Biden heads to California wine country for first post-presidential trip
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Former US president Joe Biden and his wife Jill Biden boarding Air Force One in Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, during a farewell ceremony on Jan 20.
PHOTO: AFP
WASHINGTON – At 11.15am on Jan 20, Mr Donald Trump was sworn back into the White House as the 47th President of the United States.
And by 2pm on the same day – after a quick farewell visit to Joint Base Andrews – the now former president, Mr Joe Biden, was on his way to celebrate retirement in Santa Ynez, California.
The central California wine town, made famous as a world-class pinot noir destination in the 2004 film Sideways, is familiar territory for Mr 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 Mr Kiani’s 3,200ha estate shortly after Mr 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 is 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 is also easily accessible, roughly two hours north of Los Angeles by car and 45 minutes from VIP-filled Montecito.
Among the recent openings adding lustre to the once-sleepy area is Auberge Resorts’ five-star Inn at Mattei’s Tavern, a storied social hangout and events mainstay that Auberge 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 restaurants 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 Mr Biden, vacation will likely mean revisiting some of his favourite pastimes and pursuits.
An avid cyclist, there will be a 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, on Stearns Wharf, may be one of the best places for him to grab a scoop of chocolate chip ice cream – his favourite flavour, according to interviews past.
There is also Crown Point, one of Santa Ynez’s best wineries, where tours are conducted via John Deere tractors and the most acclaimed wine is a French-style cabernet sauvignon. BLOOMBERG
