Sta. Rita Hills AVA

The story of Sta. Rita Hills begins with two sailing companions. Botanist Michael Benedict of UC Santa Barbara and Richard Sanford, who had studied geography at UC Berkeley and served as a Navy navigator in Vietnam, spent years identifying a California site with the maritime climate and soil conditions they associated with great Burgundy. In 1971 they planted the Sanford and Benedict Vineyard on a parcel near Lompoc, establishing the first vineyard in what would become the appellation and supplying cuttings to many neighboring vineyards. Their partnership ended after the 1980 vintage, with Sanford going on to found Sanford Winery. The Terlato family became majority owners of Sanford Winery in 2005 and reunited the estate by purchasing the Sanford and Benedict Vineyard in 2007. Regional momentum built steadily through the 1990s as pioneers including Brewer-Clifton (founded 1996), Melville (vineyards planted 1996-97), and others joined the growing community. The Santa Rita Hills Winegrowers Alliance, formed in 1997 with Sanford as chairman, drove the AVA petition process. On May 31, 2001, the TTB approved the Santa Rita Hills AVA, signed by 22 stakeholders. In 2006, the name was abbreviated to Sta. Rita Hills following Sanford's personal negotiations with Chilean winery Viña Santa Rita.

• Sanford and Benedict Vineyard planted 1971 by Richard Sanford and botanist Michael Benedict; first vineyard in the appellation and source of cuttings for neighboring sites
• AVA petition drafted by Wesley D. Hagen (Clos Pepe Vineyards), submitted with 22 signatories; approved May 31, 2001 as nation's 144th AVA
• Named Santa Rita Hills from 2001-2005; abbreviated to Sta. Rita Hills effective January 5, 2006, following negotiations with Viña Santa Rita of Chile
• TTB expansion approved August 22, 2016, effective September 21, 2016, adding 2,296 acres primarily along the eastern boundary to bring total to approximately 35,676 acres

Sta. Rita Hills occupies a narrow corridor between Lompoc to the west and the Buellton Flats to the east, bounded by the Purisima Hills to the north and the Santa Rosa Hills to the south. What makes this geography extraordinary is its east-west transverse orientation, perpendicular to the north-south valleys that predominate throughout California. This alignment creates a direct maritime corridor with no topographic barrier between the vineyards and the Pacific Ocean approximately 16 miles to the west. Cold ocean breezes and morning fog funnel through the valley daily, dramatically reducing temperatures during the growing season. The TTB data from the original AVA petition records just 92 heating degree days at the western Lompoc boundary and 153 at the eastern boundary, classifying the region as Winkler Region I. Post-veraison ripening temperatures average 14.7 degrees Fahrenheit cooler in Sta. Rita Hills than in the Santa Ynez Valley AVA to the east. This extended, cool ripening season, which can stretch into late October and even November for Syrah, allows grapes to develop full phenolic maturity while retaining high natural acidity.

• East-west transverse valley orientation allows unobstructed Pacific cooling; approximately 16 miles from the ocean with no topographic barriers to the west
• Winkler Region I climate: 92 heating degree days at western boundary, 153 at eastern boundary; 14.7°F cooler post-veraison than Santa Ynez Valley
• Soils of sandy loams, silt loams, clay loams, marine deposits, and diatomaceous earth; poor and free-draining, naturally limiting vine vigor and concentrating flavors
• Extended growing season with harvest often stretching to late October or November for Syrah; marine fog reduces heat stress and moderates summer temperatures

Pinot Noir is unquestionably the flagship grape of Sta. Rita Hills, planted across the majority of the appellation's approximately 2,700 acres under vine. The cool climate and marine-influenced soils produce wines with bright red fruit, notable mineral salinity, and structural acidity that distinguish them from warmer California Pinot Noir. Clonal diversity is a hallmark of the region, with many estates farming 10 or more distinct Pinot Noir clones to build aromatic and textural complexity. Chardonnay ranks second in production, frequently made with whole-cluster pressing, fermentation in neutral oak, and minimal malolactic conversion to emphasize citrus precision and mineral tension over richness. Syrah has gained significant traction as a third leading variety, producing cool-climate expressions with white pepper, olive, and fresh acidity in contrast to warmer-region Syrah. Sauvignon Blanc, Viognier, Pinot Gris, and small plantings of Gamay and Gruner Veltliner round out the varietal palette, all benefiting from the appellation's naturally high acidity.

