Brewer-Clifton

Greg Brewer and Steve Clifton met at a committee meeting of the Santa Barbara Vintners Association. Shortly afterwards they pooled some 12,000 dollars in savings to make their first 240 cases of wine, in the cellar of Santa Barbara Winery, where Brewer was assistant winemaker at the time. Robert Parker was quick to call Brewer-Clifton "the greatest revelation" of that year. Brewer devoted his entire career to Pinot Noir and Chardonnay from the Sta. Rita Hills, the area he helped define as an official wine region. The house was later acquired by Jackson Family Wines, with Brewer staying on as winemaker. Worth knowing: Greg Brewer was named Winemaker of the Year by Wine Enthusiast in 2020, the first time that honour went to a winemaker from Santa Barbara County.