Select SANTA RITA HILLS AVA AT A GLANCE MAP of SANTA RITA HILLS AVA WITHIN SANTA YNEZ VALLEY AVA BOUNDARIES MAP of SANTA RITA HILLS AVA BOUNDARIES SOIL MAPS OF CLOS PEPE VINEYARDS AS AN EXAMPLE OF SOIL COMPLEXITY PETITION TO ESTABLISH SANTA RITA HILLS AVA

Santa Rita Hills AVA, Established 2001:

Santa Rita Hills Pinot Noir at Veraison

Even though the Santa Rita Hills American Viticultural Area has only recently been established as a bona fide American wine appellation, we have been growing and making great wine since the early 1970's.  The following praise for Sanford and Benedict Vineyard was penned by Hugh Johnson, the world renowned English wine writer, in his World Atlas of Wine: Fourth Edition: "The true excitement of Santa Ynez, though, lies westward towards Lompoc and the ocean, where the Sanford and Benedict vineyard occupies a sheltered north-facing niche that perfectly suits Pinot Noir and Chardonnay... In the right hands this is California's best Pinot Noir so far." (Johnson, World Atlas of Wine, p.264) The Lafond and Sanford and Benedict Vineyards established our reputation, which was strengthened in the 1980's by winemakers such as Rick Longoria, Bryan Babcock, Bruce McGuire and Jim Clendenen.  The hard work of these pioneers is helping the region to blossom under the new 'Santa Rita Hills AVA' moniker, and the 1990's and early Twenty-First Century have focused the spotlight on younger vineyards and winemakers committed to this region: Brewer-Clifton, Melville, Clos Pepe, Rozak Ranch, Casa Cassara, Mt. Carmel, Kathy Joseph, Gainey, Fess Parker, Foley and other emerging farms and wineries.  The wines continue their ascension to greatness in the wine press, and it is an exciting place to watch as Santa Barbara Wine Country continues to mature and blossom on the world wine scene.

SANTA RITA HILLS AVA AT A GLANCE

• Santa Rita Hills AVA is in Northern Santa Barbara County, California, USA.
  
  
• Santa Rita Hills AVA lies between Buellton and Lompoc CA.
  
  
• 100 square acres of hillside land, one of the smallest AVA's in California.
  
  
• 99% of the Santa Rita Hills AVA lies within the existing Santa Ynez Valley AVA, on the far western end.  Although independent, Santa Rita Hills AVA can be considered the Western sub-appellation of Santa Ynez Valley.
  
  
• Boundaries were established by winemakers and winegrowers in the area, marking maps on foot and in 4x4 truck.  The boundaries were chosen specifically for viticultural viability and for the highest quality Pinot Noir winegrape production.
  
  
• Approximately 700 acres planted, mostly Pinot Noir with Chardonnay, small amounts of Syrah, Pinot Blanc, Pinot Gris, Gewurtztraminer, Riesling and other varietals.
  
  
• Over twenty vineyards, all but a few owned by small, family-owned operations.  Some vineyards include: Lafond, Sanford and Benedict, La Rinconada, Fess Parker Vineyard, Foley Vineyard, Melville Vineyard, Clos Pepe Vineyards, Olivestone Vineyards, Rozak Vineyard, Babcock Vineyard, Burning Creek Vineyard, Fiddlesticks Vineyard, Casa Cassara, Huber Vineyard, Blind Faith Vineyard, Mount Carmel, Sweeney Canyon, Wine at Work Vineyard, Cargasacchi Vineyard, Gainey Vineyard, Lavie Vineyard.
  
  
• Petition to establish Santa Rita Hills was drafted and submitted in 1997, approved in 2001, and continues to be challenged by Vina Santa Rita in Chile.  It appears that the lawyers and principles in Chile will cease litigation if we have the AVA name changed to 'Sta. Rita Hills' so no consumer will be confused between their wines and Ultra-Premium Santa Barbara County Pinot Noir... (???)
  
  
• The boundary runs roughly from a large bend in the Santa Ynez River (5 miles west of Buellton) to the western emergence of the Santa Rita Hills, about 3 miles east of Lompoc.  The northern boundary is set by the farmable slopes of the Purisima Hills and the southern edge of the AVA is marked by the farmable slopes of the Santa Rosa Hills.  Perimeters were established carefully to showcase the climatic and geographical uniqueness described below.

