La Encantada Vineyard, Sta. Rita Hills

Located just seven miles from the Pacific Ocean, on the western edge of the Sta. Rita Hills, La Encantada is truly an enchanted vineyard.  This land was hand selected and the grapes planted by the legendary Richard Sanford, one of the pioneers of this highly acclaimed AVA, who was recently elected to the Vintner’s Hall of Fame.  Richard founded both the Sta. Rita Hills AVA, and La Encantada Vineyard.  He selected this 250 acre site for its terroir and cool climate growing region, defined by the east to west mountain range which pulls in the maritime air.  La Encantada Vineyard is located on Santa Rosa Rd., halfway between Lompoc and Buellton, in Santa Barbara County, California.  Planted to 100 acres in the year 2000, La Encantada has been a source of Pinot Noir grapes for some of the most celebrated wines produced from the appellation. 

Every morning, a cool layer of marine fog blankets our vineyard.  When the fog burns off and the winds start to blow, they accelerate a dramatic variance in temperature.  Combined with our diatomaceous (fossilized seashell) soils and Certified California Organic (CCOF) farming techniques, these unique conditions create the terroir to grow the highest quality Pinot Noir grapes.  La Encantada Vineyard is certainly one of the most definitive and distinct terroirs of the Sta. Rita Hills. 

We’ve sourced Pinot Noir clone 115 here since 2015.