Gainey Vineyard

Region / Appellation

Gainey Vineyard was the first winery in Santa Barbara County to own vineyards in both the warm, eastern end of Santa Ynez Valley and the cool, western region of the valley in the Sta. Rita Hills AVA. 

Santa Ynez Valley

The Santa Ynez Valley AVA is known for its warm days and calm winds. Flanked by the Santa Ynez Mountains, the only range on the Pacific Coast that run east-west, the valley is marked by cool ocean breezes that flow inland. Gainey Vineyard first planted grapes on its Home Ranch in 1984, in the warmer, eastern section, which has gained acclaim as a region for growing Bordeaux varieties. 

Sta. Rita Hills

The Sta. Rita Hills AVA benefits from strong winds, morning fog and cool temperatures. These maritime conditions provide a long, cool growing season averaging 30 to 45 days longer than most of California’s grape-growing regions. These conditions also limit vine yields; providing grapes with a rare combination of intense ripeness, concentration, structure, minerality and acidity. The Gainey family purchased its first Sta. Rita Hills property in 1996, five years before the region was designated a sub-appellation of the Santa Ynez Valley AVA.