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93 reviews for Firestone Vineyard
93 reviews in English
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Review from Eden'sdelight n.
Encino, CA
2/7/2012
Beautiful view from the tasting room. Long dark wood bar with evocative lighting. The pourers - some are cool, some are snobby. From a previous visit last year, Austin, really stood out as being above & beyond.
We chose the red reserve tasting. Very good red flight. Our gal was generous with the pours. We had a very good buzz going.
In Vino Veritas. At this point we were having a tremendous good time. Drinking good red wine in a good place with good friends. -
Review from Joyce Y.
12/27/2011
Ok vineyard.
Tours are really short! But the good thing about the tour is that it's free. We walked out to the beginning part of the vineyard and then inside with the barrels, etc. Tour was over in like 20 minutes!
Wine tasting is about $10, for 4 tastings.
Staff is pretty friendly.
Vineyard and courtyard is pretty. -
Review from Nick D.
Fullerton, CA
9/22/2011
Its one of the larger tasting rooms/winerys around. It can get busy with tour busses but as opposed to the similar in size Fess Parker, my experiences at Firestone have been good. The staff is friendly, although not always the most knowledgeable, and most importantly the wine is consistently good.
We considered having our wedding here, but ultimately decided against an outdoor reception in November. If we had a smaller party, they rent an amazing barrel room. Nevertheless the grounds, tasting room, courtyard, and ceremony site are all beautiful. -
Review from Kevin W.
Conshohocken, PA
9/20/2011
Disappointing. I was there a few years ago and was not impressed what so ever. Tried about of of their wine I could try and REALLY wanted to like something but that glass just never came. They probably only get the majority of the business they do because of the TV show.
Tasted like dessert wine for the most part. Very lacking in flavors.
Bottom line; Go there for the notoriety, not the wine. -
Review from Lin G.
9/6/2011
Really really pretty vineyard. We came here around 2:30 on a Friday and went on a tour at 3. The tour was about 45 minutes and really interesting and informative. They showed us where they crushed the grapes and explained the difference between the various types of barrels.
The estate is gorgeous with rows of grapes, lots of trees, and pretty friendly service. I think the tasting was around $12 for 6 pours, 2 or 3 white and the rest were red. It was a big room with a beautiful view outside. I think we kept the glasses as well.Listed in: Sip of Bliss
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Review from Kristin K.
Santa Maria, CA
12/20/2011 2 photos
Firestone is probably the best value of a winery you could join. It's not the BEST wine ever, but it is consistently good from year to year and across varietals. There are lots of cute little spots to have a picnic after your tasting. Plus they allow dogs, which is awesome! We always have a great time whenever we're at Firestone :)
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Review from Adam E.
8/10/2011
I continue to debate what to give this winery but when I think of it as a whole then yes it is a solid 4. A solid 4 because of a few things.
1) Its one of the most gorgeous tasting rooms in the area
2) Two tastings to choose from
3) Continueis tours
4) You can have a glass for 2 bucks. Yes all of you make or break on the "do I get a wine glass" Yelpers, you get a freakin glass for 2 bucks
I did not care for my pourer, it seemed like she had a pre judgment about me, and did not care that I was in the local F&W industry but I am not butt hurt at all. I did pass on buying a bottle due to it but it was not like she was a "Bad word" or anything but she totally blew me and my pops off. Oh ya I took my dad who came up and visit me and got him all buzzed. He was happy so I can't bash the place.
The wines did not knock my socks off but I did however think a couple bottles if cellared would be extremely promising with age.
I do think if you are a casual drinker that you should head here and check it out. If you are doing Foxen Canyon the start here and don't be afraid to dump a little wine if you don't care for it because you have a lot more tasting in front of you!
*Note* If you felt that I was rambling, made zero sense, or misspelled a bunch of words... It's because I am Enjoying a Hendrick's Gin Moscow Mule and Frank Sinatra so I may have to update this one.
ps. If your wine pourer is awesome then tip them. Right?
Cheers!Listed in: Best wine tastings in Santa…
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Review from Jess T.
