From my wife: Highly recommend and cannot say enough good things about this tasting room and its staff. My husband is a member after we were referred by a friend years ago (almost 10 years ago). The wine is excellent, and the staff is knowledgeable, welcoming, personable and makes you feel right at home. In particular, I'd like to shoutout Brad who is gracious, and provides excellent service and care for us and all patrons. Funny, smart, and shares updates on the winery, the wines, and every time we drive up from LA, makes the experience that much more enjoyable for us. Thank you, Brad. Truly a wonderful tasting room and winery you'll be happy you came to experience (especially the "Chapel View"and "Blanc de Blancs.") From me: We've been coming to Riverbench since our very first trip to Santa Barbara and while the wines brought us in, it's the staff, and more specifically, Brad who keeps us coming back. Brad has been a constant and remains welcoming, knowledgeable and genuinely invested in our experience. He doesn't just pour wine; he truly elevates it and guides us through Riverbench's excellent Chardonnay and outrageous Pinot Noir with insight and enthusiasm that make each visit memorable. Plus he likes my Pommard. What really sets him apart is the connection. He remembers us, tailors the experience, and creates an atmosphere that feels both personal and relaxed. Riverbench makes fantastic wine, but Brad is the reason it feels like a tradition we keep and pass on to others. read more

Riverbench Santa Barbara Tasting Room - Wine Tasting Room Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

Value and service. This winery offers delicious, well-crafted wines that not only showcase the Central Coast but also reflect the winemaker's distinct style. My wife and I visited several wineries in the area, and Riverbench was by far the most memorable. It delivers an exceptional price-to-quality ratio, something that's becoming increasingly rare. The experience was elevated by Brad, whose knowledge, passion for these wines, and hospitality made the tasting truly stand out. Thank you! read more

Was just walking around funk zone and happened to see that this place had a tasting with just Pinot noir which was exactly what I wanted. The space is pretty quaint but cozy. We were also able to bring our dog in which was really nice. I got the Pinot noir flight and my partner got the sparkling wine flight. Both were $25 for four 1oz. Pours. Decently priced compared to others in the area. We enjoyed all of the wines. The service was friendly albeit a little slow but it was only 1 guy serving 5 different groups. read more

Riverbench Santa Barbara Tasting Room - Inside seating - Wine Tasting Room Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

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Fantastic tasting room in the Funk Zone, very comfortable seating inside and outside. Brad is a very friendly wine steward there, pouring delicious sparkling and still wine, flights are $25. Definitely recommend stopping by! read more

Riverbench Santa Barbara Tasting Room - Sparkling wine tasting. - Wine Tasting Room Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

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The service was absolutely phenomenal! Brad took great care of my friends and I, and he answered all of our questions about the wines with such ease. His bright personality truly set the tone for our day in the Santa Barbara tasting room and started us off on such a positive note. We will definitely be bringing more friends back here again! read more

Riverbench Santa Barbara Tasting Room - Wine Tasting Room Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

I coordinated a day trip to Santa Barbara with 10 other women. While exploring the Funk Zone, we came across this winery. Upon entering, an employee asked what our group was looking for instead of welcoming us in. After we said we were interested in a wine tasting, the employee suggested a different location, Cutlers, which serves spirits, even though we had specifically asked for a wine tasting. Then she said they couldn't accommodate a group of 11. I noticed the bar area was empty and that there was enough room for our group to at least stand, as a few customers even offered to move over in the seating area. Feeling unwelcome and disrespected, I led our group out of the winery. We felt that the treatment was unacceptable, unaccommodating, and disrespectful, and I couldn't help but feel that out group was turned away so quickly because we were a group of African American women. read more

