I take drives. I like driving. Sometimes to clear my head and sometimes to fill it. One of the things I like best about the Santa Ynez Valley is the natural beauty that is everywhere you look. Less than 5 miles from our house is the awesomeness called Ballard Canyon. This is an official American Viticultural Area (AVA), one of six in Santa Barbara County. "In 1974, Gene Hallock founded the Ballard Canyon Winery, on what is now Rusack Vineyards. In the 90’s, the Stolpman, Beckmen, Harrison, Larner, and Saarloos families planted vineyards, followed by Jonata and Tierra Alta...Ballard Canyon, encompass[es] 7,700 acres [and] accounts for only 10% of the Santa Ynez Valley AVA...Over half of the [Ballard Canyon] AVA’s planted acreage is Syrah." (taken from ballardcanyonava.org)