San Diego, CA
9/4/2011
Maybe it's just my bad luck - when we were there, there were a lot of drunk frat-boy type of guys there.
One of the bar tenders ignored us... and behaved like one of the frat-boys. I didn't think it was very classy.
It was more like a bar than a vineyard tasting room. -
Review from Janice C.
Mountain View, CA
7/18/2011
Came by here for their wine tasting with some friends.
This wine tasting area is pretty spacious and there were a lot of counter space for people to hang out. The wine tasting was $10 or $15 per person (depending on which wine list you chose).
The person helping us here was a bit rushed; she didn't explain anything about the wines. Nor did she offer to let us purchase our wine glass for $2 each. -
Review from Tiffany G.
Santa Barbara, CA
7/23/2011
I love how the wine tasting area is organized. It's circular but the bar areas are split up into several blocks that give different parties their own space. The wine selection is decent enough, but I found myself disliking more of the choices than liking.
Loved the Riesling. Loved the Ambassador. Everything else was meh.
$10 for a mixed tasting; $15 for a red tasting.
The tour was informative.
Also came here for their First Fridays event at the beginning of July, which was fun, but the catering was awful. The ambiance was lovely though. -
Review from Ice F.
Torrance, CA
4/13/2011
visiting Solvang, decided to try some wine tasting.This was our first stop, A really handsome Newyorker helped us.(happy)
Nicer Vineyard compare to the other one in the area,
Delicious wines. Tried both Red wine(15) and White & Red tasting(10).
I am an Ant, love to get drunk with anything that taste like liquid cupcake. Suprisely they got what i need!
2005 Late Harvest Riesling Taste as good as ICE WINE!
Can't wait to open it ! -
Review from Alexa Z.
1/23/2011
Raised up on a hill, Firestone is a nice, scenic change from most other tasting rooms in Santa Ynez. The tasting room has big windows, the courtyard looks perfect for a small wedding, heck, even the parking lot has a great view!
In the Tasting Room...
$10 for White AND Red Tasting
$15 for Reds Only
+$2 if you want to keep the glass.
The tasting room has a great layout, almost circular but with lots of shorter bar sections, good for 4-6 people each, so you can feel separate from other groups but also part of them (does that make sense?!). Much more comfortable than big long straight bars. The employees can jump in and around to pour the next taste, although it looks like they each have their own assigned section. Our gal was super friendly and very talkative and helpful, which made for an easy, relaxed tasting.Listed in: Weekend Wine Tasting in Santa…
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Review from Gabby A.
12/21/2010
Last year I came by this winery and had a pretty good time. The price for a tasting was $10 and that included the glass. The guy helping us was super friendly and knowledgeable too. So we were eager to go back again...we did so a couple of weeks ago.
And the whole experience was just not the same. Place was way crowded, the price no longer covered the free glass and the wines weren't as good. Oh and the person helping us was not very engaging or friendly.
So this place has been downgraded on my winery scale...I'll definitely not make it a priority on my future wine tasting adventures up in Los Olivos. -
Review from Fred M.
Phoenix, AZ
4/6/2011
nice tasting room with a great view, good wines, and complimentary tours of the winery. They offer two tastings, a mixed, and a red reserve, and give you the option to purchase your glass for $2 which I did to remember my experience.
A lot of what you are purchasing here is the name of course, and much like the brewery owned by the same family, the products are just good, not amazing. It's still very worth the trip if not just for the free tour and the great view. -
Review from JENNIFER N.
Huntington Beach, CA
4/19/2011
Firestone is one of the larger wine producers in the area. It's worth a stop if you're tasting in the Santa Ynez Valley.
Their Riesling was a standout. -
Review from mimi p.
3/10/2011 1 photo
Nice Vineyard...This was one of our first stops... Very popular for the name... I actually though it would be a little more of a wow factor for me, but it was just ehhh okay... We came on a Friday, so it wasn't crowded...