8 years ago, my husband and I were wine club members here and always had a great time when we came to the tasting room. Yesterday, we brought our family down to Santa Barbara for spring break vacation and stopped into the tasting room next door (Orgullo, which I do recommend) to try something new. At some point I went out back to the patio to take a phone call and set my wine glass down on a wine barrel. I wasn't sitting down or even under the patio cover. My wine was sitting on a wine barrel and I was standing outside of the patio on the side walk. Oh and there were zero people outside on the patio. I was the only one out there. Some man comes out and tells me that I can't stand there and points over to an adjacent patio - literally barely separated by a waist high wood fence - and says "that's Orgullos patio over there". I looked at him like he couldn't be serious. He spent time to come outside and tell me I couldn't rest my wine glass on his wine barrel on his empty patio. I was originally planning to stop there next to check it out after not having been there in so many years and then decided to go to validated ale down the street instead. Your company lost my business that day and forever going forward because the people who run the tasting room are petty and rude. That is not hospitality. That's quite honestly the opposite. read more

Riverbench is such a gem in Santa Barbara. The Sparking wine flight was delightful, the vibes were laid-back, and the whole experience felt easy and enjoyable. Big shoutout to Brad, the homie! Super chill, incredibly knowledgeable, and just a great person to talk wine with. He took his time, answered all our questions, and made us feel welcome. Great experience read more

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I have been coming to Riverbench for a few years now, on every SB trip, and it never disappoints. The bubbles are unbelievable, we like the blanc de noir, but also the Clone red is one of my absolute faves. They have a patio area but I think the tasting room is more cozy and charming. Adrian is a great host, he had a wonderful demeanor and was lovely to talk to. read more

Nice little outside area. In a great area with quite a few other tasting opportunities. I believe this is one of the most affordable tasting nearby. The server made sure we didn't sit with empty glasses for very long which is appreciated. read more

Riverbench Santa Barbara Tasting Room - Wine Tasting Room Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

Adrienne was such a light, truly made the experience. Don't get me wrong, the wine was phenomenal. Usually I go to a tasting and like some of it, but I liked all of this wine!! However, Adrienne's experience, expertise, and service was phenomenal. Will be back! read more

A group of 11 Black women walked in and were completely dismissed by the manager. The servers and customers were willing, but the manager stated they didn't have room to serve us and we should try another place. There was barely anyone at the counter. We were stunned. After sharing this experience with other wineries they were not surprised. DO NOT SPEND YOUR TIME OR MONEY HERE! They discriminate based on race! They give SB a bad look. Highly recommend Fox wines, Pali wines and Santa Barbara wineries. They were friendly and had great wines. read more

This place is my favorite tasting room in santa barbara (I have now been to all but 5). It's pinot noir and chard focused with fair amount of bubbly (including bubbly tasting flight option). They do numerous vineyard specific pinots and chards as well as variety of clones. Joined wine club ultimately after third visit here as I keep coming back to this place, blown away with each time. Winery tasting room, like most, closes "early"-ish at 7 pm so plan dinner accordingly to ensure lovely tasting experience. read more

We were literally walking to another place when we walked by this cute little courtyard that was a mix of several shops (pizza, wine tasting, social club, shopping) and just decided to stop in! We were a little buzzed by the time we got here, but the gentleman who was our server was really nice and seated us quickly. We were thrilled that they offered a charcuterie board, so we ordered it IMMEDIATELY. he apologized that they couldn't properly plate it because they didn't have a kitchen, but dude! Do not apologize! We got a WHOLE JAR of cornichons! All 6 of us were super excited! Usually you just get like 3-4 pieces, but we were so happy to have a whole block of cheese, all those crackers and the jar of cornichons! Most of the seating is outside with lovely umbrellas to provide shade, but there is also inside seating if that's what you're more into! read more

Riverbench Santa Barbara Tasting Room - Wine Tasting Room Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