Purisima Hills looking north from Clos Pepe

The aim of establishing the Santa Rita Hills AVA is to distinguish the cool climate area (Davis Region I) west of Highway 101 from the (warmer) existing Santa Ynez Valley AVA.  The Santa Rita Hills AVA boundaries were mapped on foot by a devoted team of growers and winemakers involved with the area, and were surveyed carefully by elevation, soil types and weather records.

Unlike the Santa Ynez Valley AVA, east of U.S. Highway 101, the proposed Santa Rita Hills AVA is situated within a clearly defined transverse (east/west) maritime throat -- the most clearly delineated east/west transverse range from Alaska to Chile on the Pacific Coast.  This means that the Santa Rita Hills are uniquely susceptible to the ocean's cooling influence; enabling diurnal ocean breezes direct access to the coastal valleys between the Purisima Hills and the Santa Rosa Hills -- the area where the Santa Rita Hills are the dominant feature.  The coastal influence enters from the west, through Lompoc, and abruptly loses its influence at the proposed eastern boundary of the Buellton Flats.  Elevations within the proposed boundary range from near sea-level to ridge-lines 1800 feet above sea level.

MAP OF SANTA RITA HILLS AVA WITHIN SANTA YNEZ VALLEY AVA BOUNDARIES

Map of Santa Rita Hills AVA within the Santa Ynez Valley AVA boundaries (Enlarge Map)

The larger boundary in the center of the map is the Santa Ynez Valley AVA.  Within the Santa Ynez Valley AVA boundary is inscribed the boundary of the newly established Santa Rita Hills AVA.  This map is over 1mb in size, and may take a minute or two to load on your browser.

MAP OF SANTA RITA HILLS AVA BOUNDARIES

Map of Santa Rita Hills AVA boundaries (Enlarge Map)

The size of the image file is large, and may take a few moments to load on your internet browser.  These are the 'official' boundaries of the Santa Rita Hills American Viticultural Area.  The area begins about four miles east of Lompoc, and ends just west of the Buellton Flats, where a large bend in the Santa Ynez River marks the end of the profound coastal influence where Pinot Noir and Chardonnay thrive.

Soils at Clos Pepe Vineyards

Soils at Clos Pepe Vineyards (Enlarge Map)

All soils have three components -- sand, silt and clay.  Dependent on the 'parent' material that the soils 'break down' from, the soils can be classified by their constituents.  All of the soils on the Clos Pepe Vineyards property are classified as 'Sandy Loams' -- and the clay content is variable enough to warrant planting different grape varieties (Pinot Noir and Chardonnay) on different soil 'profiles'.  Basically, we have planted Chardonnay on the 'Elder Sandy Loam', and Pinot Noir on the 'Tierra Sandy Loam', but most of the vineyard is a mix between the two.  The stronger the slope, the more clay seems to be present in the soil.  The lower-lying, flatter areas are covered in light, alluvial sandy loams.  'Loam' is soil that has a balance of all three soil constituents -- sand, silt and clay.  The map below shows where different soil types are located in our little corner of Northern Santa Barbara County.

From this USGS soil map, one can see that Clos Pepe Vineyards is located on the convergence of a number of different kinds of soil 'profiles'.  Each of the curving lines represents a different type of soil -- mostly varying degrees of Elder and Tierra Sandy Loam Series (they are labeled with hardly legible letters and numbers on the soil map -- TnD2 for Tierra Sandy Loam and EdA2 for Elder Sandy Loam).  On the lower, flatter parts of the property (South on the map above) we have Elder Sandy Loam soils.  To the North, East and West we have slopes between 1 and 10 degrees that are consdiered Tierra Sandy Loam, with varying depths and amounths of clay content.  Generally there is a 'claypan' layer under our soil, mostly at a depth of between four and six feet.  Clay is a mixed blessing in a vineyard -- without postively charged clay particles (anions) the vine can't take up nutrients, but clay also causes slower drainage in soils and makes it difficult for the vines to root deeply  into the soil profile.

