Santa Ynez Valley AVA
With one exception, coastal mountain ranges from Alaska down to the tip of South America run north/south to parallel their nearby shorelines. The one exception is here in Santa Barbara County where the Santa Ynez Mountains break this ancient rule and open up to run east/west for about 40 miles. This east/west gap funnels cool air from the coast up to the foothills at the base of Figueroa Mountain every morning and late afternoon, but allows for enough mid-day sun to perfectly ripen wine grapes. Wine enthusiasts and leading wine publications have now discovered what a group of passionate winemakers have known for decades – this special place is one of the new world’s greatest winegrowing regions. The Santa Ynez Valley AVA lies at the heart of this unique growing area, and thanks to early pioneers like Bob Lindquist of Qupé, it is now widely recognized as the perfect place to grow Rhône varietals like Syrah and Viognier.