Valley Vineyard Vagabonding and Vaccinations (SB Bucket List Part IV)
Since the last blog, Santa Barbara County has continued to decrease restrictions and open up more. We are now in California's red tier, with the orange tier in sight. Since we are potentially facing a 4th wave of infections (failing to learn and change from the previous three), we continue to stick with our own more cautious approach of outdoor, distanced activities, at least until all three of us have been fully vaccinated (more on that below). We've been able to venture out for some outdoor, socially distanced wine-tasting, which has been a real treat. Several suggestions in the SB Bucket List are activities in the Santa Ynez Valley. The Valley* has much to offer, and it really shines with wine ! Because of the number of micro-climates and different types of soil in a relatively small space, many different types of grapes are grown here. I personally feel the wine from this region is better than the Napa-Sonoma, and the wineries are much more laid-back and less pretentious....