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I am blown away by my entire experience at Riverbench! They seriously swooned this Bay Area gal with both their delicious wines and outstanding hospitality. I mean, WOW! If there was ever a time to really showcase what the Santa Barbara wine region is all about, THIS was that time. They just completely sold me and I'm all here for it! Riverbench was the last of three tasting rooms that I visited while in Santa Barbara. Thank GAWD that I saved the best for last because I feel like I honestly would have been so disappointed in the end had I not done so. I visited in mid-April, so their indoor tasting room was closed at the time. They have a super comfy and casual patio area in a large shared space amongst a few other tasting rooms and restaurants in the Funk Zone. I didn't have a reservation, but I called from another winery to see if they had space, and they told me to come over. Riverbench is best known for their sparkling, Pinot noir, and Chardonnay; and rightfully so. EVERY wine that I tasted here was amazing. Every. Single. One. It's $25 for a taste of 5 of their wines which can only be waived with the purchase of 6+ bottles. I'll admit, that's pretty steep. BUT... the wine is just so wonderful here that you are guaranteed to be walking away with at least one if not a few bottles. Ended up doing a tasting and the lovely sommeliers seriously hooked me UP. They were literally pouring me all of their goodies! I really felt spoiled. Shoutout to the wonderful crew at Riverbench! Eliza, Mario, Alessandro, and Jordy were ALL incredible! The service was definitely the most impressionable piece of my experience here. But back to the wine; you cannot lose with any of their Pinots or Chardonnay's. I'd like to think that I'm a hard sell when it comes to wine nowadays. Anyone who knows me, knows that I'm a wino 'til the day I die. And being in the Bay spoils me because I'm between some of the best wine regions in the worldy world to be quite frank. Riverbench'a Pinot Noirs could easily rival that of both the Anderson Valley and the St. Lucia Highlands. Hell, their Chards could compete with several top Napa and Sonoma Valley Chards. The wine is just THAT good. Sooo, can you guess what I left home with? Yep: Both their Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Correction: I actually drank an entire bottle of Chardonnay at the Santa Barbara Shellfish Co after I left the tasting room. It never even made it back home. I had to drink it that night. And damn was it good! I'm rambling at this point, but basically... you need to stop here for a tasting to reward yourself with this incredible wine. Make a reservation if you can or call to see if they have any open spots before you get there. And enjoy that scrumptious wine! read more

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We had a lovely time chatting with Brad and trying the Riverbench wines. The wines were delicious and we were able to enjoy our tastings with some different cheeses. That made it extra good. We are so glad that we stopped by. We had a nice afternoon and brought back home some delicious bottles of wine that we can share with friends and family. Thanks Brad! read more

A silver lining of COVID is all the new outdoor spaces and this one is awesome! Riverbench now has an outdoor patio, along with the other surrounding businesses, so there is a great party vibe while still feeling like you are able to social distance. We went in a Saturday and had the champagne flight. All the tastes were delicious. Top that off with great service and you too can have a fun relaxing time! There was also live music which was such a treat!! read more

Riverbench Santa Barbara Tasting Room - Wine Tasting Room Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

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My wife and I went to Riverbench at the recommendation of my boss at work. When we arrived it was quite crowded with people from a wine tour. After it cleared out, we found the atmosphere to be a nice, almost homey space. My wife and I ordered the tasting and a charcuterie box (which is self assembled, as an FYI). We thoroughly enjoyed our wines and ended up buying a bottle, and the charcuterie was basic but hit the spot. Further, the person who helped us through our tasting journey was excellent and had a kind demeanor. All in, highly recommend. read more

Riverbench Santa Barbara Tasting Room - a glass of wine - Wine Tasting Room Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

So glad they're open and fixed the outside to have tastings. Love this location since it's in the funk zone area. Makes it more fun to people watch, drink and munch. Been a member for a couple years and it's so worth it. Great wines to satisfy every taste. So glad my daughter is in UCSB, now I have an excuse to go wine tasting more regularly and I love this place and even the Santa Maria location. Attentive and professional service. Though wish there was a couple more munchie items available for purchase so we could have stayed longer and drank more with a bit more substantial food as we started early at noon on empty stomachs. read more

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Riverbench tasting room is an awesome spot in the Funk Zone. They have a wide selection of wines and tastings. If you're looking for a stop on a Sunday Funday check out Riverbench and I recommend their sparkling wines on a hot Santa Barbara day! read more

Riverbench Santa Barbara Tasting Room - Wine Tasting Room Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

