One of California's greatest homes for Chardonnay, from Burgundian to lean and mineral. Updated for 2026.
Santa Barbara County is one of California's greatest homes for Chardonnay, and if you love the grape, this is a pilgrimage worth making. The county's unusual east-west valleys funnel cold Pacific air inland, giving the Santa Maria Valley and the Sta. Rita Hills a long, cool growing season that produces Chardonnay of real tension and complexity, from rich and Burgundian to lean and mineral. The region's reputation was built by legends like Au Bon Climat on famous vineyards such as Bien Nacido, and a new generation of low-intervention producers keeps it at the cutting edge.
Below are the Santa Barbara wineries we think best represent Chardonnay, from a Burgundian legend to a cult, low-intervention name and famous-vineyard values. We have spread them across the county's cool-climate appellations and styles. These are a mix of seated and walkable tastings; reserve ahead for the estates. Current as of October 2026.
The Burgundian legend
The late Jim Clendenen's Au Bon Climat is a Santa Barbara legend and one of California's great Chardonnay houses, making complex, age-worthy, Burgundian-styled Chardonnay from top Santa Maria and Sta. Rita sites.
Good to know: Tastings at a Santa Barbara city room; walkable. Santa Barbara.
Our tip: Taste the flagship Chardonnay; this is a California benchmark.
The precise, low-intervention Chard
Rajat Parr and Sashi Moorman's Sandhi makes some of the Sta. Rita Hills' most precise, mineral Chardonnay, low-intervention and Burgundian, restrained and tense, a reference for the modern cool-climate style.
Good to know: Seated tastings by reservation. Sta. Rita Hills / Lompoc.
Our tip: A lean, mineral, reference-point Chardonnay; taste it alongside the Pinot.
The famous-vineyard value
Cambria's Santa Maria Valley estate includes the celebrated Katherine's Vineyard, source of a well-priced, reliable, widely loved Chardonnay, an easy, good-value way to taste a famous Santa Barbara site.
Good to know: Seated tastings; estate vineyards. Santa Maria Valley.
Our tip: Taste the Katherine's Vineyard Chardonnay; great value for the pedigree.
The modern hilltop Chard
From its striking Santa Maria Valley hilltop, Presqu'ile makes elegant, cool-climate Chardonnay (alongside Pinot and Sauvignon Blanc), fresh and polished, with one of the county's best tasting views.
Good to know: Seated tastings; hilltop views. Santa Maria Valley.
Our tip: Pair the Chardonnay with the view; a polished, scenic stop.
The founding Chard pioneer
A founding Santa Maria Valley producer, Byron helped define the appellation's cool-climate Chardonnay from some of its oldest, most historic vineyard land, a pedigree name for Chardonnay lovers.
Good to know: Tastings by reservation. Santa Maria Valley.
Our tip: A piece of Chardonnay history; taste the estate bottling.
The Sta. Rita estate Chard
One of the Sta. Rita Hills' founding estates, Foley makes a broad, reliable range of estate Chardonnay (and Pinot) with a gracious tasting house and vineyard views, an easy introduction to cool-climate Chardonnay.
Good to know: Seated tastings; vineyard views. Sta. Rita Hills / Lompoc.
Our tip: A relaxed, scenic estate; a good, broad Chardonnay introduction.
The two-appellation estate
The Dierberg family farms estate vineyards in both the Santa Maria Valley and the Sta. Rita Hills, so their Chardonnay shows two of the county's best cool-climate sites, structured, serious, and age-worthy.
Good to know: Seated tastings by reservation. Sta. Rita Hills / Santa Maria.
Our tip: Compare the two estate Chardonnays; it is a lesson in site.
The old-vine artisan Chard
Gavin Chanin works old, revered vineyards (Bien Nacido, Sanford & Benedict) for restrained, site-driven Chardonnay poured at a relaxed Lompoc Wine Ghetto space, a thoughtful, artisan take on Santa Barbara Chardonnay.
Good to know: Tastings in the Lompoc Wine Ghetto. Sta. Rita Hills area.
Our tip: Taste the old-vine Chardonnay; a thoughtful, small-production artisan.
Santa Barbara Chardonnay comes mainly from two cool-climate appellations, the Santa Maria Valley to the north and the Sta. Rita Hills near Lompoc, with a few producers pouring conveniently in the city of Santa Barbara (Au Bon Climat) and the Lompoc Wine Ghetto (Chanin). A great Chardonnay-focused trip pairs a Santa Maria Valley estate or two (Cambria, Presqu'ile, Byron) with a Sta. Rita Hills stop (Sandhi, Foley, Dierberg), tasting the county's range from rich to mineral. It is genuinely cool here, so bring a layer, and taste comparatively, a Santa Maria Chardonnay against a Sta. Rita one shows how site shapes the grape. Book ahead for the estates, keep to two or three stops, pair with food, and arrange a driver.
Do not assume California Chardonnay means heavy and oaky; Santa Barbara spans styles from Burgundian to lean and mineral, so ask about each producer's approach. Do not stick to one appellation; the Santa Maria Valley and the Sta. Rita Hills taste different, and comparing them is the point. And do not overlook the city and Lompoc rooms if you want to taste great Chardonnay without a long drive.
Is Santa Barbara known for Chardonnay?
Yes. Santa Barbara County is one of California's greatest homes for Chardonnay. Its cool, Pacific-influenced Santa Maria Valley and Sta. Rita Hills produce Chardonnay of real tension and complexity, and its reputation was built by legends like Au Bon Climat on famous vineyards such as Bien Nacido.
What does Santa Barbara Chardonnay taste like?
It spans styles, from rich, complex, Burgundian bottlings to lean, mineral, low-intervention ones, all united by the freshness of a long, cool growing season. Santa Maria Valley Chardonnay and Sta. Rita Hills Chardonnay each have their own character, which makes comparing them rewarding.
Where is the best Chardonnay in Santa Barbara?
Mainly in two cool-climate appellations: the Santa Maria Valley to the north (famous for vineyards like Bien Nacido and Katherine's) and the Sta. Rita Hills near Lompoc. A few producers, like Au Bon Climat in the city and Chanin in the Lompoc Wine Ghetto, also pour conveniently off the vineyard.
Which Santa Barbara wineries are best for Chardonnay?
Au Bon Climat is the Burgundian legend; Sandhi and Chanin make lean, mineral modern styles; Cambria offers famous-vineyard value; Presqu'ile pairs Chardonnay with a hilltop view; and Byron, Foley, and Dierberg bring founding or two-appellation estate pedigree.
How should I plan a Chardonnay tasting trip in Santa Barbara?
Pair a Santa Maria Valley estate or two with a Sta. Rita Hills stop so you taste the county's range from rich to mineral, and add a city or Lompoc room if you want great Chardonnay without a long drive. Bring a layer, taste comparatively, and arrange a driver.
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