Babcock Winery & Vineyards

We chose Babcock Winery after reviewing the website. Our visit was everything we hoped for - a relaxing, casual and informative wine tasting experience. Jason, friendly and knowledgeable, poured the wine while offering facts about the origin of the fruit and the wine makers approach for each wine in the flight. The winery has a large indoor area and comfortable seating. We opted for one of the outdoor shady patio spaces where we could sip and enjoy snacks from home. A bonus was the company of the black winery cat. Two favorites were selected for purchase before we left Babcock Winery, the 2023 Radical Pinot Noir and the 2023 Top Cream Chardonnay.

Our first time here and it was awesome experience! The wine tasting was awesome and reasonably priced for 5 one once pouring for $24 for menu we picked. The facility is nestled in hill country with 360° beautiful country views. Very spacious facility with lots of indoor and outdoor sitting. Plenty of souvenirs and all kinds of wine to choose from. The sevice was outstanding! Very friendly and made to feel very much welcome! If we're back to this area we will come again!

Love the feel of the property and tasting room but was most impressed by the hospitality! Jamie, Mike, and Bryan Babcock himself made me feel so welcome and even celebrated during my birthday visit! Everything I tried here was delightful and I cannot recommend them enough! For anyone familiar with Sweet Bordeaux whites called “Sauternes” or Hungarian Tokaji, do yourself a favor and pick up their ultra late harvest viognier which for this part of the world is a once in a lifetime occurrence. If I lived anywhere close by, I would be bringing friends and family all the time. In the meantime, I will be recommending to anyone I hear coming down this way. Thank you again for the most memorable winery visit ever!

Unforgettable Experience at Babcock Winery! I just went for my 40th birthday and had the pleasure of having Bryan Babcock take us into the Barrel Room for a tasting. It was SUCH a treat. Bryan is just out of this world knowledgeable, with so much experience making wine in the Valley - and a cool guy all around. It gave us all a deeper appreciation for the winemaking process and all of the hard work and detail that goes into it. We then went into the tasting room and picked out one of the couch areas to sit and enjoy another tasting. Their staff is all exceptional, with not only sharing detail with each pour, but just made us feel like we were right at home. Their tasting room is a VIBE!! I have never been there without buying some sort of cool jewelry or funky vintage item. Whether you're a wine connoisseur or just looking to enjoy family/friend time and check out their rad spot, Babcock really does have it all. Thank you Bryan, Lisa & Christina and all of the staff there for the years and years of great service & exceptional wine. You really have something VERY special there. Till next time ;) Xo, Lindsay

I am not the pretentious type when it comes to wine, but…okay okay I’m writing a google review about a winery so yes I am just a little bit vain. So i’ll make this as little about me as I can. Joey was working the tasting room counter at Babcock winery when my friends and I came to do a wine tasting. We were stunned by his enthusiasm and passion for the “transverse mountain ranges that funneled microfog in from the sea to create a porous rock in the soil of the…” okay, see? Wine tasting is like that. There’s a lot you take others’ words for, because it’s kind of hard to understand, and some of it starts to make sense after a few tastes. But one is thing for certain: we were excited to go back into the tasting room every time our glasses ran empty so that our palates could get a joyful introduction of the next vintage from Joey—and then we found out IT WAS JOEY’S FIRST DAY. I wish I could say this marvelous customer experience was only isolated to our interactions with Joey so that I could maintain credibility and not seem over-complimentary, but in fact we had a similar amazement at the knowledge of the other tenders working the counter. Needless to say, I cannot speak more highly of the staff at Babcock Winery! By all means, go for some great wines (sourced locally from Santa Barbara County), but don’t forget to ask for the grapes’ stories too—the staff is excited to share. Excellent—5 stars!

Stopped in for a quick drink while driving between Solvang and Lompoc. We came away pleasantly impressed. In addition to the delicious wine there are plenty of thing to look at or buy. There are also plenty of chairs to just sit down and enjoy while the other half shops. Many of the items are good for small Christmas presents or birthdays. A fun thing to do is sign the guest book with your non-dominant hand. I did so under duress. Just do t tell anyone I had fun doing it.

