gistfile1.py

{% for site in pillar['nginx_sites'] %}
#...
{%- if site.get('root', False) %}
{{ site.root }}:
  file.directory:
    - user: www-data
    - group: www-data
    - mode: 775
    - makedirs: True
    - recurse:
      - group
{%- endif %}
{% endfor %}

gistfile2.txt

# pillar

nginx_sites:
  - fqdn: cdn2.foo.bar
    root: /var/www/default
  - fqdn: cdn1.foo.bar
    root: /var/www/default
  - fqdn: foo.bar
    alias: www.foo.bar
    root: /var/www/default
  - fqdn: othersite.bar
    alias: www.othersite.bar
    root: /var/www/othersite.bar

gistfile3.txt

root@mgmt:/srv/salt# git pull && salt -v "www1.foo*" saltutil.refresh_pillar && salt "www1.foo*" state.highstate 
remote: Counting objects: 13, done.
remote: Compressing objects: 100% (4/4), done.
remote: Total 7 (delta 3), reused 7 (delta 3)
Unpacking objects: 100% (7/7), done.
From github.com:uppercase/infrastructure
   1c79b33..6e2159b  master     -> origin/master
Updating 1c79b33..6e2159b
Fast-forward
 pillar/bar/foo/www1/init.sls |   24 ++++++++++++++++--------
 1 file changed, 16 insertions(+), 8 deletions(-)
Executing job with jid 20140120182522661836
-------------------------------------------

www1.foo.bar:
    None
www1.foo.bar:
    Data failed to compile:
----------
    Rendering SLS "base:nginx.sites" failed: Conflicting ID "/var/www/default"