33 years ago,pioneer winemaker, Richard Sanford and botanist, Michael Benedict planted the Sanford & Benedict vineyard, the first Pinot Noir vineyard in the region. At the time, vineyards in this area were unheard of. The local farmers warned, “Grapes will never grow around here”. But, with his degree from UC Berkeley in geography, Richard felt that the soil and climate of this portion of the Santa Ynez Valley were a close parallel to Burgundy, home of the Pinot Noir Richard was hoping he could produce here in California. After five years of passionate work in their vineyard, the first Sanford & Benedict wines were released in 1976 to rave reviews. With the wines so well received, the vineyard quickly gained international recognition and forever changed the perception of the area’s winegrowing potential.

In 1990, Robert Atkin, a businessman from England, purchased the Sanford & Benedict Vineyard and asked Richard to farm it, as he had in the past. Sanford Winery regained access to the grapes from Sanford & Benedict and Mr. Atkin later became a minority partner in the winery.

The Sanford & Benedict is one of the best vineyards for Burgundian varietals in the world. The reason is its location. Situated in the cooler western portion of the Santa Ynez Valley near the ocean on a north-facing slope to protect it from the sometimes scorching midday sun, it is just within the narrow median between a too foggy coastal zone and a too warm inland valley best suited for varietals other than pinot noir and chardonnay.