Biden Heads to California Wine Country for First Post-Presidential Trip

(Bloomberg) -- At 11:15 a.m. on Jan. 20, Donald Trump was sworn back into the White House as the 47th President of the United States. And by 2 p.m. on the same day—after a quick farewell visit to Joint Base Andrews—the now-former president, Joe Biden, was on his way to celebrate retirement in Santa Ynez, California.

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The central California wine town, made famous as a world-class pinot noir destination in the 2004 film Sideways, is familiar territory for Biden, who spent a few days there in August 2024 after deciding to withdraw from the election. On that trip, he stayed at billionaire pal Joe Kiani’s ranch; his official agenda did not specify where he would stay on this visit, but local news reports say a motorcade was headed in the direction of Kiani’s 8,000-acre estate shortly after Biden’s arrival in town.

The trip marks a sharp turn from the busy last days of a presidential term that capped off five decades of public service to an unplanned retirement. And for Santa Ynez, one of six towns that comprise Santa Barbara Wine Country—along with Los Olivos, Buellton, Los Alamos and the traditional Danish village of Solvang—it marks an important moment in the spotlight.

It’s not hard to see why Santa Ynez merits repeat visits. Though it has long lived in the shadow of the better-known towns of Napa and Sonoma farther north, its scenic rolling hills, wineries and quaint lifestyle have increasingly drawn visitors seeking a more relaxed and outdoorsy version of Califoria wine country. (We called it the state’s “best-kept wine secret” back in 2021, when we most recently highlighted the area’s best restaurants and hotels.) It’s also easily accessible, roughly two hours north of Los Angeles by car and 45 minutes from VIP-filled Montecito.

Among the recent openings adding luster to the once-sleepy area is Auberge Resorts’ five-star Inn at Mattei’s Tavern, an storied social hangout and events mainstay that Auberge resorts recently transformed into a full-fledged resort, complete with a cluster of standalone cottages and spa; its wood-fire-focused restaurant draws from a sprawling garden onsite.

The Santa Ynez valley also claims a booming dining scene, with several ambitious restaurant set to open in the months ahead. Stica, a casual outpost from LA-based Toscano Restaurant Group, will focus on Roman pinsas—a type of crispy, hand-pressed flatbread that’s like pizza’s forgotten cousin—while Gathering Table, a beloved spot that once filled the iconic Ballard Inn, is soon to reopen with an Asian- and French-inspired menu.

For Biden, vacation will likely mean revisiting some of his favorite pastimes and pursuits. An avid cyclist, there will be good chance of seeing him and former First Lady Jill Biden on the scenic Valley Loop connecting several of Santa Barbara’s prettiest towns. Great Pacific Ice Cream Co., on Stearns Wharf, may be one of the best places for him to grab a scoop of chocolate chip ice cream—his favorite flavor, according to interviews past. There’s also Crown Point, one of Santa Ynez’s best wineries, where the tours are conducted via John Deere tractors and the most acclaimed wine is a French-style cabernet sauvignon.

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