Santa Barbara Highlands Vineyard | vineyard / grape plantation

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Located at 3,200 feet above sea level, Santa Barbara Highlands Vineyard is a unique Central Coast growing region. Warm, sunny days that gradually increase in length toward the end of the growing season nurture the vines and provide the ripening required for an optimal harvest.

Cool maritime breezes are carried for miles along the seasonal Cuyama River that runs directly through the middle of the property. While the vines rest during the winter months, this gentle riverbed becomes a monstrous flow of mountain run-off. This separation from coastal temperatures lends our vineyards the diversity we need to produce a wide variety of grapes.

Presently, we bottle 100% varietal wines produced entirely from our estate property under the Barnwood label. In addition to Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Zinfandel and Syrah, recent plantings include Cabernet Franc, Petite Sirah, Tempranillo, and both white and red Rhône varietals including Viognier, Mourvèdre and Grenache.

These unique east-facing exposures have been proclaimed by a group of French oenologists as bearing unsurpassed potential for premium vineyards. It is within these new plantings and micro-climates that our future lies.

The well-drained soils of primarily fine, sandy loam are particularly well suited to viticulture. Soils vary within the property and range from heavy silt loam (clay with silt on top) to fine sandy loam underlain with decomposed sandstone.

Best described as moderate California, the climate of the Cuyama Valley has consistently warm days with gentle afternoon breezes and cold nights due to weak down valley breezes. The temperature can vary by as much as 50 degrees in a day. This weather is particularly well suited to the Bordeaux and Rhône varieties. Cuyama Valley has less fog and sunnier days than Santa Maria just due west.

Santa Barbara County AVA

www.laetitiawine.com