The best vibe of any winetasting room I have ever seen. And the biggest with three counters serving wine amid a bunch of eclectic furniture and decorations (some of which are for sale such as fun wine signs and decor). Of course they have excellent wine. They have space both inside and out. Sadly they have a severely beat up pool table on the patio which makes no sense to me; whatever. Outstanding in so many ways it should serve as a model for other winetasting experiences.

This place is lively , fun , relaxed and super chill unlike the neighboring winery ! I am so glad we stopped here after experiencing the snobby atmosphere next door. The staff here is so chill , friendly & will make you feel welcome 🤗 you can spread out and find privacy very easily and the prices of the wines are very reasonable. I highly recommend this winery to everyone! This place deserves a solid 5 stars !!!!! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Love the feel of the property and tasting room but was most impressed by the hospitality! Jamie, Mike, and Bryan Babcock himself made me feel so welcome and even celebrated during my birthday visit! Everything I tried here was delightful and I cannot recommend them enough! For anyone familiar with Sweet Bordeaux whites called "Sauternes" or Hungarian Tokaji, do yourself a favor and pick up their ultra late harvest viognier which for this part of the world is a once in a lifetime occurrence. If I lived anywhere close by, I would be bringing friends and family all the time. In the meantime, I will be recommending to anyone I hear coming down this way. Thank you again for the most memorable winery visit ever!

I absolutely love Babcock wines! The ambience at the winery, the staff, and wines are all amazing! The owner gave us a peek into the harvesting process & his wife does a fantastic job with the warehouse. I love that you can wine taste & check out vintage records, clothing, jewelry, and other Knick knacks.

A group of friends went for the Wicker Wine 5k and we were blown away by the scenery and wines. We arrived to a large parking area and enjoyed our 5k and then bought a bottle of white wine to enjoy on a blanket in the shade with snacks. The atmosphere is full of happy people enjoying their wine and tons of wine raring locations inside the store and the separately in a tasting room area. The staff we so kind with recommendations and I couldn't hesitate to just relax and enjoy the views with all the wine options!

I discovered this winery during Covid & have been here numerous times ever since. It's one of my favorite spot to visit every time I'm in the Lompoc/solvang area. I love their ambiance. It's beautifully decorated & hip. There's one section where the owner's wife decorated an area to sell vintage goods, clothing, & jewelry. I always spend a good amount of time browsing around. I've never been a huge Pinot fan bc they are either too light or too acidic but I was impressed with All of their Pinots including their other reds, whites & rose. The flavors of each wine catered well to my taste. We revisited Babcock couple of days ago on a Sunday & my husband & I shared a tasting each. The price for the tastings were affordable & excellent in taste. The 2 men who served us were friendly & attentive the entire time. They were patient as we took our time savoring each wine. They even allowed us to stay past their closing time & offered us to revisit a tasting we enjoyed. I will be a long time customer here. I highly recommend anyone looking to discover exceptional Pinots & white wines to stop by here bc you will not be disappointed!

Thank you Babcock winery for a nice tasting and fun shopping experience! Delicious wines and an awesome selection of items from vintage silk scarves, pins and patches to jewelry, tops and towels to name just a small portion of the cool things they have for purchase! 80's memory lane!

This winery also sells by the glass. I had one rose. The wall art is so interesting. Lots of old album covers posters,

Christina was amazing! Came by a few years ago but finally finishing up the review. I think it really speaks to something if you can remember a winery you haven't been to in two years. Babcock is definitely a wonderful place to spend an afternoon and it's more than just a simple winery! There's some activities you can do while sipping on the wine like shopping or shooting at the pool table. It's also fun to play with other people's dogs if they're around. This place is definitely IG worthy as well. The one wine I won't forget is their late harvest viognier, I imagine it would be what nectar tastes like. If you are a fan of sweet wines you'll definitely love this one. Service is also on point as well, everyone is so knowledgeable and welcoming. Next time I'm in the area I'm definitely coming back!

