Halfway across the Santa Ynez Valley of Santa Barbara County sits the newest appellation of the region, Ballard Canyon. This small AVA receives the region's regular evening fog while being a bit more protected from afternoon winds than more westerly districts...
Santa Barbara County – Ballard Canyon's Rhône varieties
Thursday 4 February 2016
Elaine continues her series on the wines of Santa Barbara County. See also Tuesday's Chardonnays and yesterday's Pinots. Seen here at the highest point of Ballard Canyon AVA at the top of the steep-sloped, northernmost Tierra Alta Vineyard are winemaker Sonja Magdevski of Casa Dumetz, viticulturist John Belfy (who planted Tierra Alta Vineyard), and Greg Brewer of Brewer-Clifton.
Become a member to continue reading
Celebrating 25 years of building the world’s most trusted wine community
In honour of our anniversary, enjoy 25% off all annual and gift memberships for a limited time.
Use code HOLIDAY25 to join our community of wine experts and enthusiasts. Valid through 1 January.
Member
$135
/year
Ideal for wine enthusiasts
- Access 285,317 wine reviews & 15,802 articles
- Access The Oxford Companion to Wine & The World Atlas of Wine
Inner Circle
$249
/year
Ideal for collectors
- Access 285,317 wine reviews & 15,802 articles
- Access The Oxford Companion to Wine & The World Atlas of Wine
- Early access to the latest wine reviews & articles, 48 hours in advance
Professional
$299
/year
For individual wine professionals
- Access 285,317 wine reviews & 15,802 articles
- Access The Oxford Companion to Wine & The World Atlas of Wine
- Early access to the latest wine reviews & articles, 48 hours in advance
- Commercial use of up to 25 wine reviews & scores for marketing
Business
$399
/year
For companies in the wine trade
- Access 285,317 wine reviews & 15,802 articles
- Access The Oxford Companion to Wine & The World Atlas of Wine
- Early access to the latest wine reviews & articles, 48 hours in advance
- Commercial use of up to 250 wine reviews & scores for marketing
More Tasting articles
Tasting articles
The fine sparkling-wine producers of Oregon are getting organised. Above, Lytle-Barnett’s Windfall vineyard in the Eola-Amity Hills, Oregon (credit: Lester...
Tasting articles
More than 120 Greek wines tasted in the Peloponnese and in London. This peacock in the grounds of Mercouri estate...
Tasting articles
The wines Brunello producers are most proud of from the 2021 vintage, assessed. See also Walter’s overview of the vintage...
Tasting articles
Wines for the festive season, pulled from our last month of tastings. Above, fog over the California vineyards of Haliotide...
More from JancisRobinson.com
Free for all
What do you get the wine lover who already has everything? Membership of JancisRobinson.com of course! (And especially now, when...
Free for all
A wide range of delicious reds for drinking and sharing over the holidays. A very much shorter version of this...
Wines of the week
A rare Austrian variety revived and worthy of a place at the table. From €13.15, £20.10, $24.19.
It was pouring...
Book reviews
A scathing take on the wine industry that reminds us to keep asking questions – about wine, and about everything...
Inside information
A look back – and forward – at the world’s oldest wine charity auction, from a former bidder.
On Sunday...
Free for all
Instead of my usual monthly diary, here’s a look back over the last quarter- (and half-) century. Jancis’s diary will...
Nick on restaurants
A new restaurant in one of central London’s busiest fast-food nuclei is strongly Spanish-influenced.
Brave the crowds on Regent Street...
Inside information
The fourth of a new seven-part podcast series giving the definitive story of Jancis’s life and career so far. For...