Brander Winery is located in Santa Barbara County’s Santa Ynez Valley, about a 45 minute drive over the mountain from the city of Santa Barbara. This winegrowing region recently starred in the hit movie Sideways, which followed two wayward souls in search of good wine, true love and even a little golf. One longtime winemaking standout in the Santa Ynez Valley is Brander Winery, which is most known for producing exceptional Sauvignon Blanc. The Sauvignon Blanc grape flourishes in the Santa Ynez Valley, where a combination of warm days and fog-kissed nights is perfect for the varietal. Brander’s 2006 Sauvignon Blanc ($15) is a classic example, with smooth, racy flavors of melon and citrus, followed by a crisp, refreshing finish.
If you saw Sideways, you remember the main characters Miles and Jack hacking away on a beautiful golf course. That would be the Alisal River Course, just down the road from Brander Winery. The Alisal River Course is a sister to the more spectacular Alisal Ranch Course, but you can’t go wrong with either. Both offer sweeping views of the surrounding mountains and wine country, not to mention some challenging holes amid otherwise friendly layouts.