Some wineries are built. Rideau was inherited from history. Its home is the El Alamo Pintado adobe, a graceful 1880s building that once served as a stagecoach stop on the old route through the Santa Ynez Valley, now wrapped in roses and shaded by oaks.

A pioneer and a piece of history

Rideau Vineyard was founded by Iris Rideau, a remarkable woman who built a career in finance and insurance before turning to wine, and who is celebrated as a trailblazer, one of the first Creole women of color to own a winery in California. She brought her New Orleans roots with her, infusing the estate with Southern hospitality, music, and a love of food that still defines the place. The setting, the restored 1880s El Alamo Pintado adobe with its wide porches and gardens, gives Rideau a sense of history almost unmatched in the valley.

A trailblazing founder, an 1880s adobe, and a little New Orleans on the Santa Ynez.

The wines

Rideau is a Rhone-leaning house, with Syrah, Grenache, Mourvedre, Viognier, and Roussanne suited to the warmer Santa Ynez Valley, alongside the occasional Bordeaux variety. The wines are generous and food-friendly, made for the kind of long, convivial table the founder always set, where the music plays and no one is in a hurry.

What to drink it with

The Syrah and Grenache are built for the grill and for spice: Santa Maria tri-tip, grilled lamb, or, in the spirit of the house, a plate of jambalaya or gumbo, where the wine’s dark fruit and gentle warmth ride alongside the Creole seasoning. The Viognier and Roussanne, full and aromatic, are lovely with roast chicken, pork, or richer seafood.

Plan your visit

Rideau pours at the historic adobe on Alamo Pintado Road near Solvang, with porches, gardens, and one of the most atmospheric settings in the valley. It is a place to linger over a glass and a little music.

Frequently asked questions