Rusack Vineyards Reviews

The drive is excellent, the wine even better. Surreal setting: quiet & sublime. Wine is by far one of, if not the best, the Valley has to offer. I'd ship a case home if I were you!

This is probably one of the most scenic vineyards in the Santa Ynez valley. Absolutely perfect place to sit outside and taste the wines. The reds are just great. And the Sauvignon Blanc is perfect - one of my favorites.

Best place in the Santa Ynez for lunch & Rusack's fine wine.
You bring your own lunch & they provide their fine wines

Wine country panorama while you sip fabulous wines. A local favorite, by all appearances with locals arriving with picnic lunches and selecting a pre-chilled wine to go with it. The wine tasting itself offered 6 wines and free glassware to boot. We could have whiled away the day, and never moved from that beautiful, shady deck. Thank you, Rusack!

Enjoyed tasting wines here. Spent about an hour here on Saturday. Was a bit crowded, but to be expected on a weekend. got a cheese plate that was nice. Tasted some wines.

Love this place and always make a point to stop in when visiting Santa Ynez area, Nice, unassuming place and the wine from Catalina Island vineyards is terrific!

We stumbled on Rusack in the mid '90s shortly after they had opened. It's a little off the beaten path from the rest of the wineries in the Solvang/Santa Ynez area but worth seeking out. We loved their reds and whenever we were in the Solvang area tried to stop by; twice in the last few months. Their wines have always been very good but, unfortunately, hard to obtain other than at the winery.

Interestingly, they are now producing grapes on Catalina Island (Mrs. Rusack is a Wrigley and thus has access to island outside of Avalon.) and the Catalina grapes are included in their wine club selections.

The vineyard is a great place to not just taste some wine but to take a break and relax on their patio overlooking the vines. You almost always come away not liking some of a vineyard's offerings but I can't say that any of their wines are less than good. In addition to any of the reds, I would recommend the Chardonnay. This is especially enjoyable while sitting on the patio under the oaks. It's a true boutique winery and I would recommend it.

For the male readers, take a look at the poster over the urinal in the men's room. Free copies are available for the asking.

Rusack is on Ballard Canyon Road - one of the most beautiful roads in the Santa Ynez Valley. Overlooking the vines, we enjoyed a picnic lunch and our wine tasting. The Sauvignon Blanc was my favorite. It's been an extremely hot, dry summer in California. This particular day called for a cold, crisp wine. The Sauvignon Blanc matched nicely with cheese, olives, hummus and sandwich that comprised our picnic.

In Solvang for Danish Days, we decided to do a wine tasting. We drove out of town and found Rusack Vineyards easily. We enjoyed the surroundings and decor. There were a few ladies there to assist us. We were a group and several paid $15 for the wine tasting which included a souvenir wine glass to take home. There is one employee to avoid, as she is rude and condescending; her name is Lorin Winters. We purchased a bottle of wine and purchased wine tastings so it was unclear why she would treat us as she did. I felt her dialog with me was unkind and asked my son if I imagined it, he said "no." He heard her rudeness to me but was hoping I would not notice. The same employee treated another in our party the same. After all our purchases were made, the rude employee was asked about an accessory. She was so rude with her answer, like we were not good enough to purchase any items. At this point we left immediately and had no desire to purchase further items, even wishing we had not already purchased the one bottle of Catalina Island Chardonnay. With the exception of Lorin, the other employees were considerate and knowledgable, and, I would commend them for their good customer service but we all wanted to remember the name of Ms.Snooty to call her out in a review. If the owners wish to know who the better employees are, our visit was on Sunday, Sept 20 mid-day and I'm sure they can check the schedule.

We wanted to buy a bottle of wine to enjoy with our lunch at the picnic tables with the wonderful view. We got to taste three different wines. I loved the Zinfandel and my husband very much enjoyed the Syrah. We live in the Napa Valley and were pleasantly surprised to taste such good wines in a different area. We drank the Zinfandel with our lunch and bought the other to enjoy at home. We also enjoyed talking to a couple at another table. The most fun of all was when we were approached by Sunset Magazine photographers who wanted to take pictures of us enjoying our visit. Hopefully it wasn't too windy and they were able to get some good pictures. We will be looking for the October issue!

Started our tour here and had beautiful seating at the deck - wines were amazing and love the Sauvignon Blanc. Our host Stephanie Varner had a wealth of knowledge on the wines and passion as well. Great experience, highly recommend a visit

When we visit Santa Barbara wine country Rusack Vineyards is always on our itinerary. It has not disappointed us, very good wine and the setting is one of the best in the area. I would suggest taking a lunch and sitting on their patio and enjoying the landscape. It is a bit out of the way but definitely worth the trip.

Rusack is one of our favorite vineyards that we have gone to in the Santa Ynez Valley. There is a fee for tasting (I think it was $9 or $10) but we got to sample 5 different reds and whites-and you get to keep the wine glass with their logo on it. The wine was quite good and they have a nice picnic grove where you can sit and sip, bring your own lunch- worth stopping at one of the local Solvang delis on your way to the vineyard, or buy a cheese plate at the vineyard. The people working there were super friendly and knowledgeable and when I expressed interest in a Syrah that was not on the tasting lis, they were happy to find an open bottle and pout me a taste.

This is a bit out of town but the wines are excellent and the outside picnic area is perfect. You can bring your own food or they have a limited selection of snack items which we enjoyed while tastin their wine.

The wine is some of the best I have ever tasted.
We arrived around 11:30 am on a Saturday and the tasting room staff was excellent.
Even the cleaning staff was very friendly.
The outdoor patio sitting area was very clean and the view was so relaxing.
We bought 2 bottles of Merlot and I think we will soon have to take another trip back for some more.
Wonderful relaxing experience

Super cute way of killing couple hours in solvang. We made an appt at 3pm so they werent strict with the 90 min policy. The price were fair and te staff were friendly. Had a great time!

The location and views are great. The wines are also some of the best in the area. Very helpful and informative staff. Worth the trip. Thanks.

This was a great girls wine tasting trip, although it was raining very heavy our driver did a good job taking us out, this was by far my favorite place, I prefer red wines but had to buy the Chardonnay and Rose, delicious and will be wonderful for hot summer days in Arizona. I also loved the Zinfandel. This place should have been perfect for a nice picnic, unfortunately the weather did not cooperate

This was our first time at Rusack Vineyards, but it won't be our last. What a great experience! Super friendly staff, who were both attentive and very informative. The wine selections were fantastic! Beautiful patio where you can sit and enjoy your wine and admire the beautiful landscape that surrounds you...so peaceful.

We were looking for a great place to picnic with friends when we visited Solvang, and we heard about Rusack. We visited El Rancho Market to pick up our food, drove to the Rusack vineyard & bought a nice bottle of Chardonnay. We had a lovely picnic lunch on their patio overlooking the vineyard (they even provided wine glasses for us). Beautiful surroundings and a great memory!

A hidden gem tucked away in the hills of Solvang. Go there to enjoy the tranquility of wine country on their wood deck under oak trees, but you will some of the areas best Syrahs. The wine is moderately priced, each wine tasted was balanced and complex, yet fun and enjoyable.

