Sommeliers of the American Riviera 2026 Santa Barbara County Sangiovese 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 antithesis of a one-trick pony, Santa Barbara County is home to over seventy different grape varieties offering local winemakers a full palette and spacious canvas for artistic expression. Sangiovese is one of Italy’s most important red grape varieties. Its most famous renditions hail from the Tuscan growing regions of Chianti Classico, Brunello di Montalcino, and Vino Nobile di Montepulciano, but the grape itself is believed to have originated among the rolling hills of Tuscany’s neighbor, Emilia-Romagna. Popular legend attributes the grape’s discovery to Capuchin monks in Santarcangelo di Romagna who named their wine Sanguis Jovis (Latin for Blood of Jove) as they cultivated their vines on the slopes of Monte Giove (Italian for Mount Jove). The theory is that, with the passage of time, the words Sangue di Giove (Italian for Sanguis Jovis) got streamlined into Sangiovese. Sanguis Jovis —> Sangue di Giove —> Sangiovese Who knows if it’s true or not, but it makes a great story! “Super Tuscan” is an unofficial term conceived in the 1980s as an informal category for high quality red wines from Tuscany that would have been officially classified as table wine (the lowest level of Italy’s quality hierarchy) for their frequent inclusion of French grape varieties and use of historically non-Tuscan winemaking practices as a means of producing powerful, full-bodied reds in the styles of Bordeaux and Napa. Some of Italy’s most famous Super Tuscans and the varieties they feature: Sassicaia by Tenuta San Guido = ~85% Cabernet Sauvignon, ~15% Cabernet Franc Tignanello by Antinori = ~80% Sangiovese, ~15% Cabernet Sauvignon, ~5% Cabernet Franc Masseto by Ornellaia = 100% Merlot Paleo Rosso by Le Macchiole = 100% Cabernet Franc Per Sempre by Tua Rita = 100% Syrah Cepparello by Isola e Olena = 100% Sangiovese Le Pergole Torte by Montevertine = 100% Sangiovese La Lucertola by Ca’ di Pesa = 50% Merlot, 50% Cabernet Sauvignon Sammarco by Castello dei Rampolla = ~80% Cabernet Sauvignon, ~15% Cabernet Franc, ~5% Sangiovese L’Apparita by Castello di Ama = 100% Merlot Here in California, it is quite common to encounter winemakers who love Super Tuscans and produce Sangiovese-based blends of their own in homage to the style. Such wines are referred to herein as California Super Tuscans. 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 35 wines tasted for the StAR 2026 Santa Barbara County Sangiovese Review, the following received 90 points or higher: SANGIOVESE Casita de Bravo, 2020 Open Gate Vineyard, Los Olivos District - 97 Fabian Bravo, winemaker Carhartt, 2023 Rancho Santa Ynez, Los Olivos District - 95 Refugio Ranch, 2023 Estate, Santa Ynez Valley - 95 Disko Wines, 2022 Santa Barbara County - 94 St. Avalo, 2021 Estate, Los Olivos District - 94 Koehler, 2023 Estate, Santa Ynez Valley - 93 Perluca, 2020 Santa Barbara County - 93 Rancho Sisquoc, 2023 Estate, Santa Maria Valley - 93 Silver, 2017 Santa Barbara County - 93 Coquelicot Estate Vineyard, 2022 Los Olivos District - 92 Marco Lucchesi, 2021 Santa Ynez Valley - 92 S. Hogan, 2022 Oak Savanna, Santa Ynez Valley - 92 Toccata, 2020 Santa Barbara County - 91 Vega Vineyard & Farm, 2023 Santa Ynez Valley - 91 Carr Winery, 2022 Open Gate Vineyard, Los Olivos District - 90 Carr Winery, 2021 Santa Ynez Valley - 90 Cote of Paint, 2022 Coquelicot Vineyard, Los Olivos District - 90 CALIFORNIA SUPER TUSCANS Coquelicot, 2022 “Papavero Rosso”, Los Olivos District - 94 Jonathan Rosenson and Mike Roth, winemakers Piazza, 2023 “Dominic’s Red”, Bella Vista Vineyard, Ballard Canyon - 94 Gretchen Voelcker, winemaker Roblar, 2023 “Sangre de Dioses”, Los Olivos District - 94 Max Marshak, winemaker Foxen 7200, 2022 “Volpino”, Santa Ynez Valley - 92 Marco Lucchesi, 2021 “L’Attesa”, Santa Ynez Valley - 92 McKinney, 2023 “Tuscan Nights”, Santa Barbara County - 92 Perluca, 2019 “Ferronero”, Santa Barbara County - 92 Rancho Sisquoc, 2021 “Tre Vini”, Santa Barbara County - 92 Toccata, 2020 “Classico”, Santa Barbara County - 92 Vega Vineyard & Farm, 2023 “Del Prato”, Santa Ynez Valley - 92 Koehler Winery, 2021 “Magia Nera”, Estate, Santa Ynez Valley - 91 Jamie Slone, 2021 “Super Tuscan”, Santa Ynez Valley - 90 Tasting Notes: Casita de Bravo, 2020 Sangiovese: ruby color with pink hue | earthy aromatics of high intensity | flavors and aromas of dried cherry, black and sour cherry, black plum, dried red roses, black tea, sandalwood, iron and dark chocolate | silky texture, smooth tannin, medium body and warm alcohol. Coquelicot, 2022 Papavero Rosso: dark ruby color | expressive aromatics | flavors and aromas of dried black cherry, stewed plum, spiced fruit spread, tobacco, and savory herbs | firm tannin with warm alcohol. Piazza, 2023 Dominic's Estate Red: concentrated ruby color | earthy aromatics | flavors and aromas of fresh red cherry, black cherry, mint, died leaves | smooth tannin, full body, warm alcohol and bright acid. Roblar, 2023 Sangre de Dioses: dark ruby to purple bowl with magenta rim | earthy aromatics | flavors and aromas dominated by plum leading to black cherry, red cherry and cranberry, rose petal, mint, chocolate and spice | smooth tannin, full body, warm alcohol and bright acid. External Links:  Casita de Bravo   Coquelicot Estate Vineyard   Piazza Family Wines   Roblar Winery   Thank you to all the producers that participated in this project, and congratulations especially to Casita de Bravo, Coquelicot, Piazza and Roblar! Your hard work and passion bring joy to us all. Emily Johnston, founding member Carlos Mascherin, founding member Kathryn Hope, senior member Tristan Pitre, team member