Sta. Rita Hills AVA
Permitted Varieties
Sta. Rita Hills AVA
Overview
Sta. Rita Hills is one of California’s most distinctive cool-climate appellations, producing Pinot Noir and Chardonnay of exceptional intensity and site-specificity in a unique transverse valley that funnels Pacific Ocean influence directly into the vineyards. Established in 2001, this Santa Barbara County AVA has earned a reputation for powerful, concentrated Pinot Noir with darker fruit profiles than other California regions—wines that balance New World richness with Old World structure and mineral complexity.
Geography & Climate
Location: Western Santa Barbara County; Santa Ynez Valley
Size: ~30,000 acres; ~2,500 acres under vine
Elevation: 200-600 feet (60-183m)
Climate: Cool maritime (Region I)
- Growing Degree Days: 2,200-2,600 GDD
- Rainfall: 15-18 inches (380-460mm)
- Ocean influence: EXTREME cooling
The Transverse Valley:
- East-west orientation (rare in California)
- Acts as “fog funnel”
- Direct Pacific influence
- Cool morning fog; afternoon wind
- Among California’s coldest wine regions
Soil Types:
- Diatomaceous earth (unique)
- Clay
- Shale
- Limestone
- Sand
Key Characteristic: Transverse valley + ocean fog = intense, structured Pinot Noir.
Wine Styles
Pinot Noir (Flagship)
Character: Intense, dark, structured
- Darker fruit than Russian River
- Black cherry, cola
- Earthy, mineral
- Firm structure
- Powerful but balanced
Site Variation: Significant differences between vineyards
Chardonnay
Character: Precise, mineral
- Citrus, green apple
- High acidity
- Mineral drive
- Less tropical than warmer areas
Classification & Regulations
AVA Status: Established 2001
Name Change: Originally “Santa Rita Hills”; changed to “Sta. Rita Hills” due to Chilean winery objection
Federal Requirements:
- 85% from Sta. Rita Hills
History
Timeline:
- 1970s: First modern plantings
- 1980s: Sanford & Benedict vineyard proves potential
- 2001: AVA established
- 2006: Name changed to “Sta.”
- Today: Premier California Pinot region
Sanford & Benedict: Pioneering vineyard (1971); proved cool-climate potential; benchmark site.
Richard Sanford: Pioneer who recognized transverse valley’s potential.
Key Constraints & Production Notes
Benchmark Vineyards:
| Vineyard | Character |
|---|---|
| Sanford & Benedict | Pioneer; benchmark |
| Clos Pepe | Limestone; mineral |
| Fiddlestix | Concentrated |
| Sea Smoke | Dark, powerful |
| Rita’s Crown | Elevation; structure |
| La Encantada | Elegant |
| Radian | New; quality |
Winemaking:
- Whole cluster (varies)
- French oak (standard)
- Wild yeast (many)
- Extended maceration
Aging Potential:
- Standard: 5-12 years
- Premium single vineyard: 10-20 years
Notable Producers
Quality Benchmarks:
- Sea Smoke (powerful; cult)
- Sanford Winery (pioneer)
- Melville
- Hitching Post (famous from Sideways)
- Brewer-Clifton
- Lompoc Wine Ghetto producers:
- Loring
- Cargasacchi
- Domaine de la Côte (Rajat Parr)
- Sandhi (Parr/Sashi Moorman)
- Tyler
- The Hilt
- Evening Land
Rajat Parr’s Projects: Domaine de la Côte and Sandhi brought Burgundian approach to Sta. Rita Hills.
The “Sideways” Effect
2004 Film Impact
What Happened:
- Film featured Santa Barbara wine region
- Focused on Pinot Noir
- Brought massive tourism
- Boosted regional recognition
Legacy: Put Santa Barbara Pinot Noir on consumer radar.
Sta. Rita Hills Style
Darker Than Most California Pinot
Why:
- Extreme cooling
- Later ripening
- Longer hang time
- More phenolic development
- Result: Darker, more structured wines
Comparison:
| Region | Sta. Rita Hills Character |
|---|---|
| vs. Russian River | Darker, more structured |
| vs. Sonoma Coast | More intense |
| vs. Burgundy | More power, less restraint |
Common Challenges
Fog Management
- Cause: Extreme ocean influence.
- Risk: Slow ripening; disease.
- Response: Site selection; canopy management.
Heat Spikes
- Cause: Occasional heat waves.
- Risk: Rapid sugar accumulation.
- Response: Harvest timing; blending.
References
-
TTB (2025). “Sta. Rita Hills AVA.” Link
-
Santa Barbara County Vintners.
-
Robinson, J., et al. (2006). “The Oxford Companion to Wine.” Oxford University Press. Publisher Link
Last Updated: January 11, 2026
Data Sources: TTB, Santa Barbara Vintners
Research Grade: Technical reference