Finally made it to Lafond! Beautiful tasting room on Santa Rosa Rd. It's a bit of a drive but the wines are delicious and worth the trek! We were lucky to have Diane pour for us. She is very friendly and we enjoying getting to know her! Thank you Diane for making our visit memorable! read more

Delicious wines, especially their Pinot Noir. This winery is very low key with a variety of different wines. Our favorite is their Pinot Noir and Syrah. The staff is friendly & knowledgeable. This is very enjoyable way to spend an afternoon. read more

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My second trip after last year's summer visit was even better! What a delightful place that's equal parts charming and tranquil. Javier helped me this time around and since I was the only guest, I got the private tasting experience. He was personable and knowledgeable, and made the experience personal and memorable. They are known for their Pinot, but the Syrah knocked it out of the park for me this year. The Syrah-Grenache was also a gem. The area out back is a nice place to relax and unwind with a glass or bottle of wine. In my solitude, it would have been so easy to fall asleep! The weather was gorgeous, and the silence and calmness made it such a peaceful experience. I will definitely be back in the future! read more

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Still one of the best tasting experiences in the valley. Great staff and beautiful grounds. Re-visits always welcome!

Was brought here by Artisan Excursion Wine tours by Tom. This was the most beautiful, picturesque vineyard we visited on the tour! I don't drink wine often but I enjoy wine tastings to learn and for the experience. This was my second wine tour in general. I prefer sweet to semi-sweet wines. We were given 5 wines to taste. 1 Riesling, 1 Rose, 1 Syrah, 1 Pinot Noir, and 1 Chardonnay. Unfortunately, I didn't like any of them. Most had a dry, bitter taste. I'm glad they gave our group a charcuterie plate because the wines went down better with it. I'm not sure they typically serve it with wine tastings. They also sell other stuff beside wine. Chocolates, cookies, paintings, etc. I didn't like that they didn't explain each wine they had us taste compared to the previous winemakers. Perhaps they had a long day as they had a lot of people that day and it was almost closing time. Regardless, I would return back just to enjoy the views. read more

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Sandra was amazing on the phone before we committed and now while we were setting up. Their resino ing is nice as is their rose. But their reds are CChffr excellent and definitely worth the drive. The property is gorgeous. Enrique the operations manager set ya up with an up close visit with the sheep goats and horse on property and he was generous with his time And knowledge. So glad to come by.lots of snacks if you want any read more

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The food, service, and ambiance were all exceptional. Diane provided outstanding hospitality,her extensive knowledge of the wines and the region greatly enriched our experience. Of the four wineries we visited this weekend, this was by far the most memorable. They also had beautiful friendly cats at their property. The winery itself is beautiful, welcoming to families, and most importantly, offers truly excellent wines. A remarkable experience from start to finish. Thank you Diane for making our anniversary such a memorable celebration! read more

We've been here numerous times and always ove the wine! This time we bought some Santa Rita Hills Chardonnay and has the most fun talking to Sandra Lafond. What a sweet person! Turned out I had taken a photo of her cat Louise a few years back when she posed next to a pumpkin. She was so grateful when I shared it with her. This time I got a great photo of Thelma on the counter by a menu! They have awesome wines and the grounds are spectacular! I love their Autumn decorations as well! read more

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Winery and Tasting room are amazing. This is a beautiful vineyard. It still maintains a boutique feeling to it. The wines are some of the best in the Santa Rita Hills and are a complete bargain for what they are charging. The staff is super friendly. Sandra was amazing and very knowledgeable and gave us, an extra pour of a wine that was not even on the list. I tasted at a few other wineries in the area but ended up buying my wine from here. Definitely will come back. read more

We had the most amazing private dinner at Lafond in October. We had 65 friends and family for a beautiful dinner under the lights & stars. Mirella & her team did an incredible job organizing the space and making us feel right at home. It was truly a night to remember! read more