Our service was excellent!!!! We did the tastings for Red wine $15..and it was my friends bday.. Our service was so awesome, I will be returning just for that. He was very informative and gave us the whole history of the winery... After we were done with our tastings, he asked the bday girl which bottle was her favorite...and he snuck in a free bottle of wine as a bday gift...which was very kind!! -
Review from Bryan W.
6/26/2011
Firestone is a fine large winery. There are a vast number of smallery houses in the area so unless you have a large group, I'd leave this stop off your list.
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Review from foodie f.
Chino Hills, CA
1/9/2012
Boy did we luck out when we visited firestone. We were only up here for a day trip and this was the only winery we stopped at...GORGEOUS Drive and property. Their pathway up to the winery and landscaping is beautiful. I think I enjoyed myself so much becasue we got in on a really special tour that a couple of UCSB environmental students were hosting. They were both doing their senior project, and part of it was giving a detailed explanation of the oaks and vines during the tour. We had some really special wines-about three or four paired with fresh fruits, and I think one of the bottles we sampled was a $60 dollar bottle. They were generous with the samples as well filling our glasses several times per bottle. The students were so knowledgable about the local vegetation and this extended tour was so much fun becasue we got to taste the wines outside in nature as we walked aorund the vineyard...not standing in front of a boring crowded indoor tasting bar (nothing against Firestone) but I would rather be outside enjoying the fresh air and landscaping over being inside. It was so much fun to take it all in...and best of all it was free, and we even got to bring our glasses home :)! We ended up bring home a $20 of a red wine that paired beautifully with a steak my husband grilled the next week...our experience lived on. I wish I remebered what we purchased, but it was really good, and a recommendation of the main tour guide from Firestone helped lead the tour.
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Review from Catherine H.
Orange, CA
9/15/2011
I love the winery. We went on the tour and had a tasting with SB tour company. I love how it wasn't crowded and the wine wasn't bad.
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Review from Carrie P.
Camarillo, CA
1/10/2011
I really enjoy visiting Firestone in Los Olivos. The grounds are very pretty and the tasting room is large and inviting, which is nice for those busy weekends when you're otherwise crammed into tiny tasting rooms, rubbing shoulders with that drunk couple as they grope each other. (Sorry, venting.) A 10-15 min. tour of the vineyard and barrel rooms is available to interested visitors.
While I most enjoy Firestone's white wines, the reds are equally interesting and enjoyable. On our most recent (Dec. 2010) trip, the off-dry, citrus-y Sauvignon Blanc was my favorite, although the Syrah was definitely memorable.
A tasting is $10 for the regular flight and for an additional $2, you can take home the glass.
I also recall an association to a few other wineries in the area. Bringing your receipt from Firestone to the others brings a discount on tastings or purchases. Inquire at Firestone, as I don't totally recall the details.
My husband and I will definitely be back to Firestone. -
Review from Kay D.
12/20/2010 1 photo
As part of our Central Coast winery trip, my husband and I stopped here based on good reviews and hearsay. I was glad we did!
The ambiance is very warm and inviting, and the wine is good and cheap. They offer tasty snacks to pair with your wine tasting. This place seems a lot more commercialized than a lot of the other wineries in this area, but that didn't stop me from enjoying myself!
Mostly I loved the cheapness, and their dry riesling! -
Review from Sonya N.
Atlanta, GA
6/24/2011
I of course having watched the Bachlor had to visit. A gorgeous winery, rivals any of the ones in Napa. The wine was actually pretty good! My tasting was served to me by a really nice man new to CA from OK. Very enjoyable visit!
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Review from Thanh N.
11/23/2010
I love day trips especially the ones that end in drunken silliness.
Tips to make a wine tasting adventure a good one:
1) Fill up on gas before you get to the country roads
2) Bring a device with GPS capabilities better yet a GPS system in case there is no reception
3) Pack plenty of snacks and goodies for when the alcohol hits
Our trip started with a simple question, how far is it to Santa Barbara? I looked at the range on my truck and saw 110. Hmm 50 miles you say? OK that should be enough for a round trip...haha how wrong was I because it was another 20 miles to the wineries. By the time we got deep in the country roads, gas was running out and my navigator was freakin' out thinking we had passed our first destination and asking me to double back while in fact we had another 10 miles to go. *rolls eyes*
I pulled out the map program on the iPhone and verified that in fact we had about 10 miles to go and identified a nearby gas station where we filled up..whewww no more stress!
