Santa Barbara County features a unique transverse mountain range, running from east to west that funnels oceanic influence into the valleys. Morning maritime fog rolls in slowly and finally meets the warm desert air flowing from the east and the Los Padres National Forest. This climatic result is very similar to what happens in the regions of Piemonte and Friuli, except that the elements are reversed. There, the Alps send extremely cold mountain air down into the hills as the Adriatic and Mediterranean Seas create a warming air that comes into the hills and valleys. In either case, this unique "push-pull" of warm and cool, combined with oceanic influence sets the stage for optimal growing conditions for select Italian wine grapes. Santa Barbara County enjoys the longest growing season in California, making Palmina's harvest season stretch from August (crisp whites like Pinot Grigio and Tocai Friulano) through November (rich reds such as Lagrein and Nebbiolo).
Palmina is very fortunate to work with some great vineyards
throughout the county:
 Honea Vineyard, Santa Ynez Valley:
the Honea family planted the vineyard specifically for
Palmina. The vineyard includes Arneis, Moscato, Pinot
Grigio, Tocai Friulano, Barbera, Dolcetto, Lagrein, Merlot,
Nebbiolo and Sangiovese.
Walker Vineyard, Santa Ynez Valley:
Don and Shirley Walker planted Barbera and Dolcetto just
across the street from Honea Vineyard. Palmina now farms and manages
the vineyard, and Walker Vineyard-designated wines are
truly “grown, produced and bottled” by Palmina.
Larner Vineyard, Santa Ynez Valley:
the Larner Vineyard is rightly famous for the quality
of the Rhone varietals grown there, but founders Stevan and Christine Larner
also planted an Italy-like boot-shaped block with Malvasia Bianca
especially for Palmina. This is now farmed by a second
generation of Larners. Michael and his wife Christina
Larner live on site and Monica Larner returns regularly
from her adopted home in Italy.
Alisos Vineyard, Santa Barbara County:
located off Alisos Canyon Road and high above the town of Los Alamos, the Alisos
Vineyard is farmed by Loren Collahan. The vineyard provides
Palmina with Pinot Grigio and Barbera in addition to the
Sangiovese and Merlot that are used to create Palmina's
signature red wine blend, Alisos. Alisos was one of the first vineyards to plant Sangiovese in Santa Barbara County.
 Sisquoc Vineyard, Santa Maria Valley:
Part of an 1852 Spanish land grant, the hillside vineyard
looks down on the Sisquoc River, both located in a transverse
valley that opens directly to the nearby Pacific Ocean.
Cool nights, warm days, gentle breezes and morning sea
fog at Rancho Sisquoc spell the perfect environment for
the Michet clone of Nebbiolo.
Stolpman Vineyard, Santa Ynez Valley:
one of the signature vineyards in Ballard Canyon, the
Stolpman Vineyard provides Palmina with the Lampia clone
of Nebbiolo grapes.
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