What Makes Santa Maria Valley Wineries Different From Sta. Rita Hills?
Short answer: Santa Maria Valley wineries tend to produce fruit-forward, rounder wines shaped by sandy loam soils and a wide-open valley, while Sta. Rita Hills delivers leaner, more mineral-driven bottles thanks to tighter wind tunnels, calcareous rock, and colder overall temperatures. Both sit in Santa Barbara County. Both grow Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. But the…
What Should First-Time Visitors Know Before Booking a Santa Barbara Chardonnay Tasting Tour?
Quick answer: Santa Barbara County produces some of the most Burgundy-style Chardonnay in California thanks to its unusual east-to-west mountain valleys that funnel cool Pacific air over the vineyards. First-time visitors should know that the best Chardonnay comes from the Sta. Rita Hills and Santa Maria Valley AVAs, that guided tour costs typically range from…