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Sommeliers of the American Riviera 2026 Sta. Rita Hills AVA 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 Sta. Rita Hills is located in the southwest, approximately ten miles from the Pacific Ocean. It is the southernmost Region 1 climate zone in the northern hemisphere, and has one of the longest growing seasons in the world. Its cool ocean breezes and kaleidoscope of soil types make it the ideal location to cultivate Burgundian varieties. The Sta. Rita Hills AVA is generally considered to be a world-class growing region for Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, and a haven for cold-climate Syrah. 
The region is comprised of three sets of foothills. Cradling the region to the south are the Santa Rosa Hills. In the middle are the Santa Rita Hills, for which the region is named. And encapsulating the region to the north are La Purisima Hills. The serene and picturesque country lane of Santa Rosa Road runs through the southern corridor alongside the Santa Ynez River as it flows west into the ocean. It was here that in 1971 Richard Sanford and Michael Benedict first planted Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. Soil types in the southern corridor range from sandy loam to loamy clay to alluvial wash, limestone, a variety of metamorphic rock, and the very curious diatomaceous shale. The more frequently travelled Highway 246 runs through the northern corridor where, comparatively, sand and clay are the dominant soil types. 
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 80 wines tasted for the StAR 2026 Sta. Rita Hills Review, the following received 90 points or higher: Chardonnay The Set, 2024 William Hines, Chardonnay — 96 Chris Hines & DJ Bilsky, winemakers notes & map Alma Rosa, 2023 El Jabali, Chardonnay — 94 Samra Morris, winemaker notes & map Baltazar Family, 2024 Rio Vista, Chardonnay — 94 André Baltazar, winemaker notes & map Barden, 2022 Sta. Rita Hills, Chardonnay — 94 Robert Daugherty, winemaker notes & map The Set, 2024 Sta. Rita Hills, Chardonnay — 94 Chris Hines & DJ Bilsky, winemakers notes & map Barden, 2022 Sanford & Benedict, Chardonnay — 93 Robert Daugherty, winemaker notes & map Donnachadh, 2022 Estate, Chardonnay — 93 Ernst Storm, winemaker notes & map McKinney Family, 2024 Queen Charlemagne, Chardonnay — 93 Justice Massara, winemaker notes & map Pali Wine Co, 2023 Estate, Chardonnay — 93 Aaron Walker, winemaker notes & map Tyler, 2023 Mae Estate, Chardonnay — 93 Justin Willet, winemaker notes & map Carr Winery, 2023 Oak Aged, Chardonnay — 92 Ryan Carr, winemaker notes & map Dragonette Cellars, 2024 Bentrock Vineyard, Chardonnay — 92 John & Steve Dragonette & Brandon Sparks-Gilles, winemakers notes & map Dusty Nabor, 2024 Bentrock Vineyard, Chardonnay — 92 Dusty Nabor, winemaker notes & map Dusty Nabor, 2023 Sta. Rita Hills, Chardonnay — 92 Dusty Nabor, winemaker notes & map Liquid Farm, 2023 FOUR, Chardonnay — 92 Jeff Nelson, winemaker notes & map MarBeso, 2024 Spear Vineyard, Chardonnay — 92 Colin McNany, winemaker notes & map Pali Wine Co, 2023 Wild Series, Chardonnay — 92 Aaron Walker, winemaker notes & map SAMsARA, 2023 Radian Vineyard, Chardonnay — 92 Matt Brady, winemaker notes & map Sandhi, 2023 La Rinconada, Chardonnay — 92 Sashi Moorman, winemaker notes & map Spear Vineyards, 2023 Estate, Chardonnay — 92 James Sparks, winemaker notes & map Fess Parker, 2024 Ashley's Vineyard, Chardonnay — 91 Blair Fox, winemaker notes & map Our Lady of Guadalupe, 2024 Estate, Chardonnay — 91 Dave Phinney, Chris Hussey & Amy Warnock, vignerons notes & map Strange Family Vineyards, 2022 Estate, Chardonnay — 91 Justin Willet, winemaker notes & map Babcock, 2023 Sta. Rita Hills, Chardonnay — 90 Bryan Babcock, winemaker notes & map Clementine Carter, Robert Rae Ranch, Chardonnay — 90 Sonja Magdevski, winemaker notes & map Piazza Family, 2023 Sta. Rita Hills, Chardonnay — 90 Gretchen Voelcker, winemaker notes & map 