ELDER SANDY LOAM (EdA2)

'This soil is nearly level and occurs on flood plains that are subject to overflow by runoff water from surrounding areas.  During years when runoff is high, fresh deposits of alluvium are laid down and removed.  The profile of this soil is...more stratified and contains coarser textured materials.  Included in the mapping are small areas of Botella and Corralitos soils and of Elder shaly loam.  Permeability is moderately rapid.  Surface runoff is very slow.  The erosion hazard in none to slight except when water overflows from higher areas.  Fertility is moderate.  Available water capacity is 6.0 to 7.5 inches in the 60 inches of rooting depth.' -- USGS Soil Survey of Northern Santa Barbara County -- 1971 -- USGS

Elder Sandy Loam

This is a classic example of Elder Sandy Loam.  Note the powdery, sandy texture.  This is a very soft soil with incredible drainage.  These types of soil are alluvial, meaning they have moved slowly down from the surrounding hills by way of erosion and water.  The smallest sand particles are taken from the soils at higher elevation, and move via water and wind into the flatter, low-lying areas.  These types of soil grow fantastic Chardonnay, Pinot Blanc, Gewurtztraminer, Riesling, and other cool-climate white wines that are crisp, refreshing, and acidic.  Clos Pepe Vineyards grows Chardonnay on these soils, mainly Dijon 76 Clone and Wente Clone.  Sandy soils harbor larger nematode populations -- and as nematodes often feed on grapevine roots and lay their eggs within root-systems, planting nematode-resitant rootstocks in these sandy soils is recommended.  Many in this area like Freedom rootstock for sandy sites.

Elder Sandy Loam on a hillside

The above picture shows Elder Sandy Loam on a hillside, so it is mixed with a bit more silt, clay and organic matter than the first picture.  Most of this type of Elder Sandy Loam is planted with Chardonay at Clos Pepe Vineyards.  Most of our Chardonnay topsoil resembles this picture -- at least the blocks that are fairly flat and low-lying.

TIERRA SANDY LOAM

'This sloping soil occupies dissected terraces.  It has a profile similar to the one described as representative for the series except for the surface layer is sandy loam 12 inches thick.  Many areas of this soil have deep, fluted gullies that are raw and active.  Some gullies have been partially healed by vegetation.  Included in mapping are some areas that are not so severely eroded.  Other included soils have a surface layer less than 16 inches thick.  Also included are soils that have slopes of less than 9 percent.  Some areas of Pleasanton soil are also included.  Permeability is very slow.  Surface runoff is medium, and the erosion hazard is moderate.  Fertility is low.  The available water capacity is 3.5 to 5.0 inches in the 12-to 26-inch root zone.  Some moisture is available slowly from the clay subsoil.' -- USGS Soil Survey of Northern Santa Barbara County -- 1971 -- USGS

Tierra Sandy Loam

The photograph above shows a nice cross-section of ripped Tierra Sandy Loam from the hillside Pinot Noir planting.  This is the soil profile that made us excited about growing Pinot Noir here at Clos Pepe.  As you can see, the soil is filled with stones -- many of them being calcareous shale, which ups our calcium content to 1500-3000 parts per million.  Many local winemakers look for high calcium content in soils for Pinot Noir, because of the anecdotal belief that it imparts a mineral complexity to the wine.  Note the rich brown color of the clay, and the flecks of shale, stone and red clay.  This soils holds water longer than Elder Sandy Loam, and we have to set vastly different watering schedules bewteen vineyard 'blocks' that have been demarcated by soil type.

How our soil types are 'mixed' between Elder Sandy Loam and Tierra Sandy Loam

The above photograph shows clearly how our soil types are 'mixed' between Elder Sandy Loam and Tierra Sandy Loam.  Notice the top layer of soil is white sand, partially compacted and 'settled'.  But turning over the first six inches with a spade shows the darker clay soils and veins of beige sand.  Our vines seem to have found a wonderful balance in these soils.  The vines are certainly not overly vigorous -- but they are able to produce just enough foliage and canopy to ripen a small but intensely flavored crop.  Most farmers would call our soils 'poor' for production agriculture, but producing a small crop of intensely flavored Pinot Noir and Chardonnay is our goal -- QUALITY, not quantity -- is the focus here at Clos Pepe.

PETITION TO ESTABLISH 'SANTA RITA HILLS' AVA

Drafted by Wesley D. Hagen, Vineyard Manager, Clos Pepe Vineyards

Voice: (805) 735-2196  Fax: (805) 736-5907

Petition:

This document constitutes a petition from viticulturists and vintners working in the Santa Rita subarea of Santa Barbara County, California.  Under the direction of Richard Sanford (Sanford Winery), Bryan Babcock (Babcock Vineyards and Winery), and Wesley D. Hagen (Clos Pepe Vineyards), this petition proposes to establish a new American Viticultural Area (AVA) located within the Western Santa Ynez Valley, California to be known as 'Santa Rita Hills' AVA.

