Santa Barbara Pinot Noir

Arriving with Franciscan monks and planted around the Spanish missions, the ancient and famed Pinot Noir has established itself as one of California’s most important fine varietals. Over the years Santa Barbara County, and the Santa Ynez Valley in particular, has become world renowned for Pinot Noir at the highest levels, with that reputation only becoming more widely known and respected. Richard Sanford, of Sanford Winery, was the pioneer in establishing Pinot Noir’s reputation with the plantings in the Santa Rita Hills, now its own AVA. These vineyards were planted in the 1970s and coincide not only with the rise if Santa Barbara and California Pinot Noir, but with the grape’s re-emergence as a favorite among discerning drinkers. Often a staple of Santa Barbara wine tours and wine tastings, Pinot Noir is a wonderful wine that offers its own unique world of variety. 

    Santa Barbara County and the transverse mountain ranges are oriented east-west, instead of the usual north-south. This creates very different, very unique weather and temperature patterns, and a unique geology that fosters outstanding wine quality. In the Santa Ynez and Santa Maria valleys, the heavy influence of coast fog creates perfect microclimates for Pinot Noir to thrive, and create excellent wine. Particularly in the Santa Rita Hills AVA, every mile closer to the coastline brings the average temperate down by roughly a degree, which allows vineyards to be placed in specifically beneficial spots on the rocky, often steep hills. Intermixed with the oak and chaparral, Pinot Noir vineyards are able to take advantage of the steady temperatures, gentler sunshine and weather, and prolonged growth and fruit development season.

    In the Santa Maria Valley and particularly more inland towards the Sisquoc river, Pinot Noir has established a highly desirable profile based on warmer inland temperatures that still get influence from coastal fog, particularly during the spring and summer months. Famous wineries such as Au Bon Climat and Rancho Sisquoc have situated their vineyards to capture the most desirable elements and influences, resulting in both wines and grapes that are complex and highly sought after. Even further east, in the Santa Ynez Valley, Pinot Noir enjoys the warm and mild seasons atop the dried clay, sandstone, and limestone, with no shortage of diverse offerings as you travel between areas. Foxen Canyon is a scenic route with numerous tasting rooms and vineyards, and connects Los Olivos and the Santa Ynez Valley to the Sisquoc river valley to the north. Wineries such as Kalyra, Foxen Canyon, Riverbench, Rancho Sisquoc, and many more produce award winning, highly sought after Pinot Noir, thanks to the skill of their winemaking as well as the confluence of conditions the region offers.     

    Pinot Noir’s fame and desirable flavors are shaped by the grape’s specific traits and needs, as well as its difficulty to grow. Pinot does well in fertile soil, but the best wines come from less fertile areas that are either limestone or clay. Overly fertile soil has a tendency to produce more alcohol, which is undesirable as it ruins the delicate flavors. Additionally, the skins on the grapes is very thin, which creates a number of issues in growing the grape. Sunburn and late season cold are both equal threats, and the grape prefers a long, slower growing season. This is where the unique geography, terrain, and terroir of the Santa Barbara region comes into play at an advantage for outstanding Pinot.