On to the wine tasting! My first wine tasting experience was on a cruise to Hawaii so that gives you an idea of how much I know. The wine on the cruise was weak I remember it had a cheap Chianti on the list. This is my first wine tasting on land and it did not disappoint. I had never even set foot in a winery so this was a great experience.
We had the higher end wines so that was $15 and skipped the souvenir glass. All the wines tasted good but 2 notable ones were the Late Harvest Riesling and the Firestone Syrah. I bought a bottle of each for about $50 total. The Riesling is really sweet even for a desert wine. I basically sip it very slowly to enjoy the flavor. The smell of that wine is so sweet and pleasing like candy.
The syrah is easily my favorite affordable red wine of the day. The flavor is better than merlot and not as strong as cabernet sauvignon.
We didn't do the tour but there were groups of happy people coming in and out of the tasting room. We did however visit the room with the large barrels of wine. One day I have to get a full tour of one of these fine wineries.
After stimulating our senese of touch, sight, smell, taste, and hearing over and over again, we casually scurried next door to Curtis wineries... -
Review from Kelly G.
6/23/2010
Firestone was my favorite of four vineyards on my wine tasting trip to Los Olivos/ San Ynez. This was also my first stop. I can say I was a bit hesitant about Firestone since some reviews said it was more of a touristy bar. Maybe because I went early (about 11:30) but it wasn't too crowded. The tasting room was the largest I went to that day with a long tasting table overlooking the vineyard. Definitely the best wine tasting views of the day.
The tasting prices were average, and you don't get to keep the glass (that seems like a new trend). Ray served us our tastings and he was a blast. He was very personable and friendly, and didn't walk away between pours to leave of hanging (I really don't like when that happens).
I was a fan of the Sav Blanc I tasted that was not on the tasting menu. Ray gave me a taste anyway after offering to have us try anything that wasn't listed on the tasting menu. He also offered to switch out any wines on the menu if something else sounded more appealing. Very accommodating and great attitude. The Ambassador red was very good, almost had to buy, but the price was a bit much. Since Firestone was my first stop I figured I'd forgo the marked up prices and buy somewhere else. Other than the prices, very good tasting room experience.Listed in: Santa Barbara Wine Country
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Review from Kathryn E.
Oakland, CA
9/21/2010
My step-brother and his now ex-wife had their wedding here a few years ago, and while good wine and an incredibly memorable wedding reception can't save a marriage, I think all parties involved take away fond memories of the Merlot Reserve we enjoyed that night.
I would highly recommend Firestone Vineyard for an event. The staff had a real TCB (takin' care of business, y'know what I'm sayin'?) approach to the night without being in your face about it. I couldn't tell you what was served at most weddings I've been to, and yet at Firestone, I can recall that I had the most mouthwatering grilled portabella mushroom over creamy yet in-tact polenta triangles and delicious sauteed green beans as we dined in the candlelit barrel room. It was a beautiful, intimate, and romantic setting, and everyone really enjoyed the space.
The party outside was equally fun. There was no drinks table, and yet, no glass remained empty. If I could give event planners one suggestion in the future, it would be to arrange some kind of taxi service for the end of the night. We had a 5 course meal and a glass of wine paired beautifully with each, which meant that some people definitely had to be the responsible designated drivers. Not a fault of the vineyard's at all, though. Just a tip.
Though I can't remember what songs we danced to, what the cake was like, or all of the guests I met, the night was certainly memorable. So what if things didn't work out with my brother and his wife? My love for that Merlot Reserve still burns on. -
Review from Sal M.
Los Angeles, CA
9/29/2010 5 photos
This was my first stop on my Our own Sort of Sideways Tour and I have to admit this winery has the money to splurge in a nice way...Old Money in this place for sure.
Right as you walk in the small landscape area with a few picnic area and the walkway is really tranquil and calm, a place you can have a nice bottle of wine and lunch with family and friends...
