Kimberly James Vineyards
STA. RITA HILLS AVA
Located on the cool western margin on the Santa Ynez Valley, Sta. Rita Hills is a true coastal AVA. Consistent wind and fog from the nearby Pacific Ocean make this AVA a chilly Davis Region I climate (the same as Champagne and parts of Burgundy). The marine soils and this special climate are ideal for growing Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Our Sta. Rita Hills vineyard sources include Sanford & Benedict, La Rinconada, La Encantada, and John Sebastiano.
PINOT NOIR VINEYARDS
Chapel Vineyard (Vintage 2018)
Established in 1986, Chapel Vineyards (formerly Huber Vineyard) is one of the oldest vineyards in Sta. Rita Hills appellation. Located on Highway 246 between Buellton and Lompoc, it is in one of the colder areas of Sta Rita Hills and benefits from the appellation’s cool climate, ocean breezes, coastal fog and incredible sandy soils. This vineyard is planted primarily to Pinot Noir and Chardonnay vines and has been meticulously cared for and maintained over its long history.
KESSLER-HAAK (Vintages: 2017, 2018)
Although this is not a certified organic vineyard, vineyard practices are strictly organic. Kessler Hawk’s farming approach strives for balance, and co-existence between the vines and plant, animal and insect populations.
Planted in 2005, soils in the vineyard vary from sandy to sandy loam with patches of clay loam. 7 Pinot Noir clones on 3 different rootstocks are planted amongst 27 acres of the vineyard’s rolling hillsides. A 2.5 acre east-facing hillside was reserved for 3 clones of Chardonnay, planted on low vigor 110R rootstock to showcase the exceptional character of cool climate Chardonnay. Yields in the vineyard are low and currently average 1.2 – 1.5 ton/acre for Pinot Noir and 1.5 – 2 ton/acre for Chardonnay.
LA ENCANTADA VINEYARD (Vintage 2018)
Planted by legendary Santa Rita Hills pioneer Richard Sanford, La Encantada sits at the far western edge of the appellation. The blocks are located in thin, nitrogen-deficient calcareous and siliceous soils of fine sandy loam on gentle north facing slopes a few hundred feet above the Santa Ynez River. Fog and ocean breezes traveling daily up the river valley provide a long, slow ripening season, and La Encantada is almost always at late Pinot Noir pick. These grapes give signature, concentrated, black cherry, baking spices a solid tannic structure.
CHARDONNAY VINEYARDS
DONNACHADH VINEYARD (Vintages: 2017, 2018)
Family owned and organically farmed, Donnachadh Vineyard is located on Santa Rosa Road, in the Sta. Rita Hills AVA of Santa Barbara County. The property is 285 acres with approximately 40 acres under vine.
The climate of the Santa Rita Hills is dominated by the Pacific Ocean, which lies about 9 miles from the vineyard. Morning fog cools the grapes and consistent afternoon ocean breezes keep heat from building up over the course of the day.
The vineyards riverside block sits alongside the Santa Ynez River and is where we source our Chardonnay – The Wente clone. It is sheltered from the wind and the soil is a delicate, well drained sandy loam that sits on top of deep layers of gravel river deposits.
JOHN SEBASTIANO VINEYARD (Vintage: 2017)
A steep, dramatic, hillside site on the eastern edge of Santa Rita Hills. Chardonnay grows at the rear of the property in a cool climate on west to north eastern slopes of linne sandy clay loam with limestone in the subsoil. High winds limit growth here and yield small berries, giving wines of intense fruit character.
LA RINCONDA VINEYARD (Vintage 2018)
Planted in 1997 by legendary Santa Rita Hills pioneer Richard Sanford, La Rinconada sits at the far western edge of the appellation. The blocks are located in thin, nitrogen-deficient calcareous and siliceous soils of fine sandy loam just south of the Santa Ynez River. Fog and ocean breezes traveling daily up the river valley provide a long, slow ripening season.