Wine
East Meets West
Highlighting recent releases from New York State and Santa Barbara County.
Jonathan Cristaldi · November 6, 2026
See All Producers Featured In This Buyer's Guide
Let me say this loud and clear: Both New York and Santa Barbara County deserve greater attention from American wine buyers. Having covered them extensively for cristaldiandco.com, I am delighted to introduce The Tasting Panel’s first comprehensive buyer’s guide on these two regions, whose varietal and stylistic diversity I regard as a strength, not a weakness. The New York Wine & Grape Foundation’s 2025 vineyard report records more than 155 varieties grown statewide, and so many of them are producing intriguing wines; Santa Barbara Vintners, meanwhile, lists more than 75 grapes across seven appellations. Such breadth gives buyers considerable scope to build selections that reward exploration.
In June, I tasted wines from New York producers at The Red Hook Winery in Brooklyn. In July, I visited Santa Barbara County and conducted a large centralized tasting. In both cases, the quality of the 2024 and 2025 vintages was impressive, with numerous releases deserving immediate consideration for wine programs extending into 2027. The strongest combine exceptional quality, distinctive sense of place, and incredible value: Many are priced to suit ambitious by-the-glass programs as well as bottle lists and retail shelves, and though hand-selling may be necessary, it will be worthwhile. I hope this report encourages you to seek out the producers covered within and request samples.
An extended version will appear on my website and on tastingpanelmag.com.
All 269 East Meets West guide reviews
New York
New York’s growers and producers have leaned into Cabernet Franc as their signature red grape; the quality of the examples that I’ve tasted in the past few years makes their case compelling. The grape ripens earlier than Cabernet Sauvignon, giving them a chance to harvest ahead of potentially harsh late-season weather. In the Finger Lakes region in particular, deep lakes mitigate frosts by moderating temperatures, delaying spring growth and extending autumn ripening, while sloping vineyards direct cold air toward the water instead of settling around the vines.
The best Cabernet Franc wines reflect improved farming methods. Canopy management and crop thinning are critical: Excessive vigor can compromise ripening and increase the green-pepper character associated with methoxypyrazines, whereas timely leaf removal can reduce those compounds, helping producers obtain ripeness while preserving the freshness and elegant, savory complexity that distinguish New York’s Cabernet Francs from, say, the fruit-forward, full-throttle examples from California.
The state’s bubblies and whites warrant equally serious consideration. Long Island’s sparkling wines were particular highlights during my tastings, earning scores as high as those of the strongest Cabernet Francs.
The Vineyard Landscape
Hybrids and native varieties remain integral to New York’s regional diversity; the Finger Lakes Wine Alliance has embraced the term “heirloom grapes” to highlight those that are at least 100 years old. Hybrids indeed represent a significant part of the state’s plantings, with 1,363 of 17,414 total acres reported across the Finger Lakes, Long Island, and Hudson River regions (1,277 of them in the former), giving buyers another substantial category to explore alongside the Vitis vinifera wines, which are achieving great results across the board thanks to better canopy management.
Of these, Riesling is the most-planted white winegrape, with 805 acres in production, followed by Chardonnay at 630 acres; Cabernet Franc leads the reds with 488 acres, narrowly exceeding Merlot’s 481 acres.
As of 2025, the Finger Lakes region reported 4,908 acres in grape production, compared with Long Island’s 1,784 acres (where Vitis vinifera accounted for 98% of reported plantings). The Hudson River Region reported 205 acres, including 119 acres of vinifera—but despite its considerably smaller vineyard footprint, it delivered several outstanding wines during my tastings.
The 2024 and 2025 Growing Seasons
Because producers follow different release schedules, I tasted wines from the 2021 through 2025 vintages. This report, however, focuses on 2024 and 2025, as buyers are most likely to be looking at those.