Once inside the place is full of dark stained wood and a small gift shop and two large counters where to host large groups of wine tasters or small group as well. The place is busy that is for sure, room for everyone...
Tried the following wine & my quick take on them:
2009 Sauvignon Blanc - Great Taste
2007 Cabernet Franc - Very Dry
2008 Riesling - Sweet of course, but just right
2005 Late Harvest Riesling - Very Sweet even for me...still nice
2006 Syrah - Enjoyable to take a bottle or two home
2007 Syrah, Clone 174 - OK, was not as good as the Syrah
2006 Ambassador Cabernet - Way too dry for my taste buds.
After the wine tasting session took their winery tour, it was quick and to the point from the grapevines to how the whole process is and ended up in a private room once used by the Owners of Firestone, or at least that is what I took from it...Nice little tour for sure to compliment there winery.
So if you have a chance or are driving by, take a look for yourself and enjoy a sip or bottle... -
Review from Lisa A.
Simi Valley, CA
8/7/2011
The tasting room has outstanding views but the wine is just so-so. Go for the view, skip the tasting (unless it's free).
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Review from Yi Z.
9/21/2010
I miraculously timed my arrival at the exact second of the commencement of the free tour. I've been on plenty of winery tours before but this was the first time I was actually given grapes to taste. Just FYI, the grapes were delicious and that probably explains why the wine is so tasty. The tour was relatively quick and I'm glad it ended before it got too technical.
By the time I started tasting at Firestone, I was already a little tipsy so I can't say that I remember the distinct tastes of the wines. However, I appreciated the large tasting area with plenty of seating. Standing around drinking all day can be very tiring and the stools really made the experience for me. -
Review from Annalise P.
Austin, TX
5/26/2011 2 photos
This was a stop on my grand wine tour for my birthday and the wine was simply not as impressive as the grounds. The building is beautiful, and the history of the Firestone vineyards is quite impressive but once we made our way to the tasting room and selected a red wine tasting. The wine was just slightly off-putting and each varietal had a different issue whether it was too acidic, too young, or too mellow. Our guide was not very knowledgeable when we asked more questions and it's safe to say we left without purchasing a bottle, but the little take home glass was a cute momento.
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Review from Chris S.
Long Beach, CA
8/15/2011
Great place for a chance to tour a working winery. I wouldn't recommend staying for the tasting, however. Fine wines, there are just so many more that are top notch just a few miles away. I'm not sure I would put this stop on a recommendation list.
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Review from Kayla V.
Westminster, CA
11/7/2008 9 photos
This is one of the largest wineries in the area. Huge. They offer free tours where they explain the history of Firestone and the wine making process. There are only three so plan accordingly! 11:15AM, 1:15PM, and 3:15PM. You get a rare glimpse of all the machinery and even get to visit the room where they keep all the barrels of wine. Ask for Bernice if she's available for the tour, she's wonderfully sweet.
Tasting fee is $10, includes the glass. 2006 Chardonnay, Santa Rita Hils was my favorite. The host was friendly but was also a wine snob. Blah. Free oyster crackers along with pretzel sticks and different assortments of dips are offered.
A great winery to visit for newbies. -
Review from Mayumi T.
6/5/2008
This is my favorite winery in Los Olivos! They are one of the largest wineries in the area, and have the most to offer and really great service.
The wine tasting costs $10, which typically includes about 6 tastings, and they let you keep the logo Riedel wine glass.
The Good:
- Firestone has a lot of bar space for wine tastings
- Free winery tour
- Oyster crackers for clearing your palate
- Pretzel sticks & dips like cabernet chocolate, double barrel ale mustard, cabernet balsamic vinegar, etc. (I get hungry easily, so this is definitely a plus!)
- Great wine servers! They are friendly, helpful and very informative. Our last server was Dante, and he was very receptive to what we liked and didn't like. So, he recommended other wines and let us sample wines that weren't on the typical tasting menu. We definitely got more than the standard number of tastings. ^^
- They never make you feel like a wine noob.