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Friendly staff, cool atmosphere, love the glitter bottles, and the sparkling flight was delicious. Server was the sweetest even making local reccomendations. read more

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With the release of their Rose of Pinot Noir, definitely a must-taste tasting room in the Santa Barbara Funk Zone. Fun and knowledgeable staff, and delicious flights of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Sparkling Wines. It was an extra special treat to have bottles of their Sparkling Wines at our holiday dinners. Located on Yanonali Street, gently nestled amongst Shopkeepers, Area 5.1, Cutler's Distillery, and Figueroa Mountain Brewery. read more

Enjoyed a relaxing afternoon on the patio. Sampled some different pours, all of them delicious. The reds were my favorite! Staff is very friendly and always makes sure your glass is set. Look forward to visiting again. Cheers. read more

A great wine tasting experience is one where you get to taste some amazing wines and have a great server who knows what they are pouring and explains everything as you taste. If that's what you want, come taste at Riverbench tasting patio in the funk zone and ask for Eliza! She is the best!! Her tasting notes were spot on! We love Pinot noir, Chardonnay and sparkling and that's exactly what they offer! Tasting fee is $25 per flight and you can choose upto 5 from what they have open and trust me, they have a lot of choices. We loved everything we tasted esp the sparkling rose, reserve Chardonnay and one palm Pinot noir and became members. Cheers! read more

Regan was an absolute joy, and her selections helped us decide to become members at Riverbench. The wine was wonderful, and her explanations were fantastic. This is a gem of a tasting room, and Regan made sure we felt welcome and educated throughout our experience. read more

Awful service! Our first visit was on NYE, the service was slow despite not being busy, rude and just plain awful. They brought out our charcuterie board and all the items were in plastic packaging. The server told us that we would have to unwrap and assemble ourselves, in a condescending tone. We paid too much for this! We decided to give this place another try and stopped by again today but the guy behind the counter completely ignored us when we approached the counter and never looked up. We realized there's no seats inside so we ask if we can sit outside after we order. Without looking at us the guy says no but you can stand at the bar if you really wanted to. At this point I'm over it and tell my partner we should go elsewhere. So we do! We went next door and had great service while sitting outside enjoying the a beautiful Santa Barbara day. This is when we realized that Riverbench does in fact accommodate outside seating but for whatever reason not us. (I Can take a few guesses as to why...) *Outside seating was not full.* Awful experience, sour employees, never going back! read more

Riverbench Santa Barbara Tasting Room - Champagne bottle and charcuterie board that we had to assemble ourselves. - Wine Tasting Room Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

My fav Santa Barbara tasting room/winery so far! They specialize in Chardonnay and Pinot noir and have great tasting wine at a very reasonable price. Would highly recommend the Reserve Chardonnay and the Mesa Pinot. I joined the wine club this summer and they offer free tastings for 2 ppl at both the SB tasting room and the vineyard in Santa Maria, which is a beautiful place to visit if you don't mind driving north for another 40 min! read more

Riverbench Santa Barbara Tasting Room - Wine Tasting Room Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

First and foremost this is a tasting room located in Santa Barbara's infamous "the Funk Zone." This isn't to be confused with Riverbench winery which is located in Santa Maria. The best part of the fun zone is it allows a really great urban winery trek. There are so many restaurants, bars and restaurants within walking distance that you can stroll into multiple random tasting rooms and try enjoy some amazing wine you wouldn't normally experience. They offer 3 flights: Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Bubbly. We had the bubbly and it was really good. The interior is really open and filled with light. It was never too crowded and the staff was friendly. read more

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Came here with my mom to do sweet wine tasting after other wineries ran out. Service was excellent and lady behind bar really knew her wine and was very helpful. We liked the wine so much we bought a couple of bottles to go. Will definitely recommend read more