In 2024, much of New York experienced an unusually warm growing season, and favorable ripening conditions prevailed overall. In the Finger Lakes, Geneva recorded 3.6 inches of rain on August 9, followed by relatively dry conditions in late August and September that supported ripening and limited bunch rot. In the Hudson Valley, Poughkeepsie’s September highs averaged 76.9 degrees Fahrenheit and its lows 52.6 degrees, with just 0.57 inches of rain. Whitecliff began harvesting in late August and reported good quality, ensuring expressive base wines for sparkling production. On Long Island, an April 26 frost caused substantial crop losses at some estates, including Paumanok Vineyards, before excellent ripening conditions followed. Islip’s September highs averaged 75 degrees and lows 58 degrees, with a record-low rainfall total of 0.24 inches.
The 2025 growing season was warm but close to the decade average. In the Finger Lakes, a wet spring gave way to a warm summer and dry September. Temperatures in July hovered around 84 degrees with lows around 65, followed by September average highs of 75 degrees and lows of 53 degrees. Monthly rainfall declined from 5.3 inches in May to 0.5 inches in September. In the Hudson Valley, September highs averaged 78 degrees and lows around 52 degrees; on Long Island, highs hovered near 78 degrees and lows around 61 degrees—warmer than 2024, with below-normal rainfall.
Quality Across Styles
As noted above, New York’s Cabernet Franc wines are coming in hot, delivering the state’s strongest combination of quality and value. Lakewood Vineyards’ concentrated, finely textured 2024 and Lamoreaux Landing Wine Cellars’ fresh, satiny 2024 MJW Vineyard Unoaked bottling both earned 95 points, at $20 and $26, respectively (talk about value!). Millbrook Vineyards & Winery’s 95-point Block Three East demonstrated the Hudson River Region’s capacity for savory complexity and refined tannins.
On the white wine front, Dr. Konstantin Frank Winery’s 2025 Eugenia Dry Riesling combined depth with bracing acidity, earning 95 points, while Acquilano Wine Cellars’ 94-point 2024 Chardonnay balanced richness and polished texture with freshness. Montezuma Winery’s 2024 Voleur Dry Riesling offered a particularly revealing example of cellar experimentation: a wild pied-de-cuvée fermentation, followed by contrasting treatment in acacia and concrete, yielded honeyed complexity, creamy texture, and good energy.
Long Island’s sparkling wines continue to impress. Memorable sips range from Macari Vineyards’ lively 2025 HORSES pét-nat to Sparkling Pointe’s 96-point 2020 Blanc de Blancs, whose aging regimen of four years on the lees contributed pastry notes and a creamy mousse without sacrificing tension.
New York State Buyer’s Guide
Over 175 wines were reviewed for this report. The entire list of wines and my full reviews are available at tastingpanelmag.com.
All 269 East Meets West guide reviews
Best Buys for By-the-Glass Placements
*SRP is provided by the winery or is an average based on wine-searcher.com results. Please confirm exact SRP with the winery.
