Winemaker Notes
At Rancho Sisquoc Winery we believe in crafting quality wines in small quantities. As one of the first wineries in the Santa Barbara County wine region, we have been around long enough to know that great wine is born from great vineyards. Here on the ranch we have over 300 acres of superb vineyards for our award winning estate wines. Located in northern Santa Barbara County on the Sisquoc River 14 miles east of Santa Maria, Rancho Sisquoc is part of an 1852 Spanish land grant. The Chumash Indians called this area "Sisquoc", which meant "gathering place". Today Rancho Sisquoc is again a gathering place, this time for wine lovers.
Pinot Noir is the second-most planted grape in Santa Barbara County, just behind Chardonnay. It thrives in cooler areas of the region, namely in the of the Sta. Rita Hills, which is part of Santa Barbara’s larger Santa Ynez Valley sub-appellation. Thought for decades to be too cool for viticulture, Sta. Rita Hills began to gain notoriety in the 1970’s, thanks to the pioneering work of Richard Sandford and Michael Benedict, among others.
Santa Barbara Pinot Noir dances across the palate with vivid red fruit and spice. Precision, bright acidity, elegance and fruit-driven silkiness make Santa Barbara Pinot delightfully enjoyable, whether on their own or with a variety of dishes.