Get Cozy

Kicking back with flame and grape

by hana-lee sedgWICk

While we may still be seeing sunshine around here, there’s no mistaking these shorter days and cooler evenings mean the autumn season is upon us Now’s the time to throw on a sweater and cozy up beside a fire with a glass of red wine, and these Santa Barbara County tasting rooms are just the places to do so as we head into the winter months

In downtown Santa Barbara, snag the coveted leather chairs in front of the fireplace at

Grassini Family Vineyards’ tasting room in the historic El Paseo complex, where sustainably-farmed, Bordeaux-style wines and an inviting setting await Or, head to the bi-coastal Paradise Springs Winery in the Funk Zone, where a selection of their California and Virginia-produced wines can be enjoyed beside the gas fire pit on the covered patio

In the Santa Ynez Valley, “cozy” may not be the word to describe the grand Brave & Maiden Estate. However, this modern, upscale winery offers seated tasting experiences on the couches in front of a floor-to-ceiling fireplace, making for a comfortable place to savor their red wines — all made from their SIP certified sustainable vineyards In Buellton, the urban tasting room of Alma Rosa Winery & Vineyards has an impressive focal point — an olive tree — in the middle of the space, but when the fireplace in the back is roaring, there’s no better spot to sample one of the brand’s cool-climate varietals from the Sta . Rita Hills .