RIDGE Weekend Getaway – Santa Barbara

Santa Barbara, California, nestled between the Santa Ynez Mountains and the Pacific Ocean, epitomizes the allure of the American Riviera with its Spanish colonial architecture, Mediterranean climate, and palm-lined streets. Its downtown area boasts a charming mix of boutique shops, restaurants, and cultural landmarks, including the historic Old Mission Santa Barbara and Stearns Wharf, offering panoramic views of the coastline.

Outdoor enthusiasts flock to Santa Barbara for its pristine beaches, scenic hiking trails, and lush botanical gardens, while art and culture aficionados explore the city’s museums, theaters, and vibrant arts scene. With its rich cultural heritage, natural beauty, and laid-back coastal lifestyle, Santa Barbara offers a captivating blend of history, recreation, and relaxation, making it a beloved destination for travelers seeking a quintessential California experience.

The resort is located just minutes from the Santa Barbara Airport and 2 hours from the Los Angeles International Airport.

The Ritz-Carlton Bacara Resort in Santa Barbara is a luxurious coastal retreat nestled along the pristine shores of California’s Central Coast. This expansive resort spans over 78 acres, offering breathtaking views of the Pacific Ocean and the Santa Ynez Mountains. Renowned for its Mediterranean-inspired architecture and lush landscaping, the resort provides a serene and upscale atmosphere for guests to unwind and indulge in unparalleled luxury.

The accommodations at The Ritz-Carlton Bacara are designed to exude elegance and comfort, with spacious rooms featuring modern amenities and opulent furnishings. Beyond its lavish accommodations, the resort boasts an array of world-class amenities and activities to cater to every guest’s desires. From its award-winning spa and wellness center to its championship golf course and multiple swimming pools, there’s no shortage of opportunities for relaxation and recreation.

The resort offers exquisite dining options showcasing fresh, locally sourced ingredients and innovative culinary creations. With its idyllic coastal location, luxurious accommodations, and unparalleled amenities, The Ritz-Carlton Bacara Resort in Santa Barbara offers a truly unforgettable retreat for discerning travelers seeking a sophisticated coastal getaway.

Learn More

The weekend package includes three nights’ lodging for two guests at the spectacular Ritz-Carlton Bacara Resort, admission for two to the Library Tasting, Thursday Welcome Dinner, Winemaker Workshop, Private Movie Screening, Wine Conversation, Saturday Winemaker Dinner, and breakfast for two guests each day. The Garden Room is a luxurious 450 sq. ft. room with a terrace/balcony, soaking tub with separate walk-in shower, feather beds, 400+ thread count fine linens, in-room refrigerator, coffee / tea maker and writing desk.

During your down time, the following activities are available and included in your package price. Many require advance reservations.

• Mutiple heated pools, adults only and family friendly
• Tennis court access, racket and ball machine included
• Tennis clinic with a tennis professional
• Coastal Eco-Hike led by a resident naturalist
• Electric Bike Rental including helmets and bike locks
• Yoga Class led by a certified instructor, mat provided
• Water Aerobics in heated, adults only pool
• Transportation to Sandpiper Golf Course

Resort Photo Gallery

Thursday

Library Tasting & Reception: 5-6pm

Kick off this amazing weekend with a welcome reception featuring an array of rare, back vintage wines from our library, hosted by our entire Winemaking and Executive teams, including Head Winemaker John Olney, Senior VP of Vineyard Operations David Gates, Monte Bello Winemaker Trester Goetting, Lytton Springs Winemaker Shauna Rosenblum, and CEO Mark Vernon.

Welcome Dinner: 6-9pm

Join us for a celebratory welcome dinner as we all raise a glass to the incredible weekend ahead of us and soak up the majestic beauty of our surroundings.

Friday

Sunrise Yoga: 7:00am-8:00am (optional, by reservation)

Breakfast: 8:00am-10:00am

Winemaker Workshop: 1pm – 2:30pm

Hosted by our Winemakers, the Friday Winemaker Workshop will take a deep dive into a variety of topics as you taste through multiple flights of special RIDGE wines. The focus of this years workshop is still in development but previous workshops featured a 2008 horizontal tasting of Geyserville, Lytton Springs and Pagani Ranch, a vertical of Monte Bello Chardonnay, and two different verticals of Monte Bello with one featuring the 1994, 2004 and 2014 vintages and the second featuring the 1999, 2008 and 2015 vintages.

Dinner:

Stay put and enjoy dinner at the resort or venture out and explore the numerous options in and around Santa Barbara (not included in package price).