If you like dessert wines, they have a Late Harvest Semillon that is excellent!

Nice drive off the main road.
Excellent wine and location. Bring a picnic or snack, buy a bottle, and enjoy the view.

Great value for price. $15 included tasting glass and a flight of 6 Rusack wines. This was our first visit to any tasting room and Rick was very patient with our questions, hospitable and immediately made us feel welcome. No sales pressure, so little that he told us about the policy that we could share a tasting, which made sense for us since my wife is the wine drinker between the two of us.

Patio area beautiful and serene. Several other groups, families, and couples there but didn't feel at all crowded. Ended up buying a mid-range ($40) bottle to take home.

Love their wines, great Pinot Noir, Zinfandel, and Syrah, etc. Plan on opening a bot you've purchased there and picnicking on their beautiful deck. Gorgeous!

After a day of tastings and bike riding in the valley we pulled up to Rusack for a final tasting but went for a few bottles of Rose instead. What a dream! We sat outside under massive trees in glorious shade and drank away. The staff was incredibly friendly and helpful. Loved to chat a bit about wine and the weather. It was obviously a place people came to over and over again. You could tell some groups had been there before and were welcome regulars. When we go back (which we will) I would suggest bringing a picnic lunch and tablecloth (that's what the regulars were doing). Just a lovely spot!

Rusack is relatively new. They are small volume (around 5000 cases per year). Started by people related to the Wrigley family with access to some of the old growth family owned vines on the Channel Islands and Catalina Islands as well as the local vineyards. We have been to the winery about six times now and joined their wine club on our very first tasting experience. We haven't tasted a single wine from Rusack that wasn't good to excellent. Their winemaker is very talented. They just released their first attempt at a cabernet sauvignon. It was amazing and is probably gone by now. It was a very small production run and everyone loved it. I was actually a little hesitant to write this review out of fear that too many people will discover this wonderful winery but wine is to be shared. In all of the Santa Ynez area, don't miss this one.

My husband and I were visiting wineries for a 30th anniversary in the Solvang area. Someone recommended rusack Vineyards to us. This does not disappoint! The staff is very friendly and educates you on all of their wines. The outdoors is spectacular. There's a beautiful patio with trees, shade, flowers and a great view of the vines! Their Pinot Noir is fabulous, I would highly recommend it. It's a great place to host a small scale event as well.

I saw an article that recommended this vineyard as one of the top "romantic" things to do in Santa Barbara County. We weren't disappointed! The wine was good, and we enjoyed looking out over the rolling hills and dreamt about living in this area one day.

This place in Ballard Canyon is a real find. Bring a picnic lunch and sit on the patio, the atmosphere and views are beautiful and relaxing. The wines are delightful, especially the pinot noir and chardonnay. This is one of my favorite places to be with my husband and/or friends!

Their wines are good, and this is one of the better wineries to visit.. The reserve chardonnays and pinot noirs especially so. There is a picnic area, so you can bring food from the grocery stores in Santa Ynez or Los Olivos and sit outside under the trees and drink a bottle of their wine.

I have to say I'm reluctant to tell anyone about this Winery. We've been going for years and I just love it. It's off the beaten track and can be reached via Solving or Los Olivos though it's a little hard to find. The staff are great and the wine is really good also. I love the picnic area, it is so peaceful because there are not a lot of cars going by. For me I love the fact that they let you take your wine to the table and taste while you are eating, it's very nice. If you want to have a wonderful quite hour or so I suggest you find it.

We visited this winery as part of an organized wine tour. The scenery is beautiful and the wines were excellent. This was the larger of the 4 vineyards we visited, yet we were given individual attention and told about each wine we tasted.

Well worth a stop when visiting the wine country in Santa Ynez.

MLK weekend
Wanted to visit a pal who only works the Taste Room on Sundays
Glad she was there ..= sample some of the "Double Secret Probation" wines and pour us some of the Anacapa club bottlings
highlights: Green Green Everywhere..recent rains =hills lush.
Vacant roads.. as this was at the end of the day and cold setting in
MANY Pvt Wine drivers were entertaining clients, thus these imbibers had fun and did not put themselves nor I , in danger...did we mention that CHP is active on these local wine access roads?
Wines : These are NOT Trader Joe specials" these are refined wines that will intrigue any wine enthusiast or "90-Pt Collector". GREAT tastes and wine experience.
The Wife ( Mrs Rusack )is a Wrigley Family member.( Catalina isle/Gum/Chicago Cub baseball team) so everything is done here with Style and grace with no expense spared .
Plenty of room for picnics..lots of free filtered water
Clean restrooms
Parking lot can get squeezed but with so many REALLY nice automobiles...
people are careful
This a venue of quiet luxury and elegance .
leave the flip Flops and tank tops at home for this winery .
kids?..Call Princess Kate of Cambridge to borrow her nanny

the winery is gorgeous with yummy sauv blanc- we picnicked on the grounds and the drive up to the vineyard is lovely, with Byson, and cow surrounding.

Rusack has a number of very good wines. But we also came for a picnic lunch of their beautiful deck overlooking the vineyard. The deck is built under large shade trees. It's a great great setting.

First stop on our wine trip.

Rick was a great host. Five wines to taste. Great sitting area among the shade trees and vines.

Worth the stop.

We love bringing our visitors to Rusack Vineyards. The wines are good, the pourers are knowledgable and friendly, and the deck under the oak trees overlooking the orchards can't be beat! Bring your own picnic, and thoroughly enjoy the ambiance and the wines! We've been fortunate to visit once when one of the grape growers was there, and he took the time to explain how he prunes the various vines and explained why they use different techniques for different grapes.

We called around lunch time and had the sample wines for $12, lovely setting amongst vines and rolling hills.
Take a picknic and just take in the silence on a well set out patio just a couple of miles outside of Solvang. Very enjoyable

Here is an example of a little winery with big wines! The winery is nestled on a hilltop with a wonderful courtyard to sit under the trees and sample their wines.

Up front, I'll say we are wine club members @ Rusack. We joined their wine club after our very first visit last Feb. We recently returned the Solvang area to again doing some wine tasting, so of course we stopped @ Rusack. The wine tasting room is situated on a hillside with beautiful views and has a lovely patio surrounded by big trees. There are several tables and comfortable chairs so it is a great place to linger with a glass of wine or have a picnic. This time of year the vines are turning colors so you get a new perspective of the vines/vineyards. The wines are Rusack are terrific especially their Syrahs and Pinots. A definite stop if you are wine tasting in area.

Very nice place to stop and admire the view. Very peaceful place. You can calmly sit on the outside tables, taste the wine and share your toast with the birds that come close to you.

Rusack has always been my favorite Winery in the Valley. I have been going here for many years and the view along with all good wines is simply not to be missed. The hot ticket is to go to El Ranchito Market and buy a Tri-Tip or other sandwich and have a picnic on the deck. We don't usually like Pinot or Syrah but we bought both here because all of their wines make us happy. Joe took his time with us and he was pleasant and helpful. They have a cat that is adorable that if she likes you ...you might get to pet her. She liked me. Rusack is simply perfect and a must for your winery tours. Hopefully you can go when it isn't too busy. Week days preferred. Thanks again Honey for a great experience!