Our first visit to @Babcock Winery... The good: The wine! Words don't do it justice. Arturo... Great. Rey... So nice. Winemaker Bryan Babcock... Wise like the membership brochure says, "It's not just craft, it's wisdom." As well as the cats and dog! (Wisdom is the ability to use your knowledge and experience to make sound judgments and decisions, demonstrating good sense and insight. It goes beyond mere intelligence, encompassing the ability to understand and apply knowledge to real-life situations, often with a focus on ethical considerations and long-term consequences.) The Bad: Christina... Rude? Not so much... Condescending? Just a tad... Lacking knowledge of the Babcock wine she was pouring us... absolutely! FYI Christina, Spanish Springs Vineyard is in the San Luis Obispo Coast (SLO Coast) AVA 35°10'10.7"N 120°37'39.2"W NOT Santa Maria (Valley) AVA as you insisted! Bottom line: We will not become wine club members because of the bad taste (pun intended) Christina left in our mouth. Would I purchase Babcock Wine if we were to find it on a restaurant wine list... Absolutely! Sad to encounter an employee that needs to find a job more suited to her passion... It's clearly not front of the house in the wine industry. PS My wife still felt in her heart to tip Christina $20

The service and the selection of wonderful wines. Well, educated staff with a complete knowledge of each wine they were representing. It was both a wonderful tasting experience, but moreover, an educational experience as well.

We had a great time at Babcock! We went to another winery first and could hear the music up the hill so we went to Babcock. Everything about Babcock was fabulous! We didn't do a tasting and we bought a bottle of wine. We were not disappointed! We should have stopped here first.

Pleasant surprise so unique and eclectic. So many items to look at while enjoying your wine. We purchase a bottle and found a little nook where all the vinyl album covers were on the wall. I would definitely come again. Relaxed atmosphere and friendly staff. On the down side... with all the vintage artifacts it smelled like a thrift store. Especially this red cushions. We eventually went outdoors to enjoy the wine and fresh air.

Our "go to winery" when we are in town. As wine club members, we are always greeted with warm and friendly smiles. Mike was engaging and welcoming! We always feel at home here. We love love love the wine and the merchandise. Galvanized Synergy is our favorite now! Bryan and Lisa do a phenomenal job! Thank you for your hospitality! The Sweeney's

great 70s 80 montage of a place staff was incredibly nice & friendly & helpful loved their late harvest wines Great ambiance, ladies back atmosphere & great customer service. Huge winery area to pursue at your leisure inside & out their large winery area. I definitely recommend this place & would come back again.

What a gem. The wines are bold, vibrant, different; single grape varietals, which you won't normally find made into a singular wine - brave wine makers. So worth the jaunt. Wine is different for each individual, you may find something you like AND if you don't you'll have a blast shopping in their shop. There's buttons, towels, napkins with funny sayings, just a large array of things to peruse while you taste wine. Our wine pourer knew the wines, was on point & made the wine tasting memorable. Cheers to the self proclaimed 'time traveler'. Very easy going place, looks as if you can bring lunch & eat at their outdoor tables. We shall return!

We love Babcock! It's always a great time with delicious wines. They play fun music, every wall and corner is filled with unique art and there's lots of good shopping. Every area both inside and out has a different vibe. You can sit on a couch indoors or enjoy their huge outdoor patio. They have a pool table, a small trail so walk on and in busy weekends they open the extra storage room with lots of great pieces for sale. All of the staff is super friendly. We've been a number of times and everyone is welcoming. They're super dog friendly. Babcock is a must to taste and see - you won't be disappointed.

In addition to some truly delicious wines - Grenache being my favorite - the place is tastefully jammed with eclectic decor and wares; there are also many comfy seating choices (think overstuff leather sofas) throughout the large space. Epic comes to mind in terms of eye candy and interesting items. And the wine! Service is laid back but efficient and knowledgable. What could go wrong? Nothing apparently. I've been here several times and it has been consistently lovely. So what are you waiting for? Go get your tushes on the cushes and crush some great wines.

OMG the late harvest viognier "once in a lifetime" is like candy! Mark & Jason were friendly and helpful and Reggie was one cool cat. Also liked the petit verdot Fathom in a nice bottle also. Shopped and found a cool vintage jacket for the hubs! Been here twice, I'm sure it's not the last time, today was quiet.

Friendly and helpful staff, really great wine and a very cool space. So good we became members!

Loved the wine but can you put up a new American flag please. One that's up now is torn apart. Thank you Pete Ferrarini USMC Ret.

