Solvang Visitor's Guide 2009 - (Page 31) Wine Country “This cozy valley region evolved from a Santa Barbara hideaway to an area with few peers in the production of handcrafted wines. The fruit here is favored by sloped terroir, with ancient riverbed drainage, plus morning sea mists that give way to high midday temperatures. As a rule of thumb, great inns tend to follow great estate vineyards. The Santa Ynez Valley has a plentiful share of both.” —Tom Snyder, author of “The Two-Lane Gourmet” Not only Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Syrah, but also superior Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Viognier and dozens of other varietals are planted and nurtured in more than 100 vineyards; then created into worldclass wines in this region collectively known as Santa Barbara County. Santa Ynez Valley is one of three distinct American Viticultural Areas (AVA)—also known as wine appellations—the other two are Santa Maria Valley and Santa (Sta.) Rita Hills—to- gether comprising more than 23,000 acres of vineyards producing more than a million cases of wine here annually. The region’s east-west coastal mountains form valleys opening directly to the Pacific Ocean. This unique topography allows the flow of sea breezes to shape distinct microclimates, perfect for the cultivation of classic grape varietals resulting in award-winning wines. The vast majority are small, boutique operations run by individuals or families. Since missionaries planted the first grapes here in the early 19th century, through Prohibition to the “modern” era of viticulture that began in the 1960s, area winemakers have combined traditional techniques with the latest cutting-edge innovations. Area wineries welcome visitors yearround either at the winery or in tasting rooms located throughout the Valley. It is easy and fun to do self-directed wine tours or enjoy guided tours in limousines, jeeps, vans or private sedans provided by local tour companies (see Getting Here & Getting Around section for more details). For maps and complete information on current vintners, events, winemaker dinners and festivals, contact Santa Barbara County Vintners Association (www.sbcountywines.com, 805-688-0881); Santa Ynez Valley Wine Country Association Sideways Filmed on-location throughout Solvang and the Santa Ynez Valley, the movie Sideways premiered in fall 2004 and won numerous awards including an Oscar and two Golden Globes in early 2005. Starring Paul Giamatti, Thomas Haden Church, Virginia Madsen and Sandra Oh, this tale of two middle-aged men and the women they meet on a weeklong wine tasting adventure continues to bring worldwide recognition to the area. Visitors can personally experience real-life scenes in the movie with specialty maps and tour packages. For details: www.SantaYnezValleyVisit.com CHUCK PLACE (www.santaynezwinecountry.com, 800563-3183) or Sta. Rita Hills Wine Growers Alliance (www.staritahills.com). S O LVA N G A N D T H E S A N T A Y N E Z VA L L E Y V I S I T O R S G U I D E 2 0 0 9 31 http://www.sbcountywines.com http://www.sbcountywines.com http://www.santaynezwinecountry.com http://www.staritahills.com http://www.SantaYnezValleyVisit.com
For optimal viewing of this digital publication, please enable JavaScript and then refresh the page. If you would like to try to load the digital publication without using Flash Player detection, please click here.