Family celebrations

La Tarantella is a private villa surrounded by the magnificent vineyards and rolling hills of the Grassini Family Vineyards estate. 

Intended to reflect California’s early heritage while showcasing unparalleled European design, La Tarantella is a chic combination of Spanish Mission, French Country, and Italian architecture.

Now proudly owned by the Grassini Family, we are committed to keeping the legacy of La Tarantella intact.

This unique villa has been known as a place to gather for over three decades. A place where all are warmly welcomed and there is always room for one more at the table.

Today, La Tarantella is a beautiful blend of the past, present, and future. It honors the roots of family and the importance of gathering with those you love. Our family hopes this space can become an enduring reminder to all who walk its halls or find refuge in the surrounding landscape, that coming together to share unique experiences and make new memories with the ones we love is what matters most in this lifetime.

Behind the name

Dating back to the fifteenth century, La Tarantella, “the dance of the spider,” is a traditional, celebratory Italian dance often performed at weddings. The dance reflects the movements of the tarantula, a vital part of our ecosystem in the Happy Canyon area of Santa Ynez. 

But the beauty of La Tarantella runs even deeper.

Come late summer, you’ll start to see tarantulas sauntering across the rustic roads of Santa Ynez as they look for a mate to spend their winter with. This annual tarantula “migration” isn’t something to fear– quite the opposite. It signals to local winemakers and the community that the grape harvest is coming and it’s time to celebrate.

Grassini Family Vineyards

Voted Best Winery and Best Tasting Room by the readers of both the Santa Barbara Independent and the Santa Barbara News-Press, La Tarantella is owned and operated by Grassini Family Vineyards, which is located just across the creek bed. Since 2002, Grassini Family Vineyards has garnered a reputation for producing elegant wines of distinction, carefully crafted from grapes meticulously grown in their estate vineyards surrounding the La Tarantella grounds. As you explore La Tarantella's villa venue or attend an event as a guest, please be sure to come by and enjoy a glass of wine.