Birdwatching, Wine & the Wild Side of the Sta. Rita Hills
There is more growing at a vineyard than grapes.
Across Alma Rosa Winery & Vineyards’ 628-acre estate in the Sta. Rita Hills, vineyard rows share the landscape with open meadows, oak woodland, wildlife corridors, and the birds that live in and migrate through this distinctive corner of Santa Barbara County.
This fall, we’re inviting guests to experience that landscape from an entirely new perspective.
Birds of the Sta. Rita Hills: A Guided Estate Experience is a morning of birdwatching, nature, and wine at the Alma Rosa Estate in Buellton, California. Led by expert birder Sophie Cameron, the experience combines a leisurely guided walk through the estate with bird identification, an introduction to the surrounding ecosystem, and, afterward, a relaxed tasting of Alma Rosa wines with small bites.
No birding experience is required. Just a little curiosity.
Birdwatching in the Heart of Santa Barbara Wine Country
The Sta. Rita Hills may be best known for Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, but wine is only one expression of this remarkable landscape.
Alma Rosa's El Jabali Estate sits on the north-facing slopes of the Santa Rita Hills, where cool Pacific air moves through the region's unusual east-west mountain range. Of the estate's 628 acres, only a small portion is planted to vineyards. The remaining acreage includes open spaces, meadows, forests, and wildlife corridors that provide habitat for native plants and animals.
On Sunday, October 25, guests will have an opportunity to explore this environment with someone who knows how to look a little closer.
Expert birder Sophie Cameron will lead the group through the vineyards and surrounding landscape, helping guests identify birds by sight and sound while sharing insight into their behaviors, habitats, migration patterns, and relationship to the larger ecosystem.
The pace is intentionally leisurely. This isn't a strenuous vineyard hike or a race to build the longest species list. It's an opportunity to spend a morning outside, pay attention, and discover just how much is happening around the vines.
Why Birds (and Biodiversity) Matter in a Vineyard
A vineyard doesn't exist independently from the landscape around it.
Healthy winegrowing regions are living ecosystems, shaped by soil, plants, insects, animals, weather, and human stewardship. At Alma Rosa, preserving that larger environment has long been part of how we approach the estate.
El Jabali was first planted in 1983 by pioneering vintner and Alma Rosa founder Richard Sanford and became Santa Barbara County's first certified organic vineyard. Today, the estate and winery are certified sustainable by the California Sustainable Winegrowing Alliance.
Leaving much of the property unplanted is part of that philosophy. Native habitat and wildlife corridors support biodiversity while preserving the character of the ranch for generations to come.
Birds offer one particularly visible—and often audible—way to understand that ecosystem.
Once you begin noticing them, a familiar landscape starts to look very different.
From Binoculars to Wine Glasses
After exploring the estate, the morning shifts from observation to tasting.
Guests will gather for a relaxed tasting of Alma Rosa wines accompanied by thoughtfully selected small bites, bringing the experience back to what first drew many of us to this landscape: wine.
It's a natural conclusion to the morning.
The same place you've just explored—the hills, soils, vegetation, ocean influence, and changing seasons—is also the place responsible for the character of the wines in your glass.
Terroir is usually discussed in terms of geology and climate. Spend a morning walking through the estate, however, and it becomes something much bigger. It's the entire living landscape surrounding the vineyard.
A Different Kind of Sta. Rita Hills Wine Experience
For visitors looking for unique things to do in Santa Barbara wine country, Birds of the Sta. Rita Hills offers an alternative to the traditional tasting room experience.
It is part nature walk, part birdwatching excursion, and part wine tasting—designed for people who want to experience the Sta. Rita Hills beyond the glass.
Seasoned birders are welcome, but beginners are equally encouraged to join. No previous birdwatching experience is necessary, and guests can bring binoculars if they have them. Comfortable walking shoes and layers appropriate for the morning weather are recommended.
Mostly, bring your curiosity.
You may arrive looking for birds. You may leave seeing the vineyard differently.
Birds of the Sta. Rita Hills: Event Details
Sunday, October 25, 2026
9:00 AM–1:00 PM
Alma Rosa Winery & Vineyards
7250 Santa Rosa Road
Buellton, California
The experience includes a guided birdwatching and nature walk through the Alma Rosa Estate led by expert birder Sophie Cameron, followed by a tasting of Alma Rosa wines and small bites.
No previous birding experience is necessary.
Space is limited for this guided estate experience.