The Santa Ynez Valley AVA contains four district AVAs: Sta. Rita Hills, Happy Canyon of Santa Barbara, Ballard Canyon and Los Olivos District. Santa Barbara County has seven AVAs in total.
How many AVAs does Santa Barbara County have?
Seven, according to Santa Barbara Vintners [1].
Which AVAs are inside Santa Ynez Valley?
Sta. Rita Hills, Happy Canyon, Ballard Canyon and Los Olivos District [1][2]. Think of the Santa Ynez Valley AVA as the big frame and these four as the neighborhoods inside it.
Where can I taste Sta. Rita Hills wines?
Drive Highway 246 and Santa Rosa Road between Buellton and Lompoc, where several wineries in our directory pour, then add the Lompoc Wine Ghetto [3][4].
Good to know
How many district AVAs are in the Santa Ynez Valley AVA? Four: Sta. Rita Hills, Happy Canyon, Ballard Canyon and Los Olivos District.
Sources
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- Santa Barbara Vintners, 2024 Facts & Figures
- SAMsARA Wine Co., AVAs of Santa Barbara Wine Country
- Explore Lompoc, The Lompoc Wine Ghetto
- Sustainable Wine Tours, Lompoc Wine Ghetto
Facts checked 2026-10-16. Spot something out of date? Tell us.
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