We have visited this winery many times over the years and are never disappointed. It is a beautiful setting with excellent staff and lovely,well priced wine.

They have really improved their wine over the years with their Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Botrytis Semillon and Syrah being my favourites. About three years ago they started making wine from Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Zinfandel ( this is a clone from pre Prohibition grapes from Santa Cruz Island) on Catalina Island. These are very different wines from their mainland cousins.

At a fantastic wine club tasting and lunch yesterday, we got to try their first Santa Cruz Island Zinfandel grape variety grown in Ballard Canyon. Unlike any regular Zinfandel; finesse and balance with just the right amount of fruit.

When you visit the winery, make sure you leave with a bottle of "Soul of the Vine", their sensational botrytis Semillon. Yum

Take the time to visit, and bring a picnic lunch.

We enjoy the wines at Rusack and the nice patio for a picnic, with a great view over vineyards and hills. The drive to the winery is slow and curvy, but worth the drive. They do charge a high $18 tasting fee which they do not waive with a purchase, which holds my review rating down.

We visited the vineyard along a trip to Solvang. It must have been unusually busy based on many comments, but we still found a table and chairs in the pretty garden, under nice big trees. The wines were nice, an enjoyable outing overall.

Went to Rusack Vineyard on Sun morning with a friend. bought a bottle of red wine to enjoy and chill at vineyard patio. Spent morning catching up on each other. Must visit and experience.

Came through here a few months ago with a friend after exploring the coast. The guy( I think Joe) was very informative even as we were there at the end of the day. he took his time to make sure we go the info we were looking for. I am no wine expert, but they had a great variety! The views are worth the stop as well.

It is hard to choose a tasting visit from many vineyards in Santa Barbara county (more than 200), but we definitely were lucky to choose Rusack vineyards! Both Dan and Michael were great helpers in wine tasting and trying their amazing Sauvignon Blanc and Syrah which grows just nearby. The lovely terrace with astonishing surroundings were a great add-on to that and friendly colibries passing by each now and then gave a special wild twist. Thank you for a great experience! Definitely will be back!

This place is beautiful! We were there with our adult children. We enjoyed the wine and sitting on the patio looking at the beautiful scenery.

We are really not wine drinkers but wanted to learn more about growing the grapes and making wine since we were near wineries. We thoroughly enjoyed the time we spent there. We did the wine testing of six types. The bar tender took the time to explain things to us answering all of our questions which we appreciated. We were later in the afternoon when they were not real busy which worked out well. We were so impressed, I ended up purchasing two bottles even though we had to fly home. I would recommend this to anyone that is looking for an easy going time to learn about a smaller winery.

This winery is a bit out of the way, but well worth finding and driving out to. It is a wonderful quiet setting. Bring a picnic and hang around wine tasting. We would go here again and again.

A visit to Rusack Vineyards will leave you with a Santa Ynez wine experience that you'll remember forever. It's great on so many fronts. The location is lovely and quintessential Santa Ynez valley wine country. Rolling hills, wind blown oaks and patches of dark green vineyards. A beautiful blend of wine and horse country. The drive along narrow country roads affords great views and the vineyard offers a a gorgeous picnic area under the oak trees. Your palate will be as pleased as your eyes, with great sauv blanc, chard and pinot. The whole vibe is relaxed and casual. Bring a picnic and make an afternoon of it. Some of the best wineries in the area are out in the country so don't expect to slam through the tasting. Take the time, you'll enjoy it.

We went to Rusack on the recommendation from a friend who is in the wine industry and were not disappointed! We loved the wines and loved the view. I prefer reds but found both the reds and the whites to be very good. We stopped at the Los Olivos grocery on the way to pick up sandwiches because it's a great place to have a picnic. They'll bring your tasting out to the patio where they have many tables with a view of the countryside. We were there on a weekday (and were the only ones there) and were told that weekends are very crowded. This winery was our favorite in that area. As an aside, the road from Los Olivos to Rusack is very twisty but worth driving. The scenery was spectacular!

Wife & I found this place by accident 2 yrs ago on visit to Santa Barbara. This trip to Solvang; we visited twice more! Lovely setting in the hills with great shade trees & breeze. Staff are lovely. U can buy cheese, meat & cracker snack trays or just bring ur own! The wine tasting is very low key. They invite u to sit out on the deck and savor each flite. No hustle & bustle here. We bought a nice Chardonnay and they provided a chiller and 2 nice glasses. Bring a book & settle in for a while?

Bring a lunch, buy a bottle and spend a few hours for a leisurely lunch if you can! We only did the tastings, but will bring lunch next time. Such a beautiful setting and knowledgeable staff. We visited during the week, so only a few others there and was simply perfect!

We stoped Solvang and searched 'things to do' from this TA. It was a great decision to choose Rusack vineyards. Though view was not that great outside since it's January but the wine tasting service from the guy showing us all his wine was very welcoming and not pushy to buy any wine of theirs at all. At $15 each with a glass of wine and nice explanation of vineyards around there was great experience and a worthy stop of Solvang. He showed us the way out and told us to look for the buffalo mother and baby too.
Highly recommending this place.

Went there with my dad for a road trip. Employee was very nice. I had my dog with me and it was not crowded. We sat out on the patio and had our tastings outside. Although if crowded, I don't think that they are very dog friendly. Might think twice before visiting with a dog.

this is a winner and must be included in your tour....excellent wines and beautiful scenery.

We really wanted to like this place as the ambience, location and view are stunning however, it does not make up for the lack of service one can expect to receive if you aren't white. 1.) We were charged before our tasting (which is not customary in a tasting room) while we watched as other white couples were not. 2.) The tasting rep told us he had to charge us up front because they "might get busy", "they were old and might forget" insuating that we would be dishonest and walk away without paying. 3.) Each flight the tasting reps hastily poured our glass and moved to the next person, not once taking the time to explain the varietals and tasting notes but instead would proceed to the next patron (again white) and would go into great depths about the vintage of the wine. 4.) The bathrooms were disgusting. Someone had urinated all over the restroom floors and walls and the smell was sickening. It was quite apparent it hadn't been cleaned all day. It was worst than a gas station bathroom. Needless to say we will not be patronizing this establishment again.

Out in the country feeling, adn very good wines especially reds.

I came here on a Sunday afternoon with 2 friends and we had a wonderful time. Marti and Kevin took great care of us and we heard many stories of the local history and wine families. Kevin has great knowledge of wine varieties and I learned valuable information. After our tasting (7 different wines, plus a couple of bonus tastes of reserve wines), we bought a bottle and some crackers, cheese and salami and sat outside on the lovely veranda overlooking the vineyards. It rained a little but Kevin lit the heaters for us and we enjoyed the gorgeous scenery and great conversation with a delicious Syrah. I look forward to returning to this gem in Ballard Canyon.