| Score | Wine | SRP |
|---|---|---|
| 93 | Airy Acres Vineyard 2022 Dry Riesling, Cayuga Lake, Finger Lakes, New York | $18 |
| 93 | Mazza Chautauqua Cellars 2021 Pinot Grigio, Finger Lakes, New York | $20 |
| 93 | Heart & Hands Wine Company 2023 Esoterra, Finger Lakes, New York | $20 |
| 93 | Montezuma Winery 2024 Voleur Dry Riesling, Finger Lakes, New York | $24 |
| 93 | Ryan William Vineyard 2024 Cabernet Franc, Finger Lakes, New York | $24 |
| 93 | Mazza Chautauqua Cellars 2019 Merlot, Long Island, New York | $26 |
| 93 | Idol Ridge Winery 2024 Local Culture Chosen Home Red, Finger Lakes, New York | $28 |
| 92 | Idol Ridge Winery 2024 Local Culture Delaware, Finger Lakes, New York | $24 |
| 92 | Atwater Vineyards 2023 Chardonnay Reserve, Seneca Lake, Finger Lakes, New York | $28 |
| 91 | Billsboro Winery 2025 Uva White, Finger Lakes, New York | $18 |
| 91 | Element Winery 2023 In Our Element Riesling, Finger Lakes, New York | $28 |
| 90 | Acquilano Wine Cellars 2024 Blaufränkisch, Finger Lakes, New York | $25 |
Best Buys for Bottle Lists
| Score | Wine | SRP |
|---|---|---|
| 97 | Paumanok Vineyards 2022 Assemblage Red Blend, North Fork of Long Island, New York | $75 |
| 95 | Dr. Konstantin Frank Winery 2025 Eugenia Dry Riesling, Finger Lakes, New York | $39 |
| 95 | Red Hook Winery 2010 Legacy Series Red Wine Lot #311, New York | $60 |
| 94 | Milea Estate Vineyard 2023 Farmhouse BDX Red Blend, New York | $35 |
| 94 | Macari Vineyards 2022 Merlot, North Fork of Long Island, New York | $40 |
| 94 | Damiani Wine Cellars 2024 Pinot Noir Reserve, Finger Lakes, New York | $65 |
| 94 | Atwater Vineyards 2024 Blaufränkisch, Finger Lakes, New York | $34 |
| 93 | Heart & Hands Wine Company 2024 Aligoté, Finger Lakes, New York | $36 |
| 92 | Lakewood Vineyards 2024 Sixty/40, Finger Lakes, New York | $40 |
| 91 | Element Winery 2021 In Our Element Chardonnay, Finger Lakes, New York | $55 |
 |  |
Best Value Picks
*94-plus-point wines for $30 or less
| Score | Wine | SRP |
|---|---|---|
| 96 | Dr. Konstantin Frank Winery 2023 Cabernet Franc, Finger Lakes, New York | $28 |
| 95 | Glenora Wine Cellars 2023 Cabernet Franc, Finger Lakes, New York | $19 |
| 95 | Lakewood Vineyards 2024 Cabernet Franc, Finger Lakes, New York | $20 |
| 95 | Lamoreaux Landing Wine Cellars 2024 MJW Vineyard Unoaked Cabernet Franc, Finger Lakes, New York | $26 |
| 95 | Apollo's Praise 2024 Pentecostal Block Dry Riesling, Lahoma Vineyard, Seneca Lake, Finger Lakes, New York | $27 |
| 94 | Boundary Breaks Vineyard 2024 Cabernet Franc, Finger Lakes, New York | $25 |
| 94 | Airy Acres Vineyard 2025 Rkatsiteli, Cayuga Lake, Finger Lakes, New York | $25 |
| 94 | Anthony Road Wine Company 2023 Cabernet Franc, Seneca Lake, New York | $28 |
| 94 | Acquilano Wine Cellars 2024 Chardonnay, Finger Lakes, New York | $30 |
Cabernet Franc: New York’s Signature Red
| Score | Wine | SRP |
|---|---|---|
| 96 | Millbrook Vineyards and Winery 2024 Cabernet Franc Clone 623, Hudson River, New York | $55 |
| 95 | Anthony Road Wine Company 2023 Martini-Becraft Selection Cabernet Franc, Seneca Lake, New York | $47 |
| 95 | Milea Estate Vineyard 2023 Reserve Cabernet Franc, New York | $50 |
| 95 | Millbrook Vineyards and Winery 2024 Cabernet Franc Block Three East, Hudson River, New York | $50 |
| 94 | Macari Vineyards 2024 Cabernet Franc, North Fork of Long Island, New York | $38 |
| 94 | Damiani Wine Cellars 2024 Cabernet Franc Reserve, Finger Lakes, New York | $60 |
| 94 | Apollo's Praise 2024 Lahoma Vineyard Cabernet Franc, Finger Lakes (Seneca Lake), New York | $26 |
Top Sparkling Wines
| Score | Wine | SRP |
|---|---|---|
| 96 | Sparkling Pointe 2020 Blanc de Blancs, North Fork of Long Island, New York | $48 |
| 96 | Sparkling Pointe 2019 Boisseau Blanc de Blancs, North Fork of Long Island, New York | $58 |
