San Ysidro Ranch’s Secret Cellar Splurge

The evening began as any fine dining affair should: canapés topped with heaps of caviar, substantial sips of Champagne, and a casual meander through gardens whose meticulously manicured herbs, flowers, and fruits would soon find their way to our plates. Then came an explore-as-much-as-you-want tour of the million-dollar-plus wine cave before settling into our completely private, utterly hidden room to enjoy five courses directly designed to pair with five wines selected just for us.

Welcome to the San Ysidro Ranch’s Secret Cellar, which was officially unveiled earlier this year to make the Montecito resort’s legendarily luxe vibe a little extra-exclusive. “It’s an experience that doesn’t really exist in Montecito or Santa Barbara for the most part, especially at this level,” explained the property’s sommelier Tristan Pitre, who hosted our media group for dinner. “People come to the Ranch for so many different reasons, but if wine is one reason, now you have a dining experience where you’ll be immersed in that.”

Chef Matthew Johnson’s food earns equal top billing. “He creates dishes that are exclusive to the Secret Cellar,” said Pitre. “They are all dishes that you would not see on the Stonehouse menu.”