Grassini Family Vineyards
A Bordeaux-focused estate in the Happy Canyon AVA, planted starting in 2002 by Larry and Sharon Grassini and now led by their daughter Katie as CEO, with a Santa Ynez estate and an award-winning tasting room in downtown Santa Barbara’s Presidio Neighborhood.
From Pisa to Happy Canyon
Grassini Family Vineyards traces back to 1904, when Larry Grassini’s grandfather Articondo left Pisa, Italy in search of a better life. In the 1980s, Larry and his wife Sharon discovered a 104 acre parcel in Happy Canyon, on the eastern edge of the Santa Ynez Valley. They bought it as open pasture, and by the late 1990s, experts confirmed the site was suited to Bordeaux varietals. The family planted its first vines starting in 2002.
Today the winery is led by Larry and Sharon’s daughter, Katie Grassini, as CEO, alongside her husband and Estate Director, Dean McKillen. Winemaker Bradley Long, who trained at Cakebread Cellars and Nickel & Nickel in Napa Valley, crafts the estate’s Bordeaux-style wines.
Bordeaux varietals in Happy Canyon
Happy Canyon sits just inland enough that a mountain range blocks the Pacific fog, so the vines get warm days and cool nights, ideal for ripening Cabernet Sauvignon and Sauvignon Blanc. Cabernet Franc, Merlot and Petit Verdot round out the estate’s Bordeaux range. The 2022 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon scored 94 points from Vinous, the 2021 Estate Cabernet Sauvignon scored 93 points, and the 2022 Articondo Proprietary Red, a Bordeaux blend named for the family’s founding generation, scored 92 points.
The wines
2023 Equipo RedHappy Canyon of Santa BarbaraView at the winery ›
2023 MalbecEstate Malbec, Happy CanyonView at the winery ›
2023 MerlotEstate Merlot, Happy CanyonView at the winery ›
2025 Happy Canyon Sauvignon BlancEstate Sauvignon BlancView at the winery ›
2022 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon94 Points, VinousView at the winery ›
2022 Articondo Proprietary RedBordeaux blend, 92 Points VinousView at the winery ›
2021 Estate Cabernet Sauvignon93 Points, VinousView at the winery ›
2022 Estate Cabernet SauvignonHappy Canyon of Santa BarbaraView at the winery ›
2020 Pinnacle Cabernet SauvignonLimited production, 55 casesView at the winery ›
2023 Sauvignon Blanc ReserveFrench oak agedView at the winery ›
2022 MalbecEstate Malbec, Happy CanyonView at the winery ›
2023 Cabernet Sauvignon-MerlotBlock-designate, inaugural releaseView at the winery ›Visiting Grassini Family Vineyards
Grassini offers two distinct ways to visit. The downtown Santa Barbara tasting room, steps from State Street in the Historic Presidio Neighborhood, pours a curated Estate Flight of five Bordeaux varietals daily. The Santa Ynez estate, set among the rolling hills of Happy Canyon, offers seated tastings and private tours by reservation, including a 90 minute seated tasting by the estate pond.
Frequently asked questions
Where is Grassini Family Vineyards?
Grassini has two locations: a tasting room at 24 El Paseo in downtown Santa Barbara’s Historic Presidio Neighborhood, and the estate vineyard in the Happy Canyon AVA of the Santa Ynez Valley.
Do I need a reservation?
Reservations are encouraged at the Santa Barbara tasting room, which is open daily with seatings from 12pm to 5pm. The Santa Ynez estate is by reservation only and is not open to walk-ins.
What grapes does Grassini grow?
Bordeaux varietals: Cabernet Sauvignon and Sauvignon Blanc are the estate’s focus, alongside Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Petit Verdot and Malbec, first planted in the late 1990s.
Who owns Grassini Family Vineyards?
Larry and Sharon Grassini purchased the 104 acre Happy Canyon property in the 1980s and planted their first vines in the late 1990s. Their daughter Katie Grassini now serves as CEO alongside her husband, Estate Director Dean McKillen.
Who is the winemaker?
Bradley Long, who trained at Cakebread Cellars, Nickel & Nickel and Fantesca Estate in Napa Valley before joining Grassini as winemaker.
What is Happy Canyon known for?
Warm days and cool nights, blocked from coastal fog by a mountain range, make Happy Canyon one of Santa Barbara County’s best sites for ripening Cabernet Sauvignon and Sauvignon Blanc.
Is the Santa Barbara tasting room the same as the winery?
No. The tasting room is in downtown Santa Barbara, steps from State Street. The winery and vineyard are about 30 miles away in Santa Ynez and require a reservation to visit.
Has Grassini won awards?
The Santa Barbara tasting room has been named Best Winery or Best Urban Tasting Room by the Santa Barbara Independent for multiple years running, and the 2022 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon scored 94 points from Vinous.
Nearby and related
- Santa Ynez Valley the AVA around the estate.
- Santa Barbara County the wider region and its sub appellations.
- California Cabernet Sauvignon the grape Grassini is best known for.
- California winery directory every producer we cover.
Information sourced from the Grassini Family Vineyards official website, checked September 2026. Always confirm hours and availability before visiting.