| 94 | Glenora Wine Cellars 2017 Blanc de Blanc, Finger Lakes, New York | $29 |
| 94 | Hermann J. Wiemer Vineyard 2021 Brut Rosé, Seneca Lake, Finger Lakes, New York | $50 |
| 94 | Paumanok Vineyards 2021 Blanc de Chenin, North Fork of Long Island, New York | $55 |
| 92 | Standing Stone by Hermann J. Wiemer Vineyard 2024 Saperavi Brut Rosé, Seneca Lake, Finger Lakes, New York | $36 |
Santa Barbara County
Wines of joy, wines of light, and wines of tension: My most recent tastings reinforced my previous impressions that Santa Barbara County’s Chardonnays and Pinot Noirs rank among the best in the country. The former delivered a rare 100-point wine in the form of Liquid Farm’s 2024 Golden Slope—the best bottling James Sparks has ever made. A close second was Dragonette Cellars’ 2024 Rita’s Crown Chardonnay at 99 points. For me, these two producers represent the region’s benchmarks, showing what is possible with smart growing and picking decisions and a light touch in the cellar. On the latter front, several 2024 Pinots were equally arresting in their concentration and complexity.
Alongside other distinctive whites at accessible prices and outstanding Rhône varieties that are showing continued growth potential, these wines give restaurant and retail buyers ample reason to deepen their Santa Barbara selections.
The Vineyard Landscape
Santa Barbara County’s best vineyards occupy hillsides and valley floor sites along the Santa Ynez River in a uniquely east-west corridor sandwiched between the Santa Ynez and San Rafael mountains. Warmer air inland draws in cooler Pacific breezes and fog, creating substantial diurnal shifts and varying degrees of sun exposure, depending on when the fog burns off. Chardonnay and Pinot Noir excel in these conditions throughout the Sta. Rita Hills and Santa Maria Valley AVAs, while warmer appellations like Happy Canyon are ideally suited for the production of structured, savory-spiced red Rhône and Bordeaux varieties—not to mention Sauvignon Blanc.
The county’s 2025 crop report underscores the commercial importance of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir: Of 10,649 harvested acres of winegrapes, the former accounted for 3,200 acres and the latter for 2,898 acres. While plantings of Sauvignon Blanc (878 acres), Syrah (835), Cabernet Sauvignon (499), and Grenache (265) are much smaller, their quality is undeniable, and they deserve considerably more space on wine lists and retail shelves.
The 2023–2025 Growing Seasons
Again, because producers follow different release schedules, most of the wines I tasted were from 2023 and 2024, with a smattering from 2025. The former was an outstanding vintage for Santa Barbara County. Abundant winter rain replenished soils before the long, cool growing season that ripened grapes slowly while preserving natural acidity. Despite mildew pressure, extended hang time delivered complex flavors and vivid colors, and the resulting wines are fresh and focused, especially in the cases of Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Rhône varieties.
In 2024, a cool, wet spring contributed to uneven fruit set in some vineyards and a relatively small crop across the board, particularly for Pinot Noir. Wine Institute reported that yields were down by nearly 50% for some crops, in particular Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Noir. In the Santa Ynez Valley, the July Lake Fire may have caused localized issues for growers, but I did not taste any wines with smoke taint. September brought a brief heat spike—measuring 92 degrees on the 5th—followed by cooler conditions, making picking decisions consequential; the month’s highs averaged 73 degrees Fahrenheit and the lows 53 degrees. More patient growers harvested grapes with enough ripe fruit character to balance the pronounced tannins and acids that developed over the season.
