American Viticultural Area · CA
Santa Ynez Valley
Santa Ynez Valley is a federally-designated American Viticultural Area in CA, established in 1983. The map below shows its official TTB boundary alongside nearby AVAs.
The Santa Ynez Valley boundary is highlighted. Nearby AVAs are rendered in gray — click any of them to view that AVA's page.
At a glance
Established
1983
State
CA
Climate
Mediterranean
Boundary recorded in 27 CFR Part 9 · Source: TTB
About the Santa Ynez Valley AVA
Santa Ynez Valley, designated 1983, is a major AVA in Santa Barbara County, on California's Central Coast. It occupies one of the few transverse, east-west valleys on the West Coast, which lets Pacific air flow directly inland. That geography creates a strong temperature gradient: the western end, nearest the ocean, is cool and fog-influenced, while the eastern end, farther inland, is markedly warmer. Santa Ynez Valley lies within the larger Central Coast AVA and contains several smaller AVAs, including Sta. Rita Hills, Ballard Canyon, Los Olivos District, and Happy Canyon of Santa Barbara.
Because of that west-to-east climate range, the valley grows an unusually broad mix of varieties. Cool western sites favor Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, the central districts are known for Syrah and other Rhône varieties, and the warm eastern end ripens Bordeaux varieties like Cabernet Sauvignon and Sauvignon Blanc. This diversity makes Santa Ynez one of the most stylistically varied AVAs in California.
Nearby AVAs
Other American Viticultural Areas closest to Santa Ynez Valley — useful when a vineyard sits inside more than one AVA at once.