Santa Barbara County’s lengthy growing season and coastal climate make the appellation a perfect place to grow balanced and concentrated Chardonnay fruit. The southerly location of these inland valley vineyards provides generous sunshine to ripen grapes to full maturity, while the direct influence of the Pacific Ocean moderates the heat, making this one of the coolest growing regions in California. The east-west, transverse valleys, unique to this region, open the vineyards directly to the maritime fog and breeze, cooling the sunny valleys significantly.