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    The Valley Project

    4.3 (89 reviews)
    Open 12:00 pm - 7:00 PM
    Updated 3 months ago

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    Tasting Menu 1/2023
    Jack G.

    The only tasting room in SB where I bought a case to ship home. Their wine impressed me so much. Knowledgeable, friendly, impassioned staff. Reasonable tasting fees (waived with certain purchases). These winemakers know their wine!

    Outdoor tasting
    Crystal H.

    The best winery/tasting room in Santa Barbara for us. They are Kunin Wine but they just moved to this location temporarily. The other location isn't open. We came here Sunday around 5:30pm. It's not busy at all. My gosh, their wine is so good! There's outdoor and indoor seatings. They share part of their outdoor area with Pali Wines. Pali wines isn't as good. We did both the Classic white Tasting and Classic Red Tasting for $20 for 5 wines each. We loved all the wines. We bought the Grenache blanc, Viognier, and 2 roses to-go. The male staff was really nice to to let us revisit some wines. Awesome customer service. The restroom is upstairs but need a code. It's shared with other stores.

    Partial view of SB wine region mural by the bar

    Stopped in for a mid afternoon wine tasting and were pleasantly guided through tasty whites and reds by Morgan. He provided amazing service and the ambiance of the tasting was aided by their very informative wall mural of the Santa Barbara wine region. Will definitely return in the future!

    2020 Grenache
    Skylar C.

    Wine was good. More on the dry side. The los alamos Riesling was my favorite. Service was good & friendly

    Isabella B.

    On my 2nd Central Coast 2020 trip I stayed in Santa Barbara for 3 days. In lieu of the history/art-laden museum jaunts that predominate my international trips I planned this trip specifically to determine my wine preferences while also expanding my general wine knowledge. During my research on the Central Coast I found out that Santa Barbara has one of the most popular and prestigious wine regions of CA (think "Sideways") and there are 2 ways to go about wine tasting in SB County: 1) tour the wineries themselves scattered across the valley or 2) urban wine crawl in the tasting rooms of the Funk Zone located in the city itself. I opted for option 2 since I wanted to ease into the wine scene and being a solo traveler didn't want the hassles associated with driving myself to the wineries further away. During my research I found about The Valley Project and its focus to educate the customer on the various subregions of Santa Barbara. A sister business to Kunin, the business model is one-off bottlings of different varieties from distinct vineyards and regions. Bottlings are limited to 200 cases of each. To emphasize the educational aspect of the business there is a chalk wall that highlights the major points of each sub-AVA along with soil samples scattered about the other walls. For $15 you can get a glass or a tasting of 5 wines (2 whites, 3 reds) that ideally focus on most of the regions (there are 6 sub-AVAs of SB). I wish that I took a screenshot of the tasting menu as I forgot the other 2 wines I had. From my recollection/pictures here are 3 of the 5 wines from my tasting. 1. Los Alamos 2019 Riesling (Kick On Ranch) 2. Santa Ynez 2018 Grenache Blanc (Two Wolves) 3. Santa Ynez 2018 Carignane (Camp 4 Vineyard) The reason for the 3-star rating is that while the concept is excellent my experience was a bit lacking. Not sure if covid had anything to do with the fatigue a lot of people are feeling but the service was minimal, only was there to pour my wine and did the bare necessities when explaining the niceties of each bottle and its associated AVA. I really love wine experiences that have a heavy educational component and I felt disappointed by my experience since the tasting room's main focus is "wine education". The wines themselves are decent but at least worth the $15 tasting. I ended up getting the Grenache Blanc for the No1DP because the winery that sourced this is owned *and* maintained by winemaker Alecia Moore, who in another avenue produced hits that have also won Emmys. It would've been my only opportunity to get wine from that winery since all her bottles were immediately sold out. PS: this was my favorite of the tastings. Like everything else I will revisit once covid passes so as to try a more "normal" wine tasting experience. Especially since the concept is something I'm super passionate about I definitely would like to take a proper deep dive here to see what the SB County sub-AVAs are all about.

    Rosalind C.

    This place was ok, the service wasn't really that great and the server didn't really give any explanations about the wines when we ask for a tasting. Its in a nice place in Santa Monica, great for people watching but the wine was ehhh and the service was ahh

    Sarah N.

