This is where I go when I don't feel like driving from vineyard to vineyard. Sure, seeing the rolling green hills covered with rows and rows of grapes is a beautiful view... sometimes you just want to taste the wines. What better way to do that than parking in the middle of the Wine Ghetto and just walking from tasting room to tasting room?! When I first "conquered" the Ghetto, there were only 14 tasting rooms... but now they're up to 20 something and growing. Theres now a few that I've yet to try, but there hasn't been a "bad" spot yet. They have a variety of options... from Italian varietals, to bubbly at the Flying Goat... they have it all. Whether you're looking to taste great wine or get hammered... this is the place to go! Surprisingly you'll meet quite a few tourists... in Lompoc? Who knew?! You'll be able to spot the tourists when they say "Lom-POCK" instead of "-poke" Don't let it bother you though, just clink those glasses and have a good time! read more

I've read the occasional negative review or two about the ghetto, but I don't understand where it's coming from. I've only been to the ghetto about three times, but so far every single time has been an absolute delight. In fact, I try not to visit the same place as there are so many tasting rooms to try. True, it is behind a Home Depot and you're not sure what to expect, but the wine is delicious! Thank you Yelp for the reviews as it's helped to decide which wineries to try. I've been to Palmina, Ampelos, Fiddlehead, Arcadian, Flying Goat and Piedrastassi. If you truly have a love of wine, then please try the Ghetto as it will not disappoint. read more

This place is my Oz. Forget the pretentious Tuscan inspired tasting rooms and head to the Ghetto to pull back the curtain and taste some of the best wines in the world. Pinot, Syrah, Grenache and Chard shine but try them all. Often you will get to taste with the winemakers and not a random tasting room employee so be prepared to learn about the wine as a whole, from acreage yields to whole cluster fermentation. If there were food and lodging within the wine ghetto I would probably never leave. read more

Very well kept secret. My first visit here turned me into a wine lover. I stayed at Lotus at Lompac which is where the old travelodge is. It's not fancy, but my room was clean. 4 block walk to the Ghetto, where you get to taste incredible wines, from the passionate people that make them. So much to learn, people to meet and experiences to be had, with nothing conceited or frou frou. Tastings are 10-15 bucks each (some over 20 but rare), you can share one tasting per couple no problem (otherwise you will get smashed fast). I've got nothing but good things to say about the Ghetto. Already planning my next trip. read more

Don't expect any glam on the outside but it's nice that everything is in walking distance.

Place was confusing. Not really sure what i am reviewing here. There are a couple warehouses in lompoc that serve and make wine. They have different hours and reside in a loosely termed place 'wine ghetto' or 'wine trail' ....its called both. The bottomline, since santa ynez charges and arm and a leg for whatever it takes to make/serve wine, parts of different people's wine biz moved to lompoc. Great for the city, but it was quite confusing and an 'under-delivery' for me. read more

It's about the wine. The Ghetto began life as a minimalist light industrial and office center. Metal clad buildings, roll up doors, very little landscaping and most importantly for the wine industry cheap rents and available space. Longoria was one of the first to make wine at the location. Others followed as the County bureaucracy made it more difficult to get new wineries and tasting permitted in the county. People were stunned when Longoria received international recognition for their wines, especially when it became known that they are made in an industrial park. A couple decades later there are a number of wineries with tasting rooms and a number of standalone tasting rooms. It's nice to be able to taste a number of wineries without having to get back into the car. A great way to enjoy the ghetto is to get some sandwiches and salads from Central Coast Specialty Foods ( about 5 minutes away) and enjoy it at one of the outdoor tables. In addition to those in the parking lot I think Montemar is fine with using their tables for a picnic. read more

Montemar wines is my favorite stop. I always bring the "out of towners" here. They have a wonderful backyard and children are allowed. Lots to play and do and the staff are very knowledgeable about the wine. read more

As you will read in many of the reviews it is in an industrial park and the outside is plain Jane for sure. However each of the tasting rooms were fantastic and like walking into another world. Everyone was extremely nice and helpful. My gf was the wine expert and she was in heaven. I enjoyed it all very much and learned a ton. Every place we stopped there was great info and the folks running each tasting room were happy to share their knowledge. Great deals and wonderful experience. Made what we had thought would be a boring work day a great trip and one to repeat! read more

Ave is my favorite wine! It pairs up with any type of meat, or fish. Or enjoy it solo!

