Touring wine country north of Santa Barbara

Hermosa Beach residents Ari Smith and wife Jaclyn taste wines at the Alma Rosa Winery & Vineyards in Buellton, Calif. The tasting room appeared in the 2004 comedy “Sideways.”  (Don Kelsen / Los Angeles Times)

At the Los Olivos Cafe & Wine Merchant, a setting for the film “Sideways,” the menu offers the “Sideways Dinner,” a popular three-course meal that includes a glass of Chardonnay or Pinot Noir for $35. Owner Sam Marmorstein says business has dropped about 10% this year from last year. But visitors still drop by to pose for photos by the wine shelves where the dinner scene was filmed.  (Don Kelsen / Los Angeles Times)

Solvang, down the road from Buellton, is best known for its Danish village. Jeff Paaske, owner of Solvang Restaurant, plans to install a plaque on the booth where “Sideways” characters Miles and Jack ate breakfast. “I see people come in with ‘Sideways’ maps all the time,” he says.  (Don Kelsen / Los Angeles Times)

In Santa Barbara County, wine is a $360-million industry that produces more than 1 million cases annually. More than a quarter of those bottles come from the Santa Ynez Valley, home to 75 wineries, more than 100 vineyards and roughly 5,000 acres of vineyards. The valley still supports a cattle industry on lands not filled with vineyards.  (Don Kelsen / Los Angeles Times)