My daughter chose this winery for us to visit on Halloween, and it turned out to be the perfect choice! We were staying at the Ritz-Carlton Bacara for my niece's wedding, and since we had a full day to spend in Santa Barbara, we decided to come here -- and we're so glad we did! The winery was super cute and had the perfect Halloween vibe we were looking for. The person that assisted us was wearing a dinosaur inflated costume. It was so fun! Our original plan was to have a drink and then walk around downtown Santa Barbara, but we loved it so much that we ended up staying the entire time. We were seated in a cozy living room-style area with a fireplace right beside us -- it felt so warm and inviting. Later in the afternoon, the Dodgers game came on, so we enjoyed watching part of it while sipping our wine and just relaxing. They even had a fun Halloween special that paired chocolates and candies with their wines, which made the experience extra festive and unique. The charcuterie board was absolutely delicious -- we ordered extra bread and crackers because everything was so good! We had such an amazing time here. I can't express enough how much we enjoyed it. If you're ever in Santa Barbara, definitely come check this place out! read more

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After a truly disappointing and uncomfortable experience at another winery on the same block (Melville Winery), we walked into J. Wilkes Winery hoping to reset the tone of our day -- and it completely exceeded our expectations in every way. From the moment we arrived, the staff at J. Wilkes was warm, welcoming, and genuinely kind. Their positive energy instantly lifted our spirits. Everyone we interacted with was pleasant, professional, and attentive, making us feel not just like customers, but like valued guests. We were encouraged to relax and enjoy the space. We were even allowed to play a friendly card game at our table while sipping our wine, which added a fun and personal touch to the tasting. The team struck the perfect balance of being available, informative, and never overbearing. The wines themselves were fantastic -- smooth, rich, and well-presented with helpful guidance from the staff. Every pour came with insight, and you could tell the team truly loves what they do. This was the highlight of our wine tasting day in Santa Barbara, and we're so grateful we chose to stop here. If you're looking for a place that treats you with respect, makes you feel welcome, and serves incredible wine, J. Wilkes is the place to go. We will absolutely be returning! read more

J. Wilkes Wines - Wineries Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

This was our first tasting for the weekend... It was a little early so we were trying to adjust our tasting palates. We sat at the bar, a little bit slow in the service . But once the gal got going, it was a lot better. The explanations of the regions and areas for which they get their wine was very interesting. They were all interesting and good . They had a very quaint little fireplace off to the side with some seating so Cozy. I would recommend stopping in for a little wine tasting read more

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Beautiful place with amazing service. Located in Santa Barbara and has chances to be busy. But no matter how busy it is the servers will handle everything professionally, they are absolutely very kind, friendly and wonderful people. We enjoyed our wines and spend really good time. read more

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My girl friend and I wanted to enjoy a wine flight so we stopped by this tasting room. It's located on State St. around the corner from our hotel, and is close to the pier. We both tried the Explorer Flight and we both enjoyed it! My favorite was the Pinot Noir, and my friend enjoyed the Cabernet Sauvignon the best. The girl who served us was very nice and well versed in explaining the wines and where they originated. read more

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You need to try their premium flight with chocolate paring!! its absolute perfection! a bit on the pricey side but okay for the experience. the wine selection and the chocolate paring will leave you wanting so much more!! please make sure to make a reservation as this place tends to get really busy. especially during the weekend. the atmosphere of this location was that of a modern library but with wine. lol definitely a place to visit if you are around. read more

We chose to do a tasting here based off their cute/fancy atmosphere and we're so glad we tried them out! We did their regular tasting flight and were a bit nervous as we didn't enjoy the Pinot Blanc, which was the first on the list. We thought we might have made a mistake, but the following three were a different tune completely! Specifically the last two! We really liked the Vermentino, but the 2021 Pinot and the 2020 Syrah were fantastic! I gave this 4 starts as opposed to five as I felt like the price point was a tad hot for what it was. Both wines we liked were marked at $60 (and the 4-wine tasting was $35). We taste a lot of wine and have a pretty good feel for price points, and this was just a bit hot. If they were 45 or maybe even $50 bottles, we probably would have left with both. Or even if they waved the $35 tasting if you bought two bottles (a common practice in the area), we probably would have gotten the two bottles as well... But it was just too rich for our blood. All of that said... FOUR STARS is still GREAT! Definitely go here and test for yourselves! It has a nice, relaxing atmosphere and a fair amount of seating! I'd definitely go back. Highly recommended! read more