Currently more than fifteen vineyards exist within the proposed 'Santa Rita Hills' AVA boundary, with more than five hundred acres planted to varietal winegrapes.  Bonded wineries that currently source or vinify grapes from the proposed AVA boundary include: Au Bon Climat/Qupe/Hartley-Ostini/Cold Heaven Winery, Babcock Winery, Foxen Winery, Gainey Winery, Longoria-Rideau Winery, Morovino Winery, Ojai Vineyards, Fess Parker Winery, Presidio Winery, Rusack Winery, Sanford Winery, Santa Barbara Winery, Sunstone Winery, and Whitcraft Winery.  Wholesalers/negotiants that vinify grapes from this region include: Brewer-Clifton, and Fiddlehead Cellars.

This cool-climate winegrape growing region is being developed at a rapid pace, and the planted acreage is expected to double within the next five to ten years.

Evidence That the Name of the Proposed Area is Locally or Nationally Known:

It is clear that the Santa Rita Hills, a range of rolling mountains between Buellton and Lompoc, California are central to the geography of the proposed AVA.  Enclosed Spanish Land Grant maps, USGS Quadrangle maps, and Santa Ynez River Water Conservation District maps show that the designation of 'Santa Rita' and 'Santa Rita Hills' are both recognized as political, geographical, and historical appellations.  (See Exhibit One and Exhibit Three) Exhibit One shows specific boundaries of Land Grants and actual copies of the U.S. Patent Book on which they were inscribed.  Exhibit One also shows locations of vineyards and wineries that existed in the Santa Rita Hills area previous to the year 1900.  Exhibit Three shows U.S. Geological Survey maps that distinguish the 'Santa Rita Syncline', the 'Santa Rita Upland', the 'Santa Rita Subarea' and the 'Santa Rita Valley'.  Exhibit Seven includes 7.5 minute series U.S.G.S. maps clearly demarcating the 'Santa Rita Hills' as a dominant, central geological and geographical feature of the proposed AVA boundary.

Historical or Current Evidence that the Boundaries
of the Proposed Viticultural Area Are as Specified in the Petition:

The proposed boundaries of the 'Santa Rita Hills' AVA have been carefully researched and selected by a committee of viticulturists, consultants and vintners with formal geological, geographic and agricultural education.  Included on this committee were: Robert Atkin (Sanford and Benedict Vineyard), Bryan Babcock (Babcock Vineyards and Winery), Greg Brewer (Brewer-Clifton and Santa Barbara Winery) Peter Cargasacchi (Cargasacchi Vineyards), Dan Gainey (Gainey Vineyards and Winery), Wesley Hagen (Clos Pepe Vineyards), Rick Longoria (Longoria Wines), Craig Macmillan (Macmillan Wine Company), Bruce McGuire (Santa Barbara Winery), Jeff Newton (Coastal Vineyard Care) and Eli Parker (Fess Parker Vineyards and Winery).  The proposed boundaries have been surveyed site by site, hilltop to hilltop, both on maps and in the field, to ensure that every square foot of the proposed AVA represents those localities well-suited for cool-climate (Region One) varietal winegrape production.

As evidenced by the USGS Quadrangle Maps (Exhibit Seven) submitted for approval, the Santa Rita Hills are the dominant, central feature of the proposed AVA: a transverse (east/west) maritime throat stretching from Lompoc to a few miles west of the Buellton Flats.  The area demarcated on the map is isolated geographically and climatically by the Santa Rosa Hills to the south and the Purisima Hills to the north.  Maps contained in Exhibit One clearly illustrate how the proposed 'Santa Rita Hills AVA' boundary shares land with the 'Santa Rita Syncline', the 'Santa Rita Subarea', the 'Santa Rita Valley', and the 'Santa Rita Land Grant'of April 12, 1845.

History and Tradition:

Santa Rita was distinguished as a recognized political and geographical region on April 12, 1845 as land granted to Ramon Malo from Spanish Governor Pio Pico.  The title was confirmed to Jose Ramon Malo on June 25, 1875 by President Ulysses S. Grant as confirmed in U.S. Patent Book 'A', page 277 (see Exhibit One, pages 1-4).  The patent issued included 13,316 acres within the boundary of the Santa Rita Land Grant.

