Not long ago the Santa Maria Bench was grasslands- a pristine stretch of emerald green in the winter and alchemy gold in the summer. That all changed in 1964 when Uriel Nielson planted Santa Barbara County's first commercial vineyard.
The Byron Estate is located on the site of Mr. Nielson's original plantings. For the past two decades they have experimented to find the best clones, rootstock, trellising and farming protocols for their cool climate and benchland soils. They produce small quantities of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir from our estate and other exceptional vineyards throughout the Santa Maria Valley.
Reviews
Robert Parker 90 Points
The only Chardonnay I tasted from Byron was also outstanding. The 2008 Chardonnay Santa Maria exhibits crisp apple and tropical fruit with loads of background wood, spice, and earth. The wine is medium to full-bodied, pure, and a strong effort. Drink it over the next 1-2 years.