Fun and unique ambiance, especially if you like country vibes and classic music. Very nice wines and lovely staff. Mike was our host and he was fantastic--informative, friendly, and very welcoming

Such a unique winery with beautiful, expansive views to boot. Seating seems to be outside mostly and is spread out across the grounds. Quirky seating arrangements which all seem to have been repurposed from something. Pinor Noir is their jam here and theirs are excellent. Tasting flights are definitely more on the expensive side, but they are completely worth it. The server who helped us was knowledgeable and succinct. Her descriptions focused on the regions where the grapes were grown and collected and also under what type of conditions they were grown in. Very different perspective for this tasting for sure. Interestingly, the tasters for that day didn't offer wines with grapes which were harvested directly from the vineyards surrounding the area. I wish they had their high end tasting flight consisting largely of Pinot Noir, but their $30 flight with 6 pours did include some rather tasty products (Picpoul, Chardonnay, '18 Radical Pinot Noir, Grenache, Syrah). 2018 apparently was a good year and The Radical is a testament to that claim. Before we left, each member of our party made it a point to stock up on bottles of their Pinot Noir as their wine, in general, was clearly of a superior quality. They even have very affordable Pinot Noir if you don't necessarily want to go big on their vintage bottles ($25 and $35). Of course, I had to grab at least one expensive bottles too because I am such a wine enthusiast now. A very memorable winery and such a worthy destination.

This is probably one of the nicest wineries that I've ever been to. Staff is so friendly, nice, and accommodating. We did winetasting flights and ordered by the glass and everyone we tried was better than the next. We love this winery and love the comfy, cozy atmosphere and will definitely be going back, we bought some wine and cannot wait to enjoy it at home.

We came for some wine and sat around in the back picnic area all day. Time flew by; we had a wonderful time and stayed until closing. Perfect for a peaceful weekend getaway.

Good service and ambiance. I believe it was Michael (forgive me if I forgot his name as I'm writing this over a week later). The wine was great and so was our tasting room associate. We went a few minutes before opening and it was the first winery we hit in Lompoc. Very good wines. I was excited to try the Our Lady of Guadalupe collaboration which I purchased a bottle of and their 2019 Fathom. Both were excellent. I'm only sorry we talked our hosts head off probably but he was super nice and was a gracious person :). We will be back!!!

Met a couple at another winery. After talking for a while and sampling a flight at the same time, they mentioned they are members at Babcock and how good the wines are there (since we seemed to have similar taste). So, since we were spending a wine weekend in the Santa Ynez Valley, decided the next day to check out Babcock. A little bit of a drive toward Lompoc but so worth it!! The place is very eclectic and cool. James served up some very nice wines along with a great conversation. Their Petit Verdot Rose, deeply chilled, was wow!! (I'm typically not a huge rose fan), and their Pinot & Syrah excellent as well. Loved the place!!! Check it out - so much fun!!

What a beautiful spot fantastic staff(yes you Chris) a gem of a location. But don't just come for the amazing wine their store is. Off the charts eclectic does t begin to co we it. It's a little drive back and the road is a little rough then you get to the big old barn full of finds you cannot not buy

Hadn't been to Babcock in many years, but because we were looking for something different then the places we always go, and(primarily) because they offered outdoor seating and tastings, we decided to visit. We were very happy with the beautiful location, the staff was friendly and accommodating and the vines were fantastic! So glad we revisited Babcock and we will definitely be back- even joined the wine club!

Highly recommend this place! James, Chris and team are fun and knowledgeable. We not only learned about the wine but also about the surrounding area. The music and retro rock and roll memorabilia for sale and show make the tasting room entertaining. We purchased a bottle and have many notes to purchase when we get home from our local wine shop.

Wine was spectacular! We were surprised by certain varietals that typically weren't our favorite but were mastered in a delicious way that made us reconsider our tastes. Mark really helped guide us to some delicious wines that we ended up purchasing and really opened our palettes. Tess stepped in when Mark was busy with other clients and was great at filling in the gap. The decor is super cool with lots of fun curiosities. We're so glad we came here! We can't wait to go back. Thank you Mark and Tess!

We always plan a visit when we make a trip to Santa Barbara. We also always leave with more wine than we initially planned to buy. The staff are so friendly and generous! We were able to taste more wines than listed on the menu. It's always a fun time visiting Babcock!

