2016 Pinot Noir Founders Vines, Sanford

The Origin Story

From the original 1971 own-rooted vines of the historic Sanford & Benedict Vineyard, this is Pinot Noir with pedigree and poise. The nose is beautifully savoury and complex, opening with red cherry, cranberry and dried rose, then drifting into nutmeg, sage, baked earth and a whisper of chanterelle and star anise. On the palate, it feels ethereal yet detailed, with bright red fruit, bay leaf, pepper and a fine thread of acidity carrying everything long and graceful. Subtle tannins and a gentle earthy spice give it shape without ever weighing it down.

For when: the Pinot deserves proper glassware and your full attention.
Pairs with: duck breast, roast quail, wild mushrooms or truffle chicken.
If this wine were a place: an old coastal vineyard just as the evening fog rolls in.

A tribute to Richard Sanford and Michael Benedict, this tiny production bottling was made from just three barrels, selected from the founding block of one of California’s most iconic Pinot Noir sites. Wine Enthusiast awarded it 94 points, praising its elegance, spice and age-worthy acidity.

Few wineries can claim to have helped create an entire wine region. Sanford Winery is one of them. In 1971, Richard Sanford and Michael Benedict planted the Sanford & Benedict Vineyard, the first vineyard in what would later become the Sta. Rita Hills AVA. Their belief that this cool, windswept corner of Santa Barbara County could produce world-class Pinot Noir and Chardonnay proved revolutionary. Today the region is considered one of California’s greatest cool-climate terroirs for Burgundian varieties.

At the heart of the estate are the historic Sanford & Benedict and La Rinconada vineyards, where ocean breezes from the nearby Pacific create a long growing season and wines of remarkable freshness and precision. The style here is defined by balance rather than power, Chardonnay with mineral tension and Pinot Noir with perfume, structure and elegance. These are wines that capture the unique character of the Sta. Rita Hills, a place where California sunshine meets coastal cool and the result is something truly special.