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 Santa Barbara County has an unusually broad range of growing conditions within a small area. Practically speaking, this allows Io winemaker Ken Brown to be intimately involved in each of Io's richly distinct vineyards on a day-to-day basis. Starting in the ultra cool, sandy loam Nielson Vineyard in Santa Maria Valley during the early part of the day, he drives over the hill in the afternoon to work in the mildly warmer, rocky-clay soil of the Stolpman Vineyard in Santa Ynez Valley, directly on his way home.
Normally, winemakers must travel much farther to obtain such a wide selection of aromas, flavors, and textures. Long distances mean compromising the time spent in the vineyards. It is only through deep understanding and decades-long experience with these vineyards that a blend like Io can be made - a blend that goes beyond a simple averaging of the components to create a dramatic, cohesive illustration of the beautiful characteristics of each region.
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