Lafond Winery and Vineyards - Wineries Near Me - Buellton, California

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We came on a cold rainy Monday with our two year old. We had the place to ourselves. Diane greeted and welcomed us. She poured the wine and talked about the winery and their cats, which our daughter loved. The wine was delicious, we had a great experience and Diane was a huge part of that. We ended up signing up to be members. Thank you Diane! read more

My son recommended this vineyard as a must-do. We now agree. What a fantastic setting. We decided to start our Sunday late morning with a tasting here. The drive from Santa Barbara was stunning. We also had some tasty leftovers so our plan was to have a mini brunch too. They happened to be serving some wine, bread, five cheeses, and olives so our mini brunch became delightfully larger. When we drove in, our view was of their gorgeous valley with horses, since some neighbors had ridden in for their brunch picnic too. PICTURE PERFECT! Two nicest and knowledgable women pourers. One of us decided to join their wine club, since their shipping flat rate is under $10. And we loved both their steel and their oaked Chardonnay as well as both their Pinot Noirs being poured. Learned about the gentleman who brought Pinot Noir into this region. Bless that guy! Watched the horses and their humans plus dog ride off into the afternoon sun past the grape vines. And bought some bottles to go. PS you get to keep their logo wine glasses with their tasting. read more

Lafond Winery and Vineyards - Wineries Near Me - Buellton, California

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If you're looking for Burgundy varietals (Pinot Noir and Chardonnay), Lafond is the spot for you! This winery has an outdoor patio with gorgeous, breathtaking views of the vineyards and a nice rustic indoor area with lots of fun merchandise for sale, and a large barrel room tasting area. Plenty of seating outdoors along with picnic tables so it's good for large groups. Bonus that they gave us breadsticks with our tasting. It's not a perfect five because I didn't feel like the servers pouring were especially interested in sharing details about the wine. read more

Lafond Winery and Vineyards - Chardonnay in the vineyards - Wineries Near Me - Buellton, California

Almost 40 years in wine business, wholesale and retail. Met Suzanne about ten years ago at SB winery visiting family there. Have been a regular customer of Santa Barbara and Lafond since. All of their wines are great values, but---just opened the first bottle of my recent shipment--a 2020 Lafond SRH Chard. This wine is Spectacular!!! read more

This place is a gem! After a hot and crowded visit to the Solvang shops, it was a breath of fresh air to be able to sit under a tree with good wine and a spectacular view! It is a perfect place to picnic, we brought sandwiches from Lucky Hen Larder which was great with my glass of Rose. My boyfriend tried the Syrah. Wine was great and the sommelier was informative and super sweet. They have wine tastings, by the glass and bottle. Dog friendly! read more

This was our first winery stop of the day. Given the mudslides, we happened to be the first ones of the day to stop at this winery. The first thing she handed us were breadsticks to cleanse the palette. This gal was very detailed in all of the wine descriptions. I am not a huge Chardonnay person but enjoyed both of the Lafond chardonnays, both were easily drinkable. She opened a new Pinot after she was not pleased with the one that had been opened the night before. She also had us try the one from the night before to see if we could tell the difference. I was able to sample a favorite at the end. Not on the list was a Riesling and since they have a new vintage coming out they offered, the 2013 for $10 a bottle which meant we had two nice gifts for each of our parents. The glasses came with the tasting and rather than give us our actual tasting glasses she also gave us clean ones. While I know we had the rare experience of having their utmost attention, the service here was top notch and very friendly and the wines also very good. read more

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LaFond is tucked away in a quiet little stretch of Santa Rosa Road on the way to Lompoc. They are the first winery established in Santa Barbara County since prohibition and its apparent in their presentation and commitment to quality that they are top notch at what they do. The attendant was knowledgeable and spoke at length enthusiastically about each and every wine we sampled. We were each handed a pack of breadsticks before tasting which is something that didn't happen any other place we visited. Attention to detail. We were probably there a good thirty minutes with the tasting, chatting, and taking a look around. We actually left here with a couple of bottles where just about every other place we did the tasting, took a look around, and left for the next winery. Like most places in Santa Barbara County (in this case the Santa Rita Hills) the reds are the stars. You can't go wrong with Pinots or Syrahs. The whites are really good, but hey I like what I like. From the wine to the tasting room to the ambiance, there is nothing to dislike here. Its quality thru and thru. read more