The text to follow comes from Owen O'Neill's History of Santa Barbara County, printed by the Union Printing Company in 1939: "Following the secularization of the Mission La Purisima, the rest of the valley was broken up into seven great ranchos granted to private owners.  They were the Santa Rosa, Santa Rita, Salsipuedes, La Purisima, Mission Vieja, Lompoc and a portion of the Jesus Maria." (p.345, bold text added for emphasis)

Winegrapes have been grown in the Santa Rita area of Santa Barbara County since the nineteenth century.  Early growers and priestly vintners used the Mission grape to vinify sacramental wines at Mission La Purisima near Lompoc.  See Exhibit One, Page Five for documentation of winemaking in this region before the year 1900.  Even then, the priests noticed that the Santa Rita Hills climate was too cool for the Mission grape, and they found it was not ripening as well as some of the plantings further inland.  The maritime climate and sandy/alluvial soils have provided Santa Rita farmers with excellent cultivation conditions for U.C. Davis Region One crops for over a hundred years: flowers, peppers, beans, broccoli, lettuce, and other cool-weather vegetables.

Contained within Exhibit Four are maps which show the location of vineyards established within the proposed 'Santa Rita Hills' AVA and documentation proving the numerous and distinct macro and mesoclimates present within the Santa Barbara area.  Discovering which geographical appellations are best suited to differing varieties of winegrapes has been a long and fascinating part of Santa Barbara's wine history -- and documents contained within Exhibit Four show how vintners have focused on the Santa Rita Hills area as a premier area for growing Region One, cool-climate winegrape varietals.  Jeff Newton, who owns and operates Coastal Vineyard Care, a consulting firm that manages ranches on both sides of the Santa Ynez Valley, is quoted on page four of Exhibit Four as saying, "The best Chardonnays and Pinots come from the cooler areas west of U.S. 101 closer to the sea, and the best Sauvignon Blanc and reds like Cabernet from the warmer region to the east.  But no one knew this 20 years ago." It is evident now that more information has been collected that these two areas of the Santa Ynez Valley (east and west) are geographically, geologically, and viticulturally distinct.

On page five, Exhibit Four, a passage from Aged in Oak, a book describing the history of Santa Barbara County's wine industry, makes the following assertion: "If you divide the area along geographical lines, six possible itineraries present themselves:  1. Buellton-Lompoc Loop...  2. Santa Ynez/Ballard... [etc.]" (Aged in Oak, published by Santa Barbara County Vintners' Association, 1998, researched by U.C. Santa Barbara Graduate Program in Public Historical Studies. Chap. 3, page 6.)  Other quotes in Exhibit Four show the early plantings in this area -- the Sanford and Benedict Vineyard in 1971, the Lafond Vineyard in 1972, and the Babcock and Sweeney Canyon Vineyards in 1980.  Exhibit Four also illustrates how wines from this area met with swift critical success from wine critics and collectors, and shows the focus on Burgundian, cool-climate varietals such as Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.

Within the last few decades, and the last five years specifically, this unique transverse range has been recognized viticulturally and enologically for producing world-class, cool-climate winegrape varietals such as Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.  Knowledgeable vintners continue to seek out the grapes grown in this area, and the new plantings in this region are truly extensive.  Wine and vineyard writers have increasingly isolated this region as the premier Californian Central Coast appellation for cool-climate varietal winegrapes.  The following praise for the region was penned by Hugh Johnson, the world renowned English wine writer, in his World Atlas of Wine: Fourth Edition: "The true excitement of Santa Ynez, though, lies westward towards Lompoc and the ocean, where the Sanford and Benedict vineyard occupies a sheltered north-facing niche that perfectly suits Pinot Noir and Chardonnay... In the right hands this is California's best Pinot Noir so far." (Johnson, World Atlas of Wine, p.264) Such praise from one of the world's greatest authorities on wine, distinguishing the Santa Rita Hills area as producing California's 'best Pinot Noir', certainly supports establishing this distinct region as its own American Viticultural Area.

