Santa Barbara County

Santa Barbara County's east-west valleys create conditions unlike anywhere else in California. Cold Pacific air funnels inland through these transverse valleys, producing some of the state's coolest vineyards just 150 miles from the Mexican border. The 2004 film Sideways put Santa Barbara on the wine map (and dealt Merlot a blow from which it's still recovering). But the region's reputation rests on genuine quality: Pinot Noirs of structure and complexity, Chardonnays with bracing minerality, Syrahs of uncommon elegance. The major valleys each have personalities. Sta. Rita Hills, at the coast, produces the most intense, age-worthy Pinots. Santa Maria Valley, to the north, offers more fruit-forward expression. Happy Canyon, far inland, grows excellent Bordeaux varieties in warmer conditions. The region attracts serious winemakers drawn by the climate's challenges. Au Bon Climat, Qupé, Melville, Sandhi, and Chanin represent the quality spectrum. Many operate from the industrial-chic "wine ghetto" in Lompoc, where young producers share facilities and ideas—a refreshing contrast to Napa's corporate polish.