The first comment I will make is the wines they taste aren't for everybody's palate. The wineries in the ghetto are tasting wines that would come from the Burgundy or Rhone regions in France. You won't find Bordeaux wines except at Palimina winery. If you like Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Viognier, Syrah, Grenache, and Mourvèdre this is a great place to taste. read more

I'm a GHETTO FAN!!! Every time we come, the lover and I stay at the travelodge around the corner and its SUPER convenient! Although I admit it's not as pretty as the wineries nor do they have the pretty scenery, the ghetto is a great place to be at. They have 19 tasting rooms now and i'm positive they're going to have more next year. read more

This place was amazing. Good customer service, nice sitting place in the back. Most importantly very good wine

A great place to try out the local wines, generally without having to spend too much money. There is quite a lot of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay from most of the vineyards, but a couple of places also have some more unusual wines - e.g., the Italian grape varieties at Palmina or the wide variety of stuff at Piedrasassi. Just don't expect to be able to visit all of them... You would need to make a few trips up here to do that. Also, don't expect much food to be available in the immediate vicinity. My favorite place was probably Arcadian, with their many old-world-esque (compared to most other places, at least) Pinots and Chardonnays. However, people who prefer more fruit-forward, higher alcohol wines might prefer other vineyards. Zotovich was also excellent, for example. read more

2nd time here and lots and lots of tasting rooms. Palmina has 2-for-1 tastings before noon, which is good because you could spend an entire day tasting here and not get through half the rooms. Definitely coming back! read more

This place was very cool and definitely not a ghetto like one review states. The tasting rooms are nice and the service was great. This is a great place to go if you want to try many different wines without driving to a bunch of wineries. If you are looking for the ambience and beauty of a winery this is not the place. It iis a cool place and Lompoc is a nice town with some good eateries and coffee shops. read more

If you are into some really good wines and don't need ambiance then this is a must. This is a hidden gem! Just remember this is for wine people first. Penis pops are located at Firestone in Foxen Canyon read more

It had been a while since I'd been to Lompoc to visit my extended family, and when they started telling me about the Wine Ghetto, I was shocked. We decided to stop by there and I was impressed and thought the whole area was really cute. I'm more of a fan of tastings at vineyards instead of tasting rooms, but love the ability to travel around and try different labels in a short amount of time, all in walking distance! read more

Love the ghetto and all the wines there! The people, the wine and the experience always an absolute blast. We particularly enjoy Kristie from Palmina. She knows her wine, her clientele and is an absolute joy! the ghetto is a don't miss. read more

I had the pleasure of visiting the wine ghetto, thought it would be a treat to take my best friend there for her birthday. We first went to Palmina. What a disappointment! First of all the person doing the pouring was not very informative, then he left us sitting there while he was chatting it up with his buddy's at the bar. Customer service not a priority! Also, usually the tasting fee is waived if you buy a bottle, not here. I will not be spending my hard earned dollars at Palmina ever! Next it was on to Santa Rita Hills, wow another horrible experience. Poor customer service once again! The wine was sub-par, over-priced and no waiving the tasting fee if you purchased a bottle of wine. They couldn't get us out the door fast enough! Don't waste your time or money at this place either. read more

Fun place to visit several wineries within a short distance. If ambiance and beautiful grounds are what you're looking for, this is not it... some of the interiors are quite cute, others are small...but it's all about the wine anyway, right? read more

I have lived in Lompoc for years and still have yet to try each tasting room. Very diverse wine varietals and some of the best Pinot you will ever drink. If you go to Santa Ynez or Paso, you will pay large amounts just for tastings. Some of my favorites inlcude Montemar for the fun outdoor activities, Flying Goat for bubbly, Arcadian for the tremendous pours, and Palmina for the unique styles. read more

A true gem and must see for the wine enthusiast traveling through the area. There are over 20 small wineries represented in this bare-bones industrial area, with each winery having its own small tasting room. Like everyone leaving reviews says, don't let the warehouse setting fool you - each tasting room is unique and absolutely wonderful. I would do some research before you go to see which wineries would appeal to you. Flying Goat, for instance, specializes in Pinot Noir and bubbly stuff (which is rare for the region). We will undoubtedly be back to try as many wineries as we can. Pack a lunch too, since food options are limited to the gas station on the corner, the hot dog stand at Home Depot, and the hospital cafeteria. Some of the tasting rooms had some fantastic cheeses and charcuterie to offer free with each tasting!! Oh, and everyone is super friendly and laid back. These are mostly small-batch wineries producing top-notch, unique stuff so you can expect to pay a little more for a bottle to bring home. Hopefully, there will be more deals available as this plays grows in popularity! read more