Santa Ynez in a glass, done right
Los Olivos · Solvang · Ranch-to-table Californian with Southern influences · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · July 27, 2026
RagingWine reviewed The Bear and Star’s wine list and gave it The Reliable — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
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Wingman Metrics
Walking into The Bear and Star — tucked inside the Fess Parker Wine Country Inn — the wine list feels like it was curated by someone who actually farms here. It's not trying to impress you with a 400-label tome; it's making a deliberate case for Santa Ynez Valley and the surrounding appellations. That focus is both its strength and its ceiling.
The list runs roughly 150-200 labels and leans hard into the local talent: Foxen, Stolpman, Beckmen, Dierberg, and of course Fess Parker himself all show up, which makes sense given the inn's heritage. Syrah and Pinot Noir anchor the reds — this is Sta. Rita Hills and Ballard Canyon country, and the list knows it. There's not a ton of reason to stray outside California here, and the list doesn't really invite you to — which might frustrate globe-trotters but will delight anyone who wants a deep, coherent read on the region. The gaps are real though: if you want old-world Burgundy or Rhône analogues to compare against the local stuff, you're largely out of luck.
Around 10-16 pours are available by the glass, priced between $18-$30, which is respectable for a wine country inn at this level. The glass list pulls from the same local producers, so you can work your way through the valley without committing to a full bottle. Rotation isn't aggressive — don't expect a new pour every week — but what's on is well-chosen.
Beckmen Vineyards Syrah — $60
Beckmen's Ballard Canyon Syrah punches well above its price point — structured, peppery, and built to last. At the lower end of the bottle range here, it's the move if you want something that feels like a splurge without actually being one.
Dierberg Vineyard Chardonnay
Everyone reaches for Pinot when they're in Santa Ynez, but Dierberg's Chardonnay from the Santa Maria Valley is quietly one of the more serious whites in the region — mineral-driven and restrained in a way that doesn't scream 'California butter bomb.' Most tables walk right past it.
Fess Parker Winery Pinot Noir
Look, it's fine — and of course it's on the list, this is literally the Fess Parker Inn. But you're paying inn-captive pricing on a wine you can find at a Whole Foods back home. It's not a bad Pinot; it's just not the reason you drove out to Los Olivos.
Stolpman Vineyards Syrah + Estate Wagyu Beef
Stolpman's Syrah from Ballard Canyon has the dark fruit and savory, meaty character to stand up to Wagyu's richness without getting steamrolled by the fat. It's a local-meets-local combination that actually earns the ranch-to-table premise this place is built on.
The Bottom Line
The Bear and Star is the rare hotel restaurant that takes its wine list seriously — regionally focused, properly stored, and staffed by people who can actually walk you through it. The pricing runs steep enough to sting, but if you're already in wine country eating estate-raised Wagyu, you've made your peace with that.
Alisal Ranch / Golf Course · Solvang · Casual American Grill
The Grill at the Ranch Course isn't a wine destination, but it's a smart, locally-honest list that respects its surroundings more than most golf course restaurants bother to. If you're already at Alisal Ranch, lean into the Santa Ynez producers and you'll drink well.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Buellton · Solvang · Californian farm-to-table, wood-fired, casual
Industrial Eats shouldn't have a wine list this good, and that's exactly why we like it. If you're already making the drive through the Santa Ynez Valley, this is the casual stop that earns a detour.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Santa Ynez · Solvang · Italian Trattoria
Trattoria Grappolo isn't trying to be a destination wine bar, and it doesn't need to be — it's a warm, well-run trattoria with a list that respects its address and feeds the food well. If you're in the Santa Ynez Valley and want local wines with good pasta, this is exactly the right call.
Solid Range
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Los Alamos · Solvang · Wood-fired flatbreads and seasonal Californian cuisine
Full of Life Flatbread is the best argument for pulling off the freeway in Los Alamos — the food and the wine list are both punching way above what a casual flatbread spot has any business delivering. If you're driving through wine country and skipping this because it doesn't look like a tasting room, that's on you.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Los Alamos · Solvang · Seasonal Californian farm-to-table
Pico is the rare restaurant where the wine program is as compelling as the drive to get there. If you're making the trip to Los Alamos, the list alone is reason enough to book a table and stay awhile.
Deep & Eclectic
Fair
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Seasonal Rotation
Proper
Los Alamos · Solvang · French Bistro
Bell's is the rare small-town restaurant where the wine list is as considered as the food, and the two actually talk to each other. If you're anywhere near Los Alamos, this is a destination — not a detour.
Deep & Eclectic
Fair
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
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