I love this winery. Sine the first time I came here (couple of years) I have not stopped purchasing their wine. Now I'm a Pinot kind of gal, but they do have some nice varieties. Sat with with husband had a bottle and looked at the view. What more do you want. read more

Lafond Winery and Vineyards - Lafond Winery Vineyard - Wineries Near Me - Buellton, California

Impromptu visit to this winery. We purchased a bottle of Syrah and had a picnic outside. There were several picnic tables. We enjoyed the wine and the beautiful scenery. Lucked out with warm weather. Highly recommend. read more

Lafond Winery and Vineyards - Wineries Near Me - Buellton, California

This is your starting point. As far as I am concerned, Lafond is the "Due North". I visited on my last day. Aside from being gracious hosts, I lucked out because I got a sample of their Rose AND the Riesling the day I visited. (This is one of the most diverse tasting lists of all the vineyards) They have a demonstrated appreciation for other vineyards and will make some suggestions if you ask. Established in the 70s, they have been here because they make great wines. I left with 2 bottles of Syrah and a clone 667 Pinot Noir. I really WISH I started at this location because they are so knowledgeable, I got to do more that day than any other day of my visit. Thank you to the Ladies in the tasting room! Sorry, forgot to add they had some incredible merch. My wife left with several items, including a jade stone bracelet she hasn't taken off since we left. read more

Beautiful place! And the wines and wine club are wonderful. Highly recommended! Try the Syrah/Grenache!

A great spot , very very good and interesting wines, a super helpful staff. One of the nicest places to picnic... if you like a nice table on a small mesa overlooking a vineyard below. Can't recommend enough read more

Tipsy people generally have a better time at wine tastings. But we sobered up a bit from the stop before and came here bright eyed and bushy tailed and ready for individual tastings, especially since it was $5, 6 to 7 pours, and you can keep the glass! What a deal. On top of the excellent deal and tasty wine, the outdoor area here was breathtaking. If my hair wasn't already down, I'd definitely let it down and felt like running loose on the grassy hill overlooking the rows of grape vines. Little patches of orange flowers decorated the green all around us. The afternoon sun cast a surreal glow, making the view even more impressionable. This, friends, is what it means to take pleasure in life. Fresh air, leisurely afternoons, delicious food, good wine, and good company. Sitting pretty on a haystack, I felt on top of the world. read more

Lafond was one of the few wineries in the area open past 4 pm, when we arrived we had about 20 minutes to taste. The lady working was friendly, but quiet. Maybe she was just ready for the day to be over. They offer 6 wines, two Chardonnays, two Pinots and two Syrahs. I honestly wasn't a huge fan of any of them, but the tastings were cheap at $5 a person.They also let my friend take the glasses home. The surrounding area is beautiful, but i'm not sure I would stop off at this winery again. read more

6 wines with GENEROUS pours, bagged breadsticks to munch on, and you get to keep the glass. All for $10! And a 10% discount on purchases. I am a fan of Lafond for wine tasting. We visited here as the first stop on our tour with Eos, so everything went really smoothly.. they were ready for us when we got there, were friendly and accommodating, etc.. I'm not sure how much of that has to do with Eos doing the legwork, so I can't speak as to what it would be like if you just showed up or called last minute to make reservations. I left with a bottle of the 2009 Pinot Noir and the Syrah. The Chardonnays were very good but I'm more of a red wine person. I was bit worried purchasing as the first stop in case I found something I liked better later, but I'm glad that I did. read more

