Tasting Twice
Rob Dafoe stands behind the bar at his eponymous tasting room.
Written by Anna Ferguson-Sparks | Photographs by Jessica Sample
Winemaker Rob DaFoe’s passion for wine originally took hold more than 25 years ago, when the Santa Barbara County native toured France as a pro snowboarder. Now after more than a dozen vintages, eponymous DAFOE WINES occupies one of the newest tasting studios in Los Olivos, an intimate space lined with mementos of DaFoe’s well-lived life. Here guests can savor the label’s minimal-intervention, classically made wines, which include Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon, concrete-aged Grenache, skin-fermented Grenache Blanc, Albariño, Merlot, Pinot Noir, and Chardonnay. Tastings also showcase DaFoe’s second label, ATTIC SALT WINE CO., under which he produces dynamic varietal blends. Photos and boards—of the surf and skate kind—adorn the tasting room’s interior, while an airy deck in front allows for outdoor tastings. 2901 Grand Ave., Ste. C, Los Olivos, 805-429-0070, dafoewines.com
I Walk the Wine
An active wine-tasting experience awaits those who embark on the new hiking tours at renowned ALMA ROSA WINERY. The appointment-only hikes traverse the historic El Jabali estate, a 628-acre property in the Sta. Rita Hills appellation. The two tours—Caracol Hike ($75 per person) and Attente Hike ($95 per person)—vary in duration and intensity and showcase different sides of the estate, rewarding adventurers with spectacular mountain and valley views plus glasses of wine, followed by a private wine tasting and cheese plate at Alma Rosa’s ranch house. Alma Rosa will offer a similar hiking excursion on July 23, during its third annual Peace of Mind: 10,000 Steps in the Right Direction fund-raising walk to benefit both One Mind and the Mental Wellness Center in Santa Barbara. almarosawinery.com.
