Margerum Estate Vineyard
The Margerum Estate Vineyard is located in the newly designated Los Olivos District AVA in the Santa Ynez Valley. Margerum Wine Company signed a 20 year lease with the Honea family for the property in February 2016. Margerum transformed the 18 acre vineyard to specialize exclusively on Rhône grape varietals, with the goal of becoming the premier grower of these varietals in Santa Barbara County. The acreage is divided between limestone hillsides and gravelly alluvial flatlands along Alamo Pintado Creek.
The first grafts and new plantings occurred in spring of 2016 and the first harvest was in 2017. The Margerum Estate Vineyard grapes are grown for our Margerum M5 white and red as well as for our single vineyard Syrah program. The varieties planted include Grenache, Mourvèdre, Cinsault, and Counoise as well as five hillside blocks planted to different clones of Syrah; some own rooted and some co-planted with Viognier. These red grapes from the Estate Vineyard will be the backbone of our M5 red wine blend.
Grenache Blanc, Marsanne, Roussanne, Viognier, and Picpoul Blanc from this vineyard will be the primary source for the Margerum M5 White Rhône varietal blend.
The grape varieties, clones and rootstocks planted were chosen by Doug Margerum and Michael Miroballi in consultation with Ben Merz of Coastal Vineyard Care Associates. Coastal is also the viticulture manager for the vineyard.
Region: Happy Canyon of Santa Barbara AVA
The unique microclimate of the Happy Canyon of Santa Barbara AVA is essential to the character of the wines that are produced from these soils. Spanning 23,941 acres at the easternmost end of the Santa Ynez Valley, north and west of Lake Cachuma, the region achieved it’s AVA status in November of 2009. The countering effect of warm, sunny afternoons and cool, marine-moderated evenings ensures an extended growing season that encourages the maturation of finely balanced fruit, with physiological ripe fruit and acidity. Because the Happy Canyon AVA sees higher temperatures than other neighboring areas, it particularly excels with Bordeaux varietals that require assertive solar energy to achieve peak ripeness, as well as Rhône varietals that also thrive in such climes.
The region is comprised of ancient upland soils, primarily clay loam, riddled with cobbles of red chert and serpentine. These deposits were swept down the canyon over thousands of years, then uplifted and weathered for thousands more. The result is a shallow, low-nutrient topsoil supported by an impervious clay pan that forces the vine roots to grow laterally. In this environment, the vines are stressed for nutrients and water. Root growth and vine vigor are limited, ensuring smaller vines and low yields—a perfect combination for the development of intensely flavored grapes.
During the Prohibition a simple alcohol was produced in Happy Canyon. Legend has it that folks would “take a trip up Happy Canyon” to purchase the beverage and the name stuck.
Grassini Family Vineyards
In 2002 the Grassini Family decided to plant vines on the property they had owned for decades and they called upon Coastal Vineyard Care to help them realize their dream. Ben Merz, the vineyard manager, provides daily direction to the entire team. Vineyard foreman Manuel Cardoza and his dedicated crew do all the heavy lifting that makes it all possible. Manuel and his crew planted every vine on the estate and it is their dedication that has helped create one of the vineyard jewels of the renowned Santa Ynez Valley.
Vogelzang Vineyard
Vogelzang Vineyard is a renowned, sustainable, 77-acre vineyard located in the Happy Canyon of Santa Barbara AVA, established in 1998 by Mary Beth Vogelzang. The terroir features gravelly loam soil with rock, benefiting from early morning fog burn-off and warm afternoon temperatures. Certified SIP.
Santa Ynez Vineyard
Santa Ynez Vineyard lies in the heart of the Santa Ynez Valley, where warm days, cool Pacific evenings, and well-drained alluvial soils create ideal growing conditions. The vineyard consistently produces fruit with exceptional balance, vibrant acidity, and expressive character, capturing the distinctive terroir that has made Santa Barbara County a world-class wine region.
Happy Canyon Vineyard
Happy Canyon Vineyard is nestled into the undulating hills of the beautiful Piocho Ranch, home to the Barrack family. The Barracks have taken great pride over the years in being stewards of the land and have created something that is unique to the beauty and richness of the place. Happy Canyon’s verdant hillside vineyards, abundant sunshine, and oak-studded grasslands make it one of the area’s most picturesque viticultural areas.
McGinley Vineyard
McGinley Vineyard (formally known as Westerly Vineyard) stretches across 80 acres on the eastern edge of the Santa Ynez Valley. This was the first vineyard to be planted in Happy Canyon, in 1996. What is striking about McGinley Vineyard is the profound lack of vigor with which the typically energetic sauvignon blanc vines grow–a direct result of the poor soils there. Many sections have only a foot and a half of topsoil, beneath which is fractured shale, and in one block, serpentine rock. The wines from these poor soils are amazingly flavorful because the vine’s energy is concentrated on maturing its fruit, rather than on producing leaves.
Region: Sta. Rita Hills
The Pacific Ocean’s marine layer and afternoon ocean breezes traverse the coastal valley corridors between the Purisima Hills and the Santa Rosa Hills, creating the perfect environment for growing Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and other cool climate wine grape varieties.
Although the first vineyard in our region, Sanford and Benedict, was planted in 1971, it was not until 1997 that Wes Hagen and his group of merry marauders could be seen tromping through the hills of our valley taking soil samples, studying elevation levels and compiling data on degree days.
With a total area of 30,720 acres, the Sta. Rita Hills AVA is home to over 59 vineyards, totaling 2,700 hundred acres planted to Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and 18 other cool climate wine grape varieties.