I very much enjoy this vineyard, which has a lovely view of the mountains and a bit of the valley. The $10 tasting menu consists of a couple of Chardonnays, Pinots and Syrah's -- pretty typical of this region. On my second visit, there was only one couple, so it was nice to get some good attention. The attendant gave me a good history of the region, of the vineyard and the wines. I know it is challenging to offer this level of attention when a place is packed wall to wall with folks pushing out their empty glasses (I have, indeed, experienced this in wine country). I have never experience that level of inconsideration at this vineyard. The shop also carries a ton of gifts and treats: Fancy salts, magnets, chocolates, wine glasses, books and much, much more. read more

I like the more modern and clean looking lines of their winery and tasting cellar. When we stopped by, they had an awesome assortment of cheeses laid out along with chocolate, bread, and plates to hold your samples. I tried a delicious Brie, some Humboldt fog, manchego, and several others. The wine itself was pretty good, but we arrived at around 4pm at the end of a day of winetasting, so I was tasted out and pretty tipsy at that point. I enjoyed the generous pours and the fact that we got to keep our glasses. If I ever return, I'd like to enjoy the beautiful scenery and grounds a bit more. They also have a nice assortment of gourmet cooking supplies and goods. read more

What a beautiful setting for a wine tasting stop, especially with all the rain that has come to LA this winter... soo green!! The tasting is $12 and comes with the logo'd wine glass. On the Sunday we visited, the tasting came with delicious cheeses and breads in the barrel room. The tasting is free if you become a member (along with many other perks). We loved the Chardonnays (steel and oak) as well as the Pinot Noirs. Needless to say, I left with 3 bottles - Steel Chardonnay and both Pinot Noirs - and a membership to boot! Service was uniquely friendly and generous. Can't wait to come back and introduce more friends to this special vineyard! read more

Lafond Winery and Vineyards - Picnic table views... perfect! - Wineries Near Me - Buellton, California

We were on a van tour and taken here as our last stop of the day. We were greeted with less than a warm welcoming from the woman working the tasting room. We were provided with no information on wines or the winery during our tasting. The only reason I liked this winery was the beautiful grounds and farm animals. read more

I joined the first month I moved to CA! This was one of my first wine tasting experiences, and honestly it kind of spoiled me for others! The wine is great, the ambience perfect, and the people are friendly and accessible, not at all pretentious! I totally appreciated that as a wine-newb, and still do to this day! Tasting is 10$ and you get to keep a lovely glass- also they almost always have something not on the list that is open. Recently I fell in love w their stainless steel Chard. Their club sends out great selections, and their new Rose is AMAZE!!! They have fun members' events (usually w food and tacos), and the grounds are there to enjoy! I always bring a picnic, and now even my daughter with me! The staff are friendly and knowledgeable, and always great! I like to chat w Sandra when I get a chance! Thanks, La Fond!! read more

Lafond Winery and Vineyards - A great place to picnic and take in the world! Bring nibbles, have delicious wines, and breath in this vista!!!! - Wineries Near Me - Buellton, California

We found this winery by happenstance but OMG are we glad we did. Beautiful tasting room. Great shopping too. The wines are outstanding and our hostess couldn't have been more accommodating. Diane is very knowledgeable and charming. It was my husband's 60th birthday and we bought several bottles of wine and she gave him a beautiful Pinot for his birthday!!!!!! We will be back every time we come to this area, which is often. read more

***My winery/tasting room reviews are rated based upon many factors. First is QPR or quality to price ratio of the wine. In other words, is the wine priced according to how good it is. The second factor is the tasting room experience. This involves the staff, grounds and anything unique about the winery.*** Date Visited: Late 2008 Tasting room fee: $5 (logo glass included), not refundable with purchase Wine price range: $20-$48 A nice winery along rustic Santa Rosa Road. Their grounds are beautiful and it is worth it to come out here, if anything just to enjoy the drive. They open at 10am, which is an hour earlier than most wineries. It is a good place to start your day, also just down the road is Mosby winery which also opens at 10am. The wines are good, nothing that knocks it out of the park for me. Then again, it is 10am and my palette is just waking up so I will stop in another time and re-taste. They did offer a Syrah for $20 that I thought was a good value. read more

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The wine we bought was good, nicely priced but the server was not nice at all. She didn't tell us anything about their wines, their tastings or facility. We went there to drink wine and have lunch and we just had to grab a bottle without tasting it because she wouldn't help us. read more

Really loved this place! The setting is perfect. The wine selection is nice. I'd highly recommend it.

