Santa Barbara County delivers a little bit of everything for wine lovers. With the cooling influence of the Pacific on vineyards in Sta. Rita Hills produces lively Chardonnay and Pinot Noir wines, along with sun-drenched, arid days inland in the vineyards of Ballard Canyon, Santa Maria, and beyond, ripening heat-loving Rhone, Spanish, and Bordeaux varieties, the county offers a plethora of stunning selections with richness and character.

Ballard Canyon lies inland from the coast within the Santa Ynez Valley, where over half the vineyards are planted to Syrah, and a large portion of the remaining vineyards are Rhone varieties. Terre et Sang crafts its powerful, premium, small-production wines with character.

Created by the mother and son team of Dalita and Duncan Harmon, Terre et Sang is a small producer in the region focusing on high-quality expressions of Syrah, Grenache, and other Rhone varieties. “The Patriarch” ($74) is a 100% Syrah wine that is lush, bold, and expressive, with bold black and blue fruits, crushed stone, toasted spice, and smoked herbs. Pair with grilled lamb, barbecue, and grilled ribeye steaks.