Artist David Florimbi anchors the issue with his luminous exploration of blue. Having relocated from Montecito to a ranch in the Santa Ynez Valley, Florimbi has created a sanctuary where his canvases evolve in quiet conversation with the land and sky. His career has spanned decades—from early acclaim in Los Angeles and New York galleries to a devoted following of private collectors—and his current work embraces an inner landscape, channeling inspiration as much as depicting it  .

The issue then moves from brushstrokes to bull ropes with Emmanuelle Pickett’s “Behind the Chutes.” Pickett’s intimate photography captures the Old Santa Ynez Days rodeo, where life unfolds not in the spotlight of the ring but in the hushed rituals just before riders mount: whispered prayers, tightened leather, and the stillness before the storm. Her lens celebrates the grit, camaraderie, and enduring traditions that define rodeo as a place of both adrenaline and homecoming  .

Another profile, “Peake Experience,” revisits the life of Channing Peake, the cowboy who was also a modernist painter. His story embodies the dual identities of the Santa Ynez Valley—where ranching heritage and creative expression are inseparable. Through Cubist-inspired paintings and murals, Peake forged a legacy that bridged the rough immediacy of ranch life with the evolving currents of twentieth-century art, leaving behind a body of work as rugged and enduring as the land itself .

Closing the cluster of long features, “Grit + Grapes” chronicles the Saarloos family’s purpose-driven approach to winemaking. Their vineyards are less about commerce than about community and storytelling, each bottle reflecting devotion to family and to the Santa Ynez Valley’s agricultural heritage. The Saarlooses’ journey, rooted in intention and intergenerational commitment, highlights how wine here is more than a crop—it is a shared narrative of labor, legacy, and connection .

The Fall 2025 Winery Guide offers a comprehensive insider’s map to Santa Barbara County wine, spotlighting top vineyards, must-visit tasting rooms, and the people shaping the region’s reputation for world-class vintages