Filed under: day trip, food, Southern California, top-feature, wine
Wine and Dine in Ojai
If you find yourself in the Los Angeles area, I’ve got a hot tip for a great side trip you can take. It’s the small town of Ojai (map) - pronounced as if you were meeting an old friend, “Oh, Hi!” – located in Ventura County, which is to the north of LA. The drive is about 90 minutes, depending on traffic, though you could make it longer and drive up along the coast.
Ojai is set in a mountain valley, so despite being fairly close to the ocean, you can’t see it. On both sides of you are mountains, which gives the place a really unique vibe, as if you’ve stumbled onto some hidden secret that you haven’t heard about. It’s an old area, at least in relative terms – spiritual folks have several retreats in the area, and the list of people who either live here or have a home here is impressive, and they’re not just celebrities.
While Ojai doesn’t have something for everybody, it certainly has a lot going on. One of the best ways to sample Ojai is to enjoy two of its most enjoyable features: wine and food. Sit back, relax, and enjoy Ojai.
Ojai Valley Wines
After tasting my first Ojai wine, I kind of felt like Ojai is the dark horse of California’s wine industry. I consider myself fairly knowledgeable on alternative wine regions in California, little-known favorites like Livermore Valley for example, but I was unfamiliar with the Ojai valley wines. This is an interesting area because you have mountains that hide little plateaus, so the smart farmer can find just the right place to plant just about anything. Having said that, summers here I am told can be searing – temperatures of a hundred degrees – but with cool nights, there are possibilities.
Your stop for a tasting should be the Ojai Vineyard Tasting Room (map), just off the main street in the city’s old firehouse. It’s a small tasting room, cozy, and the staff are interesting to chat with. Tastings here cost $15, but included in that price is a Riedel glass to keep. If you are unfamiliar with Riedel, these are widely considered the best wine glassware on the market. While I can’t tell you if your wine will taste better in Riedel (some say it does), you most certainly will love these glasses.
Another great wine tasting choice is the Casa Barranca Tasting Room (map), right in the main arcade in the middle of Ojai. Casa Barrance is the first certified organic winery in the Ojai area, and their tasting room is more like a really nice bar than a tasting room – tables, comfortable seating, and lots of space. And it’s so central that it is an easy to walk to/from your accommodation.
All Aboard
For your meals, I’ve got one option for you to consider first. It’s a short drive away, but I think you’ll be interested – it’s dinner aboard a vintage railway car on the Western and Filmore Railway. Departing from Filmore (map), the train takes a slow run on quiet tracks as you roll through the valley and enjoy an on-board murder mystery. We chose this particular train because of the upcoming film, Water for Elephants, which was filmed here. The company who runs the trains have a whole collection of vintage car stock, and hundreds of films have been shot here. You’re going mostly for the experience – you could get a better meal or better theater elsewhere, but when can you enjoy it on a real 1940s pristine condition railway car?
As for dinner back in Ojai, you’ll be spoiled for choice. My favorite without a doubt has to be Azu (map), which bills itself as tapas and Mediterranean. It starts with their signature martinis – oversized and delicious, speaking from experience – but there’s also a healthy wine list. The list of entrees is hard to choose from, as it all sounds good and featured specials come and go, but if they have the bacon-wrapped dates, do us both a favor and get them. Leave room for desserts – their pies, homemade gelato and alcoholic milkshakes are a great way to top off the evening.
Suzanne’s (map) is another local favorite. Freshly baked breads, fresh herbs from the garden, and a list of pastas to make you drool, Suzanne’s is like a trip to rural Italy, without the overnight flight. And regardless if you want lunch or dinner, the simple-but-delicious menu at Feast Bistro (map) is hard to go wrong. Check out their Ojai Olive Oil cake – it’s one of a kind.
Where To Stay
If you’re looking for a place to stay while in Ojai, I highly recommend one of the two sister inns: The Blue Iguana (map) and the Emerald Iguana (map). Both are beautiful properties with spacious rooms that have kitchens and other amenities to make it feel a bit like home, though this home also has pools and plenty of shaded outdoor places to sit. Delicious breakfast that you can serve yourself and sit by the pool or take back to your room is included. Guests at either property also have access to the Ojai Botanical Gardens, a sort of “secret” gardens located outside of town – such a beautiful place, it is almost worth staying here just for that. The main difference between the two properties is that the blue is more pet friendly, and the Emerald is closer to town – you can walk into town, versus the Blue which is about a mile out.
Come, wine and dine in Ojai. You may end up so relaxed you will not want to go home!
Photo Credits: Copyright Andy Hayes, Author
Disclosure: This trip was sponsored by the Iguana Inns of Ojai, but the opinions are of the author.
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