Sparkling Flights & Bites in Santa Barbara County

In Santa Barbara County, we have over 75 producers of sparkling wine! That’s right—our own local champagne. Much of this is made in the traditional, method champenoise, and some are Pét-Nats, while still others are made in a more tank (or bulk) style. They are all bubbly and delicious, available by the bottle (and in some cases, by the glass).

But, where to get a flight of sparkling wines, to try them all?? Or other fun Sparkling Wine Experiences in SB County? Read on to find out, listed from North to South!

1. Riverbench

In Santa Barbara County, the only place to taste a flight of sparkling wine every day is Riverbench Winery‘s tasting room in downtown Santa Barbara, or at the winery in Santa Maria Valley on Foxen Canyon Road. They make 8 different sparklers in the traditional Champagne method!

2. Fess Parker

The Fess Parker Winery is a 30-year-old family owned and operated winery specializing in Sta. Rita Hills Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, as well as estate grown Rhône varietals. Fess Parker also features five Sparkling wines that are a must try – Sibling Bubblery Sparkling Grenache, Fesstivity Brut Cuvée, Fesstivity Blanc de Blancs, Fesstivity Brut Rosé, Fesstivity Anniversary Cuvee (made with Méthode Champenoise). Taste the Bubbles here on Foxen Canyon, or at the Bubble Shack in Los Olivos, or their latest tasting room in Santa Barbara’s Funk Zone.

3. Margerum/Barden

Not a tasting flight, but a special tasting room experience! Get a special Oysters & Sparkling Wine pairing in the Margerum Los Olivos tasting room. You’ll get a dozen fresh Kumamoto Oysters from the Pacific Northwest with two glasses of the 2019 Barden Blanc de Blancs. Taste this perfect match, and you’ll see the reason Sta. Rita Hills is the place to grow some of the best sparkling wines in California. There is also a full sushi, crab, and pork lunch paired with their wines (Dungeness crab baked in vanilla bean sauce with the Bubbles)…make sure to order ahead! (See all wineries on the Los Olivos Trail.)

4. Roblar Thursdays

Not a tasting flight, but a special tasting room experience! The Roblar Winery and Vineyards estate includes a beautiful 5,000 sqare-foot tasting room, rolling vineyards, and state-of-the-art winery facility. They produce a wide variety of wines right here on the estate property, including 3 Sparkling Wines: Sparkling Brut, Blanc de Blanc, and Rosé Sparkling, all made in the méthode champenoise. On Thursdays only, they offer a special Birds ‘n’ Bubbles, a fried-chicken pairing or just a bubbly flight. (See all wineries on the Santa Ynez Valley Trail.)

5. Flying Goat

One of the original Sparkling Wine makers in Santa Barbara County using the traditional method — méthode champenoise — to make bubbles in-house was Flying Goat Cellars. Flying Goat offers bubbly lovers 6 stellar Sparkling Wines, and a bubbly flight. Just ask if you want to try something! (See all wineries on the Lompoc & Sta. Rita Hills Trail.)

6. Cali Love Wine

Cali Love Wine creates wines through the use of old world techniques including native yeast fermentations, multi-varietal co-fermentations, and extended macerations. While visiting Cali Love Wine’s tasting room in downtown Solvang, taste their Sparkling wines: Stardust Brut Rosé, Gold Label Grand Cuvée, and and 2 fun, flavored sparklers: Wild Thing Peach Mango Sparkling Wine and Pineapple Coconut Sparkling Wine.

Flights are available on Sundays, but you can also just ask for a taste of each for a bubbly flight, year-round! Mimosas are also on the daily menu. They also have a location in Pismo Beach! (See all wineries on the Santa Ynez Valley Trail.)

Santa Barbara Area

In Santa Barbara’s Funk Zone, you can visit Riverbench, Fess Parker, as well as Corks n’ Crowns for various sparkling wine flights, all year round! (See all wineries on the Santa Barbara Area Trail.)

See more! There are over 75 sparkling wine producers in Santa Barbara County.