Santa Barbara.com - Wineries: Arthur Earl

Arthur Earl
2921 Grand Ave.
Los Olivos, CA.
(800) 646 EARL
Tasting: 11-6 daily
Fee: $4 includes logo glass
$10 - $20 per bottle
Wine Club Available

This small winery produces less than 2500 cases of wines with an emphasis on varieties traditional to the Rhone and Piemonte, including Roussanne, Syrah, Mourvedre, Nebbiolo and more.

The tasting room staff told us that the wine list changes often so we shouldn't hold them to it. The wines are produced in very small lots - usually less than 300 cases. This gives them a very broad selection of wines.

We found three of the six wines sampled that day to be excellent - the Grenache (at $18/bottle a good deal) and the Nebbiolo, which was very 'drinkable' and the Mourvedre, which was a very solid, well balanced wine. The other three were actually marked v.v. good on our tasting notes rather than excellent. I guess that says something about the winery!

From Santa Barbara:
Take Highway 101N and take the 154 exit just past Buellton. When you reach Los Olivos, turn right onto Grand Avenue. The Winery Tasting Room will be on the right.