I cannot begin to do justice to Babcock. With a review that is. We had two very different types of friends tell us this was one of their favorite wineries, anywhere. Finally went. 11 am on a Thursday. Is this a museum or hippy experience or great winery or all or just a fun experience? Our winetender was a DJ rocker. Nice guy. Make him shake the rose to shake it into a pink cloud. Crazy. Tastings were all fabulous. My friend renewed her membership so we got a couple extra tastes. Yeah! Go browse the albums and too cool cards and signs for sale. Go into the "luxury" port o potties, what the heck. No pretensions allowed here. Maybe just a massive reminder to enjoy and giggle a bit more. Cheers.

Excellent spot to stop for a tasting, love the rock & roll gift shop adjacent to the bar, also bought several bottles and have yet to be disappointed We'll definitely return

This is a fun place to taste. Good wine and wine experts berhind the 2 separate tasting counters. Very particular wines from a successful vintner who can do what he wants. The space is like a big museum/bazaar. A curation of all kinds of neat stuff, from rawhide furniture to rock and roll t-shirts. Erupe-style outdoor table area as well. People were enjoying all zones. Give yourself a couple hours to enjoy. You'll b glad u did!

OMG Talk about an experience. We were immersed in a bit of history and great vibes Everyone working there was so helpful! Dakota was so nice and if you get chance to meet her and have her help you, you won't be disappointed. The owner Bryan was so kind and shared some awesome stories of how the winery came to be. Wine is delicious!

While the local area is known for their Pinot noir (and believe me there is alot of good Pinot here at Babcock) the best Cabernet sav I have ever had locally is here at Babcock ! The 2017 block fifteen! A truly deep and complicated cab that will only get better with time. Babcock also boosts a beautiful estate with plenty of room to socially distance, along with the quirky barn to find all kinds of cool Knick-knacks like old vinyl you can buy. Also if you are a fan of dessert wine the 2018 "once in a lifetime" viognier is a must try standout!

It had been 20 or 25 years since I visited Babcock Winery. I have loved and enjoyed their wines at many events and local restaurants. Last week I came back. Being Covid conscientious we were escorted to a table by our wonderful server Briana. I don't believe that they are doing tastings at the moment but they were running a special on the most delicious bottle of Chardonnay, it was Top Cream, about 40% new French Oak and the grapes are sourced from Donnachadh vineyards. It is a nice homage to the more buttery Chards of the 80's without being unpleasant to the current generation of stainless steel Chardonnay fans. I had such a good time last week that I came back up again today. If you live in Santa Barbara it is a 45 minute drive. They share a driveway with Melville which also has top quality, delicious wines so it is kind of a two-fer. I was lucky to get served by Briana again and being a very slow, uncharacteristically foggy afternoon I tried a couple reds before deciding on the red blend Galvanized Synergy (and the name says it all). Yummy.

Had the pleasure of visiting this gem after being in town for work. Didn't catch the gentleman's name when we 1st arrived but he made us feel at home & provided recommendations so we started with Sauvignon Blanc which was lovely. We ended up doing a group tasting & enjoyed every selection! The Pinot Noir was the favorite hands down! Cheese was also excellent specifically the Gouda. Dakota was so awesome in accommodating all our requests & making sure I got all my favorites to take back home to share before they closed! Can't wait to make it back up here!

The Babcock winery was awesome! The guy who was manning the tasting area was very knowledgeable and kind. He let us taste several wines. He helped us learn what we like better. And as a bonus, their wines are actually very good. We visited Ken Brown and Fess P. but their wines were nowhere as good as Babcock. Our favs were the Carignan and the St. Rita Hills Chardonnay.

I will say that once the owner found out about all of this by reading my review, she tried to make things right. I have to give credit where credit is due. I am upgrading my rating a bit and hoping there are no further issues with my wine club shipments. I do enjoy their wines.