    This spot is tucked away in the cutest little artsy nook. We were in need of a last-minute bottle of wine for our host on Thanksgiving. So happy we found this spot. Loved the exclusivity of this vineyard and couldn't have been happier with the choice. I was guided to a Cab from the gentlemen behind the bar. Excellent recommendation! The wine was a hit. Next time we are in Santa Barbara we will make it a point to stop here and enjoy what they have to offer. The ambiance is bright and open. Highly recommend!

    Map of the wine region
    Chris C.

    Awesome vibes in The Funk Zone. When I visited Santa Barbara 14 years ago, I don't think this district even existed. The Valley Project was the perfect choice into the foray of exploring Santa Barbara county wines.

    A sad frustrating woman

    This woman blamed me for breaking her own glass wow! This is the worst experience I ever had in a wine tasting! After being seated in the same spot for at least half an hour she told me I was in her way! we are celebrating our wedding weekend! We thought it was a great place to start our wine tasting but guess what this how you treat your clientele? I will never come back and definitely let everyone knows how sad it is to be here ... if you want a great experience I will try another place to be treated better.

    Ape I.

    We don't really have much to compare the Valley Project to, as it was the only tasting room we had a chance to visit while in the SB funk zone, and we are by no means wine connoisseurs. But we did enjoy all of their featured wines, which ranged from a Sauvignon blanc, to a Chardonnay, and then a rose..and finally closed out with two red wines. The overall vibe was very relaxed and not at all pretentious. Our server was super chill and knowledgeable. Also really liked their decor, from the cool wall mural to the high ceilings and large windows, letting the gorgeous Santa Barbara light spill in and wash the interior in that hazy, early-fall glow. The cost came out to $15 a person, but they will waive the cost if you make a purchase. We will definitely be back the next time we are in town.

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    Erica was amazing very informative. The wine was great, we purchased 3 bottles. Felt very comfortable in the tasting room

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    Page 1 of 3

    Ask the Community - The Valley Project

    Review Highlights - The Valley Project

    Our time in Santa Barbara was limited, so I had to narrow my choices down to pick one winery in the funk zone to try.

    Mentioned in 13 reviews

    Read more highlights

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    Margerum Wine - Every beautiful day here in the Funk Zone is perfect with Sauvignon Blanc.

    Margerum Wine

    4.3(240 reviews)
    0.1 mi
    $$

    This really is the perfect place for both wine AND food…read more So far we've been in a couple times sitting in the bar area and also out on their comfy patio space. Our servers Alex and Kayla were exceptional at both suggesting some delicious lunch items, and also giving a rundown on their different wine tastings. They gave us some helpful information on the assorted varietals and vintages as well. We went in specifically for their M5 and Riviera Rose, but discovered their extensive selection of other varietals and vintages. Came away with some new favorites: Sauvignon Blanc, Trois Blondes (a delicious white blend), Viognier, Mourvedre, and Estate Syrah. Perfect that they open at noon for lunch. We paired our wines with their Santa Barbara Smokehouse Salmon, Smoked Duck and Arugula Salad, Chicken Pesto Sandwich, and Sausage Mushroom & Carmelized Onion Pizza. Still so much on their menu to enjoy.

    I'm giving this place 3 stars because of the efforts of one server to keep things afloat outside…read more When we arrived, another large party had just left outside and she immediately cleaned one of their tables so we could sit. It was chilly so she tried to light the heat lamp at my request but both that one and the replacement did not work. The replacement actually had the propane disconnected so I assume someone knew that tank needed to be changed out but didn't do it. The other tables from the large party were full of wine glasses and a half eaten pizza. Those sat there for over an hour, and we watched several groups of people come but leave without being seated because no server was available yo seat them and the only open table hadn't been cleared. When it was finally cleared, one guest at a near by table commented that the pizza shouldn't go to waste. The girl who cleared the table initially carried it inside but came right back out with it and served it to that guest whose kid ate it. I'm all for not wasting food and if the guest had gotten up and grabbed the pizza himself, that would be one thing... but to serve old food that had been sitting out for a long time to a guest is a no no for a business. We otherwise enjoyed most of the wines in our tasting flight. Would've given 5 stars if service had been more timely, tables cleared and old food not served up.

