Day One - "Sideways" Wine Trail

This day starts in the town of Los Olivos.  Purchase your picnic food and supplies at the Los Olivos Market or Panino Café in Los Olivos. Head north from Los Olivos to Highway 154, turn left and watch for the signs leading to Foxen Canyon Road. Follow Foxen Canyon Road as it takes you over beautiful mountain views of vineyards and farm lands. When you get to the stop sign turn left. This is Zaca Station Road and Firestone will be a mile down the road.

Day One - Details

Firestone Vineyards
The Firestone winery is one of the original wineries in Santa Barbara County. The winery began operation in 1972. Today the winery is housed in a very beautiful hillside setting. They have an exquisite tasting room and offer tours throughout the day from 10:15 to 3:15. The winery has a series of labels of the traditional varieties that include Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, and Sauvignon Blanc. One of our favorite wines is the Vineyard Select Riesling. It is a great value at $8 a bottle. This is a beautiful spot for a picnic lunch.

In the movie "Sideways", the four main characters, Miles, Jack, Maya, and Stephanie are bored with the wine tour and sneak away into the barrel room.

Tasting Room Hours: 10 am – 5 pm daily, tasting fee is $6.00
Phone: (805) 688-3940, email: ken@firestonewine.com, Firestone Vineyards

Fess Parker Winery and Vineyard
From Firestone, head back to Foxen Canyon Road and continue straight ahead for about a mile and one third to Fess Parker Winery. Fess Parker made his fame and fortune as a TV actor playing the role of Davy Crockett in the late 50’s. Today, his winery and vineyard are making the fame and fortune. The winery, tasting room and grounds are the most lavish of any of the wineries in the Santa Barbara wine region. It is definitely one of the most attractive wineries you will find in California. The winery produces 75,000 cases of wine mostly from their estate vineyards located in three different growing areas of Santa Barbara Country. The Pinot Noirs are very delicious.

In "Sideways," this is one of the most memorable, shocking, and funny scenes. Miles learns that his book will not be published. Distraught, Miles returns to the tasting room and repeatedly asks for a refill. When he is refused, he grabs the dump bucket and ???? In the movie, this winery is called Frass Canyon.

Tasting Room Hours: 11 am – 5 pm Monday to Friday, Sat. and Sun. 10 am to 5 pm, tasting fee is $7.00 (includes logo glass)
Phone: (800) 841-1104, email:info@fessparker.com, Fess Parker

Foxen Vineyard
If you are looking for rustic, this is the place. Don’t be surprised if you drive past this winery on your first try. The rustic barn-like structure is easy to miss, having no resemblance to a winery. Don’t be fooled by appearances. This boutique winery has some of the finest wines in the entire region. The Pinot Noir is their flagship wine, but the Chardonnay, Syrah and Cabernet Franc are also very good wines. Foxen is located approximately 12 miles from Fess Parker. Watch carefully.

In "Sideways," you don't get to see much of this tiny winery. Miles and Jack are wine tasting and when the server leaves for a moment, Jack swiftly grabs the wine bottle and pours a healthy glass for both.

Tasting Room Hours: 12 pm – 4 pm daily
Phone: (805) 937-4251, email: info@foxenvineyard.com, Foxen Vineyards

Optional Wineries: Althought these two wineries are not in the movie, there are along the way and worth a visit if you have the time and inclination.

Zaca Mesa Winery
Continue on Foxen Canyon Rd. to the Zaca Mesa Winery. This winery has a very spacious and modern tasting room. The winery concentrates on Rhone-style wines and produces excellent Syrah wines. The wines are all estate grown, and Wines & Spirits Magazine named Zaca Mesa the 2004 Estate Winery of the Year. There is a cozy picnic area equipped with a life-sized chess game. There is also a short hiking trail that leads up from the parking area. Tours can be arranged by appointment. Zaca Mesa is located in between Fess Parker and Foxen (about 3 miles from Fess Parker).

Tasting Room Hours: 11 am – 4 pm daily
(805) 688-9339 ext. 308, email: info@zacamesa.com, Zaca Mesa

Rancho Sisquoc Winery
The famous Flood Family of San Francisco are owners of this small winery which produces less than 10,000 cases a year. They make several varietals each in small amounts. The Pinot Noir sells out quickly. Other wines of note are the Malbec, and the Cabernet, both excellent and reasonably priced. This is also a rustic tasting room, but the grounds are spacious and tranquil. The winery is situated up a two-mile drive from Foxen Canyon Rd. so the grounds are peaceful and quiet. This is a good choice for a relaxing wine country picnic lunch. You will find the entrance to Rancho Sisquoc Winery about one mile past Foxen Winery.

Tasting Room Hours: 10 am – 4 pm daily, tasting fee is $5.00
Phone: (805) 934-4332, email: sisquoc@ranchosisquoc.com, Rancho Sisquoc