Super cutie winery. the staff is the best part. they were so nice and made great recommendations. we made reservations for our bachelorette group. we got hooked up with a nice table in the shade for people watching. the chocolate pairings are must!!! the chocolate is so damn good. im sad I didnt buy any extra to take home. restroom available for customers. inside bar was super cool and picture worthy. very close walk to the beach and cool restaurants. definitely worth a trip for some vino and chocolate read more

J. Wilkes Wines - first stop on bachey tour - Wineries Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

Came here for some wine tasting with my cousins. We decided to have the wine + chocolate flight. This was perhaps the most unique wine tasting experience as the chocolates were appropriately paired with the respective wines. I think the biggest selling to me is the ambiance. During nicer weather, you can easily enjoy sitting outdoors underneath the heating lamps. You can also enjoy sitting indoors on the sofa. We didn't have an issue reserving the sofa because of the long weekend. Additionally, our server was excellent at his job. He explained to us the appropriate pairings while also showing us the proper method of enjoying the wine while devouring the chocolates. We also added a cheese/charcuterie board (vegetarian version!) alongside some garlic toast to fill our appetites while we enjoyed the wine. For me, the red wines took the cake over the white wines. The charcuterie/cheese board was good, although I wish we received more crackers. For 4 people, the crackers were gone pretty fast. Overall, a wonderful experience and I'd come back in the future read more

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We enjoyed the wine here and the space is comfortable. Service from Joey was very good, and he went out of his way to chat with everyone in the place. The main issue we had was the poor value of the tasting, as the pours were literally two sips (not mouthfuls, but sips) per glass. Joey was great about letting us revisit a couple of wines, but $10 ($40 for 4 varietals) for a literal 'taste' of the wines is just a terrible value. Especially when there are so many other options in the area. Honestly, the wine was very good, so I'd recommend that, but be aware of the cost before you drop in. read more

Came here to enjoy a bit of wine tasting on a Saturday afternoon! We were allowed to come inside early which was super nice of the staff. Our host was Sophia and what I liked about her is she's super engaging and warm-hearted. Sophia makes the customer feel like you've know her before coming and we were all talking like old friends! The wine selection was nice and I would totally come back if in the area! Yelling: Sophia for Manager! She's amazing! (; read more

J. Wilkes Wines - Menu selection (: - Wineries Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

We had the best experience with Mickey today! She was patient, informative, funny, and knowledgeable! She helped us navigate the wine tastings with humor and grace (it's been a long weekend with many judgmental wine "experts". She was a delight and very aware of our tastes and interests. Thank you for a lovely afternoon, Mickey!! read more

Wine Me, Dine Me, Sixty-Nine (dollar bottle of wine) me?? Not at J. Wilkes!! Sure this place might be in the heart of Santa Barbara, but it doesn't mean that you will have to pay the piper just to experience a great little wine tasting room. Located just a hop, skip and a jump from the Santa Barbara pier, J. Wilkes tasting room has a prime spot on Santa Barbara's main drag, State Street. --------------------------------------------- During a visit to S.B. for the day, after lunch at Finney's CraftHouse (located right next door), we decided to see what J. Wilkes was all about. Being that it was a beautiful day in Santa Barbara, we just had to sit outside and enjoy the view. Normally when visiting a new tasting room, my go to is trying out the wine flight, followed by a glass of my favorite wine tasted, but on this particular day a nice glass of red and some chocolate they offer by the box was just what I needed. The menu is is simple, and offers a few reds, a few whites, a few small bites to nibble on and of course chocolate!! They have a few outdoor tables with heat lamps to keep you warm and of course some indoor seating to get a more personal experience with their wine sommeliers. Staff was great; they were knowledgeable, friendly and most of all, welcoming. We will definitely be back and I recommend you bookmarking this place on your yelp to-dos when visiting beautiful Santa Barbara. read more

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$25 for a 5 pour White or Red wine flight and $35 for a 6 pour wine & chocolate pairing. Elegant tasting room with street front patio located half a block from the Santa Barbara Pier. We made reservations, but I think we could have been seated as walk-ins. We sat inside in a cozy nook next to the fireplace on a coupe of very comfy couches. There's also a long wine bar with a couple of beautiful chandeliers hanging overhead (my wife absolutely loved them). We were lucky enough to have Hannah pour for us and we shared a white and red tasting. We thought that the wines were well made, but the reds were a little too light bodied for our taste. My mother-in-law did enjoy a glass of the 2020 Late Harvest Viognier, a sweet dessert wine, and we took home a bottle of the 2018 Lagrein, a red varietal that we had never tried until this tasting. I always state in my winery reviews that wine tasting is subjective, but service is not. Hannah was a wonderful hostess, and we enjoyed our visit. We might stop in again to try the wine & chocolate pairing or perhaps after some new releases are available. They also sell cheese and charcuterie boards, as well as several paninis and truffles, but we didn't have a chance to try any snacks on this visit. I would definitely recommend visiting J Wilkes Wines for a nice experience when you're in the area. read more

