Sommeliers of the American Riviera 2025 Ballard Canyon Review Thanks to Santa Barbara County's east–west orientation, with the cold Pacific to the west and the rising sun to the east, the region is home to every grape growing climate on earth, all in the distance of about thirty miles. The American Viticultural Area (AVA) of Ballard Canyon is centrally located in the Santa Ynez Valley, approximately thirty miles from the Pacific Ocean to the west and forty miles from Jameson Lake, at the convergence of the Santa Ynez and San Raphael Mountains to the east. It is Santa Barbara County's smallest AVA, accounting for only ten percent of the region's total vineyard acreage, and it is the only AVA in the United States to officially claim Syrah as its flagship grape. Every bottle of estate grown Syrah, regardless of producer, is embossed with a cartouche reading Ballard Canyon, in much the same spirit as the Papal crest appears on a bottle of Châteauneuf-du-Pape. The Ballard Canyon AVA is generally considered to be a world-class growing region for Syrah and Grenache especially, as well as other famed Rhône varieties. Like a rollercoaster, the country lane of Ballard Canyon Road runs in the form of a backwards L from Los Olivos in the northeast to Buellton in the southwest. It was here that in 1974 Gene Hallock first planted Ballard Canyon Vineyards at the site that is now home to Rusack. Soil types in the region range from sand and silt to clay, chalk, limestone and river cobbles. The quickly draining soils promote smaller, more concentrated berries which lead to more concentrated fruit flavors, floral aromas and finesse in the resulting wines, whereas limestone and chalk famously produce wines of high minerality and zest. For its annual review, Sommeliers of the American Riviera (StAR) tastes blind, that is to say that those judging are blind to the identities of participating producers. The wines are judged solely on their appearance, aroma, flavor, and structure, according to what the international sommelier community considers to be a classic example of the highest quality wine a given grape variety can produce when grown in a particular region. Of the 30 wines tasted for the StAR 2025 Ballard Canyon Review, the following received 90 points or higher: Kunin, 2022 Kimsey Vineyard, Grenache — 95 Kimsey, 2021 Estate, Syrah — 94 Larner, 2021 Estate, Syrah — 94 Kaena, 2021 Tierra Alta, Grenache — 94 Kimsey, 2021 Estate, Grenache — 94 Paul Lato, 2023 "Lumiere", Larner Vineyard, Grenache — 94 Clementine Carter, 2023 Larner Vineyard, Syrah — 93 Horizon, 2023, Ballard Canyon, Grenache — 93 Jaffurs, 2022 Ballard Canyon, Grenache — 93 Kaena, 2021 Tierra Alta, Syrah — 93 Kunin, 2022 Larner Vineyard, Syrah — 93 Larner, 2021, Estate, Grenache — 93 Piazza Family, 2020 Bella Vista, Reserve Syrah — 93 SAMsARA, 2023 Larner Vineyard, Grenache — 93 Beckmen, 2022 Purisima Mountain, Syrah — 92 Clementine Carter, 2023 Larner Vineyard, Grenache — 92 Chris Caruso, 2022 Ballard Canyon, Grenache — 92 Chris Caruso, 2021 Kimsey Vineyard, Syrah — 92 Dragonette Cellars, 2022 Stolpman Vineyard, Syrah — 92 Blair Fox, 2020 Kimsey Vineyard, Syrah — 92 Jaffurs, 2022 Larner Vineyard, Syrah — 92 Paul Lato, 2023 "Cinematique", Larner Vineyard, Syrah — 92 Carr Winery, 2020 Tierra Alta, Syrah — 91 Luna Hart, 2022 Hinnrichs Vineyard, Syrah — 91 Marco Lucchesi, 2021 Tierra Alta, Syrah — 91 Story of Soil, 2022 Larner Vineyard, Syrah — 91 Piazza Family, 2022 Bella Vista, Grenache — 90 Story of Soil, 2023 Stolpman Vineyard, Grenache — 90 What we liked most about Kunin's Grenache: deep ruby color | high aromatic intensity | flavors and aromas of raspberry, strawberry, plum, pepper, thyme, sandalwood, toasted bread, and sweet cream | soft texture, smooth tannin, light body and moderate alcohol. What we liked most about the Kimsey's Syrah: dark ruby color | expressive aromatics | flavors and aromas of apricot, cherry, plum, browned butter, caramel, licorice, and wet stone | lively palate with mild alcohol. What we liked most about the Larner's Syrah: dark ruby to purple bowl with magenta rim | expressive aromatics | flavors and aromas of raspberry, blackberry, marionberry, olive and pepper undertones, barbecued meats, and mild oak toast | firm tannin, fuller body and warmer alcohol balanced by juicy acidity. Tech sheets:  Kunin, 2022 Kimsey Vineyard, Grenache   Kimsey, 2021 Estate, Syrah   Larner, 2021 Estate, Syrah   Thank you to all the producers that participated in this project, and congratulations especially to Kunin, Kimsey and Larner! Your hard work and passion bring joy to us all. Emily Johnston, founding member Carlos Mascherin, founding member Kathryn Hope, senior member