Santa Barbara 1990 Vintage Report
Defining the 1990 vintage in Santa Barbara requires looking beyond the averages, as it was a year of contrasting fortunes and precise timing.
Spring was steady if unremarkable, with the vines navigating the vulnerable flowering stage without major incident.
The growing season was solar and generous. Accumulating 1710 Growing Degree Days (GDD), the summer provided consistent warmth that drove steady sugar accumulation.
The season concluded with a pristine harvest window. With negligible rain (10mm), pickers could wait for perfect phenolic maturity, harvesting each block at its absolute zenith.
**Style:** Classically proportioned wines with good balance and terroir expression.
About Santa Barbara
Unique for its transverse mountain ranges, Santa Barbara funnels cool ocean air deep inland. This creates a paradise for Pinot Noir and Chardonnay in the west, and Syrah and Bordeaux varieties in the warmer east.
Climatic Blueprint
Growing Degree Days (GDD)
Total Rainfall
Sunshine Hours
Diurnal Shift
Frost Days
Average Temperature
Historical Context (10 Years)
Comparison of growing season heat accumulation vs regional average.
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