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I popped in a few hours before heading back home on the train. I was able to sample and light white, and a couple of reds before deciding on a glass of Cabernet. I also got the dark chocolate truffles. The two together were really good. The truffles were a cold, creamy bite with no bitterness. The glad of wine was perfect. The sommelier was super friendly, helpful, and great recommendations. I loved the service, and the decor is cute. The only thing I hesitated on was not being able to customize my flight. Still it was a nice visit. read more

On this rainy winter day in Santa Barbara, we decided to venture out with another couple to a local winery where none of us had been, J Wilkes. Since it is located right near the wharf and the Funk Zone, it is often slammed busy with tourists. Today was the perfect day to visit--though it was still a full house when we had finished up. We felt bad because there was an inevitable small leak in the ceiling since our beach town isn't normally use to so much precipitation. I attempted to make a Tock reservation but they were "booked." I took them up on the option to join the waitlist. Upon arrival, there were thankful plenty of seats available for us four. Staff was friendly and accommodating to every group that entered. The inside was pleasantly decorated for such a small space. Two of us went with the Explorer flight ($25) and two the Platinum flights ($35 each). Our favorites were the Rosé (semi-dry with nice tropical fruit) and the Zinfandel (we were surprised it was from Paso because it wasn't a fruit or fig bomb). The wines they were pouring could use a bit more time given that they were predominantly 2019-2021 vintages. The staff did mention that the bottles could be laid down for five or so years. Otherwise the remainder of the wines were mediocre for our palates. We found the prices on the steeper side for the quality--yet everyone has their own opinions. All in all, I'd give a 3.5 stars. read more

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Decided to come here after hearing my mother in law and husband talk about it. Glad I was finally able to come. It's really close to the beach which is convenient since we love walking over there. They have limited seating outside and inside as well. The many times I've walked near it seems like it's hit or miss if they are busy or not. I would recommend making reservations. It was nice weather so decided to sit outside. They offer 3 different types of wine tasting. I ended up getting the wine and chocolate pairing. I had tried the chocolate before at another winery and loved it. I believe they offer snacks since I saw everything my MIL got when she went but I didn't see that menu. The worker who assisted me was very sweet and nice. Explained the process of how you should drink your wine and enjoy the chocolate which I appreciated it. I loved how much she knew about the wine and even did some story telling with it. It was very entertaining. Overall, all the wine was very delicious. I ended up buying some bottles to take home with me. Can't wait to go again. read more

Had an excellent time here. We are visiting Santa Barbara a girls weekend to celebrate my birthday. I saw this wine room on Groupon and snagged it. Can't beat $10 for a tasting!! The tasting room is right downtown, has a small patio or indoor seating. They have heaters! We were served by Wren who was super fun and made our night :) the tasting was great, we all enjoyed it right before our dinner at Toma! Ps we had to street park in the neighborhood over, across the canal read more

I have been a member of other wine clubs in the Santa Barbara area , but the J. Wilkes Wine club on State Street is by far the best!! Not only is the wine exceptional in taste but so is the service! Mickey and Angeline are very knowledgeable about the wines and J Wilkes brand, the J. Wilkes tasting room is beautiful elegant and relaxing! I suggest you try it at least once and you will not be disappointed! read more

J. Wilkes Wines - Wineries Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

I came here after dinner and it was a nice way to end the evening. I tried the Syrah which was perfect- not too peppery the way a lot of Syrahs can be with a subtle jam at the end. The bartender asked us what we like and gave great recommendations. She was knowledgeable and told us about the region it grows in. We sat outside and just people watched enjoying our glass. read more

Stopped by this winery as it was recommended to us. The staff is so friendly, the vibe is cool, they have a beautiful tasting room and Wren, who took care of us was exceptional. She was super knowledgeable, personable and just down right sweet. We actually stayed longer due to her good vibes and I joined their wine club!! Highly recommend stopping by! PS try their olive oil! I bought 2 bottles too! read more

