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Wine tasting at the
Rideau Vineyard
Grape growing and wine making were first introduced
to Santa Barbara County in the Mission era. After a
period of decline, the last three decades have seen
a renaissance in the industry. There are now almost
100 wineries in the county, primarily situated in the
Santa Ynez and Santa Maria Valleys, operating a business
worth $36 million annually.
Rideau Valley is home to the Historic El Alamo Pintado
Adobe which dates back to 1769 when it was on the famous
stage coach route that ran from Santa Ynez to Santa
Barbara. It was then owned by the King of Spain and
supervised by the Mission Santa Barbara. After changing
hands over the centuries, it fell into disuse in the
early twentieth century until it was rescued by Iris
Rideau in 1998, who has made it into a stunning vineyard
and wine tasting venue.
Its most famous wines are Viognier and Tempranillo
as well as it award winning Chateauneuf Cuvee, but you
should come here as much for the atmosphere as the wines.
The house has been exquisitely decorated with Edwardian
furnishings and the large wood-paneled kitchen is constantly
turning out mouth watering delicacies to sample alongside
the wines. If you're lucky, you'll arrive on a day when
the fabulously charming Iris is present.
Address: Rideau Vineyard, 1562 Alamo Pintado
Road, Solvang, CA 93463, USA
Telephone: +1 805 688 0717
Website: www.rideauvineyard.com
Opening hours: Vary, call for details
Explore historic Solvang
Solvang (meaning 'Sunny Field') is a strangely Disney-esque
town founded in 1911 by three Danish settlers who wanted
to preserve their traditions for future generations
by building a school to impart the basics of Danish
culture. Although the Atterdag College has long gone,
its spirit influenced the construction of the rest of
the town. Today Solvang has a kitsch image with its
windmills and wooded fronts, but its genuine appeal
is in its food; try the Danish classic, rundstykker,
a savory hard roll often served with cheese and cold
cuts of meat. The town is full of bakeries offering
a range of authentic Danish pastries; seek out Solvang
Bakery, renowned as the best in town. To learn about
the history of Solvang and its early settlers visit
the Elverhoy Museum of History & Art. One weekend
in mid-September Solvang celebrates Danish Days, a festival
of Danish folk dancing, music, parades and food.
Explore historic Mission
Santa Ines
While in Santa Barbara County you must visit a mission.
Solvang's Mission Santa Ines was established in 1804
at the height of Missionary prosperity, number 19 of
California's 21 missions established by Franciscan priests
from 1769 to 1823. The building has gone through several
renovations over the years but the trompe l'oeil green-marble
trim on the interior of the church walls is one of the
best preserved example of missionary art. The museum
houses many artifacts of the Mission's past including
the largest and most valuable vestments from the fifteenth
century to 1718; the emerald green cope made from materials
used at the court of France's Louis XIV is particularly
beautiful. Relax in the courtyard, an oasis of tranquility.
Address: 1706 Mission St, Solvang, CA 93463,
USA
Telephone: +1 805 688 4815
Website: www.missionsantaines.org
Opening hours: Daily except Sundays, 10am till
5pm
Near
Los Angeles
Stay at the Standard
Hotel
If you want to be at the centre of the glitz and glamour
of Sunset Boulevard, there's only one place to stay
and that's The Standard, Hollywood Hotel. Owned by André
Balaz, proprietor of the legendary Chateau Marmont (200
yards along the strip) and the stylish Mercer Hotel
in New York, The Standard was conceived as an inexpensive
yet innovative hotel for the sophisticated traveler.
Its many quirky features have propelled it since its
opening in 1999 to become one of the top places to stay
in LA, as well as its coolest nightspot. These include
the real-life model in a box behind the reception, blue
Astroturf around the pool mowed by a 'performance artist
gardener', a tattoo parlor in the barber's shop, and
a 24-hour restaurant. The rooms are minimal in a big-kid
sort of way, so you'll find blow up sofas, beanbag chairs,
CD players and a mini bar stocked with 'must-have' items
like Oreos and Vaseline! If you just want to soak up
the vibe then make sure you rock up on a Wednesday,
the day of the week when, according to local rituals,
all the celebs turn up to party.
Address: 8300 Sunset Boulevard, Hollywood, CA
90069, USA
Telephone: +1 323 650 9090, Fax: +1 323 650 2820
Website: www.standardhotel.com
Near Palm Springs
Stay at the Twin Palms Estate
If you want to relive the high life of the Hollywood
glitterati there's no better way than renting the Twin
Palms Estate in Palm Spring, home to legendary singer
Frank Sinatra. Following its success as a celebrity
hideaway in the 1920s, Palm Springs was remade as the
permanent home of the super rich by the likes of Sinatra
and Bob Hope. Just round the corner from residences
once owned by Al Jolson, Jack Benny and Cary Grant,
Twin Palms was host to some of the valley's most glamorous
parties and many of Hollywood's biggest stars including
Joan Crawford, Phil Silvers, and even the reclusive
Greta Garbo.
The house itself is a palace of mid-century modernism,
designed by the respected architect Stewart Williams
for Sinatra and his first wife. The property is full
of clean lines and space, while perhaps its greatest
feature is the piano shaped pool, visible through the
massive glass windows of the lounge; when the beams
of light from the setting sun pass through the openings
of the portocal a shadow is cast on the pool creating
the look of piano keys. The property comes complete
with Frank's original state of the art sound system.
More information
Reservations: Telephone: +1 202 659 7931 or
through the website: www.timeandplacehomes.com
Costs: $6752 for 3 nights or $15,000 for the
week
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