Vintners working with Santa Rita Hills fruit do not wish to confuse wine consumers by using the existing Santa Ynez Valley AVA on their (cool-climate) wine labels.  The purpose of the AVA system is to provide consumers with clear and accurate information concerning climatic and geographical influences that produce wines of widely disparate taste, varietal expression, and quality.  The largest grape-growing portion of the Santa Ynez AVA, east of Buellton and U.S Highway 101, is clearly a Davis Region Two winegrape production locale, as opposed to the Davis Region One classification of Santa Rita Hills, which lies west of Buellton, California.  Using the Santa Ynez Valley AVA designation for the cool-climate varietal wines grown in the proposed Santa Rita Hills AVA may lead to misinformed consumers and mislabeled products -- exactly what the AVA system was designed to curtail.

Exhibit Six, letters of support, shows clearly that vintners vinifying fruit grown in the proposed 'Santa Rita Hills' AVA feel the grapes to be uniquely suited to the geology, climate and geography of this area.  It is also noted within Exhibit Six that Santa Ynez Valley AVA is generally considered to be too warm to grow premium Pinot Noir and Chardonnay -- and labeling these wines (grown in Santa Rita Hills) with the current 'Santa Ynez Valley' appellation is deleterious to the business practices of wineries purchasing Santa Rita Hills fruit.

Evidence Relating to the Geographical Characteristics
which Distinguish the Viticultural Features of the Proposed Area from Surrounding Area:

(a) Climate:  The Santa Ynez Valley AVA, east of U.S. Highway 101, is well-known for the production of high quality Bordeaux and Rhone varietal winegrapes: Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Sauvignon Blanc, Mourvedre, and other varietals that require significantly higher temperatures (degree days) for adequate ripening.  The Santa Ynez Valley AVA clearly represents (in the minds of consumers and winemakers alike) warmer climate, Region Two winegrape cultivars.  Varietals more suited to Region One growing areas (i.e. Santa Rita Hills AVA) such as Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, which are the predominant plantings within the proposed AVA boundaries, are viticulturally and climatically distinct from the same varietals grown in the eastern part of the Santa Ynez Valley AVA. Large, established wineries that used to have significant plantings of Pinot Noir in the eastern portion of Santa Ynez Valley AVA (Firestone and Zaca Mesa Wineries specifically) have grafted these vines to warm-climate varietals after being disappointed by the results.  Specifically, it is much more difficult to gain a balance of high ripeness to strong acid content in cool-climate varietals grown in the eastern Santa Ynez Valley.  In this capacity, the proposed Santa Rita Hills AVA will correctly identify and distinguish a unique cool-climate wine-production area of Santa Barbara County, California.

The climatic features of the proposed Santa Rita Hills AVA are striking when contrasted with the Eastern Santa Ynez Valley.  As evidenced by the following comparative study of University of California weather-station records, records from the national Weather Service, the Western Regional Climate Center, the National Climatic Data Center and those of the CIRIS Weather Station system accessed in Santa Ynez and Cachuma Lake (which is located within the eastern boundary of the Santa Ynez Valley AVA), it is clear that ambient temperature and evapotranspiration rates during veraison and ripening are surprisingly disparate for two adjacent viticultural locales.  (See extensive climatic documentation in Exhibit Two).  The following study summarizes the climatic data found in Exhibit Two.

The following study details ripening temperatures in Fahrenheit.

Note the difference between Lompoc, CA (Western Boundary of the proposed Santa Rita Hills AVA) and Cachuma Lake -- (the Eastern boundary of the existing Santa Ynez Valley AVA, CA):

***Average post-veraison ripening temperatures: 14.7 Deg F. hotter within Santa Ynez Valley AVA.***

Heating Degree Day Differential Between Lompoc (Proposed Santa Rita Hills AVA) and Santa Ynez Valley AVA

***Heating Degree Day Differential: 61 Heating Degree Days***

These marked temperature differences are a result of a unique set of geographical, geological and climatic influences, mostly coastal in origin.  Unlike the Santa Ynez Valley AVA, east of U.S. Highway 101 and the Buellton Flats, the proposed Santa Rita Hills AVA is situated within a clearly defined transverse (east/west) maritime throat -- the most clearly delineated east/west transverse range from Alaska to Chile on the Pacific Coast.  This means that the Santa Rita Hills are uniquely susceptible to the ocean's cooling influence; enabling diurnal ocean breezes direct access to the coastal valleys between the Purisima Hills and the Santa Rosa Hills -- the area where the Santa Rita Hills are the dominant feature.  This coastal influence is not nearly as pronounced in the Santa Ynez Valley east of U.S. Highway 101 and the Buellton Flats, as evidenced by the temperature study above -- and therefore gives Santa Rita Hills growers the perfect climate for Davis Region One winegrape varieties (i.e. Pinot Noir, Chardonnay).  Our close proximity to the Pacific Ocean allows coastal fog to fill the hills and valleys of the proposed Santa Rita Hills AVA in the late night and early morning hours, intensifying the cool-climate influence on varietal winegrape production between the geological boundaries of the Purisima Hills and the Santa Rosa Hills.

