Santa Barbara County Winery Profiles
Santa Barbara County lies 90 miles north of Los Angeles and is home to the Santa Maria Valley, Santa Ynez Valley, Sta. Rita Hills, and Happy Canyon AVAs, which are part of the Central Coast AVA. Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Syrah, Sauvignon Blanc, Tempranillo, Dolcetto, Sangiovese are some of the grapes grown here.
Babcock Winery & Vineyards
Cottonwood Canyon
Dascomb Cellars
Longoria Wines
Mosby Winery & Vineyards
Point Concepción Wines
Presidio Vineyard & Winery
Babcock Winery & Vineyards
Bryan Babcock is turning the world upside down in his vineyard. With over 30 vintages under his belt in the Santa Rita Hills, this winemaker/grower is still creating and experimenting in his estate vineyard. His passion for crafting quality Pinot Noir grows out of a deep philosophy and understanding of terroir. Bryan takes us out to the vineyard and shares his experiences growing and producing Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Gris in the Santa Rita Hills AVA.
Cottonwood Canyon
Join us deep inside the wine caves at Cottonwood Canyon Vineyard & Winery in Santa Maria, CA for a visit with owner Norman Beko. We'll also head out to the vineyards for a tour and get a glimpse of how Cottonwood Canyon's variety of soils and exposures give his premium grapes a crisp acidity that contributes to their longevity. Down in the caves we'll learn about the perfect conditions for aging Norman's premium Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Syrah.
Dascomb Cellars
Owner and winemaker David Dascomb understands agriculture. That's because he grew up tending the family's small block of Cabernet Sauvignon. Those vines are now over 30 years old and, although the yields are small, the berries are high-caliber. As we tour the property, which is located in the Happy Canyon area of Santa Ynez, David talks about temperature differences across the valley and how it affects what he can grow. David also sources fruit from top vineyards to leverage different soils and climates to produce high-quality Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir, and Sangiovese.
Longoria Wines
A pioneer of the Santa Barbara County wine industry, Rick Longoria was "taken under the wing" of legendary winemaker André Tchelistcheff during his days at Buena Vista. When Rick established Longoria Wines in 1982, it was with a clear intention: to focus on the two emerging "star" varietals in the area, Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Join us as we learn about Rick's winemaking philosophy and venture out to the legendary Fe Ciega Vineyard for insight into how he grows his premium Pinot Noir in the Sta. Rita Hills.
Mosby Winery & Vineyards
Bill Mosby’s vineyard and winery was hard to miss if you were on the 101 freeway just outside of Buelton. Although he passed away in June of 2020, his legacy lives on. He was a bit of iconoclast in the area — dedicating his energy to growing and producing Italian varietals inspired by a trip to Italy. Originally part of a Spanish land grant, this vineyard was initially planted to Santa Barbara County's star performers--Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. But a visit to Italy inspired Bill to take a risk and plant Italian grape varieties including Dolcetto, Sangiovese, and Pinot Grigio. The grapes thrived in this microclimate. We'll take you out to the vineyard and learn from a past visit with Bill about his vineyard practices and a bit of Santa Barbara County's winemaking history.
Point Concepción Wines (Now Cargasacchi)
What does an uplifted Miocene period sea bed have to do with Pinot Noir? In this video, Peter Cargasacchi of Cargasacchi Wines explains the importance of calcareous soil for producing Pinot Noir grapes. As we walk his vineyards on the Central Coast, Peter also discusses the power of cover crops, both in delivering nutrients to the soil and in enhancing pest control. For anyone who wants to learn more about growing wine in this ruggedly beautiful region of California, "Concepción" is a must-watch.
Presidio Vineyard & Winery (Now Duvarita)
Now Duvarita Vineyard, original owner Doug Braun was meticulous about his vines. It was a lesson in the extensive work involved with growing certified organic and biodynamic grapes to produce high-quality, nuanced Pinot Noir, Syrah, Chardonnay, Pinot Gris, and Viognier. You'll learn about his unique trellising system, biodynamic farming, and the gentle handling that goes into crafting his wines as we talk to Doug and take a tour of his vineyard.