In 2025, cool conditions supported even-keeled bunch maturation. Per Wine Institute, favorable fruit set, average yields, and maturity at lower sugar levels supported the expectations of fresh acidity and lower alcohol set by the lack of substantial heat spikes. Harvest began around August 20, but cool weather prolonged picking, and late-season rain further complicated matters. Only time will tell whether the cooler season delivered exceptional reds, but the whites combine expressive fruit with freshness and balance; I’ll follow up with a fuller assessment of the reds as they reach the market.
Quality Across Styles
My tastings confirmed that Chardonnays from Sta. Rita Hills and Santa Maria Valley are among the most beautifully structured, intensely flavored, and vibrant wines on the market, embodying their coastal terroir—including those diatomaceous soils and sea breezes—through sea-spray aromatics, laser-focused acidity, rich fruit, and generous texture. Dare I say they are giving growers reason to plant even more Chardonnay? I wonder—though the diversity of the microclimates here ensures that, as Babcock Winery & Vineyards’ Bryan Babcock once put it, the region is “a phenomenon: We can grow so many interesting varieties and they all make these pretty, structured, acid-driven, and pure-fruited wines.”
As for Pinot Noir, the 2024 wines generally showed greater fruit density and palate weight than the more ethereal, aromatically lifted 2023 releases. The Melville 2024 Block M, at 97 points, was powerful and structured, with dark cherry, savory herbs, and layered tannins. Sandhi’s 2024 Jalama Canyon Ranch bottling, also 97 points, combined aromatic lift, savory complexity, and fine-grained grip. The Joy Fantastic’s 96-point 2024 Estate Pinot offered vivid red fruit and spice, plus a bit more flesh than the 2023 vintage. These are all persuasive purchases for serious Pinot programs.
Syrah, in my view, remains essential for Santa Barbara County and for beverage programs promoting the region. Holus Bolus’ 2024 Franc de Pied and Stolpman Vineyards’ 2024 Great Places Ruben Solorzano each earned 98 points, joining perfumed fruit with depth and energetic acidity (secure the former wine while you still can, as this was its final vintage). Future Perfect’s 2024 Portico Hills Grenache, at 94 points, offered another compelling angle on Rhône varieties, with peppery red fruit and measured tannic grip.
But buying opportunities extend well beyond the region’s signature grapes. Tatomer’s 2025 Meeresboden Grüner Veltliner earned 95 points at $26; Ampelos Cellars’ 2025 Martian Vineyard Viognier scored 94 points at $29; and Foxen Vineyard’s 2025 Chenin Blanc received 93 points at $30. These are distinctive, food-friendly whites with clear potential for by-the-glass programs and hand-selling at retail. At the luxury end, Crown Point Vineyard’s 100-point 2023 Cabernet Sauvignon ($175) demonstrated the caliber of Happy Canyon’s finest wines.
Santa Barbara County Buyer’s Guide
Over 175 wines were reviewed for this report. The entire list of wines and my full reviews are available at tastingpanelmag.com.
Best Buys for By-the-Glass Placements
*SRP is provided by the winery or is an average based on wine-searcher.com results. Please confirm exact SRP with the winery.
