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An Affordable but Still World-Class Wine Tasting in Lompoc, CA

Kim Orlando

Updated

September 6, 2025

Retro vibes and colorful vintage goods at Babcock Winery, Lompoc, CA. Photo credit: Kim Orlando

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If you blink while driving through Lompoc, California, you might miss the charm hidden behind its no-frills facade. It’s not one of those polished wine country towns with design-forward boutique hotels. Lompoc is a little scruffy around the edges. It’s an old military town that hasn’t had much of a glow-up in decades. But if you care more about what’s in the glass than what’s on the sidewalk, Lompoc delivers.

Lompoc sits in Santa Barbara County, nestled into the cool, coastal Santa Rita Hills. It’s one of the few wine regions in California that runs east to west instead of north to south. That matters. It means coastal fog and ocean breezes funnel right through the valleys, keeping the vineyards cool and the grapes happy. And happy grapes make magical Pinot Noir and Chardonnays.

SheBuysTravel Tip: Call ahead to book tasting appointments. We got lucky that several were open the day we visited, but it’s definitely not a given.

Wine Tasting in Lompoc

Entrance sign to the Wine Ghetto, Lompoc. — Wine Ghetto sign in Lompoc, CA. Photo credit: Kim Orlando

Wineries in Downtown Lompoc

Longoria Wines
Lompoc Wine Ghetto
Sandhi
Flying Goat Cellars

Elegant tasting room. — Longoria Winery’s elegant tasting room, Lompoc, CA. Photo credit: Kim Orlando

We started our tasting day at Longoria Wines, right in the heart of downtown Lompoc. The space is elegant and welcoming, and the wines made a lasting first impression. The rosé was our favorite (dry, crisp, sit-by-the-pool sip-worthy), followed closely by the Lovely Rita Pinot.

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outdoor sitting area at the Longoria Winery. — Outside seating at Longoria Winery in downtown Lompoc, CA. Photo credit: Kim Orlando

The tasting room hostess, a Lompoc native, gave us a crash course in local wine culture and the history of the town. She knew her stuff: climate, soil and vineyards. Then Matt, the assistant winemaker, gave us a tour of the winemaking process and shared that Rick Longoria, the winery’s founder, still lends his palate to the wines today.

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The Lompoc Wine Ghetto sounds gritty, but it’s really a cluster of warehouse-style tasting rooms, each with its own unique personality.

SheBuysTravel Tip: Wine tasting is just one of the fun things to do in Lompoc.

Wine options to choose from. — Wine options at Sandhi Wines tasting room in Lompoc, CA. Photo credit: Kim Orlando

Sandhi gives upscale energy with single-vineyard pinots like the very popular and usually sold out Domaine de la Côte. Our host, Adam, is a sommelier who brings a wealth of knowledge to the experience.

Tasting room store — The eclectic tasting room and store at Flying Goat Cellars, Lompoc, CA. Photo credit: Kim Orlando

Flying Goat Cellars won us over with Goat Bubbles – a delicious sparkling pink wine – not too sweet, not too dry. It’s so good that the owner, Norm, was named 2025 Vintner of the Year by the Santa Rita Hills Wine Alliance.

Award winning wines — Award-winning wines at Flying Goat Cellars, Lompoc, CA. Photo credit: Kim Orlando

Wineries Along HWY 246

Babcock Winery & Vineyards
Foley Estates

Vineyard views from Babcock Winery, Lompoc, CA. Photo credit: Kim Orlando

Just a few miles outside of town on Highway 246, you’ll hit a stretch of estate wineries that deliver exactly what you imagine when you picture wine country: rolling vineyards, scenic patios and tasting rooms that make you want to stay awhile.

Babcock Winery is a standout—not just for its wines, but for its full-blown rock ‘n’ roll personality. The owner is a massive Tom Petty fan, and it shows. The tasting room is more like a curated vintage shop meets backstage lounge, complete with eclectic furniture (including chairs from Tom Petty’s actual house!), racks of retro T-shirts and playful, funky decor that has to be inspected.

We met a couple who makes the drive from LA to Lompoc regularly because they love the wines here so much.

Comfy tasting room with a giant fireplace at Foley Estates. — Giant fireplace and comfy couch in the tasting room at Foley Estates, Lompoc, CA. Photo credit: Kim Orlando

Wine is poured as soon as you enter the tasting room at Foley Estates, where the patio views are as impressive as the pours. The tasting room is spacious and overlooks the vineyards. We were happy to hang out and enjoy the breeze.

Where Should I Stay in Lompoc CA?

Pool area of the Embassy Suites — Embassy Suites pool area in Lompoc, CA. Photo credit: Kim Orlando

We stayed at the Embassy Suites. While not fancy, it is clean, all rooms are suites and we thought the breakfast omelets were fantastic. It’s one of the nicest options in town, along with the Hilton Garden Inn.

