Santa Barbara Wine

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The Santa Barbara County AVA lies within the Central Coast territory of California. Like much of the state’s wine regions, grape planting began with the Catholic missionaries to make wine for ceremonial mass. Though Santa Barbara can boast some of the earliest plantings, beginning in the 1780s with Father Junipero Serra bringing Mission grape cuttings from Mexico and planting them in what is now the Milpas Creek district. From there, mission vineyards spread to San Jose, Santa Cruz, Carpinteria and Goleta (an adobe winery built there in 1804 has the distinction of being the area’s old landmark).

But also like most of California’s wine regions, production in Santa Barbara was hurt by the late 1800s Phylloxera crisis and further brought down by the Prohibition between 1921 to 1933. It wasn’t until the 1960s that a U.C. Davis study identified Santa Barbara County as a favorable wine-growing region due to its combination of soil types, geology, water and coastal climate conditions that favor long growing seasons and promote grape acid balance, low alcohol and less risk of grape rot on the vine. From the early 1970s, the virtually unknown region became one of the most sought after locations for wineries, many of them small production boutique operations.

The success of the 2004 film Sideways solidified Santa Barbara County’s star power, with many scenes filmed on location at regional wineries that have become tourist attractions since. That movie also had an unforeseen impact on varietal sales for a few years since its release, promoting Pinot Noir to top status and damaging sales of the tormented Merlot. (According to the film, think of Pinot Noir as the iPod and Merlot as the eight track tape of wine, regardless of whether they were even produced in the region). However, years later, Santa Barbara’s wines are still regarded as some of the finest in California. Yes, even for Merlot.

Santa Barbara County is divided into these subregions:

Santa Maria Valley
Santa Ynez Valley
Santa Rita Hills

– Description from Kate Statton (hide)

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Popular wines made in Santa Barbara under $20

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Varietals Produced in Santa Barbara View all

Cabernet Sauvignon

“King of the Red Wine Grapes.” The colonizer of the vineyards, pushing native wine grapes into its shadows. The Caber...
Sauvignon Blanc

Sauvignon Blanc is widely grown in California -- at over 15,000 acres, it’s now the third most planted variety -- and...
Syrah

The irony here is that Syrah’s origins could give Carmen Sandiego a run for her international wallet. Syrah’s deepest...
Chardonnay

British wine writer and critic, Jancis Robinson, once noted that throughout the 80’s and 90’s in the United States, C...
Viognier

This special and exciting variety has taken California by storm and young plantings already demonstrate that this out...
Pinot Noir

“With so voluptuous a perfume, so sweet an edge, they make the blood run hot,” Joel Fleischman, wine columnist at Van...

Subregions of Santa Barbara

Santa Rita Hills

The Sta. Rita Hills AVA is located within Santa Barbara County in California’s Central Coast re...

Popular Wineries in Santa Barbara View all

Alma Rosa Winery and Vineyards

Pioneer winegrowers in the Sta. Rita Hills AVA since 1970, Thekla and Richard Sanford have left t...
Babcock Vineyards

With new vineyards currently being planted, a new barrel aging facility, and a renowned winemaker...
Lincourt Vineyards

There’s an atmosphere of casual grace at Lincourt that invites you to kick back and relax. But...
Huber Cellars

The Huber Estate was established in 1986, and the first vines were planted in 1987, making it one...
Curtis Winery

Why Rhônes? Because they are an alternative to the beaten path. Because they are delicious as wel...
Hitching Post

The Buellton Hitching Post was established in 1986, but our roots started at the Casmalia Hitchin...

People getting updates on Santa Barbara Wines

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Santa Barbara on Snooth

August 2017

Beckman Vineyards Cuvee le Bec 2013

Snoothrank:

Wonderful effort here. Bright red fruit, a touch of blackberry add to earthiness, sweet black cherry tannins and good acidity to give this a fresh, lingering finish. Drink now - 89 points - Paul Read More

Wine review by rckr1951
August 2017

Beckman Vineyards Cuvee le Bec 2013

Snoothrank:

No written review

Wine review by effell
August 2017

Kendall-Jackson Vintners Reserve Syrah 2010

Snoothrank:

This is the 2010 vintage so lets see how it is after several years of aging.....sampling Aug 2017Nice violet hues with rusty red, brown/tawny beginnings and dark red cranberry skin coloration as well.....some particulate is swirling around so decanting is an option but not necessary. The aromas have probably given way to a degree but I am picki... Read More

Wine review by chriscage
July 2017

The Ojai Vineyard Syrah Bien Nacido Vineyard 2013

Snoothrank:

Quite dark plum color. Berry and violet aromas. Nice level of red berry, plums on the tip of the tongue. Quite deft with tannin and acid components. Clearly, this wine is the result of Adam Tolmachs adopted IPOB philosophy. While this is not a big fruit-forward California wine, make no mistake, it is however, it is a wine for California win... Read More

Wine review by EMark
July 2017

Qupe Chardonnay Y Block Santa Barbara County 2014

Snoothrank:

Old world in style, shy on the nose, nice acidity with a tannin free finish. Reminds me of Macon Villages and at the same price point. On the second day this wine developed a more fruit forward nose and a tropical palate as well as a little butter. Nice wine, I recommend it. Read More

Wine review by RandyFisher
June 2017

This site (app? service?) looks potentially useful in finding more places where ... and Thousand Oaks, zero in Santa Barbara, four in Claremont, two in Dana Point, seven in Laguna Beach, 10 in San Diego, six in Malibu, 24 in Beverly Hills and 36 in West Hollywood. Obviously early times, yet can't help but wish them success. Here's their press r... Read More

Forum post in the topic CorkageOnline.com--anybody... by 125836dmcker 125836
June 2017

Looking merely at wine, was wondering how the current hodge-podge of Trump ... ... to get worse. Places like Santa Barbara already had issues, now with the immigration muck up things could get much worse. Last year some $13mil of crops were left to rot in SB County fields, before being plowed under, because there weren't the hands to harvest t... Read More

Forum post in the topic Current thoughts on our... by 125836dmcker 125836
May 2017

"with regard to Pinot Noir, I still prefer the ones from Oregon"You ... a Triumph Bonneville from Santa Barbara up PCH (as much as possible) to Mendocino in a couple of days, then learned an emergency meant I needed to be in Walla Walla the next day so rode straight through overnight. Was walking bowlegged for a day or two after that.Mark, tha... Read More

Forum post in the topic Weekday Wines - Post Pictures... by 125836dmcker 125836
May 2017

ALL PROPERLY CELLARED California CollectionSpottswoode CS, Napa 2006 ... 2006 ... UBER Syrah, Santa Barbara, 2008 $60/7,000 JPYLUNA Meritage, Napa "Canto Vineyard" 2000 $60/7,000 JPYParaduxx by Duckhorn, Meritage, Napa "Mallards" $40/4,500 JPYJordan CS, Sonoma 2,000 (no label) $70/8,000 JPYWilliams-Selym Port, Central Coast "Mistral Vineyard... Read More

Forum post in the topic Wine Collection for Sale @...
April 2017

Melville Estate Verna's Syrah 2013

Snoothrank:

Rich and filling with blueberry, meaty tones, pepper, sage and medium tannins and bright acidity leads to medium length finish. Well melded now this is readt to drink. 92 points - drink now - Paul Read More

Wine review by rckr1951

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