We went there on Saturday and was greeted by Chris outside. He was on his phone constantly and wasn't very friendly towards us. Not the first time we have encountered this with him. Was hoping for a better experience. I

Attended a private tasting event here and had an absolute ball! The Pinots were kicking & I loved the Syrah. What a great selection of reds. The deja vu, the ocean ghost... Great names and even better wines. Loved the upper crust as well, positively divine. The Americana accents featured at this winery and tasting room are indeed distinct. It its original and unpretentious; it feels natural and goes with the area. The private room of the special event space was filled with old records. It was like a time capsule for those who grew up in that era; excellent conversation starter to be sure. The spreads were as wonderful as they looked, I took photos. The charcuterie plate was balanced and paired with the wines well. The brownies were some of the best I've ever had in my life but the chocolate chip cookies left something to be desired. The staff was terrific. He encouraged us to go inside when we were on the fence about which bottle to purchase and they have us a free sampling of the other pinots not being served outside. It was such a cool and different spot. The ride there was beautiful and reason enough to go back. I really enjoyed our day here and look forward to returning for some more of those delicious pinots

Whatever you do if you are from out of state and buy wine to be shipped, be sure you take pictures of everything you buy and be sure to keep all your paperwork and receipts. We recently visited while on vacation from out of state. We purchased a case of wine to be shipped, including four bottles of 2008 Fathom. The four bottles were pulled from stock and placed on the bar in front of us. We were so excited about this we took a photo. After we got home, we received an email telling us they only had three bottles of 2008 Fathom to ship. This is after we saw all four and paid for all four bottles. Be sure you watch them closely and demand they sign a statement verifying the wine you purchased will be shipped to you as promised and paid for. Buyer Beware!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

One of the most memorable wineries we visited on our anniversary. This winery has beautiful views and amazing wine. We did two tastings and every single wine we had was perfect. When you walk in their tasting room their is so much to see and buy. We got our kids some jewelry and Vinyls. I can't remember the ladies name but she was the manager and she was extremely attentive and even let me taste the Rosé they have which taste so good it's perfect for a summer day. This winery is a must when in town.

Definitely the best gift shop of all the area's wineries! Lots of fun merchandise in a warren of funky little spaces. Plus a great collection of artifacts such as old typewriters ! Serviceable wines, although you'll find infinitely better product right next for at Melville Vineyards. A fascinating example of the difference in winemaking techniques.

Babcock is the biz! Lovely winery & worth the stop. I came to Babcock for a group tasting and sampled six wines. Pours are generous, and service is knowledgeable. Of the six wines, four were great, one was just okay, and one got poured into the spit bucket - good numbers, in my opinion. The Deja Vu Pinot Noir is my favorite of the bunch and, of course, carries the biggest price tag ($60.) But worth it. And though I usually don't like whites too much, the Top Cream Chardonnay is fantastic too ($45.) Plan to stay at Babcock for a while - there's some stellar views & comfy outdoor seating.

Favorite winery of the weekend. We popped in here after hitting a few others and we just really enjoyed everything about this place. We had a 2 for 1 tasting coupon which made our visit even better! Not only is this a great tasting room, but it also has lots of other cute merchandise to check out. My mom isn't into wine so she enjoyed checking out the loot while we sipped away. We started with: 2018 SPARKLING CLAIRETTE MÉTHODE ANSCESTRALE, "PÉT-NAT", LOVE GARDEN $ 30.00 and bought two of these. Who doesn't like bubbles and on a super hot day, this was exactly what we needed. We tasted a handful of others and then .... then he poured the: 2017 BLACK FIFTEEN Cabernet Sauvignon and OMG I was sold. Absolutely delicious and for sure the most expensive (I'm a cheapskate) wine I've ever purchased. It's not even on their website yet! At $60 a bottle, this one will be stored for our 2020 Thanksgiving dinner. I may have to order a few more because I'm not gonna want to share a drop. Overall a fun way to end our weekend adventure and hopefully will be back next year.

Babcock Winery is absolutely sensational! The staff is beyond hospitable, makes you feel like you're apart of the family. The ambiance wise incredible, like stepping into a time machine! They have a wide selection of vintage items that are beyond entertaining. The wine is memorable, so much so that I will be sure to look for this vineyard when I return home to the Hawaiian islands. Thank you Babcock Winery for a once in a lifetime experience!!!

Great wine, great environment. Came in late, but we had such a great experience with Christina that we came back the next day! Was again met with great wine and great hospitality with Chris. Definitely a must visit!

Hands down, the best winery in Santa Barbara county. The atmosphere is amazing! Staff couldn't be any better! All around good vibes, peace and enjoyment. Bring a picnic, friends and all the rest is just waiting for you to show up. Enjoy!! Also, pet friendly!!