Owner Richard Sanford was a pioneer in Santa Barbara County viticulture and winemaking, planting the Sanford & Benedict Vineyard in what is now know as the Santa Rita Hills back in 1970. He was the first to see the potential of the Santa Rita Hills region for Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. He went on to develop a respected and large winery, Sanford Winery, which had a small, quaint tasting room at 7250 Santa Rosa Road west of Hwy 101 in Buellton made famous by the movie, Sideways. A few years ago Richard lost the winery to his business partners, but retained considerable vineyard acreage incuding El Jabali Vineyard and La Encantada Vineyard and began a new venture, Alma Rosa. Alma Rosa has now reacquired the original tasting room. Both a Santa Rita Hills and El Encantada Vineyard Pinot Noir are top shelf wines.