    Photos
    Margerum Wine - Glass of Mourvèdre on a Thursday. Perfect.

    Glass of Mourvèdre on a Thursday. Perfect.

    Margerum Wine - Deliciously comfortable tasting room and Staff.

    Deliciously comfortable tasting room and Staff.

    Margerum Wine - Thank you Chef David for the perfect pairing.

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    Thank you Chef David for the perfect pairing.

    Orgullo Wine - Wine tasting | 2022 Chardonnay

    Orgullo Wine

    4.3(292 reviews)
    0.1 mi
    $$

    Formerly Area 5.1, now under new ownership and fully owning its glow-up…read more Orgullo Wine is Latino-owned, community-rooted, and brings a lively, welcoming energy to the Funk Zone. The aesthetic is intentional and well done. Mexican icons on the walls, thoughtful decor throughout, and fresh flower centerpieces that quietly say someone here actually cares. It feels curated, not forced. I've seen a review floating around claiming Angel is rude, which hasn't matched my experience at all. Every interaction I've had has been professional and friendly. This feels more like a busy Friday night where people were camping without ordering wine and didn't love being reminded that a wine bar is, indeed, for drinking wine. Wine + service * Tasting flights are $25 and well curated * They occasionally offer two-for-one wine flights * Small-batch wines produced in the Santa Ynez Valley by Esfuerzo Wines * Standout favorites include the Coyote Rojo Bordeaux-style blend & the Sauvignon Blanc is crisp, refreshing, and easy to love * Marissa, one of the tasting associates, is consistently hospitable and attentive and makes the experience feel effortless Vibe and events * Fridays feature Lotería with a DJ from 6-10pm * Lively without being chaotic * A solid mix of locals, regulars, and people actually there for the wine If you're looking for good wine, a fun atmosphere, and a Funk Zone spot that blends culture with care, Orgullo Wine is doing it right. Order wine, enjoy the space, and let the night unfold.

    This spot was so cute and a fun outdoor patio to hangout in and enjoy the wines. We did a wine…read moretasting and our server was very kind and knowledgeable about what she was giving us! They don't have food but they allow you to order from the pizza truck next door and it is hand delivered to you! This area had so many different wine shops to pick from and I'm glad this was the one that caught our eye!

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    Orgullo Wine - 2022 Chardonnay

    2022 Chardonnay

    Orgullo Wine - 2022 Sauvignon Blanc

    2022 Sauvignon Blanc

    Orgullo Wine - Chardonnay

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    Chardonnay

    The Funk Zone - Funk Zone Records at 123 Santa Barbara St. The best record store in Santa Barbara

    The Funk Zone

    4.1(52 reviews)
    0.1 mi
    $$

    So much to love about these 10 blocks of Shopping, Wine, Beer, Coffee, Restaurants, Art, Museums…read moreand Culture, Hotels, and more Shopping. And all nestled nicely between Highway 101 and Cabrillo Blvd, and between Garden Street and State Street. Can't even start with what my favorite spots are, I find a new one each time I visit. Usually plenty of street parking on the weekdays, and on the weekends definitely need to use one of the assorted public parkling lots in the area. You'll also find Live DJ's, Karaoke, Trivia Nights, Live Music, Bingo, Happy/Hoppy Hours . . . and sometimes dancing in the streets.

    This is a truly funky place to explore. There's an eclectic mix of restaurants, unique shops,…read morewineries, breweries, coffee, antiques, and more. Parking is challenging on the weekends. We've been there when it's busy and it can be festive-- pop ups in old vintage rv's or outside beer halls can appear; bands playing in several spots, etc. Experiences can be hit or miss. We visited a winery called Area 51 which sounded fun, but the wines were just okay. But Pali Wine had very good wines, a relaxing patio, and cool live music. The stores vary from very pricey threads to affordable knick knacks; succulents to vintage records to original artwork. Many spaces occupy previously owned old businesses that give it a nostalgic feeling. A few top name wineries have spaces here (i.e. Fess Parker). Definitely worth checking out in looking for a unique time in Santa Barbara.

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    The Funk Zone
    The Funk Zone
    The Funk Zone

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    The Valley Project - winetastingroom - Updated May 2026

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