Private Movie Screening: 8:30pm-10pm (optional)

Join us for a private movie screening in the resort’s private theater. The film has yet to be announced but you can rest assured that it will be a fun and entertaining affair.

Saturday

Sunrise Yoga: 7:00am-8:00am (optional, by reservation)

Breakfast: 8:00am-10:00am

Wine Conversation: 10am-Noon

Take part in a lively discussion and tasting as we explore several topics that make RIDGE unique. This is the ideal time to ask our winemakers any questions you have about our wines, winemaking or any other topic you might have.

Winemaker Dinner: 6:00-9:30pm

This elegant five-course dinner will be hosted by John Olney, David Gates, Trester Goetting, Shauna Roseblum and Mark Vernon. Each course will be paired specifically with our wines as the chef and our team work together to craft an unforgettable wine and food experience. The wines featured for this dinner will all be from our library and will be specifically chosen based on them being in their optimal drinking window. We have not yet chosen the wines for this dinner but to give you an idea of what to expect, the wines for previous two Weekend Getaway Winemaker Dinners included the 1991 Monte Bello (1.5L), the 1997 Monte Bello, the 1999 Lytton Springs (1.5L), the 2003 Geyserville (1.5L), the 2007 & 2014 Geyserville Essence’s, and the 2013 & 2015 Monte Bello Chardonnay’s.

Sunday

Sunrise Yoga: 7:00am-8:00am (optional, by reservation)

Breakfast: 8:00am-10:00am

From mornings spent touring the region’s vineyards, to afternoons passed within the buzzing arts community, Santa Barbara promises both outdoor adventure and cultural fulfillment. Discover boutique shopping, annual festivals, golf, horseback riding and more during your stay…

Explore Experiences

Set within the resort’s 78 acres, the spa encompasses 42,000 square feet and features a full selection of amenities, including a swimming pool, redwood sauna, and eucalyptus steam room. Fireside lounges and a rooftop terrace offer additional spaces to relax, restore and enjoy the spa resort’s legendary Santa Barbara views.

Learn More

• Paul Draper, Chairman
• Mark Vernon, CEO
• John Olney, Head Winemaker & COO
• David Gates, Senior Vice President of Vineyard Operations
• Shauna Rosenblum, Lytton Springs Winemaker
• Michael Bairdsmith, Lytton Springs Assistant Winemaker
• Ryan Moore, Senior Vice President of Consumer Sales
• Ryan Johnson, Director of Marketing
• Michael Foley, Senior Hospitality Manager, Monte Bello

The wines for our Santa Barbara Getaway have not been chosen yet but the selection is sure to include an array of rare and special wines, limited bottlings, and new releases. To give you a sense of what to expect, view the wines featured at our first two weekend getaways:

Bodega Bay Getaway Wines

Lake Tahoe Getaway Wines

If you have any questions or special requests, please contact us via email or give us a call at 408.867.3233.

When is this event?
July 10th – 13th, 2025

Where is this event taking place?
The Ritz Carlton Bacara Resort
8301 Hollister Avenue, Santa Barbara, CA 93117

Is there any preferred or required attire?
No. Casual is just fine.

How many people can I bring?
Each package includes three nights’ lodging for two guests, admission for two to the Library Tasting, Welcome Dinner, Winemaker Workshop, Wine Conversation, Winemaker Dinner, and breakfast for two each day. All attendees must be over 21 years of age or older.

Do I need to make separate dining accommodations for lunches and Friday evening dinner?
Yes. You can stay onsite and enjoy dinner at the resort, or venture out and explore the numerous options in Santa Barbara.

Is The Ritz Carlton Bacara Resort ADA Accessible?
Yes. For more information about the physical features of the hotel’s accessible rooms, common areas, or special services relating to a specific disability, view the Accessibility Information section at the bottom of their hotel overview page or call +1 805-968-0100.

Can I bring my pet?
Pets are not permitted at our event, however, the resort does welcome service animals in compliance with federal and state laws.

When is check-in and check-out?
You can check-in beginning on Thursday at 4pm and check-out is on Sunday by 11am.

What if I can’t come and I have bought tickets?
Cancellations can be made up to two weeks prior to the event date.

On October 14th, 15th, and 16th, 2021, we held our first RIDGE Weekend Getaway at the Bodega Bay Lodge in Bodega Bay, California. Our winemaking and executive team welcomed 130 passionate RIDGE fans to the Sonoma Coast for three days of engaging discussion, interactive tastings, delicious pairings, and access to a variety of extremely limited, back-vintage wines including the 1984, 1991, and 1994 Monte Bellos.

Bodega Event Photo Gallery