J. Wilkes Wines - Wineries Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

A really nice afternoon and atmosphere sitting Street side on State. View of the pier and right next to Finney's. They do chocolate and wine pairings!! Happy hour is 2-6 which is $3 of glasses and ten percent off purchases Monday through Friday. read more

J. Wilkes Wines - 2019 Paso Robles Rosé Street side. - Wineries Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

Walked in here around 5:15pm on a Friday night and sat in front of the fireplace right away. We enjoyed the wine tasting flight (Axxess BOGO deal) and a charcuterie board. The wine is delicious and the board had a lot of good things to nibble on. I wish were were given crackers with it for the price. The one girl who helped us was so sweet but some of the staff behind the counter weren't as friendly and inviting. I'd definitely go back and enjoyed my time there. read more

J. Wilkes Wines - Wine tasting and charcuterie board - Wineries Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

Wren helped us out and she was amazing and funny! Great experience overall, we will definitely be back!

Definitely loved the ambiance of this place! It was a good mix of casual and upscale. The servers were really friendly. Make sure to reserve beforehand though, this place gets really packed on the weekends I really enjoyed the wine and chocolate tasting! Each chocolate truffle paired really well with the accompanying wine. I could tell that the pairing was very thought out. I also love that the bottles are relatively inexpensive here with a $25-50 price range! Minimal seating indoors, but a good amount of seating outdoors! read more

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Makayla and Angelica were very rude and clearly did not have any cultural diversity training. We deserve respect like anyone else. We deserve calm approach's and calm demeanor as they expect from us. We were disappointed by their tone and demeanor toward us. read more

It was such a cute cozy place and everyone was nice! The only thing that made me sad was the pour of the wine tasting It was exactly one ounce! Of course you are there for the experience and will end up buying more drinks and all but if they just make you have fun with the experience and have a little more heavy hand in pouring the "one ounce" wine tasting it would make the whole thing more personal and enjoyable! Watching them pour exactly an ounce makes me feel like when you are at a fast food place and you ask for ranch and they say it's $ 0.50 more and you are like ummm I just spent $20! I can't get ranch with my fries? Idk it's not the money it's the principle. Overall it was a good tasting wine Try to get Groupon for it to be honest if I paid full price for 5 one ounce wine flight I would give it one star! read more

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Glad we stumbled upon this Groupon. Team here is so nice and accommodating. We had the charcuterie board as well as the chocolates after a long walk down State St to the Pier and beach. The wines were so good, especially the bubbly and the smooth red. Definitely reccomend stopping here read more

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The customer service is always so great here. The employees are so nice. They remember you too. They are nice to everyone also. The ambiance in here has a lot going on with the art deco floors. The mural wall of a vineyard and then 2 beautiful chandeliers. I like their charcuterie plate too. read more

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Wonderful tasting room right on State St. Hannah was such a great hostess to us since we were visiting from out of town. Flight of 5 wines (either red or white) for $25. The wine flights were a really good variety from the region. They also have full glasses and food to eat. There are about 4 tables outside right on the street and some tables inside. We walked right up at 6pm on a thursday and were able to be seated immediately. I highly recommend this tasting room if you want good wine and a great location in the heart of Santa Barbara!! read more

J. Wilkes Wines - Flight menu - Wineries Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

My friends and I came for some wine tasting. Wren was so amazing- she was a whole vibe! She greeted us and she introduced us to our options. She provided some history on each wine and at the end of the day we had a great time because the vibes were right! Thanks! read more

Great wine and nice place! The lady helping us was very nice and the wine was great! We tried the chocolate and wine tasting and it was so worth it! read more

J. Wilkes Wines - Menu for chocolate and wine tasting - Wineries Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

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This is by far our favorite tasting room. Not only did we love just about every wine we tried but the outside ambience was comfortable and we liked e option of sweet or savory small plates to go with our wine. We tried the charcuterie and it was perfect pairing for our wine flight. They also offer a chocolate tasting to go with your wines but we didn't try that one on this trip. We joined their wine club, which allows you a complimentary glass of wine per day! We've been there on our nightly walks from our hotel and purchase a bottle of wine to enjoy back in the room. It's a perfect location, Jackie gives great service and the location is shaded from the evening sun. I fell in love with their Pinot Noir and the Rose. Casey enjoys their Cabernet and is obsessed with their Lagrein. read more

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Amazing experience! From the moment we arrived, my daughter & I felt welcomed by Antonio. He was so friendly & pleasant! It was our first time here & Antonio had the best suggestions as well as answered all of our questions. We ordered the Tasting Flight and he explained each wine thoroughly! The chocolate truffles were also perfectly delicious! We can't wait to go back as well as recommend this great place with top notch service to our friends & family! Thank you Antonio for helping to make my Mother Daughter Date so much fun! read more