- Nice mellow wines. They have something for everyone. Let them know what kind of wine you like, and they might let you taste something that isn't on the tasting menu.
- Beautiful vineyard & scenery.
The not-so-good:
- Can get busy and crowded.
- Sometimes you're having a good time in the tasting room that you miss the winery tour.
- Last winery tour is at 3:45pm.
They used to let you bring your wine glass to Curtis (their old sister winery down the road) for free wine tasting there. But that stopped around September 2007. You can ask still and see if they let you.
Cheers!! -
Review from Alfred D.
Burbank, CA
4/1/2009
Stop # 5 - Friday, Santa Barbara Wine Trip
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I've been to Firestone several times and have never been disappointed. Eventually, I joined their wine club. Anyhow, Firestone is very well organized and the staff are really helpful. Very nice tasting room that's welcoming with a lot to look at while you taste.
I keep coming back for a reason. I just think the wine is very good. It's a much larger winery and not as "cool" as some of the smaller ones which are nearby. But they are established and make an excellent vino. The Cab they put out is always tasty and I'll put up against any other cab.
Nice grounds overlooking the valley. My wife and had our first picnic here........aaaaahhhhh.........yeah, yeah, yeah. Stop it!
Anyway.....if you're new to the Santa Ynez / Santa Barbara Wine scene..........Firestone is definitely a place to visit. You won't be disappointed.Listed in: My Little Wino Getaway to…
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Review from jennifer c.
Honolulu, HI
11/18/2009
Yes, Yes, Yes, Yes, Yes.
Although this place is PACKED on the weekends so you may not get that nice Vineyard Wine Tasting experience, the wine makes up for it!
All of us who tried their Syrah hadddd to bring home at least one bottle. Only purchase I made on this SB wine tasting getaway and am definitely a happy customer =) -
Review from Dieu C.
Santa Ana, CA
12/15/2008
I went here two years ago with a bunch of friends. Firestone Vineyards offers free tours of their facility, where the tour guide explains and shows you the process of wine making. It is only $10 for the wine tasting, and you get to keep the wine glass! You get to taste over 10 types of different wines. The vineyards are amazing and breathtaking to look at. It is definitely a breath of fresh air. Do bring a camera to take pictures! :)
There is a sister vineyard of Firestone's just down the street. I forgot what it is called, but when you're there you can ask. You can bring the Firestone wine glass you got over to that sister location, and get tastings without paying additional fees. -
Review from Kevin A.
11/12/2007
SIDEWAYS WEEKEND: STOP #3
Do I really want to support that guy who was on the Bachelor? Oh well...
First impression: This place is freakin' packed! A tour bus pulled up right behind us as we were driving up so we had to make a bee-line to the counter to beat the rush
Second impression: Fantastic service. Our attendant didn't look like he was a day over 15, but he knew his wines and was very helpful.
Third impression: All the wines were solid, but one that was very memorable was the Gewurztraminer which made my mouth water with hints of lychee and mandarin oranges. It was like a Chinese almond tofu dessert in wine form! SOLD!
Tip: You don't have to pay the $10 for the tasting! You can taste two wines for free so if you've got a few people in your group and don't mind sharing you can taste them all and save your cash for a bottle of the Gewurztraminer.Listed in: Sideways Weekend
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Review from Janet B.
West Hollywood, CA
3/29/2010
Firestone Vineyard was very elegant and informative.
I had the good fortune of visiting this vineyard, with a group of young people on a tour.
We were led by a gentleman who gave us a tour of the facility. We were given a brief overview of the winemaking process as well as the history of winemaking. We got to view the barrels, and the memorabilia. We also learned about Mr. Firestone, the founder and creator of it all. It was a neat little history/wine lesson.
After the lesson we were all led into a room with tables where we could finally start tasting the wines.
I believe we got to try
Sauvignon Blanc
Pinot Noir
Syrah
Merlot
and a few others.
Honestly, the wine was okay. I think I've had better Sauvignon at dinner parties. I don't know what it was, I for some reason, was not feeling the taste. And I don't blame it on the winery at all. Factors like weather, harvest, skin, quality of the grapes all contribute to the taste of the wines.
