Santa Barbara

Santa Barbara

Au Bon Climat Winery

Bottle of the winery's Chardonnay

Jim Clendenen graduated from the University of California, Santa Barbara, with High Honors in Pre-Law in 1976. It was during his "junior year abroad" in 1974, while turning 21 in France, that he discovered life beyond tacos.In 1982, Clendenen decided, along with now ex-partner Adam Tolmach, to start his own winery in leased quarters. Au Bon Climat (which means "a well exposed vineyard") has grown over its history to over 30,000 cases through careful re-investment from its own production.

Alma Rosa Winery & Vineyard

grape clusters - Pixabay

Richard Sanford came to the Santa Ynez Valley 40 years ago with the desire to create wines that would rival the best of France. First to recognize the potential of the Santa Rita Hills, now an officially accredited American Viticultural Area as Sta. Rita Hills, and first to plant Pinot Noir vines there, Richard is a pioneer with a well established reputation for excellence in winemaking.With over 100 acres of certified organic vineyards in the Sta. Rita Hills, Alma Rosa Winery & Vineyards focuses on continued excellence in Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, as well as Pinot Gris, Pinot Blanc, and Pinot Noir - Vin Gris (a dry rosé). All wines are food friendly and display the high acid, and extraordinary balance for which Richard Sanford’s wines have been known since 1976.

Firestone Vineyards

grape cluster - Pixabay

Founded by legendary tire innovator Harvey Firestone’s son, Leonard, and his son, Brooks, Firestone Vineyard was the first estate winery established in Santa Barbara County in 1972. What began as a dream to plant a vineyard and establish a winery has today, with Vintner Bill Foley’s guidance, grown to 325 certified sustainable vineyard acres in one of the most desirable appellations in California — Santa Ynez Valley.

Firestone Vineyard's wines include varietals such as Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Merlot, Syrah, and Cabernet Sauvignon. Their 325 acres of historic vineyards lie approximately 26 miles from the cold Pacific Ocean, creating a moderate, arid climate and an extremely long growing season. These unique growing conditions, combined with certified sustainable farming techniques, yield wines that are concentrated, elegant, and firmly structured.

Blackjack Ranch Vineyards & Winery

Wine Swirling in the glass - Pixabay

Recently the World’s most respected wine critic, Robert Parker, Jr. awarded Blackjack Ranch a Five-Star rating for the production of Bordeaux varietals, specifically Billy Goat Hill Merlot and for Harmonie. Blackjack Ranch Vineyards & Winery is one of only two wineries outside Napa/Sonoma to achieve his highest ranking. In issue #148 of The Wine Advocate, Robert Parker included the following pronouncement: “Blackjack Ranch is one of the best-run wineries in Santa Barbara.

Image: Saman Teher - Pixabay

Lucas and Lewellen Vineyards

corks in a wine glass - Pixabay

The vineyards of Lucas & Lewellen are located in the three principal wine grape growing regions of Santa Barbara County: the Santa Maria Valley, the Los Alamos Valley, and the Santa Ynez Valley. These valleys all run west from the coastal mountains to the Pacific Ocean, allowing warm days and cool nights to produce a long, gentle growing season.

Blair Fox Cellars

Grape Cluster - Pixabay

lair Fox Cellars sources from only the most exceptional vineyards in Santa Barbara County, which can compare to the best vineyards of France and Australia. With meticulous canopy and crop management these vineyards create excellent quality grapes that can be bottled under independent vineyard designations such as: Paradise Road Vineyard; Purisima Mountain Vineyard; Thompson Vineyard; Tierra Alta Vineyard and The Fox Family vineyard.

Casa Cassara Winery & Vineyard

grape vine with grapes - Randy Caparoso

When Bennie Cassara first set foot on this mountain top retreat he knew this was the place for which he had been looking. Bennie a brick mason by trade was busy running his Masonry construction company in Orange County California, but he was looking for a place where he and his could get away from the daily grind. It was in 1990 the first vines were planted on the tiny hilltop estate. Bennie Cassara chose Pinot Noir grapes at the urging of his friend Brian Babcock of the Babcock Winery. Brian told Bennie his property would be the perfect growing environment for Pinot Noir grapes, this variatal is grown on hillsides in France, and Brian knew the combination of warm days and cool foggy nights would be perfect. Much of the rest of the story is in the glass.

Alexander Andrew Murray Vineyards

grape cluster - Pixabay

Andrew Murray fell in love with the emerging Rhône varieties, Syrah and Viognier, in the late 1980’s while traveling through France’s Rhône Valley. Leaving his UC Berkeley paleontology studies behind, he pursued his new mistress, Syrah, with an internship in Australia. As Robert Parker, Jr. put it, “…Andrew Murray’s offerings are a breath of fresh air given their exceptionally high quality and realistic prices – reader take note.

Tensley Winery

Corks and wine glass - Pixabay

Tensley Wines is a family owned and operated winery focusing on vineyard designated Syrah within Santa Barbara County. Established in 1998, the first release of Tensley totaled just 100 cases. In 2006, our production reached 3,300 cases and included seven single-vineyard Syrahs, the most in Santa Barbara County.

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