We went to Rusack on the recommendation from a friend who is in the wine industry and were not disappointed! We loved the wines and loved the view. I prefer reds but found both the reds and the whites to be very good. We stopped at the Los Olivos grocery on the way to pick up sandwiches because it's a great place to have a picnic. They'll bring your tasting out to the patio where they have many tables with a view of the countryside. We were there on a weekday (and were the only ones there) and were told that weekends are very crowded. This winery was our favorite in that area. As an aside, the road from Los Olivos to Rusack is very twisty but worth driving. The scenery was spectacular!
A small winery with excellent wines and nice people. Good for tastings and a good wine club. They have a wanted sign for Grape Crushing Personnel. You'll be pleased you met these folk.
The first vineyard we ever visited where we liked each wine we tasted. Too bad they have such small production so the wine club ships only 2 bottles twice a year. Make the effort to visit and buy.
This winery is a bit out of the way, but well worth finding and driving out to. It is a wonderful quiet setting. Bring a picnic and hang around wine tasting. We would go here again and again.
This tasting room is a little off the well traveled path, but the drive is bucolic and interesting, especially if the buffalo are grazing near the fence. The patio is a great setting to have a picnic or snack. (I wish the staff would serve out there rather than having to go inside for each tasting). The wines are fun, especially the Solomon Hills Pinot (my fave). The Rusacks have vineyards on Catalina island and sometimes they are pouring those wines too. They aren't as good as the regular wines, but the novelty factor is fun.
Rusack is one of my favorites in Santa Ynez. The location is on a quiet country road, with a nice shaded patio. The wines were all good.
The picnic area alone is worth a trip. Terrific chardonnay, pinot, syrah and (new to us this time) zinfandel.
This was our first time at Rusack Vineyards, but it won't be our last. What a great experience! Super friendly staff, who were both attentive and very informative. The wine selections were fantastic! Beautiful patio where you can sit and enjoy your wine and admire the beautiful landscape that surrounds you...so peaceful.
We always look forward to a visit to Rusack's beautiful winery.Patio is the perfect setting to wine taste and enjoy a picnic lunch. Staff were friendly and informative as always. Wine flight was excellent and it was a highlight of the day.There are plenty of tables and seats available on a busy end of summer afternoon. Leisurely pace and beautiful views perfect the setting.
I haven't been to all the wineries in the Santa Ynez valley area, but I've visited a lot. My favorites are Lafond and Rusack, in that order. In both cases the wines are very good, the views and scenery are magnificent, and the service is friendly and enthusiastic. Both are a little isolated and off the beaten track. The tasting fees are comparatively reasonable. And they both stay open until 5:00 p.m. (whereas many wineries in the area close at 4:00 or 4:30.) Great places to watch the sun go down in the winter.