2021 Martellotto Sotto Voce Cabernet Franc Happy Canyon of Santa Barbara

Happy Canyon of Santa Barbara is where “most Bordeaux varietals planted in Santa Barbara County call home,” according to Decanter. Located on the warmest side of the Santa Ynez Valley, this AVA is known for producing reds with depth, power, and structure.

The name even dates back to Prohibition, when locals would “sneak off to Happy Canyon” for an illicit drink. It was the fourth region in Santa Barbara County to gain AVA status in 2009, and with just over 400 acres of grapes spread across fewer than a dozen vineyards, it’s as exclusive as it is special.

The 2021 Martellotto Sotto Voce Cabernet Franc is a perfect expression of Happy Canyon’s unique terroir. Bold dark berries, red currants, and a touch of tobacco create a wine with both intensity and finesse, all framed by smooth tannins and a long, lingering finish.

In the rolling hills of California Wine Country, there's a story that wine critics whisper about in hushed, reverent tones. It's the story of Greg Martellotto, a man whose Italian bloodline carries centuries of winemaking wisdom, and whose obsessive pursuit of perfection has created something extraordinary.

Since 2005, Greg has been crafting wines in his family's tradition, using techniques passed down through generations of Italian vintners. But this isn't your typical family story. Greg took those ancestral secrets and spent decades refining them, perfecting them, pushing them beyond what even his forefathers imagined possible. His mastery recently earned him recognition as a certified Italian Wine Ambassador—one of only 450 people worldwide to receive this prestigious honor.

The result? Wines so exceptional that they've been flying completely under the radar, known only to a select few who stumble upon Martellotto's tiny production runs of fewer than 8,000 cases per year. For years, Greg's wines quietly earned 90+ ratings and collected double gold medals in blind competitions.