Elaine continues her series on the wines of Santa Barbara County. See also Tuesday's Chardonnays and yesterday's Pinots. Seen here at the highest point of Ballard Canyon AVA at the top of the steep-sloped, northernmost Tierra Alta Vineyard are winemaker Sonja Magdevski of Casa Dumetz, viticulturist John Belfy (who planted Tierra Alta Vineyard), and Greg Brewer of Brewer-Clifton.
Halfway across the Santa Ynez Valley of Santa Barbara County sits the newest appellation of the region, Ballard Canyon. This small AVA receives the region's regular evening fog while being a bit more protected from afternoon winds than more westerly districts...