About Melville Winery
Melville Winery is a family estate on Highway 246 east of Lompoc, in the cool Sta. Rita Hills of Santa Barbara County. The Melvilles have grown wine grapes here since 1996, and every bottle comes from their own vineyards: Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Syrah and Grenache, farmed with organic and sustainable methods. Ron Melville started the estate, and Chad Melville leads the vineyard work today as head winegrower.
The estate tasting room has indoor and outdoor seats with views over the vines. It opens 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and until 5 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, and closes on New Year's Day, Easter, July 4, Thanksgiving, and Christmas Eve and Day. The Estate Tasting Flight is five pours for $35, and current and library wines are also poured by the glass or bottle. Visits are booked through their website.
If you want more than a flight, Melville runs three tours: Beyond the Barrel, a 90-minute outdoor walk on how the wine is made; the Vineyard Venture, a walk through the vines followed by a seated tasting of small-lot wines in the library; and the Winegrower's Tour, a 90-minute private visit led by Chad Melville. The winery describes itself as dog and kid friendly. It also hosts public events, weddings and private parties, and has a second tasting lounge on State Street in Santa Barbara.
Santa Rita Hills Lavender Farm is in the same stretch of hills near Lompoc, about 10 minutes away. In summer, a guided lavender tour pairs well with an afternoon flight at Melville.
What to do
- Taste five estate wines on the Estate Tasting Flight
- Walk the vineyard on the Vineyard Venture tour, then taste small-lot wines in the library
- Learn how the wines are made on the 90-minute Beyond the Barrel tour
- Book the private Winegrower's Tour with Chad Melville
- Sit outside with a glass and a view of the Sta. Rita Hills vines
Season, hours and prices
- Season
- Estate tasting room open year-round except major holidays
- Hours
- Posted on their website (2026): Sunday–Thursday 11 a.m.–4 p.m.; Friday–Saturday 11 a.m.–5 p.m.
- Admission
- Estate Tasting Flight $35 for five pours (as posted on their website, October 2026)
Good to know
- Age
- 21 or older to taste or drink alcohol
- Dogs
- Allowed
- Reservations
- Recommended
Tips for your visit
- Book tours ahead online; all three are reserved in advance
- Formal photo shoots need permission and a fee arranged in advance
- Closed on New Year's Day, Easter, July 4, Thanksgiving, and Christmas Eve and Day
- Plan a designated driver before you head out on Highway 246
Pair it with a lavender farm
Santa Rita Hills Lavender Farm · about 10 minutes away
Santa Rita Hills Lavender Farm is about 10 minutes away near Lompoc, so a summer lavender tour and a Melville tasting fit in one afternoon.
Getting there
Questions
Are kids and dogs welcome at Melville?
Yes. The winery describes its estate as dog and kid friendly.
How much is a tasting?
The Estate Tasting Flight is $35 for five pours, as posted on their website in 2026.
Are the grapes grown on site?
Yes. All of their wine comes from their own Sta. Rita Hills vineyards.
Is there a tasting room in Santa Barbara too?
Yes, a tasting lounge at 120 State Street, Suite C.
🗺️ Part of the guide Things to Do Near the Lavender Farms of Lompoc & the Santa Ynez Valley, California
Checked in October 2026 against the business’s own website and local tourism pages. Hours and seasons change, so check with them before you go. How we check listings · Is this your business? Claim it free
