Day Two - "Sideways" Wine Trail

Tour Details: First, stock up at Panino in Los Olivos for a picnic lunch. From Los Olivos, take a right onto Highway 154 and travel about five miles and take a right onto Highway 246. Travel a little over 2 miles and turn left on N. Refugio Rd. In about a mile you will come to Kalyra.

Day Two - Details

Kalyra Winery
Australian-born winemaker Mike Brown is the owner and winemaker of this winery, which is a bit out of character from the other Santa Barbara wineries. The unusual name of Kalyra is an Aborigine term that means "a wild and pleasant place.” The winery offers up a fare of Australian wines under the Brown label. The grapes actually come from Australia for these wines. The other two lines of wines are from selected vineyards in the Santa Barbara wine region. The winery also produces several interesting and very good dessert wines. Kalyra is located off Refugio Road just a short distance from Sunstone.

In "Sideways", this is the winery where Jack meets Stephanie. Stephanie is the pourer. As the conversation develops between the two, you can feel the vibes begin to flow. The tasting room at Kalyra was remodeled for "Sideways" by the movie company.

Tasting Room Hours: Open daily, 10 am – 5 pm
Phone: (805) 693-8864, email: info@kalyrawinery.com Kalyra

Option: Just down the road from Kalyra is Sunstone Winery. Although not in the movie, it is an excellent winery and a good choice for a picnic lunch.

Sunstone Winery & Vineyards
Are you in Santa Barbara or France? The winery, tasting room, courtyard, and gardens resemble a Provencal countryside. The setting is absolutely beautiful and serene. The focus at Sunstone is on reds, producing several award winning wines. All the vineyards on the Sunstone estate are 100 % certified organic vines. We found the wines to be absolutely delicious. This is a favorite spot among the locals. This is also a wonderful choice to have your picnic lunch.

Tasting Room Hours: Open daily, 10 am – 4 pm
Phone: 805-688-9463. email: ashley@sunstonewinery.com, Sunstone

Take Highway 246 towards Solvang and Buellton.  As you approach Buellton, watch for the exit for Santa Rosa Road. Follow Santa Rosa Road to Sanford Winery.

Sanford Winery and Vineyards
Sanford is approximately five miles from Mosby. Watch carefully on the left side for a small sign posted at the entrance road to the winery. Richard Sanford owned the winery at the time the Sideways movie was made and since then has sold the winery to the Terlato Wine Group. Richard and his wife Thelka have opened a new winery nearby called Alma Rosa Winery and Vineyards. In the photo above, Chris Burroughs played himself in the movie as the wine server at Sanford. Chris now pours at Alma Rosa.

This is the first winery Miles and Jack visit on their trip. In this scene Miles explains the nuances of tasting wine to Jack. Miles goes a little over the top in describing the wine. He also catches Jack chewing gum while tasting.

Tasting Room Hours: 11 am – 4 pm daily
Phone: 805-688-3300, email; info@sanfordwinery.com, Sanford

Option: If you have the time and interest, here are two additional wineries in the area. Mosby is east on Santa Rosa Road. This winery specializes in Italian varietals. Or, continue west on Santa Rosa Road until you come to the stop sign. Turn right on to Highway 1, then another right onto Highway 246 towards Buellton. Travel about 7 miles to the entrance to Melville. It will be on your left. Melville Vineyards produces some outstanding Pinot Noir wines.

Mosby Winery and Vineyards
While other wineries in this region concentrate on Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, the Mosby winery specializes in Italian varietals. The winery offers a broad range of Cal-Ital wines including a line of dessert wines. The tasting room is a cool looking red barn structure. It was originally a carriage house built in the 1850’s on what was a famous estate. Our favorite wines of the tasting were the Cortese, the Pinot Grigio, the Sangiovese, and La Seduzione. This winery is a refreshing change of pace from the usual fare of wines offered by most California wineries.

Tasting Room Hours: 10 am – 4 pm daily pm
Phone: (800) 70-Mosby, email: mosbywines@yahoo.com, Mosby

Melville Vineyards & Winery
The winery has a very gorgeous Mediterranean winery and tasting room that blends in among the vineyards and nearby mountains. This is a family affair with Ron Melville and his two sons making some exciting wines. The winery produces two lines of wine from their estate vineyards. The estate line is their mainstay while the vineyard-designated wines are made in small lots. The small vineyard lots of Pinot sell out quickly but the more affordable estate Pinot Noir is a delicious and lush wine selling for around $25.

Tasting Room Hours: Open daily, 11 am – 4 pm
Phone: (805) 735-7030, email: info@melvillevineyards.com, Melville