To recognize the importance of wine grape vineyards and winemaking to the county’s economy, the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors passed a resolution during their Oct. 28 meeting. The resolution was sponsored by Supervisor Joni Gray and presented to Kevin Merrill, vineyard manager for Mesa Vineyard Management in Santa Maria.
“Winemaking and vineyards are a cornerstone of the county’s agriculture industry, generating more than $100 million each year in wine grapes alone,” Gray said in a press release. “Even in these challenging economic times when it seems everything is hurting, agriculture remains a bright spot for us.”
Merrill told the board at the meeting that the county has about 21,000 acres of active vineyards that support winemaking operations for about 100 local wineries.
“We have ideal conditions here to make world-class wines,” Merrill said. “We’ve got the right combination of soil, weather, and location that is unique to only a few places in the world.”
A video highlighting vineyard operations and wine making is now airing on the county’s government access cable TV station, channel 20. For more information about agriculture in Santa Barbara County, visit countyofsb.org/agcomm or the Santa Barbara County Farm Bureau’s website at www.sbcfb.com.
Biz Briefs is compiled by Sports Editor Sarah E. Thien. Information should be sent to the Sun via fax, e-mail, or mail.
This article appears in Nov 13-20, 2008.