Very scenic facility, great views of Sta. Rita Hills. Our pourers were very friendly and pleasant. The wines were solid. The Chards were the big oaky style. Nice Pinot Noirs, good balance between fruit, spice, and earthiness. The Syrah definately the cool climate style. The two Pinot's were my faves. We left with a bottle of SRH Pinot. Nice well stocked tasting room. At $5 tasting fee with logo glass, a real winner. The grounds also are pretty expansive and allow for good photo opportunities. read more

Lafond Winery and Vineyards - View from Lafond - Wineries Near Me - Buellton, California

Sandra and Diane were absolutely amazing, knowledgeable, friendly and professional. Their wines were superb! We took home rose but they were all delicious. I would definitely come back again as I have for many years. Thank you ladies for putting up w me. read more

Confession time - I visited Lafond for two reasons - one, we were on the Santa Rosa Rd. wine trail and it was on the way, (and really, no winery is bad on Santa Rosa Rd.) and two, because of the character LaFonda from Napoleon Dynamite and I was hoping for a good shot next to the sign doing something stupid. :-D We ended up forgetting about that photo op and having some truly great Pinot Noir and an excellent, affordable SRH Syrah that we bought. The server was sweet and very personable, and the wines here superb. So if you're on the wine trail here, and especially if you're a Napoleon Dynamite fan, it's a must-visit. read more

We caught this winery right at the knick of time. As we only had about 40 minutes until they closed, La Fond were very accommodating to our group of half-buzzed stragglers. I had heard many good things about this place and they definitely did not disappoint. Their wines were very impressive and they also had the best food spread of all the places we went to that day. Over 12 types of cheeses, salami, crackers, olives, and spreads were displayed on top of old wine barrels in the cellar area for those to taste with their biodynamically made wines made for a well-balanced experience. I hate it when tasting rooms don't offer anything to help save your palate. We noshed on cheeses like Humbolt Fog, Manchego, and St. Andre as we sipped on seven generous pours. Stand-outs included the 09 Santa Rita Hills Syrah, 08 Arita Hills Clone 667 Pinot Noir, and the beautiful 06 Arita Hills Pinot Noir; the latter which we liked so much, we bought one to take home. Staff were very knowledgable and friendly while the property itself was very beautiful. Clean, air-conditioned, and well-kept. We walked around their picnic areas and saw wonderful views of the mountains and fields. Corinne W., Ryan M., and Ben H. and I even ran through the vines for a while and basked in the beautiful day. Considering this place is very close to other quality places like Alma Rosa just a little bit down the road, this is definitely a must-try when in the area. read more

"You're just jealous because I've been drinking wine with hot chicks all day", is what Joe B. would say, seeing as he's such the Napoleon Dynamite and wine fan... Lafond Winery caught our eye not only for the name, but upon our research, also because it was a premiere pinot noir growing area. You had me "pinot", Lafond, you really did. The syrahs were indeed excellent and even though we have enough, the tasting fee included a glass with our favorite name on it. The tasting room is located off a country dirt road and it just epitomizes the ideal rustic tasting room environment. It just makes me want to pull up a picnic bench, put my feet up and eat some great cheese and drink some fantastic pinot. Gosh! read more

Excellent! Have not been here in a few years....since 2005. Just as great! The tasting room is very nice. High end atmosphere, but not pretentious. The two ladies who helped us were soooo nice! They were great in explaining their wines. We loved their Chardonnay and Syrah! Took home a few bottles! read more