The Good Life craft beer & wine cellar

A Bottle Shop & Bar

The Good Life Craft Beer & Wine Cellar in Solvang, CA, is a bottle shop & bar specializing in California craft beer and local, Artisan wines from Santa Barbara to Paso Robles. We offer small, locally produced bites such as cheese, cured meats, nuts, olives and tempting sweets! Live music by local performers every Saturday night!

Who We Are & What We Do

We are Alfred and Lisa Mesa, a husband and wife team. Together, we have over 60 years of experience in the Food & Beverage industry. We’ve worked in restaurants, nightclubs, arenas, and universities, holding almost every position in hospitality. We’ve loved nearly every moment.

In 2006, we visited the Santa Ynez Valley and fell in love with its beauty and people. We dreamed of retiring here and visited monthly for over five years.

By 2011, our careers had become more paperwork and less customer interaction. We needed a change. So, we moved to the Santa Ynez Valley and planned to live “The Good Life” before retirement.

On September 12, 2012, we opened our beautiful space. We’ve since enjoyed living The Good Life and sharing it with everyone who visits. We plan to continue this journey for many years to come.

We love this area and want to share it with you. Come see why we are… The Good Life.

Organic vs Biodynamic vs Sustainable

You’ve seen terms like Organic, Sustainable, Biodynamic, SIP Certified, and Natural on labels. But what do they mean?

Organic Wine

• Certified Process : Both grape growing and wine production must be organic.
• No Synthetic Additives : No synthetic fertilizers, GMOs, or sulfur dioxide (though sulfites naturally occur in all wine).
• Shelf Life : Shorter shelf life, should be stored at or below proper cellar temperature.

Organic Grapes

• Grapes : 100% certified organic.
• Yeast : Doesn’t need to be organic.
• Sulfites : Allowed up to 100 parts per million.
• Label : Will not carry the USDA Organic seal.

SIP Certified (Sustainability in Practice)

• Assessment : Environmental, social, and community health.
• Audit : Independently audited with a points system.
• Requirement : Must achieve at least 75% of attainable points.

Biodynamic

• Holistic Farming : Follows Rudolf Steiner’s methods from the 1920s.
• Practices : No synthetic pesticides, uses compost teas, natural preparations, and insectary plants.
• Phases of the Moon : Activities are aligned with lunar phases.
• Regulated : By organizations like Demeter and Biodyvin.

Natural/Low Intervention

• Definition : Minimal chemical intervention from growing to bottling.
• Sulfur : Allowed in small amounts.
• Unregulated : Meaning and standards are debated.

Importance for Consumers

The wine industry has done the most research on these terms. However, beer is also affected by agricultural chemicals. It’s important to read labels, do research, and support organic, biodynamic, and SIP certified producers. They cost a bit more but are better for the planet and for us.