Firestone Vineyards

Firestone Vineyard holds a singular place in California wine history as the first estate winery established in Santa Barbara County. Founded in the early 1970s by Leonard Firestone — a former U.S. Ambassador to Belgium and grandson of tire innovator Harvey Firestone — the property took root in the Santa Ynez Valley at a time when the region was little known for wine production. Leonard's son Brooks and daughter-in-law Kate joined the venture, and together the family built what a 1987 Los Angeles Times Magazine profile called the work of "a pioneer, an inspirer, and an expander of possibilities." Set on 5017 Zaca Station Road in Los Olivos, the vineyard spans 325 certified sustainable acres in a "unique cusp region" where moderate coastal temperatures and an extended growing season support an unusually broad range of varieties — from Bordeaux and Rhône reds to Burgundy, Loire Valley, and German-inspired whites. Vintner Bill Foley acquired the property in 2007 and continues advancing its reputation today. The winery's grounds feature a barrel room, fermentation cellar, tasting room, and outdoor courtyard where live music is hosted on weekends. The setting — vineyard rows, palm trees, and the Santa Ynez Mountains as a backdrop — creates an atmosphere well suited to gatherings and celebrations.