I was fortunate enough to spend last weekend in the comfort of the Dutch in the gorgeous city of Solvang. Even better, I was with outstanding company and we were smack dab in the center of wine country. Los Olivos, Buellton, Ballard, Santa Ynez, Solvang… Simply incredible places that introduce your senses to a place you’ve never been. I have made a few trips here, but really took in the beauty during this last go round. For newcomers, I recommend the Foxen Canyon Wine Trail, with their handful of wineries that produce top grade wine and have beautiful grounds. Make sure you go on the Firestone or Sandstone tours, its a great way to begin your day. First one is usually around 11am for Firestone, Sanford is at 2pm.

I chose a broad range of wineries, hoping to get a good variety of flavors and wine varietals. Looking for a tasty, crisp viognier I took us to Sanford Winery to start out. Not the greatest winery that I have been to, but it was a decent start to the day. They had a noteworthy chardonnay that was full of bite and gave off an incredible summertime aroma. Additionally, they closed with a fine pinot noir that developed a distinct taste of pepper and berry. The tasting gave a mouthful that had a lot going on but was subtle enough to make me want to pair it with a Cajun rubbed filet on a bed of arugula.

Next we hit La Fond Winery, which proved to be the most fantastic offering we experienced that day. Every tasting, three whites and three reds, showcased their extraordinary skills in winemaking but, more importantly, their service was off the charts. In the good way, not the bad way, as Dr. Scott would say. The people were friendly and held a vast knowledge about the vines, the soil, the history of the area, and their winemaker’s vision. The grounds were gorgeous and the tasting room was comfortable and not too crowded with the ever popular trendy shenanigans most wineries are offering in the post-Sideways wine world.

After a few more tasting rooms and a good lunch at Panino in Los Olivos, we decided to head back to the hotel. But on the way we decided to have a nice, frosty brew to cool us off from the triple digit heat we had experienced all day. A friend who was familiar with the area recommended we go to Alisal Cellars, which was perfect due to its close proximity to our hotel. Look them up on your googlebook for an address. We went there with our party of six and proceeded to have a beer tasting. When you want a full beer, you walk to the fridge, get it, and bring it to the bartender to open it. Family style with the honor policy, my interest is peaked. They have no hard alcohol, so don’t bring a prom date here. However, they do serve champagne, wine, beer, and sake – and you can do tastings of several of these.

First off, the place is underground and you go down a cool stone stairwell towards loud music. It looks and feels like a dive bar once you are inside and the bathroom is kind of hidden and a bit… industrial. Once you are done crying about it, you can experience the first of many options available to you by getting your own beer out of the cooler. But I would explore the option of a beer tasting or a sake tasting by Justin, specifically. The man is WELL versed in all realms of this type of informal education, folks, and is one of the true hidden secrets in this world. People like this are not advertised and it is the duty of the community to broadcast their worth to the rest of us. Thus, I take pen to paper in request that you go visit them. Aside from offering sake, beer, and wine, they have a fine selection of bar food to fill your stomach after a day of wine-ing.

There will most likely be people in there during the day, as they do offer tasting selections from all over the world and the local community as well. If you dont know, Solvang shuts down pretty quickly after sunset and Alisal Cellars is one of the few places you can have a good party experience at night. Friday and Saturday nights are pretty damn enjoyable, with loud music, good people, and the occasional libation or two.

However long you are staying in Solvang, come check this place out. The rest of the staff gave great service and a friendly atmosphere as well, but Justin definitely left a lasting impression on me. It is very rare that a bartender impresses me these days, as I am an old fashioned country boy at heart. But this guy destroyed the mold, sponged up an incredible amount of knowledge, and adopted a profession that teaches people the intricate details of processes that have been around for hundreds of years. He takes the pride and respect out of tradition and places it into whatever bottle he is pouring you at the moment. It was a true honor to meet this guy and experience his version of the world’s offering of beer and sake. A business owner could only hope to have someone on his staff like this man.

Check out Alisal Cellars. Look it up on your googlebook or whatever and get there. Plan a weekend in Solvang already! Start by checking into your hotel saturday morning, then head to La Fond Winery for a tasting. Head over to Downtown Los Olivos for a filling lunch, then back over to Sanford winery for a 2pm wine tour. End with a couple more wineries, try Gainey or Artiste on the way to Santa Ynez. Head back to your hotel for a quick dip in the pool to refresh and then grab dinner at one of many great places in downtown Solvang. Do yourself a favor and walk downtown to pick a random place on the street. Ask to speak to the chef if they arent busy, tell them you want a unique experience to take home. Then head to Alisal Cellars to get your post-dinner crunk on. Grab some beers, make some friends, and dance a little in the presence of good company. Then wake up on sunday morning for a fresh pastry breakfast and a couple of olive oil tastings before heading home. Next, head north towards Ballard to find a lavender farm where you can buy fresh lavender for a honey peach lavender desert you should make soon. Stop at one of the many farm stands along the way to buy fresh berries, pears, and nuts to take home. Take the 101 South to Santa Barbara when heading home, exiting Milpas Street. Turn left and go down about a mile to find a little Mexican restaurant on the corner. It is a white building, probably with a line outside of the door. Get two tacos, some green sauce, and head home, wherever that may be.

“Good wine is a good familiar creature, if it be well used.”  -  William Shakespeare

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