(b) Topography:  The topography of the proposed Santa Rita Hills AVA is measurably distinct and isolated from the rest of the Pacific Coast, the Central Coast, and more specifically, the Santa Ynez Valley east of U.S. Highway 101 and the Buellton Flats -- where our current AVA is centered.  At the heart of the proposed American Viticultural Area boundary are the Santa Rita Hills, clearly demarcated on the enclosed USGS topographical maps (Exhibit Seven).  The AVA boundary is demarcated on the north by the Purisima Hills and on the south by the Santa Rosa Hills -- it is these two east-west oriented ranges that frame the interior of the Santa Rita Hills AVA.

Within these boundaries, the aforementioned committee of growers, consultants and winemakers physically surveyed the land on maps, on foor, and off-road in trucks, to determine what locales were the logical 'edges' of the proposed AVA.  Taken into account in placing the outer limits of the boundary were the following criteria: viticultural viability, primarily hillside and alluvial basin plantings, and the coastal influence suitable for cool-climate still winegrape production.  Where those elements were evident and inclusive, the committee included them on a 'rough draft' map that was revised and re-marked many times, both in the field and at larger meetings with the entire Santa Rita Hills Growers Committee.  The proposed AVA borders on the enclosed USGS Quadrangle Maps (Exhibit Seven)evolved consistently and deliberately as a result of a determined effort by vintners, growers and consultants to accurately describe the Santa Rita Hills as a cool-climate, hillside oriented winegrowing region.  The vast majority of the wineries involved with the establishment of the 'Santa Rita Hills' AVA source winegrapes from both the east and the west sides of the Santa Ynez Valley AVA, and are interested in distinguishing them with separate AVA labels to ensure viticultural, enological and market-based distinctiveness.

The actual topography of the proposed Santa Rita Hills AVA is an oak studded, hill-laden maritime throat that runs east to west, a few miles east of Lompoc to a few miles west of the Buellton Flats.  The coastal influence enters from the west, through Lompoc, and abruptly loses its influence at the proposed eastern boundary as demarcated on the enclosed USGS maps.  Elevations within the proposed boundary range from near sea-level to ridge-lines 1800 feet above sea level.

(c) Soils:  The soils of the Santa Rita Hills are broken down from an array of geological parent material.  The most common soil types within the boundaries are sandy loams, loams, silt loams and clay loams, based on large percentages of dune sand, marine deposits, recent alluvium, riverwash and terrace deposits that are visible on the enclosed U.S.G.S. Survey Maps 1905a and 1905b (Exhibit One).

As evidenced by extensive soil samples (Exhibit Five) from selected sites within the proposed Santa Rita Hills AVA and the adjacent Santa Ynez Valley AVA, as well as the letter of support from vineyard consultant Jeff Newton, it is clear that the soils of Santa Ynez Valley AVA and the proposed Santa Rita Hills AVA are distinct -- namely as a result of a high percentage of alluvial and marine sand evident within the proposed boundaries of the Santa Rita Hills AVA.  The soil samples from Eastern Santa Ynez show a higher percentage of gravelly and clay loams, while the samples from the proposed Santa Rita Hills AVA area show higher percentages of sand, silt, and sandy loams.  Maps contained within Exhibit One (page one)show U.S.G.S. estimates of alluvial sand deposits in the Santa Rita area of Santa Barbara County.

Proposed Boundaries:

The proposed 'Santa Rita Hills' AVA is located in Northern Santa Barbara County, California -- east of Lompoc (U.S. Highway 1) and west of Buellton (U.S. Highway 101), using specific hilltops in the Purisima Hills to the north and the Santa Rosa Hills to the south as boundaries.  The precise boundaries can be found on six U.S. Geological Survey Quadrangle Maps labeled:

1. "Lompoc, Calif.", 7.5 minute series, edition of 1959 (photorevised 1982);
2. "Lompoc Hills, Caif.", 7.5 minute series, edition of 1959 (photoinspected 1971);
3. "Los Alamos, Calif.", 7.5 minute series, edition of 1959 (photorevised 1974);
4. "Santa Rosa Hills, Calif.", 7.5 minute series, edition of 1959 (photoinspected 1978);
5. "Solvang, Calif.", 7.5 minute series, edition of 1959 (photorevised 1982).