• Pinot Noir: dominant variety across roughly 59 vineyards; clonal diversity (often 10-16 clones per estate) builds aromatic complexity; high natural acidity and mineral character are signatures
• Chardonnay: frequently whole-cluster pressed and fermented in neutral oak with minimal malolactic conversion; citrus, stone fruit, and saline minerality are typical
• Syrah: emerging as a critically acclaimed variety; cool-climate profile emphasizes white pepper, olive, and fresh acidity rather than warm-climate ripeness
• Sauvignon Blanc, Viognier, Pinot Gris, and small experimental plantings of Gamay and Gruner Veltliner also produced; all benefit from region's naturally elevated acidity

The Sta. Rita Hills producer community is defined by small-to-medium estates focused on single-vineyard and estate expressions. Sanford Winery, now owned and farmed by the Terlato family, anchors the appellation's historical identity through the Sanford and Benedict Vineyard, home to the oldest Pinot Noir vines in Santa Barbara County, still farmed on their original own-rooted stock. Melville Winery, founded in 1989 by Ron Melville with vineyards planted from 1996, farms 120 acres of estate vines across three neighboring sites and produces exclusively estate-grown Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Syrah under the stewardship of Chad Melville. Brewer-Clifton, founded in 1996 by Greg Brewer and Steve Clifton and now part of Jackson Family Wines since 2017, farms approximately 60 estate acres across four parcels within the AVA and is widely credited with putting the region on the international map. Sea Smoke is another benchmark estate, producing highly sought Pinot Noir and Chardonnay exclusively from its estate vineyard in the heart of the appellation. Alma Rosa Winery, founded by Richard Sanford and his wife Thekla in 2005 after departing Sanford Winery, continues his certified-organic farming legacy.

• Sanford Winery (Terlato family owners since 2005): Sanford and Benedict Vineyard, planted 1971, is home to the oldest own-rooted Pinot Noir vines in Santa Barbara County
• Melville Winery (founded 1989, vineyards planted 1996): 120 estate acres, 16+ Pinot Noir clones, all wines estate-grown; Chad Melville is head winemaker
• Brewer-Clifton (founded 1996 by Greg Brewer and Steve Clifton; joined Jackson Family Wines 2017): approximately 60 estate acres; Robert Parker called their 2001 wines his greatest revelation of that year
• Alma Rosa Winery founded 2005 by Richard and Thekla Sanford; certified-organic estate focused on Pinot Noir and Chardonnay; Sea Smoke produces highly allocated estate Pinot Noir and Chardonnay from a single hill-side site

Sta. Rita Hills is a federally designated American Viticultural Area regulated by the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB). As with all AVAs in the United States, wines labeled with the appellation must contain at least 85 percent grapes grown within the designated area. The original 2001 boundaries enclosed approximately 30,720 acres. The TTB approved a controversial expansion on August 22, 2016, effective September 21, 2016, adding 2,296 acres along the eastern boundary to bring the total to approximately 35,676 acres. The expansion, petitioned by the owners of Pence Ranch and John Sebastiano Vineyard, was opposed by the Sta. Rita Hills Winegrowers Alliance, which argued the added land had a different climatic profile. The appellation sits entirely within the larger Santa Ynez Valley AVA but is defined as distinctly cooler, classified as a Winkler Region I growing area versus the Region II character of the warmer Santa Ynez Valley east of US Highway 101. There are no varietal restrictions; however, climate and market economics make Pinot Noir and Chardonnay the overwhelmingly dominant varieties.

• 85 percent minimum grape-origin requirement for all federally recognized AVAs, including Sta. Rita Hills
• Original AVA (2001): approximately 30,720 acres; expanded to approximately 35,676 acres effective September 21, 2016
• Sta. Rita Hills is a sub-AVA entirely within the Santa Ynez Valley AVA; Winkler Region I versus Region II for warmer Santa Ynez Valley sites east of US Highway 101
• No varietal restrictions imposed; Pinot Noir and Chardonnay dominate through viticultural suitability and market demand, with Syrah a growing third focus

Sta. Rita Hills balances an authentic working-agricultural character with increasingly polished wine tourism. Most estate tasting rooms operate by appointment, allowing for focused conversations about individual vineyard sites, clonal selection, and winemaking philosophy. Lompoc, the gateway city to the west, is home to the Lompoc Wine Ghetto, a cluster of production facilities and tasting rooms in converted industrial spaces where producers including Brewer-Clifton established their early operations, offering accessible and often casual tasting experiences. The Sta. Rita Hills Winegrowers Alliance coordinates community events and trade education. The nearby town of Buellton, familiar to many wine lovers from its appearance in the 2004 film Sideways, serves as an eastern entry point to the appellation. Proximity to Santa Barbara city, approximately 45-50 minutes to the east, and to Solvang and the broader Santa Ynez Valley, enables multi-region itineraries. Santa Rosa Road, running east-west through the heart of the appellation, offers a scenic driving route passing many of the region's most historic vineyard sites including Sanford and Benedict.

• Lompoc Wine Ghetto in Lompoc provides casual, accessible tasting experiences in warehouse-style production facilities; historically important to boutique producers including Brewer-Clifton
• Most estate wineries along Santa Rosa Road operate by appointment; the road itself is a scenic route through historic vineyard sites including Sanford and Benedict
• Sta. Rita Hills Winegrowers Alliance coordinates regional events and trade education; Buellton serves as the eastern gateway and base for visitors
• Santa Barbara city (45-50 minutes east) and the broader Santa Ynez Valley wine destinations enable multi-region wine country itineraries