La Encantada Vineyard
Located seven miles from the ocean, La Encantada Vineyard is one of the westernmost vineyards in the Sta. Rita Hills and is one of the coolest sites in the region. La Encantada is one of the first certified organic vineyards in Santa Barbara Country. The vineyard is planted on a ridge which straddles the Santa Ynez River Valley and is open to the full impact of the cooling afternoon maritime breezes.
The 100 acre vineyard was planted in 2000 by Thekla and Richard Sanford to 96 acres Pinot Noir, 1.9 acres Pinot Blanc, and 1.5 acres Pinot Gris. The soils of the La Encantada Vineyard are derived from the Monterey Formation. The calcareous and siliceous soils include Chamise sandy loam in block six and both Tierra clay loam and Ballard fine sandy loam.
Purchased in 2011 by Hillside Road LLC, the tradition lives on through carefully managed Certified Organic farming and close relationships with a small number of passionate winemakers striving, successfully, to produce some of the most revered wines in the AVA.
Our Lady of Guadalupe Vineyard
This vineyard was planted for and by Dave Phinney. It reflects his excruciating attention to detail. With a focus on showing the terroir of Our Lady of Guadalupe. The vineyard is a Sustainability-in-Practice Certified vineyard. Nine different clones of Pinot Noir are planted across 127 acres.
Dave treats his team as he treats his family. He has been overwhelmed by the open arms that have received him in Lompoc and has been blown away by the hardworking crew that shows up every day to execute this dream.
Radian Vineyard
Radian vineyard is located on the far western edge of the Sta. Rita Hills where it sits on dramatically steep slopes with large amounts of diatomaceous earth in the soil. Wide sections are planted with exposure to the high winds which cool the vineyard and deprive it of moisture. Vines here struggle with the fruit set which results in tiny crops of small clusters. As a result, we get wines which are lean and intense with remarkable flavor, even at low alcohol levels.r dedication that has helped create one of the vineyard jewels of the renowned Santa Ynez Valley.
Bentrock Vineyard
Bentrock Vineyard sits on the rugged western edge of the Sta. Rita Hills, where cool Pacific winds, persistent fog, and mineral-rich diatomaceous soils create ideal conditions for world-class Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Its long growing season produces wines of remarkable elegance, vibrant acidity, layered complexity, and a true expression of coastal Santa Barbara terroir.
Sanford and Benedict Vineyard
The Sanford & Benedict vineyard was planted in 1971, making it one of the oldest Pinot Noir vineyards in the Sta. Rita Hills. The soils here have lower quantities of clay than other areas of the valley. They are comprised of Gazos clay loam and Santa Lucia shaley clay loam. The area receives foggy mornings and long, cool days, resulting in a longer growing season and lower yields. It has been named one of the five most important vineyards in California by Wine Enthusiast and numerous producers seek to buy its fruit each year, often creating their own vineyard designated wines from Sanford & Benedict.
Spear Vineyards
Spear Vineyards & Winery is a family owned, sustainable and certified organic vineyard nestled in the heart of the Sta. Rita Hills Appellation. At Spear, our hope is to craft wines that transparently communicate our estate vineyard’s voice with the utmost lucidity and sincerity. We invite you to join our soil to glass experience.
Region: Los Alamos Valley
Los Alamos Valley lies between Santa Maria Valley and Santa Ynez Valley. With warm days and very cold nights, the fruit from this region achieves incredible concentration and balance. Its slight, well drained soils and a wide range of microclimates allows for a diversity of varietals. Because Los Alamos Valley is not an official appellation, you won’t see it on a wine label – “Santa Barbara County” is used instead. But you should not be surprised to see Los Alamos Valley vineyard names specified on the label.
Los Alamos, which means “The Cottonwoods” in Spanish, is a town just off the 101 freeway between the Santa Maria Valley and Santa Ynez Valley appellations. The area around Los Alamos has a temperate climate all its own – ten degrees cooler than Santa Ynez Valley to the south and ten degrees warmer than Santa Maria Valley to the north-east. Los Alamos Valley is bounded to the north by Solomon Hills and to the south by La Purisima Hills.
Black Oak Vineyard
In 1994 Dan and Meghan Reeves bought a forty acre property set high in the Santa Ynez Valley foothills overlooking the town of Los Olivos. It was originally planted in 1989 and the Reeves soon grafted over to Syrah with clones from Australia and France. The three terraced vineyards range from 1000′ to 1200′ in elevation, providing unique growing conditions that give the grapes a distinctive flavor not found in other areas of the Santa Ynez Valley. The vines typically yield under two tons per acre. Estate clones include Syrah clone 3, estrella and clone 99.
Nolan Ranch Vineyards
Nolan Ranch is a premier 110-acre vineyard located in the Alisos Canyon American Viticultural Area (AVA) near Los Alamos, California. Known for growing 18–19 distinct, high-quality varietals—including Syrah and Picpoul Blanc—Situated on the northern end of Alisos Canyon Road, just east of Los Alamos. The site features heat-retaining sandy loam soils with limestone, ideal for aromatic whites and Rhone reds.
Portico Hills Vineyard
Portico Hills Vineyard is one of Santa Barbara County’s outstanding Rhône vineyards. Its rolling hills, cool nights, and sandy loam soils produce Grenache of exceptional brightness and Mourvèdre with depth, structure, and complexity. The vineyard consistently delivers fruit that reflects the balance and elegance of Santa Barbara’s coastal terroir.