Santa Ynez Wineries

I am compelled to respond to the negative headlines and “sour grapes” tone of the article (Dec. 3) on tourism in the Santa Ynez Valley. While the photos showed winery tasting rooms and a signpost pointing the way to six wineries which clearly want visitors to find them, the article gave the impression that vintners are unhappy about being discovered and that tourists are no longer welcome in northern Santa Barbara County.

On the contrary, the Santa Barbara County Vintners’ Assn. (composed of 30 wineries and six vineyards) exists to promote the wine industry of the county and a very important aspect of our work is to encourage visitors to come and taste our outstanding wines in local tasting rooms and restaurants. We publish wine touring maps, advertise in travel publications, collaborate with area visitors bureaus and encourage travel writers to help us spread the word about our beautiful wine country.

We have relatively few wineries, widely spaced throughout the region, and the substantial financial commitment and bureaucratic hurdles faced by anyone starting a winery make it unlikely that many new wineries will spring up along the back roads. Unlike Napa, Santa Barbara County offers a wide variety of attractions in addition to the wineries, including beaches, art galleries, historical museums, missions, as well as the shops of Solvang.

PAM MAINES OSTENDORF

Executive Director, Santa Barbara

County Vintners’ Assn.