Sanford Winery

Open Year Round

History:

In Santa Barbara wine country, it all started with Sanford. In 1971 Sanford Winery and Vineyards discovered an overlooked, grape-growing treasure in the Santa Rita Hills. Recognizing a magical combination of climate and soil conditions much like those in France's famed Burgundy province, Sanford planted the area's first Pinot Noir in its Sanford & Benedict vineyard. Pinot Noir has thrived in the Santa Rita Hills ever since, and so has Sanford Winery.

The pioneering winery's Pinot Noir ranks among the best and most distinctive in the world. And Sanford's leadership helped put Santa Barbara and the Santa Rita Hills on the map of the world's great wine regions. Certified as an American Viticultural Area (AVA) in 2001, today the area is renowned for its Chardonnay as well as Pinot Noir.

Sanford Winery's estate vineyards get the full benefit of these remarkable conditions: The Sanford & Benedict parcel is the area's oldest Pinot Noir vineyard. Its fruit produces the classically Burgundian Sanford Pinot Noir-Sanford & Benedict. Wonderfully aromatic, its flavors are plush yet structured, with lively acidity and ripe tannins.

The Rancho La Rinconada vineyard sits adjacent to the Sanford & Benedict plot and shares nearly identical characteristics. La Rinconada, though, is planted with Dijon Pinot Noir clones and the resulting Sanford Pinot Noir-La Rinconada exhibits an expansive richness - enough to complement meat and game dishes - rarely found in a Pinot.Sanford Pinot Noir-Santa Barbara showcases grapes from the Sanford & Benedict, La Rinconada and nearby vineyards. Sanford's flagship Pinot, this wine compares favorably with domestic Pinot Noirs and Burgundies at twice the price.

Sanford Winery's Santa Rita Hills vineyards also produce the spectacular Chardonnay grapes for Sanford's benchmark white wines: Sanford Chardonnay-Santa Barbara, Sanford Chardonnay-La Rinconada and Sanford Pinot Grigio-Santa Barbara.