Santa Barbara County represents the only place in North America where the coastal mountain range transitions from full north-south orientation to full east-west. This is why the ocean influence creates such an impact on this appellation. Santa Maria Valley is situated at the north end of the appellation and because of its funnel shape, fog from the Pacific Ocean rolls over the terrain each evening and lingers until late morning the next day. This natural cooling helps extend the growing season with extra hangtime that allows the fruit to develop texture, complex aromatics, and rich concentration.

The 2017 growing season presented smaller grape clusters with smaller berries and a lower yield, all of which contributed to excellent concentration. The grapes matured at a slow pace and harvested slightly later than the 2016 vintage. With an extra week or two of maturation, the vines developed a lush, voluminous palate that is very well balanced and finely tuned because of the fruit’s high level of natural acidity.