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I got to try this thanks to a Groupon (2 for $20) and it was so worth! First of all, you can add the chocolate pairing (additional $10) which I highly recommend! We got to try 6 different wines, staring with 3 whites, and ending in 3 reds. The whites were naturally paired with the white chocolates, and the red were paired with the darker chocolates. Whoever designed the chocolate pairings should get a raise! The wines by themselves are great, but the chocolates definitely elevated the taste! Our server forgot our waters, so he ended up not charging us for it. Great service, great wine. The location is also perfect, as it is downtown and there's a nice breeze, and we were physically distant from other parties by at least 6 feet. 10/10 would definitely come back here! read more

Was uber excited to try this winery as have heard fantastic things. Solid selection of wine as source grapes from variety of regions in area. The cab Sav that I sampled was sourced from paso and was quite nice, fruit forward, jammy which I like. The cab franc was stellar. The remainder of wines on flight were forgettable, however. Nothing that was "bad" but fell short compared to a few other wineries in area, though certainly remaining in upper eschalon IMO in funk zone. Would like to return and try more library or reserve wines for better picture of quality overall as this review reflecting their basic wines in large part. Recommend for a high quality tasting with best location (other than deep sea tasting room) for views, natural beauty. read more

My main go-to wine tasting room in Santa Barbara. The service is always amazing, friendly, helpful, and attentive. Sarah, Amanda, and Mickey are all wonderful. They have delicious wine pairing options with well parties chocolates. The food selection is top-notch. My favorite is the charcuterie board, though the cheese plate and humus are both solid and well priced for the quality. I find the location to be awesome given its in the funk zone and only 1 block up from the warf. My first visit in I was so impressed I signed up for their wine club. I now go almost every weekend, any chance I get! My personal take on some of their wines: First up is the Explorer tasting. - Rose: Delicious, light and a great rendition of a Rose. Easy drinking wine - Pinot Blanc: Crisp flavor with a creamy finish. Lovely glass of a light and airy white - Chardonnay: One of the few here in not a fan of though I'm very particular with chardonnay. To me it almost tastes like uncooked bacon, no idea why. I've had guests with me who really enjoyed this so that might just be a me thing - Viognier: Very yummy and would drink this anytime sometime offered it to me -Pinot Noir: Medium in heaviness, so a dark red with strong flavors - Petite Syrah: Everyone I've had try out had enjoyed it. A great standard red with lots of complex tastes - Cab Sav: Very heavy dark, and deep in flavor. One of my favorite Cabs in the area (other than their Bourbon Barrel Cab of course) - Bourbon Barrel Cab: My absolute favorite Cab in the whole region, maybe if any red I've ever had. It's so smoky, dark, and delicious. You can truly get the hint of Bourbon and the lovely deep flavors of a heavy Cab. Highly highly recommend! Secondly the Platinum tasting. - Sparkling brut rose: Sadly sold out, this was my favorite Rose I've ever had. Hopefully they make another one that's equality as good! - Lagrein: Solid deep red with bold flavor and long lasting rich taste in your mouth. A go-to when I'm in the mood for a balanced red read more

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Had a great evening here with my boyfriend. We decided to take a quick trip up to Santa Barbara from LA. I had seen a tik tok mentioning a wine and chocolate tasting so we decided to stop by. Groupon had a wine tasting for 2 deal (lucky us!) and it did not disappoint! Adam was very friendly and knowledgeable and made our experience great. Would definitely recommend for a fun date night or girls night! They do offer some light bites but sadly the kitchen was closed for the night. read more

I loved the chocolate and wine pairing but we were seated inside and the seating was limited so we got a table that had me facing a wall. Not the ideal wine tasting experience. There was a table outside that we wanted but they said someone else reserved that. We didn't see anyone else come while we were there. Service was great though other than that. read more

Holy smokes Batman - how is this place not the talk of the town...? 1. Prime location on State street. 2. Delicious wines. 3. Price point - exceptionally reasonable. 4. Membership to wine club - yes please. But the staff OMG the staff. Everyone was Sooooo accommodating and genuinely happy to see you. I had the absolute DELIGHT of meeting Jackie. Not only did she give prefect knowledge on the wines, she actually talked to me - LIKE A PERSON. No schmoozy sales pitch, no hurry to leave, is it possible...perfection. I have been to several tasting rooms but a visit here is a no brainer! read more