About Star Lane Vineyard
Star Lane Vineyard, located at the far eastern end of the Santa Ynez Valley, is both the warmest and the highest elevation vineyard in the appellation. The 4,000 acre property is planted to 237 acres of grapevines.
Backing up to the lower slopes of the San Rafael Mountains, Star Lane features a unique range of weathered sand, gravel and alluvial cobbles over a clay/loam subsoil. With both excellent drainage and good water holding capacity in the subsoil, the conditions mimic those of the best properties of Bordeaux. Visually, the vineyard is on the demarcation line where pine trees naturally grow and thus has a different climate than any other area within Santa Barbara County. Yet it still enjoys the marine influence from the east/west directional positioning of the Santa Ynez Valley. Star Lane is a quilt-like vineyard with valley floor, bench and mountaintop blocks each planted to rootstock and clones chosen specifically for each unique site.
The lower elevations enjoy warmer days and cooler nights, while the higher elevations experience the opposite - cooler days and warmer nights. Planting began in 1996, and there are now eighty separate blocks planted, comprised of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Petit Verdot, Sauvignon Blanc and Syrah. Careful clonal selection, meticulous farming and a focus on balanced vines, combined with the array of different characteristics from each vineyard block provide the winemaker with a rich palette from which to craft wines of distinction.
Star Lane Vineyard, located at the far eastern end of the Santa Ynez Valley, is both the warmest and the highest elevation vineyard in the appellation. The 4,000 acre property is planted to 237 acres of grapevines.
Backing up to the lower slopes of the San Rafael Mountains, Star Lane features a unique range of weathered sand, gravel and alluvial cobbles over a clay/loam subsoil. With both excellent drainage and good water holding capacity in the subsoil, the conditions mimic those of the best properties of Bordeaux. Visually, the vineyard is on the demarcation line where pine trees naturally grow and thus has a different climate than any other area within Santa Barbara County. Yet it still enjoys the marine influence from the east/west directional positioning of the Santa Ynez Valley. Star Lane is a quilt-like vineyard with valley floor, bench and mountaintop blocks each planted to rootstock and clones chosen specifically for each unique site.
The lower elevations enjoy warmer days and cooler nights, while the higher elevations experience the opposite - cooler days and warmer nights. Planting began in 1996, and there are now eighty separate blocks planted, comprised of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Petit Verdot, Sauvignon Blanc and Syrah. Careful clonal selection, meticulous farming and a focus on balanced vines, combined with the array of different characteristics from each vineyard block provide the winemaker with a rich palette from which to craft wines of distinction.