Pinot Noir LaBarge, 2023 Estate, Pinot Noir — 96 Pierre LaBarge, winemaker notes & map Our Lady of Guadalupe, 2024 Estate, Pinot Noir — 96 Dave Phinney, Chris Hussey & Amy Warnock, vignerons notes & map Alma Rosa, 2023 El Jabali, Pinot Noir — 95 Samra Morris, winemaker notes & map Barden, 2022 Sanford & Benedict Vineyard, Pinot Noir — 95 Robert Daugherty, winemaker notes & map Carhartt: Venture, 2021 Wayward Son, Pinot Noir — 95 Chase Carhartt, winemaker notes & map Dragonette Cellars, 2023 Radian Vineyard, Pinot Noir — 95 John & Steve Dragonette & Brandon Sparks-Gilles, winemakers notes & map McKinney Family, 2024 Radian Vineyard, Pinot Noir — 95 Justice Massara, winemaker notes & map Piazza Family, 2023 Mt. Carmel Vineyard, Pinot Noir — 95 Gretchen Voelcker, winemaker notes & map Babcock, 2023 Rita's Earth, Pinot Noir — 94 Bryan Babcock, winemaker notes & map Baltazar Family, 2023 clone 828, Pinot Noir — 94 André Baltazar, winemaker notes & map Barden, 2022 Bentrock Vineyard, Pinot Noir — 94 Robert Daugherty, winemaker notes & map Donnachadh, 2022 Estate, Pinot Noir — 94 Ernst Storm, winemaker notes & map Dusty Nabor, 2022 Radian Vineyard, Pinot Noir — 94 Dusty Nabor, winemaker notes & map Foxen, 2022 John Sebastiano Vineyard, Pinot Noir — 94 Bill Wathen, winemaker notes & map The Joy Fantastic, 2023 Estate, Pinot Noir — 94 Amy Christine & Peter Hunken, winemakers notes & map SAMsARA, 2023 Rancho La Viña, Pinot Noir — 94 Matt Brady, winemaker notes & map Spear Vineyards, 2021 clone 943, Pinot Noir — 94 Sonja Magdevski, winemaker notes & map Story of Soil, 2024 La Rinconada, Pinot Noir — 94 Jessica Gasca, winemaker notes & map Babcock, 2025 Sta. Rita Hills, Pinot Noir — 93 Bryan Babcock, winemaker notes & map Bonaccorsi, 2021 Fiddlestix Vineyard, Pinot Noir — 93 Rich Bonaccorsi, winemaker notes & map Carr Winery, 2023 clone 777, Pinot Noir — 93 Ryan Carr, winemaker notes & map Carr Winery, 2023 Pommard clone, Pinot Noir — 93 Ryan Carr, winemaker notes & map Dusty Nabor, 2023 Bentrock Vineyard, Pinot Noir — 93 Dusty Nabor, winemaker notes & map Fess Parker, 2024 Ashley's Vineyard, Pinot Noir — 93 Blair Fox, winemaker notes & map Liquid Farm, 2024 Spear Vineyard, Pinot Noir — 93 Jeff Nelson, winemaker notes & map Lumen, 2024 Sanford & Benedict Vineyard, Pinot Noir — 93 Will Henry, winemaker notes & map McKinney Family, 2024 Donnachadh Vineyard, Pinot Noir — 93 Justice Massara, winemaker notes & map Story of Soil, 2023 Bentrock Vineyard, Pinot Noir — 93 Jessica Gasca, winemaker notes & map Our Lady of Guadalupe, 2023 Reserve, Pinot Noir — 92 Dave Phinney, Chris Hussey & Amy Warnock, vignerons notes & map Lafond, 2020 clone 777, Pinot Noir — 91 Bruce McGuire, winemaker notes & map Strange Family Vineyards, 2022 Estate, Pinot Noir — 91 Justin Willet, winemaker notes & map 
Syrah SAMsARA, 2023 John Sebastiano, Syrah — 95 Matt Brady, winemaker notes & map Barbieri, 2023 "Pleniuum", Syrah — 94 Paolo Barbieri, winemaker notes & map Clementine Carter, Robert Rae Ranch, Syrah — 94 Sonja Magdevski, winemaker notes & map Holus Bolus, 2023 "Franc de Pied", Syrah — 94 Amy Christine & Peter Hunken, winemakers notes & map The Joy Fantastic, 2022 Estate, Syrah — 94 Amy Christine & Peter Hunken, winemakers notes & map Kunin, 2021 John Sebastiano, Syrah — 94 Magan Eng, winemaker notes & map MarBeso, 2023 Sta. Rita Hills, Syrah — 94 Colin McNany, winemaker notes & map Alma Rosa, 2023 El Jabali, Syrah — 93 Samra Morris, winemaker notes & map LaBarge, 2023 Estate, Syrah — 93 Pierre LaBarge, winemaker notes & map Spear Vineyards, 2023 Estate, Syrah — 93 James Sparks, winemaker notes & map Donnachadh, 2021 Estate, Syrah — 92 Ernst Storm, winemaker notes & map Strange Family Vineyards, 2023 Estate, Syrah — 92 Justin Willet, winemaker notes & map Pali Wine Co, 2023 Estate, Syrah — 92 Aaron Walker, winemaker notes & map Lafond, 2021 Estate, Syrah — 91 Bruce McGuire, winemaker notes & map 
Thank you to all the producers that participated in this project. Your hard work and passion bring joy to us all! Emily Johnston, founding member Carlos Mascherin, founding member Kathryn Hope, senior member Tristan Pitre, senior member Vanessa Vin, special guest 
 
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