weekends. Don’t miss the Harvest Fest on October 21—pony rides, face painting, a pumpkin patch, and more. A stroll down Industrial Way is proof of Buellton’s culinary renaissance. At BOTTLEST WINERY, BAR & BISTRO , chef Owen Havanan is turning local fare into gourmet dishes like the 16-spice pork shoulder with almond rice, and there are 52 wines “on tap” that you can taste by the pour or by the glass. Nearby, BRICK BARN WINE ESTATE , BUSCADOR WINES , CHOLAME VINEYARD , and SPEAR VINEYARDS AND WINERY all have new tasting rooms; MARGERUM WINE COMPANY is now welcoming tasters to the winery on weekends; and director-turned-vintner Scott Sampler, who lives with his dog in his winery, tastes his buzzy CENTRAL COAST GROUP PROJECT wines by appointment. Further east, check out the wine-centric renovated rooms at SIDEWAYS INN .
Solvang
Taste
After greeting guests for 20 years at his Trattoria Grappolo, Leonardo Curti now wows them at LEONARDO’S CUCINA ITALIANA ; the menu is inspired by the chef’s own Calabrian roots and the exhibition kitchen features a pizza oven imported from Italy. Chef Michele Mancuso opened TOSCANA nearby, featuring pizzas and tapas and a menu written in Italian. PETROS KAFE features Mediterranean fare, while the zesty dishes at the new HUMMINGBIRD CAFE are Caribbean inspired. Take a cooking class at K’SYRAH , which serves lunch and dinner most days of the week, or a cheese class at CAILLOUX CHEESE SHOP , which also sells artisan breads and charcuterie.
Santa Ynez
The valley’s newest beer and wine ventures also include NAUGHTY OAK BREWING CO. with a rotating selection of craft beers. Shop for Happy Canyon Cabernet Sauvignon from CROWN POINT VINEYARDS and Sta. Rita Hills Grenache from KINGS CAREY ; both labels offer tastings by appointment.
PHOTOGRAPHS: BOTTLEST AND KINGS CAREY, BOTTLE BRANDING; BOB’S WELL BREAD, SILAS FALLSTICH; CAILLOUX, COURTESY OF CAILLOUX CHEESE SHOP
FIRST & OAK .
Wine & Dine