Easy drive up from Santa Barbara area. We emailed to see if we could bring our dogs. Yes is the answer and they reserved us a table under a huge tree with grass. Super nice people. Bring a lunch and buy a bottle of wine. Or wine taste. Beautiful grounds. Can't express to you how nice the day was! Cool 84 degrees. A delight!

Great drive to the winery with lots of photo opportunities from vistas to vineyards and an interesting array of animals. Take a picnic to enjoy the shaded patio with a bottle of wine. The wines were good, the server knowledgable and able to deftly handle the people at different levels of tasting. The $9 each was included the glasses which was wrapped for the 4 of us to take with us. We were happy that we had skipped organized tours with local wineries to be able to catch this one.

The picnic area alone is worth a trip. Terrific chardonnay, pinot, syrah and (new to us this time) zinfandel.

I first visited Rusack's tasting room today and I was blown away, not only by the Chardonnay, but by the beautiful pateo and views of the vineyard and mountains. You are welcome to bring food and sit outside while tasting or just enjoying a fine Rusack wine. I highly recommend Rusack as a stop on any tasting trip. It's not a super commercial room (buses) and they aren't pushy to get you to buy, but it is a tad out of the way, but, again, worth the stop!

We revisited Rusack and found we were as much impressed by their wines and staff as we were the first time we visited. The chardonnay is particularly good as it is not overly aged in oak. If one likes the buttery Oaked chard’s, this is not for you. Their Syrah is very good as well as the Pinot’s. Well worth the drive out to the tasting room.

This was our favorite stop for the views and the nice drive through greenery to get to the vineyard. We went on a Tuesday and there was only one other couple which was nice because we could roam. The deck has great views of green hills and everything is designed very nicely. The wine was good but not our favorite out of the surrounding wineries. The tasting comes with a glass which it cool too! Overall good to try for the scenery.

We have been to some of the area's vineyards and always find peace here :)
We had family visiting from Illinois and wanted to take them to one vineyard and Rusack is the place.

My friend and I purchased a bottle of Rusack Reserve Chardonnay and drank it out on their deck. This is my favorite Winery for the Wine and Ambiance. They have spent alot of money here to accomodate serenity and they are successful. I never miss coming here when I visit the area.

We had a friendly gentleman from MA pour our tasting. There was also a women with a great sense of humor working there:) Both employees were very knowledgeable and helpful to guide us to other wineries. We had 2 tastings and bought a bottle of white to sit out under the trees with a view of the vineyard.

This boutique winery is quite charming and worth going off the beaten path.

Wonderful views perfect for a picnic with outdoor seating! Staff was very wonderful. Wines were one of my husbands favorite.

The first vineyard we ever visited where we liked each wine we tasted. Too bad they have such small production so the wine club ships only 2 bottles twice a year. Make the effort to visit and buy.

We were on an electric bike tour of the area out of Los Olivos. This was marked on a map for a stop. The wines were good but it cost $36 for a taster of 5 wines for the two of us! That is a rip off. Back home in BC Canada it is $5 for wine tasting and you get that deducted if you purchase a bottle. The wines in BC are just as good if not better. Sorry but $36? Really?

Nice folk, great wine tasting;
Accommodated our need for shipping box for plane!

I have visited many many wineries in the Santa Ynez valley and this by far is one of my favorites. What a great place to enjoy a tasting and the staff just wonderful. I was there alone to taste and never felt alone. The staff took very good care of me. Kevin was fantastic. He explained each wine with the greatest of ease and was very knowledgeable about the Rusack family. I enjoyed learning the history of the winery. The wine was incredible. Their Syrah and Chardonnay Reserve fantastic. I bought 2 bottles and I never buy whites. I highly recommend visiting this vineyard if you are in the area.

We stop here during our wine tasting experience, nice place, my recommendation: "Soul of the Vine", a dessert wine.

I have been coming to Solvang since before I was able to enjoy wine and I have to say this winery is one of my very favorites in the beautiful Solvang. It is ideal for a picnic lunch with friends, a wine tasting for two or even just to enjoy the patio with a nice glass with your family. It is breathtaking. I thoroughly enjoy Kevin's knowledge of the wines and the great stories he tells about the vineyard. This was my 2nd time visiting and it was so much fun. I recommend it highly to anyone who enjoys wine tasting. There is not a bad wine on the menu. They are all wonderful, but I am a bit partial to the Pinot Noir or the Syrahs. Fantastic wines. I am now a proud member of the wine club and can't wait to visit in November to pick up my wine. Thank you to all the friendly staff at Rusack and I look forward to many more visits.

We stopped in for some wine tasting in June, 2012 while on a "girls road trip". The grounds and views are beautiful. The wines are okay. The pours are poor. But we enjoyed sitting out on the deck, taking in the sights and just enjoying the evening.

We visited Rusack at the end of our trip and almost didn't go because it was out of the way but we're glad we did...Rusack has the most serene beautiful atmosphere and the best wine! We joined their wine club and took home a cases of wine as well.

Wines are terrific and not so easy to come by (low volume of cases) and rightfully so as its good stuff. Tasting room and grounds are perfect setting to enjoy wine. Great scenery and nice setting. Make it a stop next time you visit the area to do some tastings.

We brought our lunch to Rusack's and bought their wine tasting package, six wines for $15 and that include the glass. Great value for money and the surroundings are wonderful

Lots of vineyards in the area; this one, just OK. Rather lackluster wines, not particularly warm and friendly. Just an OK experience. $18 for a 5-flight taste. Didn’t buy any bottles here. Nice tables outdoor seating.

This was a great place to stop on the weekend. We saw some positive reviews and decided this would be a great winery to stop at. The staff was super friendly and knowledgeable. Being able to sit and drink the great wines on a hot summer day while sitting outside in the shade and looking out over the vineyard is amazing. Definitely will be going back here. Would recommend to anyone. Very close to Solvang.

Rusack Vineyards is a little bit hard to find as it is not near any other wineries. Beautiful location. Very Good 2012 Solomon Hills Pinot Noir for $45. Tasting fee was $12. Good Service.

You won’t want to leave! Bring a picnic or buy a cheese plate and crackers, then relax with delicious wines on the outdoor patio! This is the prettiest winery in the area- beautifully landscaped- flowers everywhere! $15 tastings pp. We bought a bottle for the patio with cheese plate and crackers, plus a bottle of Syrah to go, plus shipped 4 bottles home! And—- if you care about such things—- Buckees beware because the restrooms were immaculately clean!!! #SoImpressive #ExpensiveButWorthIt

This is the perfect location for a picnic. I only like sweet wines, and they only offer one dessert wine that I actually liked (I shared a tasting with my husband for that same reason), but I still really enjoyed visiting this winery. It is absolutely beautiful. Everyone there was having a picnic, it truly is the perfect place to sit back & enjoy the amazing view.

This is our very favorite winery in all of the Santa Ynez Valley. The view from the Rusack Vineyards is sensational, and can compete with the most beautiful wineries in Tuscany or Umbria. It is simply gorgeous. Sitting on the patio under the oak trees is a magnificent way to spend an afternoon. The staff at Rusack is friendly and welcoming and with fantastic wines what could be better? We joined the wine club after our first visit and always look forward to returning to pick up our shipment. The tastings are well thought out, and there is always an excellent selection of whites and reds and sometimes even a dessert wine. The staff communicates nicely to you, and you hear a personal not a canned speech about each particular grape. A visit to this winery is very special and we really appreciate the moments we're able to visit.

