About JONATA
JONATA is a 600-acre estate in the Ballard Canyon AVA of the Santa Ynez Valley, owned by Stan Kroenke and produced under the winemaking direction of Matt Dees at 2240 Santa Rosa Road in Lompoc. The name is the Spanish rendering of the biblical Jonah, a figure of transformation and emergence, and the estate's wines reflect a similarly transformative ambition: to produce Santa Barbara County wines that compete with the world's finest at their best. Founded in 2004, JONATA has achieved that ambition with remarkable speed, earning critical recognition that has placed it among California's most celebrated and sought-after small-production estates.
The Ballard Canyon AVA location is crucial to understanding JONATA's character. The canyon's unique east-west orientation channels marine air from the Pacific through the Santa Ynez Valley, moderating temperatures and extending the growing season in a way that allows Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Cabernet Franc to ripen fully while retaining the natural acidity and structural complexity that distinguish great wine from merely good wine. Winemaker Matt Dees' biodynamic farming approach and minimal intervention winemaking philosophy allow the estate's exceptional terroir to express itself without correction or enhancement.
Tastings are by appointment only at $75, with an intimate and personalized format that reflects the estate's premium positioning and the depth of the wines being poured. Production is deliberately small, and allocation through the mailing list is the primary channel for securing access to JONATA's most limited and critically acclaimed releases.
"JONATA is Santa Barbara County winemaking at its most ambitious and most accomplished, a biodynamic estate in Ballard Canyon producing wines that have earned their place in the conversation with California's very finest."
For collectors and serious wine enthusiasts who follow Santa Barbara County's premium tier, JONATA represents one of the region's most compelling and consistently celebrated estate expressions. The combination of exceptional terroir, biodynamic viticulture, and Matt Dees' precision winemaking has established JONATA as a benchmark for what Ballard Canyon, and Santa Barbara County more broadly, can achieve at its highest level.
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Featured Wines
Red · Flagship
El Alma de Jonata
Cabernet Sauvignon Blend
JONATA's prestige expression, a Bordeaux blend from the Ballard Canyon estate showing the warm, structured character of Happy Canyon Cabernet at its most ambitious and age-worthy.
Red Wine
Syrah
Ballard Canyon Estate
Estate Syrah from the warm, sheltered Ballard Canyon, rich and structured with the dark fruit and spice that this Santa Barbara AVA delivers to Syrah in its most concentrated form.
Red Wine
La Sangre de Jonata
Syrah Blend
JONATA's most distinctive red, a rich, structured Syrah-dominant blend showing the Ballard Canyon estate's capacity for wines of genuine power and complexity.
Tasting Experiences
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Classic Tasting
A guided tasting of current-release wines at JONATA, Ballard Canyon AVA Winery & Tasting Room. Contact the winery for current pricing, duration, and availability.
Contact winery
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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.
By appointment
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Vineyard & Cellar Tours
When available, vineyard or cellar tours offer a deeper look at how JONATA, Ballard Canyon AVA & Tasting Room makes its wines. Check the winery's website for schedules.
Varies
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Events & Member Programs
JONATA, Ballard Canyon 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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