Celebrating nearly four decades in Santa Barbara’s wine community, Whitcraft Winery stands as a testament to perseverance, minimal intervention, and unwavering devotion to Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Syrah. Founded in 1985 by Chris Whitcraft, the winery carved its place in history as one of the first in-city producers, nestled just steps from Santa Barbara’s beach. Chris’s path, from retail wine buyer to radio host to pioneering urban vintner, shaped an ethos rooted in purity and authenticity: his mantra rang clear, wine should not be f*&^ed with.

Chris gained renown for one of the earliest examples of block-designated Pinot Noir in California, offering the 1991 Q-Block from Bien Nacido Vineyard on the label, a trend-setting move that would become standard practice in fine wine. His hands-on methods, foot-treading, gravity bottling, minimal sulfur, no fining or filtration, were driven by the belief that the fruit and vineyard should speak for themselves.

After Chris passed in 2014, his son Drake Whitcraft kept the legacy alive, rebuilding the winery from near collapse. When Drake took the reins in his early thirties, he faced bankruptcy and reluctance from growers unwilling to sell fruit. Through persistence, he secured grapes from trusted partners and gradually grew production from a few dozen cases per year back up to around 2,000, while paying off debts and honoring his father’s vision.

Today, under Drake’s guidance, Whitcraft continues its focus on low-intervention wines that reflect site and fruit with clarity and balance. He collaborates with more than 15 sustainably farmed vineyards, many certified organic, choosing to work with growers he trusts deeply. He honors old-school techniques but with modern consistency, using minimal sulfur and bottling by hand, yielding expressive and age-worthy wines.

Whitcraft’s wines have earned a following for their purity and finesse. Critics praise the vibrancy and terroir-driven character of their Sta. Rita Hills, Stolpman, Pence Ranch, and La Rinconada bottlings, which often receive 90+ point scores.

Nestled in a modest industrial building just blocks from Santa Barbara’s Funk Zone, the tasting room exudes approachable sophistication. Its counter, constructed from reclaimed wine boxes, reflects the winery’s thoughtful and humble spirit. Open for walk-in tastings Fridays through Sundays, the space remains a quiet yet revered destination on the Urban Wine Trail.

Whitcraft Winery is more than a producer; it’s a story of loyalty to place, persistence against odds, and an uncompromising belief in winemaking with intention. From Chris’s early experiments to Drake’s revival and evolution, each bottle embodies Santa Barbara’s soul: nuanced, expressive, and quietly powerful.