Pourer could have cared less if we were there. He made me feel uncomfortable and like he was doing us a favor. Grounds are beautiful, tasting room is nice, backstory (Wrigley) is fun.

We loved this winary, it was a weekday so pretty quiet when we visited but can see why it is so popular. We had a wine tasting each for $15 which includes a glass to take home. For $20 we bought a charcuterie plate to enjoy in the the grounds for lunch. The staff were relaxed and friendly. Would highly recommend a visit.

Went to several wineries in the region and we really liked Rusack. I collect wines and was impressed with theirs. So much so we sent some home. Beautifiul location and we brought a picnic lunch. Enjoyable, worth the trip. Staff was nice and friendly.

Close to Solvang, Rusack Vineyards was a perfect spot for our picnic lunch. Both sunny and shaded tables overlooked the rolling hills of the Santa Ynez Valley. We enjoyed the Syrah, the Pinot Noir, and the Rose'. Rusack is smaller in size than some vineyards in the area, but it's a great place to relax and get away from it all. Would go back.

The drive to this winery is really something. So beautiful. The winery is gorgeous. There’s a vibe there that can’t be completely described. Go and experience it. I was taken with the quiet. All you can hear is a bubbling fountain and a little background music.

The wines are very good. We were interested in the Pinot Noirs. They were able to use their Coravin and pour us a little of the reserve wine—a bottle they don’t normally open. We ended up buying the reserve Pinot. Delicious.

I think we will go back to Rusack with a picnic. This is a place I could stay and enjoy for a few hours.

We always look forward to a visit to Rusack's beautiful winery.

Patio is the perfect setting to wine taste and enjoy a picnic lunch. Staff were friendly and informative as always. Wine flight was excellent and it was a highlight of the day.

There are plenty of tables and seats available on a busy end of summer afternoon. Leisurely pace and beautiful views perfect the setting.

We enjoyed the wines sitting on the beautiful outside terrace facing the vineyards. A little slide of heaven.i

First of all can I say that Stephanie, who works at this winery was amazing. She rolled out the red carpet for our wine tour group of doctors and it was an unforgettable experience. The winery was recommended to us by Andrew Murray of Andrew Murray vineyards and he said this is one of the best wineries in the entire region.

The wines were amazing and it was an incredible day sitting on the patio gazing at the vineyards and drinking this incredible wine.

The wines from Catalina Island were especially delicious. You can really taste the difference in the grapes that come from Catalina. I believe this is the only winery that has a vineyard on the island of Catalina so this is a rare treat.

Again, my group of doctors had such an amazing time thanks to Stephanie. Stephanie was so helpful and informative and she poured us the most amazing selection of wines. The tasting room is really well decorated but the outdoor patio is really the best!

Rusak winery, Andrew Murray vineyards and Foxen should be on your wine tour of this region!

Our semi-annual trip to pick up our club wine selection. The winery is located 8 miles north of Solvang, CA on Ballard Canyon Rd. The winery sits on a hilltop overlookiong some of their vineyards and the valley below. Excellent wine for tasting. There is an outdoor deck and patio perfect for enjoying a lunch picked up at Fresco in Solvang and tastings of 6 different wines.

We enjoyed a ride through the country to get here. Beautiful grounds. Nice patio for picnicking or sipping wine. Good value for tasting and you can keep the glass. Worth the trip!

Nice wines in a beautiful, relaxing setting of comfortable tables and chairs among the trees with a nice views outside on a lovely patio. Highly recommended. Tasting included a souvenir glass.

A small winery with excellent wines and nice people. Good for tastings and a good wine club. They have a wanted sign for Grape Crushing Personnel. You'll be pleased you met these folk.

The vineyard was beautiful. The tasting area was overlooking the vineyard and the crackers were so awesome, we bought some for takeaway. I would recommend this any time.

We enjoyed our wine tasting on the outdoor patio under a large twisting oak tree overlook the vineyards and green rolling hills. We sampled 5 wines and they did a wonderful job describing each wine as well as the local story behind some of them including the connection to the wrigley wine and goats. Will definitely stop here again!

My husband and I drive out and did some wine tasting one afternoon. We stopped at Rusack as it was voted one of the best in Sanata Barbara. It was mid week and not too busy. It's a small family run business and. It was very interesting talking with the server and learning not only about the wines but about the vineyards and history of the owners. We did two tastings for 15 dollars each . Some wines we preferred and just simply poured what we didn't enjoy away. Crackers were placed on the bar to help with the tastings. It's useful to take a bottle of water to clear the palette between wines. Especially the whites and reds. We bought a white and a red and were able to take the glasses away as a memento. I love wineries and also bought a Sauvignon blanc scented candle to remind me of the wine and a coaster. It was a lovely afternoon and a trip to solvang followed. The wines are expensive in California amd more so than new world and European. Any decent Californian wine doesn't manage to leave the country and only certain amounts of bottles are produced from each harvest. Rusack have vines on Catalina island and they are flown over for winemaking .

A girl friend and I decided on a few days of wine tasting to relax and my husband sent me his lengthy list on wineries that he likes, hears about, reads about, etc. Rusack happened to be one and it was close to our stay in Solvang so we stopped by. Beautiful and short drive along windy roads suddenly leads to Rusack Vineyards. We were immediately welcomed into the fairly small tasting room and offered tastes of their current wine offerings. We both liked the Zinfandel the most, a very different flavor profile of spices and cloves which really worked!! I saw that they produced Sangiovese (a personal favorite of mine) so I asked about it. I was told that they had planted over all the Sangiovese grapes and this would be the last vintage, and because of that it wasn't offered on the tasting menu... just not enough left... well, I guess we're pretty convincing because he opened one bottle for us to sample and OH... MY!! So smooth and silky... so I bought 3 bottles! I appreciate when customer service and potential sales outweigh policies tasting rooms are supposed to follow.

It worked in my favor in any case!

One of the better Los Olivos area winery tasting rooms......actually you can take your drinks outside to the tree-shaded patio without any sales pressure. Wine quality and service was good. Bought two bottles of sauvignon blanc. Would rate a 5 if the wines were excellent. They were very good, thus the overall 4.

Great place to see the valley and rolling hills. The staff are awesome and the wines are delicious. Don't forget to say hello to the cat Juju Beans.

Pleasant outdoor seating, very peaceful and away from the roads. Delicious wine. We opted to share a bottle rather than doing a full tasting, although we were given tastes to choose our bottle. Santa Rita Pinot was delightful. Surprised that there were no wines by the glass. Wish there had been more edibles to complement the wine, as they were sold out of cheese plates. This was not the only (or first) vineyard we visited, but it was the most relaxed and comfortable.

We went to Rusack on the basis of the TA recommendations. Multiple wine tastings are not our thing, but we do enjoy tasting good quality wines and talking to the local staff who actually know the wine and the area. The visit to Rusack was everything we wanted.

