Lincourt Vineyards is a delightful winery just outside of Solvang, CA making high-quality Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. This is one of the many Bill Foley-owned properties that span from New Zealand to Oregon, and one of 3 in Santa Barbara County alone (Foley Estates and Firestone Vineyards being the other two). Bill Foley is an accomplished businessman and lawyer, who recently became owner of the Vegas Golden Knight NHL hockey franchise that made it to the Stanley Cup Finals in 2018.

I generally gravitate towards the smaller family-run wineries but I have been a member at Lincourt for several years, for a few reasons. I love the Pinot Noir here, and think that the winemaker, Lorna Kreutz, generally does an excellent job. The wines are fairly priced, and the wine club does provide a significant discount and rewards when you buy its wines. Another benefit is the reciprocity in tasting at other Foley wineries. I've been to more than 10 at this point! There's even a tasting room at the Ritz-Carlton Bacara, Santa Barbara.

The tasting room at Lincourt has a pleasant atmosphere as it sits in a charming yellow country-inspired house. Outside on the wineries' grounds, there is a large deck which is great for tasting and enjoying a picnic lunch on a beautiful day. Most of the wine-pourers are long-tenured, knowledgeable about the wines, and are pleasant people. I would suggest visiting the winery earlier in the day, however, as it does get busy in the afternoons which can make it tougher to interact with the staff and learn about the wines.

Aside from Pinot Noir, the winery makes Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah and occasionally a rose and Gruner Veltliner. Aside from the Pinots, I typically really love the Syrah, and it tends to be a good value, as cool-climate Syrahs in the Sta. Rita Hills go. Next time you're in Solvang, give Lincourt a shot!