What to Buy
'06 Byron Historic Vines Nielsen Vineyard Chardonnay Floral, citrus, wet stone, smoky, spicy $35
'07 Cambria Bench Break Pinot Noir Dense velvety fruit, dark, exotic $35
'06 Kinton Syrah Plum, dark berry, cherry, black pepper, smoky dark chocolate $19
Getting There
Take Hwy 101 to Hwy 154 to Los Olivos. Turn left on Grand Ave. Turn right on Alamo Pintado Ave.
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In a pure celebration of terroir, technique, and variety, The Bench opened its doors last year in the quaint town of Los Olivos. The brainchild of the Jackson family, who has been producing Santa Barbara County wines for more than 20 years, the stylish establishment is dedicated to the introduction and exploration of the distinct wines of the Santa Maria Bench and surrounding areas. Located at the eastern edge of the Santa Maria Valley AVA, the Santa Maria Bench stretches six miles from northwest to southwest along the Sisquoc River, in the foothills of the Tepusquet Mountain Range. The sandy, porous soils allow for excellent drainage. A rather reliable morning fog returns in the evening after a consistently warm—rarely scorching—day. This is but a brief description of a singular terroir beloved by winemakers and wine drinkers alike. It is where Santa Barbara County's first vineyard, now known as the Byron Nielson Vineyard, was planted in 1964. Today the area is home to the grapes that become the wines of Kinton, Byron Vineyard and Winery, Cambria Winery and Vineyards, and Io. |
| The Bench pours wines from each of these four labels to give wine tourers a true appreciation of the famous Santa Maria Bench terroir, winemaking techniques, and the variety of wines crafted in this singular region. Under the guidance of Winemaker Peter Fraser, Kinton specializes solely in Syrahs of delightful intensity and balance. Byron produces premier Pinot Noirs and Chardonnays, and Cambria presents Winemaker Denise Shurtleff's exquisite expressions of all three varietals. Io is the label created by Byron's Winemaker Jonathan Nagy to showcase his Rhône wines.
A giant map of this storied region is on display behind The Bench's bar, as well as large screen TVs used for its series of Interactive Educational Exhibits. Regardless of how long they "study" at The Bench, guests are sure to emerge with a new understanding and appreciation for the wines of this singular region.
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