(a) Name.  The name of the viticultural area described in this section is 'Santa Rita Hills'.

(b) Approved maps.  The appropriate maps for determining the boundaries of the 'Santa Rita Hills' AVA are six (6) U.S.G.S. quadrangle maps.  They are entitled:

1. "Lompoc, Calif.", 7.5 minute series, edition of 1959 (photorevised 1982);
2. "Lompoc Hills, Caif.", 7.5 minute series, edition of 1959 (photoinspected 1971);
3. "Los Alamos, Calif.", 7.5 minute series, edition of 1959 (photorevised 1974);
4. "Santa Rosa Hills, Calif.", 7.5 minute series, edition of 1959 (photoinspected 1978);
5. "Solvang, Calif.", 7.5 minute series, edition of 1959 (photorevised 1982).

(c) Boundaries.  The 'Santa Rita Hills' viticultural area is located within Santa Barbara County, California.  The beginning point is found on the Solvang, California Quadrangle U.S.G.S. map at an unnamed hilltop, elevation 1600 feet, in section 27, T.6 N, R. 32 W.

1. Then north and slightly west 2.3 miles to an unnamed hilltop elevation 1174 feet, Section 15, T. 6 N., R. 32 W.
2. Then west and slightly north 1.85 miles to an unnamed hilltop elevation 899 feet within the heart of the Santa Rosa Land Grant, T. 6 N., R. 32 W.
3. Then north approximately 2 miles to an unnamed hilltop elevation 1063 feet within the north-eastern part of the Santa Rosa Land Grant, T. 7 N., R. 32 W.
4. Then northwest 1.1 miles to an unnamed hilltop elevation 961 feet. Section 29, T. 7 N., R. 32 W.
5. Then north and slightly east 1.1 miles to an unnamed hilltop elevation 1443 feet. Section 20, T. 7 N., R. 32 W.
6. Then west 1.4 miles to an unnamed hilltop elevation 1479 feet. Section 24, T. 7 N., R. 33 W.
7. Then north 1.2 miles to an unnamed hilltop elevation 1705 feet. Section 13, T. 7 N., R. 33 W.
8. Then northwest approximately 2 miles to an unnamed hilltop elevation 1543. Section 10, T. 7 N., R. 33 W.
9. Then west and slightly south 1.6 miles to an unnamed hilltop elevation 935 feet within the northern section of the Santa Rosa Land Grant. T. 7 N., R. 33 W.
10. Then south by southwest 1.5 miles to an unnamed hilltop elevation 605 feet in the northern section of the Santa Rosa Land Grant. T. 7 N., R. 33 W.
11. Then west by southwest approximately 2 miles to the point where California Highway 246 intersects with the 200 foot elevation contour line comprising the western border of the Santa Rita Hills, within the Santa Rosa Land Grant. T. 7 N., R. 34 W.
12. Then following the 200 foot elevation contour line south along the western border of the Santa Rita Hills to an extreme southern tip of the 200 foot elevation contour line that is .6 miles due west of an unnamed hilltop 361 feet in elevation in the Canada de Salsipuedes Land Grant. T. 6 N., R. 34 W.
13. Then southeast 2.35 miles to an unnamed hilltop elevation 1070 feet. Section 18. T. 6 N., R. 33 W.
14. Then east and slightly south 1.95 miles to an unnamed hilltop elevation 921 feet. Section 16. T.6 N., R. 33 W.
15. Then east by southeast 1.35 miles to an unnamed hilltop elevation 1307 feet. Section: on intersection between Sections 22 and 23. T. 6 N., R. 33 W.
16. Then east 2.35 miles to an unnamed hilltop elevation 1507 feet in the southern area of the Santa Rosa Land Grant. T. 6 N., R. 32. W.
17. Then east by southeast 2.1 miles to an unnamed hilltop elevation1279 feet in the southern area of the Santa Rosa Land Grant. T. 6 N., R. 32 W.
18. Then east by southeast 1.45 miles to the point of beginning.