Sanford Chardonnay Santa Rita Hills 2022

Profile & Story

Sanford Winery traces its roots to 1971, when the Sanford & Benedict Vineyard became the first vineyard planted in what would eventually become the Sta. Rita Hills American Viticultural Area, in Santa Barbara County's Santa Ynez Valley. The estate was co-founded by botanist Michael Benedict and Richard Sanford, who set out to find a cool-climate site with just enough heat accumulation to ripen, but not over-ripen, wine grapes — research that led them to this stretch of the Santa Ynez Valley. Benedict and Sanford parted ways after the 1980 vintage; the adjacent La Rinconada Vineyard was planted in 1997; the Terlato family joined as partners in 2002, became majority owners and managing partners in 2005, and reunited the estate in 2007 by purchasing the original Sanford & Benedict vineyard. Wine Spectator has recognized Sanford as the Sta. Rita Hills' Pinot Noir pioneer, and the winery remains family-owned under Terlato stewardship, with winemaker Trey Fletcher aiming to craft wines that are clear and true representations of the estate's cool, coastal site. The 2022 Sta. Rita Hills Chardonnay is bottled at 13% alcohol. Chardonnays from the Sta. Rita Hills AVA, one of the coolest, most fog- and wind-swept appellations in Santa Barbara County, typically show a bright, linear style with citrus and orchard-fruit character, crisp acidity, and a saline, mineral undertone, sometimes layered with subtle oak-derived spice when barrel-aged.