Estate Vineyards
Sanford Winery’s estate vineyards lie within the Sta. Rita Hills American Viticultural Area or AVA in Santa Barbara County. At the western end of the Santa Ynez Valley, the Sta. Rita Hills region was certified as an AVA in 2001. Its maritime winds create a cool growing climate where the classic Burgundian varietals, Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, thrive.

The Sanford & Benedict Vineyard
(Talinda Oaks Ranch, 9 miles west of Highway 101.Lompoc, California)

This is, literally, where it all started for Sanford Winery and for the Sta. Rita Hills. The traditions of both the winery and the region were born when Sanford planted Santa Barbara County’s first Pinot Noir in the Sanford & Benedict vineyard in 1971. With a mantle of hard, siliceous chert-gravel covering deep, well-drained soils, it is a perfect medium for Pinot.

In all, 135 acres of the 500-acre ranch are under vine. Sanford & Benedict is primarily planted with Pinot Noir (68 acres) and Chardonnay (52 acres), with 15 acres of other grape varieties. The Pinot Noir is from the Mt. Eden clone.

Rancho La Rinconada Vineyard
(10 miles west of Highway 101, Lompoc, California)

Recognizing the same ideal soil conditions found in the Sanford & Benedict vineyards, Sanford first planted at the La Rinconada in 1997.