Historic Charm Melds With Modern Luxury at the Santa Ynez Inn

The Santa Ynez Inn takes its name from the quaint town of Santa Ynez, where it’s located at the entrance to Santa Ynez Valley’s scenic wine country. Not only is its location incredibly convenient should your stay include plans to explore Santa Barbara Wine Country, but each guest of the Santa Ynez Inn also receives one of the best amenities I’ve ever experienced: an exclusive Tasting Passport, entitling them to complimentary tastings at nearly twenty local wineries. How apropos!

Modeled after the very first hotel in Santa Ynez, The College Hotel, which was tragically lost during a fire in 1935, The Santa Ynez Inn was newly constructed in 2001. Yet despite being built so recently, I so enjoyed how the Santa Ynez Inn elegantly combines the charm of an old Victorian inn with the luxuries and modern conveniences of a new hotel. And however unexpected it may be as you pull up in your Tesla, there’s even a charging station at your disposal!

Overall, an air of understated elegance undeniably defines the entire operation, from the exquisite furnishings to the soothing jazz music you’ll find serenading you as you settle into your luxuriously appointed room. From the moment you check in, guests are pampered with a surprisingly generous list of amenities that are completely included in your stay (read on for the full list).

After a busy day of exploring Santa Barbara County and the Sta. Rita Hills AVA, this pairing could not have been more perfect. The2014 JCR Vineyard Pommard 5 Pinot Noir possesses lifted, bright red fruit aromatics grounded by more savory nuances of smoke, forest floor, truffle and lingering spice. Looking for more Santa Barbara winery recommendations? Click here.

My deluxe room was surprisingly spacious, with a sitting area, gas fireplace and a private balcony with a table for two.

Amenities You’ll Enjoy During Your Stay at The Santa Ynez Inn…

• Complimentary Breakfast from 7-10 am, Wine Hour from 5-6 pm and Late Tea & Cookies from 8:30 to 9:30 pm.
• Complimentary WiFi
• Complimentary on-site parking
• Spa and Dry Sauna
• Fitness Room
• Jacuzzi
• Fire Pits in the Courtyard
• 24 Hour Concierge Services
• L’Occitane Bath Products
• Daily Housekeeping
• The Santa Ynez Tasting Passport, which enables guests to visit nearly twenty local wineries and enjoy complimentary tastings just by showing their room key!

Guests of the Santa Ynez Inn can taste for free at Gainey Vineyard, Sunstone Vineyards, Vincent Vineyards, The Brander Vineyard, Bechmen Vineyards, Lincourt Vineyards, Buttonwood Farm Winery, Rusack Vineyards, Zaca Mesa Winery, Sanford Winery, Foley Estates Vineyard, Carr Winery, Imagine Wine, Bien Nacido & Solomon Hills Estates, Refugio Ranch, Neilson by Byron, Toccata, Lucas & Lewellen and Alma Rosa.

The Wine Hour, offered daily from 5 to 6 pm, included one white and one red from a local producer that guests could pair with cheese, crackers, vegetables and light charcuterie. The first night of my stay I enjoyed a glass of Santa Barbara Winery Pinot Noir, and the second night a glass of Tolosa’s Pinot Noir.

I took several opportunities to enjoy the beautiful courtyard during my stay. There were three fire pits with plenty of comfortable seating.

Breakfast is served from 7 to 10 am and is included in your stay. Each morning, there were two specials to choose from prepared to order from the kitchen in addition to a buffet of pastries and fresh fruit. These poached eggs, served with pesto and Grana Padano cheese over buttered brioche offered a delicious start to my day of tasting in Santa Barbara Wine Country.

More photos courtesy of The Santa Ynez Inn…

The Particulars | What You Need To Know About The Landsby Solvang Hotel

Location: 3627 Sagunto St, Santa Ynez, CA 93460

Phone: 805.688.5588

Number of Rooms: 20

Nightly Rates: Weeknights typically range from $229 to $399 per night, while weekend rates range from $400 up to $800 per night depending on seasonal demand.

Wi-Fi? Yes, complimentary Wi-Fi is available to all guests.

Overall Impression: The Santa Ynez Inn deftly combines the charm of an old Victorian inn with the luxuries and modern conveniences of a new hotel. If a tasteful, yet indulgent retreat sounds like a welcome addition to your wine country getaway, consider it complete once you’ve booked your stay.

Rating: 5 / 5 Stars

Know Before You Go:

• There is a $25 daily resort fee, which includes Wi-Fi, parking, bottled water and the Wine Passport, which includes free tastings at nearly 20 wineries in the Santa Ynez Valley, including several I recently visited and highly recommend.
• Parking is conveniently located onsite, and is included in the resort fee.
• Breakfast is available in-room, for an additional fee. Complimentary breakfast is served daily in the parlour. 
• The Santa Ynez Inn is roughly a 40 minute drive from Santa Barbara’s municipal airport. You can either take CA-101, or the scenic route via CA-154. I highly recommend the latter!
• Several fine restaurants are located within just 5 minutes walking distance, including  S.Y. Kitchen and Dos Carlitos Restaurant & Tequila Bar.
• An espresso machine is provided in-room with complimentary coffee selections.
• My room had a balcony, with a table and seating for two.
• A fridge was located in my room, with two complimentary bottles of water. Housekeeping replenished my water each day, as part of the daily resort fee.
  

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*The Santa Ynez Inn hosted me for a portion of my stay in Santa Barbara Wine Country. No other consideration was received for publishing this article. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.