The Santa Ynez Valley AVA is a bountiful, flourishing viticultural area that, in many ways, is unparalleled by any of California’s world-class wine-growing regions. The range in geological composition alone transforms this small valley into a winemaker’s paradise. With such breadth in climate, soil and grape varietal to say nothing of the non-wine related activities, the Santa Ynez Valley is in a class of its own among the wine regions of California.
This distinctive terroir was created in the Miocene period when the Pacific Plate struck the North American Tectonic Plate, forcing Santa Barbara County into its current east-west orientation. This unusual positioning allows the Santa Ynez Valley to receive coastal breezes from Lompoc, which become increasingly warm as they reach further east into the interior of the valley. This collision of plates also churned the soil so that today, a mixture of sedimentary rocks, ancient fossils like seashells, limestone and slate can all be found throughout the valley as well as fertile agricultural soils brought in by the Santa Ynez River.
One place to see this dramatic display of geological history is at the Bacara Resort and Spa in Santa Barbara, with its coastal local and striking views of the mountains as they plunge into the sea. The Bacara is also the closest service luxury resort and spa to the Santa Ynez Valley. It is an ideal spot for wine tourists wishing for an ocean view and the smell of the sea after wine tasting. Drive over the peaks and enter into the middle of the hustle and bustle of the Danish town of Solvang. Nearby Buttonwood Farm Winery & Vineyard is a bit removed from the coast’s moderating effects, and experiences fluctuations in temperature year-round, a perfect climate for the Sauvignon Blanc it’s so well-known for. Zaca Mesa Winery & Vineyards, located between Los Olivos and Santa Maria on the Foxen Canyon Wine Trail, is further east in the valley where warmer air runs rampant the whole year and Rhone varietals, like their award-winning Syrah, are preferred. Still, there are wineries in the far east of the valley, like Grassini Family Vineyards where Bordeaux varietals reign supreme, that experience 50° at night and 105° in the day during late summer and harvest months… and that’s considered normal! To escape the heat (or cold), visitors can relax at local beds & breakfasts and inns like the vintage-inspired Santa Ynez Inn; take a break from touring with a spa treatment at Hotel Corque in the heart of downtown Solvang; or maybe grab an local, organic, sustainable bite to eat from the innovative Avant Tapas & Wine restaurant.
The Santa Ynez Valley may seem like a hodgepodge region with a little bit of everything, but given a closer looks, it is truly remarkable to see how the wineries hone in on their land’s sub-climates and micro-climate to grow the best varietals and create the best wines possible for their individual wineries.
The following article was provided by our contributing partner – Touring and Tasting Magazine. Cheers – Ken