About Diatom
Diatom is a small-production Santa Barbara County Chardonnay label founded in 2012 by Greg Brewer, the acclaimed winemaker behind Brewer-Clifton, at 2901 Grand Avenue in Los Olivos. The name references diatomaceous earth, the fossilized skeletal remains of single-celled aquatic organisms that form the chalk-white, mineral-dense sedimentary deposits found in the Santa Rita Hills and across the Santa Ynez Valley floor. These ancient soils are a defining feature of the Santa Barbara County wine landscape and a primary reason that Chardonnay achieves such extraordinary mineral complexity and natural acidity in this corner of California.
Diatom is a Chardonnay-only label, reflecting Brewer's singular obsession with the variety and his belief that the Santa Rita Hills and broader Santa Barbara County terroir produce Chardonnay of world-class quality when farmed and vinified with the right combination of restraint and precision. The wines are made with minimal intervention, native fermentation, minimal new oak, no manipulation of acidity, allowing the diatomaceous soils and the cool, marine-influenced growing season to express themselves without winemaker interference.
The Los Olivos tasting room on Grand Avenue is open Thursday through Monday from 11am to 5pm with walk-ins welcome and a $20 tasting fee. Grand Avenue in Los Olivos is one of California's most concentrated and charming small-town wine tasting districts, making Diatom an ideal stop on a broader Los Olivos and Santa Ynez Valley wine exploration.
"Diatom is Greg Brewer's purest statement about Santa Barbara County Chardonnay, a single-variety label that strips away everything except what the soil and the season want to say."
Production is small and the mailing list is the primary channel for the most limited single-vineyard releases. For Chardonnay enthusiasts who want to taste what the Santa Rita Hills' ancient diatomaceous soils can produce in the hands of one of California's most thoughtful white wine specialists, Diatom is an essential Los Olivos destination.
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Diatom's benchmark, unoaked Chardonnay from one of Santa Barbara County's most celebrated and historically significant vineyard sites. Pure varietal expression without oak interference.
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High-elevation Santa Rita Hills Chardonnay, the most austere and mineral-driven in the Diatom lineup, from an elevated ridge site above the marine fog layer.
Tasting Experiences
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Classic Tasting
A guided tasting of current-release wines at Diatom, Sta. Rita Hills AVA Winery & Tasting Room. Contact the winery for current pricing, duration, and availability.
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Group & Private Experiences
Many wineries in Santa Barbara offer private tastings, reserve experiences, or seated tours for groups. Reach out directly to plan.
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Vineyard & Cellar Tours
When available, vineyard or cellar tours offer a deeper look at how Diatom, Sta. Rita Hills AVA & Tasting Room makes its wines. Check the winery's website for schedules.
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Events & Member Programs
Diatom, Sta. Rita Hills AVA & Tasting Room may host seasonal events, harvest activities, or wine club member tastings. Subscribe via the winery's site for updates.
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