Tickets are on sale now for Taste of the Santa Ynez Valley, which returns to the wine country gem of California’sCentral Coast Oct. 2–5. Each year, the four-day, six-town celebration offers an experiential culinary exploration of the region’s food, wine, and more — and the people behind it all — in what has become a favorite tradition in the area.
Organized by Visit the Santa Ynez Valley and Sunset Magazine, the festival highlights each of the region’s six communities — Ballard, Buellton, Los Alamos, Los Olivos, Santa Ynez, and Solvang — with curated experiences that bring out the unique character of each. From communal dinners under the stars to outdoor adventures and one-of-a-kind wine tastings, more than a dozen main and ancillary events showcase what makes Santa Ynez Valley such a treasured culinary and wine destination.
Each year of Taste of the Santa Ynez Valley is unique, too. On Saturday, Taste of the Santa Ynez Valley will host a dinner and grand tasting event in Solvang for the first time in the event’s history. Served on a grand, long communal table on Copenhagen Drive, each course of the exclusive, family-style dinner will be prepared by chefs from Peasants FEAST, Coast Range, First & Oak, and The Gathering Table.
Taste the Santa Ynez Valley will also take a deep dive into the region’s history and cultural heritage with the Chumash Museum and Cultural Center Dinner on Sunday. Set against the backdrop of the stunning, recently opened 14,000-square-foot museum, the Sunday evening dinner will feature cuisine from top Santa Ynez restaurants — including S.Y. Kitchen, Willows at Chumash Casino Resort, and Ellie’s Tap & Vine — and will be preceded by a welcome wine tasting and reception.
The event promises an unforgettable way to connect with the food and wine of the region and the heritage of the Santa Ynez Chumash tribe.
“Taste of the Santa Ynez Valley brings people closer to the essence of what makes our region special,” said Shelby Sim, president/CEO of Visit the Santa Ynez Valley, which organizes the event. “It’s not just about world-class food and wine — though there’s plenty of that — it’s about the character of our towns, the warmth of our people, and the deep cultural history that runs through everything we do. With events like the Chumash Museum and Cultural Center Dinner, we’re able to share stories and flavors that reflect the heritage and culture that is at the heart of the Santa Ynez Valley experience.”
Taste of the Santa Ynez Valley begins with a day in Los Alamos, the region’s haven for foodies, on Thursday, Oct. 2. The festivities will culminate with the dinner at the Chumash Museum and Cultural Center on Sunday, Oct. 5. Along the way, attendees are invited to enjoy special communal and chef-driven dinners, wine tastings, vineyard experiences, zipline adventures, horseback riding, a ceramics class, and much more.
All official Taste of the Santa Ynez Valley events are ticketed and must be purchased in advance, ranging in price from $35 for a walk and wine-tasting experience through the rolling Zaca Mesa Vineyard to $180 for the communal dinners in Los Alamos, Los Olivos, Solvang, and the Chumash Museum. Tickets can be purchased from the Taste of the Santa Ynez Valley website at eventsbyenfuego.ticketsauce.com/e/taste-of-the-santa-ynez-valley-25/tickets.
As with every year, 5% of all ticket sales for every Taste of the Santa Ynez Valley event will benefit local charities.
For more information on tickets and a full list of Taste of the Santa Ynez Valley events, dates, and times, visit TasteSYV.com.