We were surprised that Lompoc doesn’t have any true luxury hotels with beautiful wineries and SpaceX so close by, but Embassy Suites works well for a comfortable stay.

There’s an outdoor pool with plenty of seating plus a tropical garden area with heat lamps and more seating. We were provided two complimentary drink tickets (cocktails included) and snacks at their nightly reception.

Free parking and Wi‑Fi add to the value.

While the property is clean and well‑kept, some areas show their age and could use a refresh.

FAQs about Wine Tasting in Lompoc CA

How do I get to Lompoc?
Most visitors drive in from Santa Barbara (about 1 hour), San Luis Obispo (1.5 hours) or Los Angeles (about 3 hours). The closest airport is Santa Barbara Airport (SBA).

When’s the best time to visit for wine?
Any time really. We were there in July and needed our jackets. It’s about 10-15 degrees cooler than Los Angeles. Summer is busier but still fun.

Do I need a car?
Yes. Wineries are spread out, especially those along Highway 246. There’s no reliable public transportation for wine tasting. Arrange a designated driver or hire a private car service if you plan to visit multiple tasting rooms.

Do I need a reservation for wine tasting?
Many Lompoc wineries have limited or seasonal hours, and some are only open on weekends. Reservations are recommended.

What else is there to do in Lompoc?
Check out our full guide to Things to Do in Lompoc.

Kim Orlando

Kim Orlando, founder of SheBuysTravel, is a lifelong traveler, an entrepreneur and a sought-after social media and marketing consultant. She has made hundreds of appearances on TV and in digital and print media, sharing advice and tips built on decades of travel experiences. Hailing from the hills of Kentucky and taking her story to New York, Los Angeles, and beyond, Kim built an online platform, the original TravelingMom, that has reached millions of moms and empowered them to explore the world with their families. Today, TravelingMom has evolved into SheBuysTravel. Kim has been featured on “News Nation,” “Today,” “Good Morning America” and on numerous satellite media tours. She has contributed travel guidance to outlets including The Washington Post, Good Housekeeping, Forbes, the Wall Street Journal and more. (Read more about Kim’s media appearances here) Her travel mantra is simple: All travel counts. “You don’t have to go far. Leaving your home is travel,” Kim says. “Wherever you go, even just to the next town over, you can learn something new, see someone and something you haven’t seen before. “It’s good for the brain and good for the soul.” An epiphany in early parenthood started Kim on the journey that led to SheBuysTravel. She’d been a fan of a newsletter for women travelers, and she saw an opportunity. “I thought something like that for moms could be extraordinarily helpful,” she said. “I was traveling for work, traveling for fun, and I was looking for support.” That seed grew into the award-winning website TravelingMom, created as a resource for traveling families of all stripes. Today, TravelingMom has evolved into SheBuysTravel, with an expanded mission to serve women travelers at any stage of life. Millions of readers have visited the site for trip planning help, travel secrets, destination information and gear recommendations. What sets SheBuysTravel’s content apart, Kim says, is its foundation in real-world experience. “Our writers and editors have actually gone out there and done this stuff,” she says. “They’ve booked the flights, tried the tour, tested travel clothing, visited that new hot spot to see if it’s worth the hype. It’s all real.” Memorable Adventures A 2022 tour Kim guided to Bhutan was a particularly standout experience. “Bhutan sounds so exotic, of course,” she said. “But the part where my heart just glows and warms is thinking of the people we met – amazing women doing amazing things in Bhutan.” Their ranks included a former police officer whose ventures into food science helped mitigate food insecurity for residents of Bhutan’s highlands. Top Tips Planning for travel can be daunting, Kim acknowledges. “I always say: Go anyway. No trip is going to be perfect. There’s always going to be something you didn’t expect, something that doesn’t go the way you pictured or planned it. And that something is what’s going to make it a great trip.” And on a practical note: “Go early! Getting to the airport or hitting the road just an hour earlier relieves so much stress.” Kim’s Background Kim, a graduate of the University of Arizona’s Eller College of Management, holds degrees in finance and entrepreneurship and has deep experience in developing and running businesses. Her previous work includes developing and running communications workshops and overseeing document management for corporations. SheBuysTravel hits a sweet spot where Kim’s two loves of travel and entrepreneurship meet. “The longer I work in this field, I only want to do more,” she says. “I find the travel world so exciting – not just the trips, but the whole online world of travel. There are still so many opportunities.” The World Awaits “The ‘best trip ever’ probably won’t be the same for an empty-nester or mom of three versus a single woman celebrating a bachelorette party with her friends,” Kim says. “We want to keep it real for traveling women, no matter what their age, life stage, where they came from or where they’re going. “We want to inspire women to travel in any shape or form.” In her free time, Kim enjoys visiting her adult kids, creating trips and traveling with her BFFs to explore the world. Her most recent adventures can be found on Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn.

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