First Annual Ballard Canyon Connection report

Kiara and I celebrated our 4th anniversary with a trip to Santa Barbara county. We attend the First Annual Ballard Canyon Event. Starting around 10:30, we met in Los Olivos and jumped into vans. We visited four vineyards Tierra Alta, Purisima, Stolpman and Larner. Each vineyard tour was hosted by the respective vineyard manager: John Belfry of Buona Terra Farming, Jeff Newton of Coastal Vineyard Care Associates, Steve Beckmen, and Michael Larner.

One of the highlights was seeing Jeff Newton of Coastal Vineyard Care Associates jump into a 6 foot hole in the Stolpman Vineyard to explain the soil composition.

Check out the video of Jeff Newton describing the soil at Stolpman Vineyards:

Jeff Newton from Coastal Vineyard Care Associates Explaining Sun Exposure on Grapes:

Jeff Newton at Stolpman Vineyard on the Stolpman structure in wines:

After the vineyard tour and dehydrating in the 100+ degree heat, we drank various wines from each vineyard. Wineries included established brands like:

• Tensley


• Carina


• Kaena


• Beckmen


• Kenneth-Crawford


• Stolpman


• Herman Story


• McPrice Myers

and some new ones (at least to me):

• Harrison-Clarke,


• Blair Fox


• Departure


• Lea

Blair Fox is the winemaker at Fess Parker who is making 2 syrahs- Larner and Tierra Alta, I believe. Lea is Joey Tensley's wife; she provided a Rose and has a Santa Rita Hills Pinot coming. Departure is a new winery with three partners, Tim Grubb and two other friends. They will be releasing a 2005 Tierra Alta syrah (with a splash of viognier). Good stuff!

I highly recommend this event- well organized, interactive, and a great group of people. For a Rhone varietal lover (and someone curious the impact of different CA growing regions) like me, it was perfect. Nice job organizing Tim Grubb!