A Country Weekend of Wine & Fire in Sta. Rita Hills

This past month the Sta. Rita Hills Wine Alliance showcased its annual Wine & Fire Weekend, highlighting the rustic charm and viticultural prowess of Santa Barbara County’s celebrated wine country.

Nestled within the larger Santa Ynez Valley AVA, Sta. Rita Hills is acclaimed for its unique maritime climate, a key factor in producing stellar pinot noir and chardonnay. This region’s distinctive east-west valley orientation draws in cool fog and sea breezes, nurturing the vines and allowing the grapes to develop rich, complex flavors through a gradual maturation process.

The festivities commenced on Thursday with the much-loved “Barn Party” at the historic Sanford & Benedict Barn, a site steeped in the origins of winemaking in the Sta. Rita Hills. Esteemed local wineries such as Sanford Winery, Tercero Wines, Alma Rosa Winery, and Fiddlehead Cellars (to name a few), presented their finest large format and library wines. The barn’s rustic setting was complemented by fire-grilled flatbreads and artisanal cheeses from Pizzeria Bello Forno, creating pairings perfectly encapsulating the event’s country elegance.

Throughout the weekend, wine lovers converged at various idyllic spots across the greater Lompoc Valley, engaging in spirited discussions and forging new connections. The region’s signature cool-climate wines, with their crisp chardonnays and nuanced pinot noirs, showcased why Sta. Rita Hills is a cornerstone of American viticulture.

Friday night was a celebration of conviviality at the La Paulée Dinner, a buffet by High on the Hog, and a tribute to Frank Ostini and Gray Hartley of Hitching Post Wines. This gathering, inspired by Burgundy’s La Paulée de Meursault, skillfully married Old-World charm with the laid-back, welcoming ethos of California’s wine culture, celebrating the legacies of two of Sta. Rita Hills’ most cherished vintners.

The weekend’s zenith was the Grand Tasting on Saturday, held under the stars at the scenic La Purisima Mission. Over thirty wineries, including Longoria Winery, Flying Goat Cellars, Loubud Wines, and BARDEN, came together to offer their top wines. This event was not just a tasting but a celebration of the collective spirit and the unique stories that each bottle from Sta. Rita Hills carries.

Reflecting on the Wine & Fire Weekend, it’s evident that the allure of this event lies not only in the superb wines and stunning views but also in the genuine hospitality and robust community spirit that define Sta. Rita Hills as a destination of the heart. Those of us lucky enough to call Santa Barbara Wine Country home are reminded why this area is more than just a geographic location – it is a vibrant community where every moment and every sip weave into the rich tapestry of rural elegance.

Whether you’re a dedicated wine connoisseur or a newcomer eager to discover the wines of the region, Sta. Rita Hills promises a captivating journey that beckons you to return time and again. Cheers to uncovering the depth and beauty of each wine in this picturesque slice of countryside paradise!