In Santa Barbara County wine country, some wine tasting rooms lead with sweeping vineyard views. Others lead with personality, craftsmanship and a story that could only happen in a place like Lompoc.

Flying Goat Cellars belongs firmly in the second camp. Based in the Lompoc Wine Ghetto, this family-owned winery specializes in age-worthy Pinot Noir and sparkling wine, with a tasting experience that feels approachable, a little whimsical and deeply connected to the cool-climate vineyards of the Sta. Rita Hills and greater Santa Barbara County.

For visitors, it is a perfect reminder that California agriculture does not stop at the farm stand. It continues in the vineyard, the cellar, the bottle and the tasting room — where one can taste how geography, climate, farming and winemaking all come together.

FLying Goat Cellars is A Lompoc Wine Country Original

Flying Goat Cellars was founded by winemaker Norm Yost in 2000. The winery released its first Pinot Noir in 2002, introduced Goat Bubbles Rosé in 2005, and opened its Lompoc Wine Ghetto tasting room in 2008.

Today, Flying Goat celebrates more than two decades of small-production wines, with a focus on vineyard-designated Pinot Noir and traditional-method sparkling wines. Santa Barbara County Vintners notes that Yost marked Flying Goat’s 25th anniversary in 2025 by releasing a special Pinot Noir, Wine of Wisdom. It honors both the winery milestone and his personal 45-year journey in the wine industry.

The winery’s name may be playful, but the wines are made with serious intent.

Meet the “OG” of Bubbles in Santa Barbara County

Flying Goat says Yost pioneered the county’s first in-house sparkling wine program with Goat Bubbles Rosé in 2005. Which is why Norm Yost is often referred to as the “OG,” or Old Goat, of bubbles in Santa Barbara County. The sparkling lineup has grown to include Crémant, Rosé, Brut Cuvée, Blanc de Blancs, Blanc de Noirs and Pinot Meunier.

That makes Flying Goat an especially fun stop for visitors who think of Santa Barbara County primarily as Pinot Noir country. Here, you can taste both sides of cool-climate winegrowing: elegant, site-driven Pinot Noir and lively sparkling wines made from grapes that thrive in coastal conditions.

Why Lompoc Matters as a Wine Destination

Lompoc is one of California’s most interesting wine tasting destinations because it is both unpretentious and deeply wine-focused. The Lompoc Wine Ghetto is a collection of wineries, tasting rooms and production facilities located off Pacific Coast Highway 1 and 12th Street. It is not polished in the resort-winery sense, but that is exactly the charm: this is a place where visitors can get close to the winemaking itself.

Flying Goat’s tasting room sits in that world — a place where the agricultural product is transformed just steps away from where guests taste it. For travelers who want to understand how California wine is made, not just where it is served, Lompoc is a rewarding stop.

A Cool-Climate Story in Your Wine Glass

The Sta. Rita Hills AVA, located on California’s Central Coast in Santa Barbara County, is known for Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and other cool-climate wine grape varieties.

Sta. Rita Hills is one of California’s smaller AVAs, with vineyard acreage planted to Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and many other cool-climate varieties. The region stretches near Lompoc and benefits from the cooling influence of the Pacific Ocean, which helps preserve acidity and build layered flavors in the grapes.

That is the agricultural story behind Flying Goat’s wines. The winery’s focus on Pinot Noir and sparkling wine is not random; it reflects the place. Cool coastal conditions give Pinot Noir the chance to develop freshness, structure and complexity, while grapes for sparkling wine can be picked with the bright acidity needed for bubbles.

What to Taste

A visit to Flying Goat should include both still and sparkling wines.

Start with Goat Bubbles to experience the winery’s sparkling side. These wines show why traditional-method sparkling wine has become such an exciting part of Santa Barbara County’s wine identity.

Then move into Pinot Noir, especially vineyard-designated bottlings from Santa Barbara County sites. Flying Goat has built its reputation around ageworthy Pinot Noir, and the tasting room is a great place to compare how different vineyard sources, clones and vintages express themselves.

The winery’s principal varieties include Chardonnay, Pinot Meunier, Pinot Noir and sparkling wine, so visitors who love cool-climate wines will find plenty to explore.

A Tasting Room With Art and Personality

The Lompoc, California Flying Goat Tasting Room and Art Salon is a combined purpose space. The art salon element adds to the visit, making the space feel like more than a standard tasting counter. It is a place to slow down, ask questions, talk about vineyards and enjoy wines that are serious without feeling stuffy.

That balance makes Flying Goat especially appealing for agritourism travelers. It is educational, but not formal. Wine-focused, but friendly. Rooted in craft, but full of character.

Build a Lompoc Agritourism Day

Flying Goat Cellars fits beautifully into a Central Coast agritourism itinerary. Start with a drive through the Sta. Rita Hills to see the vineyard landscape, then head into Lompoc for a tasting-room crawl in the Wine Ghetto. Flying Goat makes a strong anchor stop because it offers a clear sense of what the region does best: Pinot Noir, bubbles and cool-climate wine with a Santa Barbara County signature.

Pair the visit with lunch in Lompoc, a stop at another nearby tasting room, or a scenic drive toward Los Alamos, Los Olivos, Buellton or the coast. For travelers who like to understand the “why” behind what they taste, this part of Santa Barbara County is especially rich: marine air, transverse valleys, thoughtful farming and small-lot winemaking all shape the wines.

Visitor Details

Flying Goat Cellars Tasting Room
1520 E. Chestnut Court, Suite A, Lompoc, CA 93436
Hours: Thursday–Monday, 11 a.m. to about 4 p.m.
Phone: 805-736-9032
Reservations are not required, but appointments are available.

The Takeaway

Flying Goat Cellars is the kind of wine country stop that rewards curiosity. It gives visitors a taste of Lompoc’s creative wine culture, Santa Barbara County’s cool-climate vineyards and the hands-on craft behind both Pinot Noir and sparkling wine.

For an agritourism audience, that is the real story: every glass begins in the field. At Flying Goat, the path from vineyard to bottle is full of place, personality and just enough goat-inspired fun to keep you coming baaaaaack for more.

This article was written by Alison Needham (@atable_defloured) for CA GROWN. Images by James Collier, Paprika Studios.