| Score | Wine | SRP |
|---|---|---|
| 95 | Tatomer 2025 Meeresboden Grüner Veltliner, Santa Barbara County | $26 |
| 94 | Carr Winery 2025 Open Gate Vineyard Vermentino, Los Olivos District, Santa Barbara County | $35 |
| 94 | Presqu'ile 2023 Syrah, Santa Barbara County | $24 |
| 94 | Ampelos Cellars 2025 Martian Vineyard Viognier, Santa Barbara County | $28 |
| 93 | Jennifer Gray Wine 2025 McGinley Vineyard Grenache Blanc, Happy Canyon of Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara County | $34 |
| 93 | Turning Tide 2023 Picpoul, Happy Canyon of Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara County | $24 |
Best Buys for Bottle Lists
| Score | Wine | SRP |
|---|---|---|
| 100 | Crown Point 2023 Cabernet Sauvignon, Happy Canyon of Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara County | $175 |
| 99 | Stolpman Vineyards 2024 Savagnin, Ballard Canyon, Santa Barbara County | $72 |
| 98 | Crown Point 2023 Cabernet Franc, Happy Canyon of Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara County | $175 |
| 95 | Gainey Estate Vineyards 2023 Patrick's Vineyard Selection, Santa Ynez Valley, Santa Barbara County | $90 |
| 94 | Refugio Ranch Vineyards 2023 Escondrijo, Santa Ynez Valley, Santa Barbara County | $60 |
| 94 | Roblar Winery & Vineyards 2023 Reserve Merlot, Santa Ynez Valley, Santa Barbara County | $70 |
| 93 | Coquelicot Estate Vineyard 2021 Estate Reserve Cabernet Franc, Santa Barbara County | $75 |
| 93 | Longoria Wines 2023 Cabernet Franc, Santa Barbara County | $60 |
| 92 | The Brander Vineyard 2024 Au Naturel Estate Sauvignon Blanc, Los Olivos District, Santa Barbara County | $37 |
Best Value Picks
*94-plus-point wines for $50 or less
| Score | Wine | SRP |
|---|---|---|
| 98 | Holus Bolus 2024 Franc de Pied Syrah, Sta. Rita Hills, Santa Barbara County | $50 |
| 94 | Carr Winery 2023 Kaerskov Vineyard Whole Cluster Grenache, Los Olivos District, Santa Barbara County | $50 |
| 94 | Epiphany Cellars 2023 Rodney's Vineyard Petite Sirah, Santa Barbara County | $45 |
| 94 | Fuil Wines 2023 J + K Vineyard Syrah, Ballard Canyon, Santa Barbara County | $50 |
| 94 | Future Perfect 2025 Grassini Family Vineyards Sauvignon Blanc SAUVI B Breakfast Wine, Santa Barbara County | $38 |
| 94 | Koehler Winery 2023 Cabernet Franc, Happy Canyon of Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara County | $50 |
Coastal Benchmarks: Chardonnay and Pinot Noir
 |  |
Rhône Varieties: Syrah and Beyond
| Score | Wine | SRP |
|---|---|---|
| 98 | Melville 2023 Estate Syrah, Donna's Block, Sta. Rita Hills, Santa Barbara County | $62 |
| 98 | Stolpman Vineyards 2024 Great Places Ruben Solorzano, Ballard Canyon, Santa Barbara County | $128 |
| 97 | Margerum Wine Co. 2023 Uber Syrah, Santa Barbara County | $75 |
| 95 | Dovecote 2023 Redtail, Thompson Vineyard, Alisos Canyon, Santa Barbara County | $65 |
| 94 | Dovecote 2023 Thompson Vineyard Estate Syrah, Alisos Canyon, Santa Barbara County | $65 |
| 94 | Fess Parker Winery 2023 Rodney's Vineyard Syrah, Santa Barbara County | $56 |
| 94 | Lyons Vineyard 2023 Clone 362 Estate Grenache, Block 4, Los Olivos District, Santa Barbara County | $68 |
| 93 | Horizon Cellars 2023 Syrah, Ballard Canyon, Santa Barbara County | $55 |
| 93 | Koehler Winery 2023 Ballard Adobes Vineyard Whole Cluster Syrah, Los Olivos District, Santa Barbara County | $40 |
Stay tuned for the January/February 2027 issue, whose Buyer’s Guide will feature Texas and Sonoma County.
All Producers Featured in This Buyer’s Guide
Explore the producers represented in the complete East Meets West review collection. Select a producer to visit its winery profile and wine scores.
New York State
Santa Barbara County
This story first appeared in the Tasting Panel November/December 2026 print edition (pages 106–114).
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