The area’s complex geography, diversity in grape varietals were among factors that propelled it to the top spot
November 8, 2021 | 2:35 pm
Santa Barbara County received high honors last week when Wine Enthusiast Media chose it as “Wine Region of The Year” as part of its 2021 Wine Star Awards.
“With a stunning diversity of microclimates, a thriving culinary scene, and a small yet cosmopolitan seaside city as its cultural core, Santa Barbara County is a wine lover’s paradise,”
wrote Matt Kettmann, a contributing editor at Wine Enthusiast, and the reviewer of wines from the Central and South Coast.
Noting Santa Barbara County’s diversity in grape varietals, Kettmann continued:
“Whether you prefer chardonnay from the Santa Maria Valley, pinot noir from the Sta. Rita Hills, syrah from Ballard Canyon, sauvignon blanc from the Los Olivos District, cabernet sauvignon from Happy Canyon or even gamay noir from Alisos Canyon, there’s an appellation and grape variety for every palate, thanks to a unique geography of valleys that open directly onto the cold Pacific Ocean.”
The other regions nominated for the wine region award were Lake County, Calif.; Provence, France; Marlborough, New Zealand; and Western Cape, South Africa.
“Santa Barbara County has it all,”
said Alison Laslett, CEO of Santa Barbara Vintners (formerly known as Santa Barbara County Vintners Association), referencing the complex geography and breadth of varietals the region produces.
“Our vintners have spent 50 years pushing the extraordinary potential of our soils and crafting the grapes into world-class wines. To be nominated alongside France and New Zealand and South Africa, and then to win, is such an honor for everyone who makes our wine region soar…”
“I feel like we just won Best Picture at the Oscars.”
Tim Snider, board member of Santa Barbara Vintners and president of Fess Parker Winery, believes that the past two decades of learning were critical to Santa Barbara County’s evolution.
“We’ve learned where the best places are to grow specific varietals, our vineyards have matured and our winemakers understand how to work with the fruit,” says Snider. “In my opinion, the overall quality and balanced style of Santa Barbara wines has never been better.”
A look at https://www.winemag.com/2021/10/07/wsa2021nominees/ detailed the workings of the Wine Star Awards.
All full-time and contributing divisions (sales, events, marketing, editorial) of Wine Enthusiast Media were invited to submit nominees for the Wine Star Awards categories and submitted their nominations anonymously, with explanations of what made the nomination appropriate for consideration.
The nominees’ list then faced another round of anonymous voting; final winners were chosen by the executive publishing team, with selections based on many factors — among them impact on consumers and trade in the wine, spirits or beer space; commercial successes; company/brand vision; and trendsetting.
In addition to its diversity, Santa Barbara County ranks high in sustainability, as it is home to some of the nation’s first organic and biodynamic vineyards, among them Ampelos, Beckmen, Solminer, Holus Bolus and Grimm’s Bluff.
Santa Barbara County also has a higher proportion of female winemakers than other counties in California, and more and more wineries elevate visibility of and opportunities for vineyard and farm workers through special bottlings and scholarships, Kettmann noted.
