Buellton's Alma Rosa Winery Opens Outdoor "Weingarten"

10/8/20 (as seen in the Montecito Journal)

As California’s guidelines for wine tasting room visitation remain ubiquitously prohibitive, Santa Barbara’s vintners have become increasingly creative, moving much of their guest experiences outdoors. 

I found one of my favorite creative solutions at the Alma Rosa tasting room in Buellton, where the tasting room patio has been reconfigured into an outdoor “Weingarten.”  The space is shaded by umbrellas and features various six-seater tables spaced more than six feet apart, where wine lovers can savor a selection of five wines for $20. Wines can also be bought by the glass. 

Alma Rosa, which was founded by local wine pioneer Richard Sanford in 2005 and purchased in 2014 by Bob and Barb Zorich, produces some of the best pinot and chardonnay in California; I was also impressed by the 2018 Santa Ynez Valley Grenache Blanc ($30) and the 2017 Donnachadh Vineyard Syrah ($68) I tasted during my recent pop-in. 

The tasting room is easy to access: just off Highway 101 and along Industrial Way, right next door to what may be Buellton’s best eatery, Industrial Eats. Hours are Sunday through Wednesday, 11am-5:30pm, and Thursday through Saturday, 11am-6pm. Walk-ins are welcome but reservations are recommended. Check out almarosawinery.com or call 805-691-9395.

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