Vine Tuned
Summer 2022 brings the ultimate wine experience back to Santa Barbara County
Written by Gabe Saglie | Santa Barbara Wine Country map, courtesy of Jamie Slone Wines
After a two-year pandemic pause, the world is paying attention again to the fact that world-class wines are being crafted here. The big picture remains the same: This is an industry that is both welcoming and cooperative, and for the budding oenophile the tasting experience is extraordinary and approachable at the same time. The offerings and experiences, however, have gotten a makeover—they’re more curated, more personal, and more focused on quality that easily rivals the rest of the world.
The east-west orientation of the Santa Ynez Mountains—creating a natural corridor and a unique set of conditions in which a wide range of wine grapes thrive—sets the stage for seven AVAs, or unique growing regions: Sta. Rita Hills, Ballard Canyon, Los Olivos District, Happy Canyon, Santa Ynez Valley, Santa Maria Valley, and the newest of all, Alisos Canyon. Spread across them are 70-plus grape varieties, more than 14,000 acres of grapes, and more than 250 wineries. The industry generates upward of 9,000 full-time jobs.
The pioneers who launched Santa Barbara’s wine industry some 40 years ago are, for the most part, still here, creating and collaborating with the next generation of winemakers who have brought along new practices, fresh investment, and notable innovations to the visitor experience. Today’s wine consumer is savvier and more curious than ever, and thanks to a special blend of charm and glam—and with deference to both past and future—no wine region delivers like Santa Barbara.
We celebrate this exceptional terroir and unique viniculture in our highly anticipated annual Winery Guide, available online at sbmag.wine.