The wine tasting is $12 per head, and includes a good quality, monogrammed wine glass. The six wines we tried we all of good quality- which is not always the case at small wineries. We liked the Rose so much that we decided to buy a bottle (reasonably priced at $15), and a charcuterie and cheese platter (a little basic but OK), and sit out on the deck under the magnificent old trees.which grow up through it. It was a wonderful hour and a half.

Overall, we can thoroughly recommend a visit to Rusack Vienyards. They welcome you to bring your own picnic lunch, which would only enhance the experience.

There are some unique aspects to this out of the way winery. First, they have a vineyard on Catalina Island and grow a cloned Zinfandel from Santa Cruz Island. This wine provides an interesting contrast to the same vines planted at the estate in Ballard Canyon. The owners have an interesting background also. Geoff is the son of a former Episcopal bishop of Lis Angeles and Alison is an heir to the Wrigley family who once owned Catalina Island. Fun story, nice facility, tasty wines. The wines are a bit pricey due to the unique story but worth the price for seasoned wine drinkers. Can get a bit busy when your vans show up for tastings.

This tasting room is a little off the well traveled path, but the drive is bucolic and interesting, especially if the buffalo are grazing near the fence. The patio is a great setting to have a picnic or snack. (I wish the staff would serve out there rather than having to go inside for each tasting). The wines are fun, especially the Solomon Hills Pinot (my fave).

The Rusacks have vineyards on Catalina island and sometimes they are pouring those wines too. They aren't as good as the regular wines, but the novelty factor is fun.

We've never visited Rusack, but heard about it being a great place for a picnic - and great wine. So we picked up our lunch at the Olivos Market and tasted a few selections at Rusack before buying a bottle. Outside, they have a few options for seating, some in the sun, others shaded, and all with a beautiful view of hills covered with vines. The road in front of the winery is very lightly traveled, so traffic is not noticeable. We had a very relaxing 90 minutes or so, enjoying the view, lunch, and a great bottle of wine.

Last winery we visited on a days tour, absolutely superb setting complete with 4 horse riding fellow tasters! $9 for a superb range of 7 wines, with top ups if requested, and the only winery to finish with a quite superb desert wine. To cap the experience you are given your Rusack wine tasting glass to take away (all included in the $9), and it is now sitting proudly in our kitchen in little old England many, many miles away!

This is one of the most spectacular settings I have ever seen. We picked this winery to enjoy the lunch our driver had ordered for us. The views from the beautiful patio are so serene. The was a road off in the distance but there couldn't have been more than six cars on it the whole hour we were there. Our driver told us we were in Ballard Canyon which is a unique micro-climate. The scenery is softly rolling hills dotted with live oaks. We didn't taste at this winery but I am definitely going to visit it again. We did ask for advice on a bottle of wine for our lunch. We settled on their Sauvignon Blanc which was very reasonable at $21. It was great with our lunch which was served up on the patio by our driver complete with tablecloth, center piece, napkins, the works.
The story on Rusack is interesting. We noticed a lot of Catalina tiles and pottery displayed and asked if there was a connection. The server helping us also pointed out that the logo on the label was a Catalina tile. The connection is that Mrs. Rusack's maiden name is Wrigley of chewing gum fame. The Wrigley mansion on Catalina as well as their horse ranch are big draws. Interesting huh?

This was a great vineyard with an awesome picnic area under lots of shade on the warm day we went here. The wines were awesome and you get to keep the glass when tasting. The country road leading to the vineyard from Los Olivas will give you an opportunity to view bison, sheep, cows, horses, and llama. The staff at the winery were pleasant and knowledgeable.

Gorgeous location. Take lunch, pick a bottle of wine and relax on the deck. You'll think you're in Italy! Great staff and wines. Been going for years and this trip took lunch and had the Santa Barbara Chard two days in a row. Highly recommend...I'm n the wine club and they never disappoint...

This is a lovely vineyard off the beaten path. The patio is exceptionally pretty with views over the countryside. Great location to enjoy a tasting and have a picnic lunch.

Perfect for picnic under beautiful oak trees, and wonderful wine. Peaceful atmosphere , tables and chairs provided.

We biked to Rusack Vineyards and had to stop for a tasting! All their wines were very well balances. The Chardonnay and Pinot Noir really stood out!

Horrible wine, unfriendly staff, pompous. Beautiful scenery. Find a different winery nearby. Other wineries nearby far exceed this place.

We visited at least 6 wineries on our two day trip to Solvang and this one turned out to be our favorite. The setting is really nice and there is a loveley porch patio area where we relaxed. I believe it was 8 dollars for 6 tastings, which was also one of the better prices. The whites are smooth and fruity and the reds were nicely rounded and fuler bodied.

We loved every wine we tried at Rusack, while we had our own picnic at a table on their deck. Great place for a picnic and a relaxing pour. I would go in for our next pouring as we went through the list. We did get their glass at the end of the pouring, but they did not waive the $15 tasting fee with a purchase. A very beautiful location after driving on the curvy country road. An nice view from the deck.

Wasnt blown away with the wines...not bad, but nothing special...servers were the least friendly on the trip, not rude, just not amazing. Great spot to open a bottle, bring a lunch and relax on their beautiful patio under the oak trees and have a relaxing lunch...

Great wines, BYO- Picnic, shaded lawn, gorgeous vistas and an overall chill vibe. What else could you want in a vineyard? Plus on the drive up you pass a bison ranch, which is a cool off-site feature.

It's a stunning place to go for wine tasting on a Sunday afternoon. It's a beautiful vineyard surrounded with green mountains and they have some smooth wines which we enjoyed. The staff is extremely friendly and we felt homely the time we spent there. The outdoor sitting under the oak tree zipping wine in zen atmosphere can't expect anything better than that.

We tried few of the wineries in the area, but nothing is better than Rusack. Excellent wines, beautiful location. Bring your own foods to complement the wine and enjoy the patio nested under mighty oak trees overlooking the wine yards. It is hard to leave when the time comes.
Enjoy and Cheers!

Rusack is one of my favorites in Santa Ynez. The location is on a quiet country road, with a nice shaded patio. The wines were all good.

I haven't been to all the wineries in the Santa Ynez valley area, but I've visited a lot. My favorites are Lafond and Rusack, in that order. In both cases the wines are very good, the views and scenery are magnificent, and the service is friendly and enthusiastic. Both are a little isolated and off the beaten track. The tasting fees are comparatively reasonable. And they both stay open until 5:00 p.m. (whereas many wineries in the area close at 4:00 or 4:30.) Great places to watch the sun go down in the winter.

Leisurely afternoon at the winery with friends. Wonderful descriptions of the wines, friendly servers. Wine choices were varied and very good. Tastings included a complimentary wine glass. The tables on the veranda were shaded and offered a view of vines and the golden hills.

