SANFORD
SANTA BARBARA, CALIFORNIA
WHY BUY: Wine Spectator's James Molesworth grabbed everyone's attention last summer when he declared Sanford Winery to be "better than ever," putting the wines of this Pinot Noir and Chardonnay specialist at the forefront of connoisseurs and collectors' minds. This stellar quartet of 95-point wines affirms his declaration. More than that, it brings a combination of excellence and value (4 wines, none over $86) that's rare these days in Californian wine. And we simply have to give a shoutout to winemaker Trey Fletcher for his work here: his current emphasis on soil-level viticulture gives these wines an architectural definition and earthy character that leaves them lingering in your mind long after drinking.
WHAT THEY'RE SAYING: The Wine Advocate swooned over the Pinot Noirs, awarding the 2019 La Rinconada 95+ points for its "alluring stony nuances" and "very long” finish and the 2020 La Rinconada 95 points for its "seamlessly fresh" character and "long finish." International Wine Review joined in on the praise, hailing the 2022 Sanford & Benedict Pinot, in a 94-point rave, for showing "refinement and a very long, focused finish." The Chardonnays proved equally compelling to critics (remember: white wines seldom garner the numbers that reds do), with Wine Enthusiast awarding 94 points to both expressions. It praised the La Rinconada's "extremely tense and chalky" palate and "fascinating frame" and extolled the Sanford & Benedict's "fantastic texture" that's "tense, chalky and bright yet still rich."
THE STORY: What happens when two guys with more vision than sense decide to plant grapes in the middle of nowhere? The saga of Sanford, that’s what. In 1971, Richard Sanford and Michael Benedict looked at a windswept stretch of Santa Barbara County and saw what no one else at the time did: California's answer to Burgundy. This was back when Sta. Rita Hills was just empty land getting pummeled by Pacific fog, long before anyone knew it would become one of America's premier Pinot Noir regions. Benedict, a botanist, understood soil in ways most people understand breathing, while Sanford provided the kind of optimism (or is it blind faith?) required to plant vines where common sense suggested that this was land that was fit only for cattle. Their gamble paid off, and left others to wonder what they had missed out on. Today, under Fletcher's winemaking, the estate appears to have entered a new chapter, one dictated by terroir, and let me tell you: we are so here for it.
OUR TASTING NOTES: What strikes you immediately about these wines is how unmistakably they wear their terroir. The chalky minerality is unmissable, and perhaps the dominant trait here, a kind of stony backbone that summons echoes of the land's ancient marine soils. The Chardonnays have a wonderful, tensile energy that keeps them from feeling too comfortable, with citrus pith and lime working against the chalk in ways that command your full attention. The Pinot Noirs carry that same mineral thread, pushing and pulling against the vibrant red fruit, and holding you in their tension to the very finish. Above all, in all five of these wines, there’s a kind of rootedness, an earthy, throwback character, that speaks to Pacific winds and fog … and that's hard to define, but even harder to resist. Don’t sleep on these.
WHAT TO PAIR THEM WITH: The Pinot Noirs work a kind of magic with pan-seared duck breast, grilled or cedar plank salmon, or earthy, rich mushroom dishes. The Chardonnays have the definition and length that makes them a perfect partner for oysters, especially, but also a juicy roast chicken with herbs.
FUN FACT: Some of the Sanford & Benedict vineyard's original 1971 Pinot Noir vines are still producing on their own rootstock, a real rarity in California.
OUR GUARANTEE: As always, we only buy and source directly from the estate to ensure that your bottles and cases arrive as they should: with pristine provenance guaranteed. Secure yours today!
*Offer NOT valid in-store. This offer is made pre-arrival, with wines estimated to be delivered to your preferred store in Fall 2026. With the supply chain issues that we are seeing globally, there may be some unforeseen delays which could affect the ETA. All sale prices are the lowest available at Total Wine & More and ONLY valid through Concierge Sales. No further discounts or coupons may be applied. Offer not valid in KS, MI, NY, OK, or TN. This offer is valid for TWO WEEKS, or until sold out, and will expire on Sunday, April 12th, 2026.