Ojai

The Dutchess is doing something quietly impressive — a focused, local-leaning California list in a charming old building in one of the most underrated wine towns in the state. We'd send a friend here specifically for the wine.

Olivella has held a Wine Spectator Best of Award of Excellence since 2006, and the list earns it — serious producers, fair pricing, and a local sensibility that doesn't feel forced. It's the kind of wine program you don't expect to find tucked into a quiet California valley, which is exactly what makes it worth the drive.