This wine tasting and picnic was a highlight of our trip to the Solvang area! Thanks to my fellow reviewers on TripAdvisor - that's how we decided to come here! This is a really beautiful spot and the tasting room is right in the middle of the growing vines. Big props to Rick and Marti - they made our tasting extra special! Be sure to bring a picnic to enjoy on the lovely shaded patio attached to the tasting room. We bought a delicious bottle of chilled Chardonnay and enjoyed our lunch on the patio, overlooking the vineyard and the rolling hills surrounding the area. Just beautiful and so relaxing! And don't forget to buy some wine to take home!

Whenever I have friends visiting, I usually take them here. It's a good place to go, if you want to unwind, and enjoy wine-tasting a little. You can sit outside, relax and take in the hillside/vineyard views while sipping wine, much better than just standing around a crowded counter waiting to be served!!
Wine-tasting itself is $12 per person, up to 5, I believe, maybe 4? which you may think is rather expensive. But I think it is worth it because they let you bring home the glass, too. I already have tons of them at home!! I usually stop by after I have brunch in Solvang, and move on to either other vineyards or go back to Santa Barbara for more sightseeing, and have dinner at Stearns Wharf.
But if you want to take your time, I would bring along some sandwiches/snacks, too. However, especially on the weekends, the picnic tables fill up fast, so I suggest to get here around noon.
As for their wine, if you like either pinot noir or chardonnay, you're good!

We stop here every time we are in Solvang. Beautiful view and great wines. Especially love the Chardonnay and the Pinot. Great place for a Picnic lunch. Folks friendly and good service. If you can only visit a few winery's, then try and sample these. Some of the best in my opinion. Only wish they distributed in NJ.

This is a great place to stop for lunch. Rusack makes quite lovely, not super expensive wines. It is a short drive from the town of Los Olivos. But best of all is the large deck shaded by oak trees with tables to sit, relax, and eat the lunch you have brought or bought at the great sandwich place somewhere!

Rusack Vineyards is worth the couple mile drive from Solvang - through the bucolic scenery, passing by bisons and long horned cattle. Rusack Winery has excellent wine and it is a beautiful winery. You should make the time to visit Rusack.

Sitting area is gorgeous and relaxing but 375ml ok wine over priced at $30-$45 a 375ml bottle. Pourers can be dismissive and uninviting. I won't return.

We visited Rusack based on other TripAdvisor reviews. Took the road from Los Olivos which is quite windy and narrow. Would recommend to take the road from Solvang to get to winery....it is much less curvy. Winery is nicely located with vineyards all around. All wines were good.....We chose the Pinot Noir to have with our picnic lunch on the wooden deck graced with oak trees beside the tasting room. Beautiful day and we had a pleasant time, except that the lady working in the tasting room was not particularly friendly or sociable and did not tell us anything about the winery or the wines.

The employee who poured our tastings was very friendly and knowledgeable. He recommended some other wineries to us. It was nice that we got to keep the wine glasses from the tastings. Rusack felt very comfortable and down to earth, not as showy as some of the other ones we visited.

Peaceful, friendly, beautifully laid out, fine wines.

Traveled out for a days wine tasting , was 97degrees
Had a bottle of wine for $30 and cheese plate at $20
Was really too hot to sit outside but we did , very enjoyable afternoon

A bit out of the way, but a beautiful location. If in the area, and you want a place to have a picnic, this would be it. Spectacular views, excellent service, superb wine.

Grab some bread and cheese and enjoy the view from the deck! Nice place to visit. Went to 4 wineries. .this one had the nicest place to sit.

Very friendly servers. A nice setting shaded by oak trees to sip your wine and have some cheese or picnic lunch.

I loved the atmosphere at this winery, and most importantly..the wine!
The syrah was my favorite, but they also have a killer Rose!
Will definitely be back! Thanks for the awesome experience Rick!

I was on a mission to find wineries where you get to keep the glass and this is one of them. Plus,the prices were some of the most reasonable in the area. The quality of the wine is excellent, I bought the Pinot and the rose(not a sweet one, but fruity). The outside deck is an excellent place to bring a lunch an enjoy the serene setting. Knowledgable, easy going staff. 12.00 to taste.. And a glass!

We thoroughly enjoyed our afternoon at Rusack's Winery. Pack a lunch to enjoy under the trees on their patio or try one of their snack plates. You will not be disappointed with the experience.

Always a favorite for a picnic or charcuterie, the grounds are wonderful. Staff was much more pleasant and helpful this visit, so maybe we just got someone having a bad day last time. Love the Sauvignon Blanc, a great value and perfect to take out to one of the tables with your food.

We always plan to stop at Rusack Vineyards at the end of our day's trip. The pastoral setting is beautiful and relaxing. The wines are very good--we especially like the Ballard Canyon Estate Reserve Syrah. The Sauvignon Blanc is very delicious. The people are very friendly. A great tasting experience--no fee for wine club members.

Had a wonderful experience here! We had a wine tasting and enjoyed a bottle on the patio which had spectacular views.They also had a friendly kitty in the tasting room which was great. Wines were delicious and definitely top quality, I would highly recommend!

Take lunch and buy a bottle of wine from this wonderful vineyard and enjoy on their beautiful deck overlooking the grapes!

We hosted our ladies lunch bridal party wine tasting at Rusack. We had a party ranging from babies to grandmas and it was a blast! The staff truly treated us with kindness, patience and class. The wine was amazing. The view beautiful and the surroundings were peaceful, serene and everything we wanted!
My future husband didn't get to experience it, so we will be heading back this weekend -as a married couple - to enjoy! Can't wait.

We drove from Santa Barbara through San Marcos pass, which is beautiful scenic route to wine county. We stopped in Los Olivos to pick up a picnic lunch before heading to Rusack. Being wine novices we didn't really know what to expect and were a little under confident, however staff were great - we did the tasting menu for $15 each, which included 5 wines and you keep the glass. We sat on the beautiful terrace enjoying the wines, where each ones was explained in great depth. We then bought a bottle of our favourite and enjoyed with our picnic! Highly recommended and would go again! Thank you Rusack for a lovely afternoon!

Beautiful spot for a picnic lunch.....great wines great location with outstanding views. Bring your own food

We loved this winery. Rusack came highly recommended and did not disappoint. The back country ride to get there is scenic enough as it is, but to come across this gem is the icing on
the cake. They have a wonderful outside deck overlooking the vineyard with amazing views of the
surrounding hillsides. It is a peaceful place with great wine to sip on. Bring a picnic and spend
some time, as you won't want to leave! Tasting fee was $12 including the glass. Very good Pino.
Please do not miss this little slice of heaven. We will be back!

It was closed although the website said open :( so disappointed. It was a pretty drive. No tastings. No admission. No fun.

Went with my family last weekend.. it was a quite and nice place. About 10 miles from Solvang and its very nice. $15 for wine tasting and you can take home the wine glass. Don't forget to take some snacks or food, you can relax for few hours and

Gorgeous location but wine very bitter and seems not quite ready. Views make up for he below average taste of the wine.

Gorgeous setting, nice professional staff, delicious wines and a bit off the beaten track. They know good service and wine! I've been visiting the wineries in this area for 20 years and this is my first go-to place when I'm in Los Olivos . I also love that I'm drinking wine from grapes grown on Santa Catalina island!!

