Santa Barbara Wine County

August 3, 2011

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Five Unique Winegrowing Areas

The unique, transverse nature of the valley’s of Santa Barbara Wine Country provides a patchwork quilt of microclimates and terrains, resulting in one of the most diverse grapegrowing regions in the country. The valleys in the Pacific coastline actually run east-west rather than north-south, and both the coastal Santa Ynez Mountain range and the more interior San Rafael range are transverse too. Because of this geologic oddity, the ocean breezes sweep eastward, channeled by the hills and mountains that ring the region. Heading east into the foothills, the temperatures are warm during the day and very cool during the night, whereas the vineyards that lie westward toward the ocean enjoy a mild and moderate climate. Coupled with soils that run the gamut from ancient beach and diatomaceous earth to chirt and limestone, there is a near perfect place for a wide variety of winegrape varietals.

Learn about the Santa Maria Valley, Los Alamos Valley, Santa Ynez Valley, Sta. Rita Hill,,and HappyCanyon of Santa Barbara and then taste the terroir!

“One of California’s most beautiful and exciting viticultural regions lies … just 90 minutes north of the seemingly
endless urban sprawl of Los Angeles. Santa Barbara … is making some of the most thrilling wines in America. …
From ocean-cooled valleys to stark mountain vineyards; from racy syrah to velvety pinot noir to the prospect of great cabernet;
from rustic ranchers to reclusive celebrities – if any wine region can have it all, it’s Santa Barbara.”
from “Under the Boardwalk”
Anthony Dias Blue

There are currently four federally sanctioned American Viticultural Areas (AVAs) within Santa Barbara County; the Santa Maria Valley, Santa Ynez Valley, Sta. Rita Hills and Happy Canyon of Santa Barbara appellations. As grapegrowers continue to advance their understanding of the best places to plant particular winegrape varietals, the Los Alamos region, the Los Olivos District, and the Santa Maria Bench are also showing distinct characteristics that may one day lead to AVA status.

The Vintners’ Association also publshes two detailed maps of the vineyards in Santa Barbara Wine Country, the appellations of Santa Maria Valley, Santa Ynez Valley and Sta. Rita Hills.

Santa Maria Valley

The often foggy and windswept Santa Maria Valley is the northern most appellation in Santa Barbara County. The region’s first officially approved American Viticultural Area (AVA) enjoys extremely complex soil conditions and diverse microclimates. Chardonnay and Pinot Noir are two varietals which especially benefit from the ocean’s influence, and are the flagship wines of this appellation.

“No viticultural region in America has demonstrated as much progress in quality and potential for greatness as… the Santa Barbara region, where the Burgundian varietals Chardonnay and Pinot Noir are planted in its cooler climates.”
Robert Parker Jr.
Food & Wine

The quality of Santa Maria Valley grapes is so widely recognized that the fruit is not just used in winemaking at wineries in the appellation. Santa Maria Valley grapes are also used by wineries throughout Santa Barbara County and at many wineries outside of the county. So don’t be suprised when you see the Santa Maria Valley name on labels from wineries that are based far away from the Santa Barbara County sunshine. The Santa Maria Valley appellation is bounded by the San Rafael Mountains and the Los Padres National Forest to the east, and by the Solomon Hills and the city of Santa Maria to the west.

Santa Ynez Valley

Santa Ynez Valley is a long, east-west corridor with very cool temperatures on the coast that become progressively warmer inland. Consequently, several varietals do well, from Pinot Noir in the west to Cabernet and Merlot in the east. Several Rhône and Italian grape varietals have also gained acclaim in this versatile Santa Barbara County AVA.

The largest concentration of wineries is in the Santa Ynez Valley appellation. From one-person labors of love to multi-thousand case operations, each has a dedication to producing wine that truly reflects the high quality and broad diversity of local grapes.For more information visit the Santa Ynez Wine Country website.

Sta. Rita Hills

Sta Rita Hills is actually within the Santa Ynez Valley appellation, although its unique soils and climate distingush the grapes grown there from the ones in the warmer vineyards to the east. A typical day in Sta Rita Hills starts with marine layer clouds and fog, which burn off by 10am; there is then two or three hours of calm sunshine until the on-shore winds pick up, cooling things down again. This maritime influence, combined with the sedimentary soils with patches of limestone is the perfect place to grow the appellation’s hallmark Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. The region continues to innovate with progressive farming techniques, supplying fruit used to produce highly stylized and structured wines.

The Sta. Rita Hills appellation includes about 1700 planted acres within a 10 square mile area. Located between the towns of Buellton and Lompoc, the region is bounded by the La Purisima Hills to the north and the Santa Rosa Hills to the south, and intersected by the Santa Ynez River.For more information visit the Sta. Rita Hill Winegrowers Alliance website.

Happy Canyon of Santa Barbara

Happy Canyon of Santa Barbara is a relatively new winegrowing region that has recently become its own AVA. Located in the far eastern edge of the Santa Ynez Valley AVA, it delves into the San Rafael Mountains just northwest of Lake Cachuma. Its inland position means a significantly warmer climate that ensures complete maturation for later ripening varieties. The rolling terrain, high slopes and varied soils of this region are best suited for growing Bordeaux varieties Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Petit Verdot and Sauvignon Blanc, creating rich, concentrated wines. Syrah and other Rhone varieties also flourish here.For more information visit the Happy Canyon of Santa Barbara AVA website.

Los Alamos Valley

Los Alamos Valley lies between Santa Maria Valley and Santa Ynez Valley. With warm days and very cold nights, the fruit from this region achieves incredible concentration and balance. Its slight, well drained soils and a wide range of microclimates allows for a diversity of varietals. Because Los Alamos Valley is not an official appellation, you won’t see it on a wine label – “Santa Barbara County” is used instead. But you should not be surprised to see Los Alamos Valley vineyard names specified on the label.

Los Alamos, which means “The Cottonwoods” in Spanish, is a town just off the 101 freeway between the Santa Maria Valley and Santa Ynez Valley appellations. The area around Los Alamos has a temperate climate all its own – ten degrees cooler than Santa Ynez Valley to the south and ten degrees warmer than Santa Maria Valley to the north-east. Los Alamos Valley is bounded to the north by Solomon Hills and to the south by La Purisima Hills.

“Los Alamos Valley has as much right to wine legitimacy as Santa Maria Valley and Santa Rita Hills,
which it resembles in its comparable coolness. Like those two AVAs,
Los Alamos Valley also grows thousands of acres of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir,
as well as smaller experimental acres of Italian varieties”
Matt Kramer
New California Wine

Source: http://www.sbcountywines.com/SBC/appellations.html

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