Santa Barbara County

**Santa Barbara County** — On California's Central Coast, north of Los Angeles, this is one of the state's most distinctive cool-climate zones, thanks to valleys that run east to west and funnel Pacific fog straight inland. It reached a wider audience after the film *Sideways* put its Pinot Noir in the spotlight. **Wines & grapes** — Pinot Noir and Chardonnay are the calling cards, grown in cooler sub-areas such as the Santa Rita Hills and Santa Maria Valley. Warmer pockets also do well with Syrah and other Rhône grapes. **Character** — The unusual transverse valleys draw in ocean air, giving long, slow ripening that keeps acidity fresh and flavours precise. Wines tend toward elegance rather than heft. **Good to know** — The Santa Rita Hills in particular is prized for taut, mineral Pinot Noir.

Wines

• Cabernet Sauvignon — Brander
• Cabernet Sauvignon Los Olivos District Reserve — Brander
• Chardonnay Santa Barbara County — Diatom
• Chardonnay Santa Barbara County — Au Bon Climat
• Cuvée Jeanne Marie — Foxen
• Estate Pinot Noir — Bien Nacido Estate
• Fiddlestix Vineyards Pinot Noir — Ampelos
• Los Alamos Vineyard Chardonnay — Au Bon Climat
• Pinot Noir — The Paring
• Pinot Noir (La Encantada Vineyard) — Habit
• Pinot Noir Santa Barbara County — Au Bon Climat
• Radian Vineyard Pinot Noir — The Hilt
• Riesling — Santa Barbara Landing
• Riserva Red Wine — Toccata
• Sangiovese — Toccata
• Santa Barbara County Pinot Noir — Tyler Winery
• Santa Barbara County Pinot Noir — The Ojai Vineyard
• Santa Barbara County Red Wine — Tenshen Wine
• Santa Barbara Historic Vineyards Collection Lanford & Benedict Vineyard Chardonnay — Au Bon Climat
• Sta. Rita Hills Cuvée Chardonnay — Racines