Fact Sheets & Video - Los Angeles

Head sideways from downtown LA

With 24,000 acres of planted vineyards, and more than 100 wineries, Santa Barbara Wine Country is California's newest world-class hotspot for premium wines. The area gained international attention and was made famous by the Oscar winning film Sideways which was set and filmed in Santa Barbara Wine Country, featuring several of its local wineries and attractions.

Santa Barbara Wine Country in California is located about 200k's northwest of L.A. It has a history of winemaking and winegrape growing stretching back more than 200 years to before California was a state. Most of the wineries in the region are small businesses, run by individuals or families. The wine industry in Santa Barbara County grew from virtually nothing in 1970 to a $360 million business 32 years later. More than a million cases of wine are produced annually.

Cloud Climbers Jeep Tours offer individualized tours through the sprawling ranches and endless miles of orchards and vineyards. Local driver guides provide insights on area history, flora and fauna in their 6-seater jeeps...and they don't mind going off-road if they have to!

One of the wineries you might visit is the Artiste Winery & Tasting Studio. Christina LoCascio, Artiste's resident artist, literally paints with wine on paper! Artiste wines are labeled with gorgeous works of impressionist art - here wine and art really go hand in hand.

Also located in Santa Barbara Wine Country is Solvang, the Danish capital of North America. Solvang is the Danish word for "sunny field" and was founded in 1911 by a group of Danish educators who soon built a Danish folk school. In 1936, on Solvang's 25th birthday, the future Danish king and queen visited, sparking interest in the local colony and the local annual festival known as Danish Days. Shops, galleries, restaurants, and hotels soon sprouted, each reflecting the area's Danish architectural heritage. And Solvang evolved into the jewel it is today: a charming town with roots planted firmly in Danish tradition.

There's plenty of exploring to be done in Santa Barbara County and its 100 wineries, located primarily in the Santa Ynez Valley, Santa Maria Valley and Sta Rita Hills appellations

Further Information:

California, USA

Air New Zealand fly return to LA

From - $1980 ex Sydney

- $2063 ex Melbourne

- $2263 ex Perth

Valid travel 01 Nov to 09 Dec 2008

www.airnewzealand.com.au

Prices correct at 3/04/08 and include fees and taxes. Conditions apply.

Fess Parker's Wine Country Inn & Spa

Rooms From $312 a night including breakfast and wine tasting

Fess Parker's Wine Country Inn & Spa

www.fessparker.com

Conditions, surcharges and block out dates may apply.

Cloud Climbers Jeep Tours

$116 a person

Includes guide, wine tastings and gourmet deli lunch.

www.ccjeeps.com

Conditions, surcharges and block out dates may apply.

DriveAway Holidays

Car rental

From $80 a day

1300 723 972

Conditions, surcharges and block out dates may apply.