Girl friends and I made an unplanned stop at Riverbench and were blown away by the amazing time we had during our tasting, especially their sparkling brut rosé, I had to write a review for our pourer Jordie, who took very good care of us and was extremely passionate and knowledgeable about their products. She took the time to explain in detail each wine we chose for our flights. We also had 3 small dogs with us and she came out with dog treats to make sure they weren't forgotten. Also, the chocolate truffles were to die for. Needless to say we had an amazing time and left with a couple bottles of their fantastic wines and sparkling rosé. Definitely coming back the next time we're in Santa Barbara! read more

Well, since covid you have to sit outside, which isn't too bad. You sit in their back lot which is good - you're not by a busy/loud street and it's quite nice back there. We loved most all of the wines and our server was informative and very nice! We definitely enjoyed this place. I had visited their vineyards some years back and remembered liking their wines. Apparently I was and still am, correct! We didn't have reservations which worked out this afternoon. If you are in the area bopping around tasting rooms, definitely try this place. read more

Super cute place to start your afternoon of wine tasting. Great prices and excellent service conveniently located. Mario was the best, so knowledgeable and personable! read more

Riverbench Santa Barbara Tasting Room - Outside patio table - Wine Tasting Room Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

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Stopped by Riverbench for a tasting on a Monday evening. There were only a couple other people in the nice outdoor parklet. The person serving the wine was wonderful! Very knowledgeable, friendly, and served some delicious wines! We tried sparkling, Chardonnay, and Pinot Noir. She also gave some great recommendations for food and other wineries to stop by. I highly recommend checking out Riverbench, especially if you enjoy sparkling wines! read more

My all time favorite winery! The wines and the service are great !!! Love being a member here and may I suggest the glitter bottles as excellent gifts !!! My personal faves are the Brut Rosé and the Chardonnay Estate. They have the best whites which are a hard find in the area. read more

Riverbench is just one of those places that I HAVE to stop at when I am visiting Santa Barbara with family/friends. The atmosphere and friendly staff are the perfect combination to suit your needs. I usually stick by the Pinot tasting as it is the right amount of wine to have while you're here. My only pain point is that I wished that they poured a little more into my glasses and that there was more seating inside the establishment. While $20 may be a little steep for 6 glasses, it is nice when you're not from the area and are looking to show off Santa Barbara wine to family/friends. If you plan on visiting just be prepared to drive around to find parking as the street is usually filled to the brim. read more

Riverbench Santa Barbara Tasting Room - Quick grab in Santa Barbara - Wine Tasting Room Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

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The wine was good but a little high priced for the quality. The indoor space is 3-4 tables and a small bar area. There is an outdoor seating is nice with sun shades for hot days. The service was mostly disappointing with the exception of the nice dark haired girl with a constant big smile. Her personality and the wine quality were the bright spot but the price and other poor attitudes probably would have me explore friendlier, fun choices. read more

We went here simply because they had sparkling - and I was happy to see they had an entire flight! First, there was only one other group in here - Tuesday during the day - so we had very personalized service. The tasting room is roomy, with a nice long bar and separate seating areas. The woman pouring was very informative, walking me through my sparkling and telling me what to look for. It was interesting to see how different they were, and knowing why, other than just seeing how much I liked them. My husband had a red flight, and we enjoyed most of those. (I got to have a sip of them, also.) This was a great start to our wine tasting in SB. read more

Riverbench Santa Barbara Tasting Room - Sparkles! - Wine Tasting Room Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

What an amazing first time experience!! The wine expert knew every little detail about the wines and even helped my wife (a non wine drinker) find wines that she actually loved! read more

Riverbench Santa Barbara Tasting Room - Wine Tasting Room Near Me - Santa Barbara, California

My friends and I went to Riverbench on a very rainy Friday night. We had just been to another place prior and waited a half an hour just for a glass of water. When we got to Riverbench, Heather and Brad had food and bottles of wine in front of us within five minutes. We love their service and the wine is fantastic. For anyone visiting to the Funk Zone, this tasting room is a must go to. read more

Great patio, wines weren't my style but staff were very kind. Nice to have reservations for a larger group, not sure if the wine and cheese box combo was worth the price though. read more