SANTA BARBARA, Calif., Dec. 13 /PRNewswire/ --

Local winemakers and enthusiasts from around the country gathered in Santa Barbara County's Santa Rita Hills appellation on October 28th and 29th for the inaugural Celebration of Santa Rita Hills event. The festivities began on Friday evening with a dinner honoring winemaker Richard Sanford for his fundamental role in establishing the Santa Rita Hills AVA. Under the setting sun, guests followed a path of luminaries to a candlelight dinner inside the La Purisima Mission that offered a warm, glowing backdrop befitting the heartfelt words of praise and admiration for Sanford's pioneering spirit and resolute dedication. Sanford said, "I am overwhelmed by the heartfelt and genuine tributes paid to me at the event. People were so expressive of their appreciation for my contribution to this wine region."

"The last 35 years have gone by very fast -- I can't imagine any other area in the wine world which has come to such impressive fruition so quickly." Sanford said from his new winery Alma Rosa "Santa Rita Hills is truly established yet what is so wonderful is that visitors to the region have a great sense of discovery." Foley's Rancho Santa Rosa estate hosted the next day's events. Two tasting seminars were moderated by Wine Bible author Karen MacNeil with expert panels including winemakers Richard Sanford of Alma Rosa, Peter Cargasacchi of Cargasacchi Vineyards, Wes Hagen of Clos Pepe Vineyards, John Falcone of Rusack, Chad Melville of Melville, Ashley Parker-Snider of Fess Parker Winery and Alan Phillips of Foley Estates Winery and wine writers Bon Appetit magazine writer and author of Anthony Dias Blue's Pocket Guide to Wine 2006, Anthony Dias Blue, Wine and Spirits magazine's West Coast Editor, Patrick Comiskey and Wine Enthusiast magazine's West Coast Editor and author of A Wine Journey along the Russian River, Steve Heimoff as well as Patrick Will, Importer with Ex Cellars. In the afternoon, a Grand Tasting showcased the wines of 31 Santa Rita Hills wineries. An auction benefiting the Foodbank of Santa Barbara County and a Hacienda dinner closed the event on Saturday evening, with over $16,000 raised for the charity. "What is most exciting to me about this region" says Sandford "is we have a great cadre of young people who are so enthusiastic and excited about the Santa Rita Hills area and the winemaking here, which is propelling it to a whole new level of quality." Orchestrated to cast a well-deserved spotlight on this astounding AVA and its remarkable winemakers, the first annual Celebration of Santa Rita Hills was a full-fledged achievement.

About Santa Rita Hills

Santa Rita Hills was officially designated an American Viticultural Area in 2001, though the Sanford and Benedict Vineyard produced legendary Pinot Noir there as early as 1975. It spans 30,720 acres at the far western end of the Santa Ynez Valley. Its closer proximity to the Pacific Ocean provides a consistently cooler climate than the rest of the valley, and distinguishes it as a particularly ideal area for growing Pinot Noir.

About the Venue:

Rancho Santa Rosa Established in 1998 by William Foley, Rancho Santa Rosa is home to the Foley Estates winery as well as a beautiful 230-acre, hillside vineyard. A testament to the terroir and climate of the Santa Rita Hills, Rancho Santa Rosa is planted to 118 acres of Pinot Noir. In the spirit of Cote d'Or farming, the Pinot Noir vines are divided into 31 unique micro-blocks with virtually every block situated on the steepest hillside terrain. Other Santa Barbara producers sourcing fruit from the property include: Brewer-Clifton, Michael Grace, Longoria, Flying Goat, Gainey, Rusack, Summerland, as well as others. A hospitality center on the property will open in January 2006. For more information about Foley Estates Vineyard and Winery,
visit Foley Wines

About Foodbank of Santa Barbara County.

The mission of the Foodbank is to feed hungry people by obtaining surplus food and distributing it to qualified social service agencies and community groups that serve a wide spectrum of individuals and families. During 2004 the Foodbank of Santa Barbara County collected, sorted, and distributed 5.2 million pounds of food to over 180 social service agencies and community groups. Over 68,000 people were served by Foodbank member agencies last year in Santa Barbara County.
For more information, visit Food Bank