The first “great“ vineyard in Santa Barbara County and one of the great Pinot Noir vineyards of America, was planted by Richard Sanford and Michael Benedict in 1971 in the cool Sta. Rita Hills AVA. The Burgundian varieties had found a home in Santa Barbara County. Au Bon Climat purchased a few tons of grapes from Michael Benedict in the mid 1980s, and since then we have received grapes from this vineyard every year; a relationship of over 4 decades. Only Sanford Winery has that kind of “history” with this vineyard. The iconic, sustainably farmed vineyard was instrumental in elevating awareness that Santa Barbara County creates world-class Chardonnay and Pinot Noir
