Santa Ynez Valley AVA

Santa Ynez Valley
Wine region
TypeAmerican Viticultural Area
Year established1983
CountryUnited States
Part ofCalifornia, Central Coast AVA, Santa Barbara County
Other regions in California, Central Coast AVA, Santa Barbara CountyAlisos Canyon AVA, Santa Maria Valley AVA
Sub-regionsHappy Canyon of Santa Barbara AVA, Sta. Rita Hills AVA, Ballard Canyon AVA, Los Olivos District AVA
Growing season309 days
Climate regionRegion I-II
Heat units1970-2820 GDD units
Precipitation (annual average)16 in (410 mm)
Soil conditionssand and clay loams on gentle to very steep slopes on high terraces and uplands. Upper elevations have steep, well-drained shaly clay and silty clay loams
Total area182,400 acres (285 sq mi)
Size of planted vineyards1,200 acres (490 ha)
No. of vineyards40
Grapes producedAlbarino, Arneis, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Cinsault, Counoise, Grenache, Grenache Blanc, Lagrein, Malbec, Malvasia, Marsanne, Merlot, Mourvedre, Muscat Canelli, Nebbiolo, Negrette, Petit Verdot, Pinot Blanc, Pinot Gris, Pinot Noir, Riesling, Roussanne, Sangiovese, Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon, Syrah, Tempranillo, Tocai Friulano, Viognier, Zinfandel
No. of wineries105

Santa Ynez Valley is an American Viticultural Area (AVA) located in Santa Barbara County, California within the Santa Ynez Valley landform surrounding the Santa Ynez River. The wine appellation was established as the nation's 32nd, the state's 20th and the county's second AVA on May 15, 1983 by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF), Treasury after reviewing the petition submitted by Firestone Vineyard, a bounded winery in Los Olivos, California, proposing a viticultural area in Santa Barbara County to be known as "Santa Ynez Valley."

The viticultural area lies within the vast multi-county Central Coast AVA encompassing 182,400 acres (285 sq mi) containing 1,200 acres (490 ha) of vineyards and the greatest concentration of wineries in Santa Barbara County. The valley is formed by the Purisima Hills and San Rafael Mountains to the north and the Santa Ynez Mountains to the south creating a long, east-west corridor with very cool temperatures on the coast that become progressively warmer inland. The Santa Ynez River flows east to west on the valley floor toward the Pacific Ocean. As of 2025, the Santa Ynez Valley contains four sub-appellations Sta. Rita Hills on its western boundary; Ballard Canyon and Los Olivos District occupying the center region; and Happy Canyon on the eastern border. Chardonnay is the most planted grape variety in the cooler, western portion of the valley while Rhône varieties thrive in the eastern locales. The USDA plant hardiness zones zone range from 9a to 10b.

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