You wouldn't know this is owned by a Wrigley as it's an unpretentious, relaxed place. I also look forward to the scenic road leading there - with beautiful vistas, bison farms, and vineyards

This is a place not only for wine tasting but also for great relaxation in a green world surrounded by a vineyard, shady trees and mountains.If you sit at the deck you can experience great views of green hills and beautiful trees. This place has regular visitors. It is worth a visit.

Wines as elegant as the grounds.
Great picnic area with room for well behaved dogs

Wine Buds”breaking ...Birds chirping ,picnickers munching.

Certain wines so good that they sell out weeks from release, which is why we joined the Anacapa Club

We have quit 6 clubs but stay with this one

Went to this winery back in May and fell in love with it. The outdoor setting is spectacular with its fountains, oak trees, meandering paths. We also fell in love with their wines. They are knowledgeable and friendly. The tasting fee is $10.00 and we enjoyed all of them from the Rose to the desert wine. The reds in-between were delicious as well. We ended up joining their wine club, we bought a couple bottles as well (receiving a discount of 20% and we got the wine glasses as well.
We have been back to the winery two different times.

We brough our own cheese, meat and bread and drank Rusack wines outside enjoying a beautiful view.

This is the best looking vineyard location I've ever seen and experienced. Amazing views of the hills on the horizon dotted with trees... perfect garden lining the drive. The balcony is perfect... set underneath these big old oak trees with superb canopy.

Man... they have this garden and grass area that is paradise. We got there at 11:15 AM before the lunch crowd hit and had the place all to ourselves. The birds were flying down and bathing in the birdbath. What a spectacle. Saw bluebirds... red birds... sparrows ... really cool. I don't even like birds.

Oh yeah, I guess they serve wine inside. We don't know.
We came for the VINEYARD.

We did buy a bottle for the road to show them our love.
They were nice people... I told them to LOOK OUT for Jeff's review.

I drove up 3 hours from Los Angeles... I would drive there again just to go to Rusacks and drink it all in.

We aimed to get there at noon with our picnic basket in tow. The most idyllic place!
Drove through the barren lands and we were treated by such a dreamy oasis.
We were greeted warmly as soon as we parked and stepped foot into their bar.
We took the tasting menu - 5 wines.
I must mention their Sauvignon Blanc because their 2016 converted me! I have always been a red 🍷
Their reds especially the Pinot Noir were awesome too but their Sauvignon Blanc tops!
We didn’t do the whole vineyard tour. Just spent the whole afternoon with our picnic, chatting, wining overlooking their glorious grape vines.

This family owned and run winery produces good Santa Barbara County wines. The tasting at $15 includes an embossed glass to keep. The red wines are better than the whites and they also produce a dessert wine

I really enjoy exploring SB County wineries.
I grew up in the area during the 80s and have watched as the industry grew slowly at first to what has become a mature and respected wine producing region.
This vintner is a fine example of what is produced within the county, a county the size of Napa and Sonoma combined.
It is also in an AVA { American Viticultural Area} which while it isn't the smallest, is relatively petite at about 7700 acres, Ballard Canyon. Located toward the eastern side of the Santa Ynez Valley, noted for Pinot Noir and Chardonnay production, which tends to be warmer as the cooling effect of the Pacific Ocean fog can burn off earlier in the deeper eastern reaches of the valley.
Very nice staff, terrific flights, priced as expected and the grounds are very pleasant. A great redwood patio/deck fit among the oaks overlooking 40 acres of some of their varietals.
While they sell cheese and crackers and snack items, they allow picnics and have an adjacent grassy area bordered by roses. Very nice place to which we will return.

This is one of the only wineries I've been to that requires reservations. Given I've owned a winery that's saying a lot. Nonetheless once you get past that system and the technology is not that great, you're in for a treat that is the way the valley used to be before the movie sideways. The qualities of Rusack wine has always been excellent whether it's under the current winemaker or under John and Helen in the past. What made this tasting so impressive was they absolutely gear the tastings towards people and what they want. As an example if you're a wine club member they will have your wines ready for you based on your membership, or they may have a preference that you keep in their system and have that ready. They're just so many little touches that are unique. As an example when you come in you're greeted similar to a restaurant by someone at the front. They're checking not only your reservation and if you don't have one you're going to get turned away, but also pouring you a glass of Sauvignon Blanc just as you walk towards your table or seats. Once you're seated you will receive your pre-ordered cheeses or charcuterie plates and choose from three or four of the tastings. If you're a wine member they're even more benefits. The views are astonishing beautiful chairs overlooking the grapes sitting under three oak trees on a deck that's been built around those trees. The people who do the tastings are knowledgeable and can educate you and this is always a joy. I can't stress enough how unique this opportunity is. It is also limited because you're required to have reservations. But it's so worth making the trip and the plan.

I loved it here. The wine was excellent, the place was beautiful, and the staff was incredibly nice. I miss it already!

Came for wine tasting and picnic with family on their oak tree shaded deck and lawn overlooking the vineyard. The wines have an especially rich and varied aromas, Perfect for starting my sons to develop their nose! Expect to pay $35-$65/bottle for most of the wines on tasting menu. All of the wines were nice, it's really a matter of pairing with food. (On that note i do not understand why wineries do not offer more food to taste with their wines as done in Napa.)

This place was very busy this weekend; it was standing room only. They also seemed to be having some technical issues with the register. So, I'm not sure this is a fair review, but with that being said:
I give 2 stars for service due to the hosts being unfriendly and inattentive (again with the caveat that it was really busy). I give 3 stars for the wine; most were decent but overpriced. Finally, I give 3.5 stars for the setting; the grounds are beautiful and remote, good for a picnic on the lawn.

My wife and I went here on a recent trip to Solvang and the larger Santa Ynez Valley for some wine tasting. The grounds are located a bit of a ways off any main road - really the only negative about the experience at Rusack. Once there though, the experience is fantastic. There is a small courtyard that provides views of the mountains in the distance while you drink several excellent wines. Additionally, the price for the wine tasting, $9 is less than we found at the other vineyards we visited. And you get to keep the tasting glasses.

We went later in the day, so we had already eaten, but there were others at the vineyard who were finishing up a picnic lunch they brought with them. If heading there around lunchtime, bring your lunch and relax in the sun while drinking your wines.

Began our overnight getaway with a stop at Rusack Vineyards. Mike and Don were very friendly and attentive. Excellent wines, both reds and whites, and a beautiful location to sip and picnic on their shady patio. Atmosphere and subtle music were perfect. A little out of the way, but certainly worth the short trip from downtown Solvang.

Rusack Vineyard is a bit out of the way for those content with visiting vineyards right on Highway 101, but it is well worth the visit. It is a magnificent setting for a picnic and their wines are wonderful. We are particularly fond of the Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. It was a pleasure to have friendly and attentive service. By all means take advantage of the tasting experience and see if you discover some personal favorites.

Decided to have lunch here and was not disappointed, beautiful views from the shaded deck. Had a tasting whilst having lunch which was lovely. The tasting was $15 and you get to keep the glass. Will be back next time we're in the area.