We often get asked to make winery recommendations to friends or clients visiting various wine country regions throughout the Pacific Northwest. One of the first things we try and find out is whether the person going is looking for the best wine they can find in the area, or are more interested in a destination winery where they can sit and enjoy a glass of wine with a view. Once in a while you find a combination of both that really stand out: Daou Vineyards in Paso Robles, Soter Vineyards in the Willamette Valley and St. Francis Vineyards in Sonoma certainly come to mind. On a recent trip to Santa Barbara’s wine country we added Sunstone Vineyards and Winery to that list.

Sunstone is set back from the road entrance and as we turned into the driveway we were initially greeted with rows of seemingly endless vines. As we drove a little further, the tasting room signs pointed toward a stone building tucked into the hillside with a spacious courtyard surrounded by lavender bushes and shaded by large Oak trees.

Once inside the building we found ourselves within the winery caves, which included a small off shoot with a long table and high top stools —perfect for a private tasting or special event. We weren’t surprised to hear that they host a number of weddings both outside in the courtyard and inside the caves. For our tasting, we ended up in a small cellar complete with iron gates (let’s just say being locked inside a room surrounded by vintage wine is not the worst thing that could happen to us)!

Sunstone’s Director of winemaking is Bion Rice, son of original founders Fred and Linda Rice, who first planted vines in 1990. His focus is on producing Rhone and Bordeaux style wines and we were lucky enough to taste through several of their wines beginning with one of their sparkling wines and covering all the varieties grown on their 25-acre vineyard including Chardonnay, Viognier, Pinot Noir, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Grenache, Syrah, Mourvedre, and Cabernet Franc. Sustainability is also a key focus at the winery and Sunstone is one of only a handful of wineries in the area to have their vines certified by California Certified Organic Farmers (CCOF), a non-profit organization formed to advance organic agriculture.

 NV Brut Sparkling Wine

A blend of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay from vineyards located in the Central Coast. The wine spent 14 months on the lees in bottle before disgorgement. Green apple flavours and racy acidity give a sharp focus to this wine. This is counter-balanced by a medium-full texture and lingering notes of almonds and bread dough.

Very Good+  ( $55 US at the winery)

2014 Chardonnay Reserve

This wine was a nice departure from the currently fashionable trend towards earlier picking and leaner expressions of Chardonnay. Nicely balanced, it was able to carry its slightly greater weight without being at all heavy. Flavours of apple combine with some gently tropical notes. The texture is soft and honeyed but is kept in check by the acidity on the finish. The winemaking is interesting: 75% Chardonnay from Goodchild Vineyard in the Santa Maria Valley, picked at a fairly ripe 25.6 degrees brix and went through full malolactic fermentation in a combination of 50% new and 50% used French oak barrels. 25% of the wine is Chardonnay from Los Alamos Vineyard picked at just 23 degrees brix, no malolactic fermentation and raised in stainless. After 8 months the wines were blended and spent an additional 4 months in new French barrels. The combination of these two opposing styles of winemaking works nicely to create a very balanced and tasty Chardonnay.

Very Good+   ($40 US at the winery)

2013 Mason Cuvee

This is a delicious blend of 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Merlot and 10% Syrah. All fruit is sourced from their estate vineyard which is certified organic. Powerful aromas of blackberries, plums and spicecake. The palate is soft and round and delivers black cherry and hints of baking spice with a long finish. Hints of mocha poke through after a bit swirling. Ready now and would likely be even better with a little cellar time.

Very good/excellent – ($42 US at the winery)

As we finished our tasting, we were invited to tour the 8,500 square foot Villa further up the hill overlooking the entire 55-acre property. As we followed our guide Annamarie up a separate driveway, we came upon the absolutely stunning limestone building which made us feel as though we could easily have been in Tuscany itself.

Annamarie explained that the limestone had been imported from a French village and most of the wood beams and roof tiles had been salvaged from a factory formerly owned by Queen Victoria. A perfect blend of history and modernity, the Villa has 5 rooms each unique in their design and size with a spectacular view of the Sunstone estate and the surrounding Santa Ynez mountains. It also houses a large kitchen, several terraces (many private), 8 indoor fireplaces and 1 outdoor fireplace in the courtyard.

The Villa is available to rent for private events and sleeps 10 guests. A personal concierge is made available so if you require the services of a private chef, yoga instructor, or masseuse, it can all be arranged in advance.

Sunstone Winery certainly ranks among one of the most beautiful wineries we’ve come across on our Advinetures. If you truly want to experience Old World wine country living without leaving the New World, head to the Santa Ynez Valley just outside of Santa Barbara and stop in for a tasty glass of wine with a view to match.