On the one hand, there were subtle flavors within the wines that I did enjoy tasting and noticing. In the menu, they claim that you can taste certain fruits like pears, green apples, lychee, black cherry, as well as oak in some of the wines. And I did. That's always exciting.
it was nice to also look out the window and see the beautiful mountains and the green view. Beautiful view, and wine permeating through my tongue. It was an awesome experience.
Pinot Noir red is my new favorite color. -
Review from Jason H.
5/31/2007
Another great Winery out in the Santa Barbara/Solvang area.
This is one of the more famous wineries out here due to the son being on the show "Bachelor" I didn't even realize it until the girls I went with were all giddy about going to this winery. (haha).
It is one of the larger, nicer looking wineries in the area. Lovely view of the winery as you drive up and a great courtyard as well. The tasting room is large, but it does get crowded (at least when I was there).
The wine that I liked is their 2001 Merlot Reserve! The current Merlot Reserve is the 2003 version which is now priced at $29 a bottle. The 2001 reserve was priced at $35, but since I bought a case (12 bottles) they let me have it for $25. (must restock and try the 2003...only 1of the 2001 bottle left). I wasn't a huge merlot drinker until I tasted this one, and I have yet to find a finer Merlot as of yet. I hear that their Syrah's are good as well (must try!).
If you like white/sweet wines: I would highly recomment their Riesling. Not only do they come in a nice green bottle, it is also well priced at $10 (you can find these at bev-mo for $7 or so). Their souvignan blanc is pretty good as well. (very crisp with good fruit flavors).
They also have 2 (i think) other sister wineries...I know one of them is the Curtis winery. It's just down the street from firestone. It's a bit cozier and smaller. But the wines aren't as good. ;). Wine tasting fee is $10 which includes the glass and a free tasting at Curtis winery.
Oh! Did you know Firestone has BEER! too? I didn't know til I visited the winery! It's actually pretty decent as well. -
Review from Megan B.
6/19/2008
I'll admit it, I'm a snob. I try to only visit the smaller wineries, and yes, I'm one of those people who are always nodding their heads like they know exactly what the sommelier is talking about. I wasn't super jazzed at first about visiting Firestone since it's one of the bigger Central Coast wineries, but when you're traveling with the folks and a boyfriend who's praying that the winery somehow has a Firestone Brewery tucked away in the back, you just go with the flow.
When we first arrived we had just missed "the tour", but were told that we could catch up to them if we wanted. Although it sounded tempting, two minutes out in the sun and our sunburnt crew ran back inside for the booze. By the way, you should be able to sip on wine during the wine tour. Just a thought. Anywho, we were lucky enough to go on a Monday when it wasn't too busy. The woman who did our pours was nice and knowledgeable, and was nice enough to customize the types of wines for the just red and just white wine drinkers in our group. It has alcohol in it, who gives a fuck what color it is, but that's just me.
The wines were all good, and I was surprised by some of their wines that I normally wouldn't think I'd like, such as the sweeter whites. They had lots of delicious snacks for sampling about and their prices on their retail items weren't obscene like in many wineries. I regret not buying the Chardonnay Jalepeno Mustard. My only gripe is that they didn't have enough of the big reds that I normally enjoy. -
Review from Shirley F.
San Francisco, CA
5/19/2008
This is the Mondavi of Santa Barbara:
Gorgeous, expansive vineyard, but simply mediocre wine.
We stopped here because it is literally the first vineyard off the 101 exit and we had hoped to pick up some maps to figure out our own Sideways destinations. (Yes, I admit that this is poor planning on my part... but that's just my style and that's how I end up at most places I visit.)
The vineyard looks great albeit a little commercialized, but the wine just isn't at par with the look. There are a few scheduled tours throughout the day if you care to check out their facilities. Otherwise, the tasting room offers tastings for $10 if you want to start a day with very low expectations. It can only go up hill from here...
5 stars for the beautiful vineyard. 1 star for the wine. 3 stars overall.
