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 especially. 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 33 wines tasted for part one of the StAR 2026 Sta. Rita Hills Review, the following received 90 points or higher: LaBarge, 2023 Estate, Pinot Noir — 96 Pierre LaBarge, winemaker   notes & map Our Lady of Guadalupe, 2024 Estate, Pinot Noir — 96 Amy Whiteford, winemaker   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 coming soon) 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 coming soon) 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 coming soon) 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 coming soon) Babcock, 2025 Sta. Rita Hills, Pinot Noir — 93 Bryan Babcock, winemaker   notes (map coming soon) 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 coming soon) 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 Amy Whiteford, winemaker   notes & map Lafond, 2020 clone 777, Pinot Noir — 91 Bruce McGuire, winemaker   notes (map coming soon) Strange Family Vineyards, 2022 Estate, Pinot Noir — 91 Justin Willet, winemaker   notes (map coming soon)  Thank you to all the producers that participated in this project, and congratulations especially to LaBarge and Our Lady of Guadalupe! 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