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The beautiful Santa Barbara County is not only the home of horses, cattle and green pastures, it is also the home of some of California's best grapes. Since the first modern vineyards were planted in the Tepusquet area of the Santa Maria Valley in the early 60's, vineyards have burgeoned. The area's soils are clay and sandy loam with excellent drainage. Grapes need warm days and cool nights to ensure a longer growing season for optimal growth and production. The geology of the Valley's hills and east west transverse coastal mountains generate morning fog with cool temperatures and warm afternoons tempered by ocean breezes. This actually creates a variety of microclimates that promote the growth of all of the classic grape varietals.

There are two areas of vineyard on Great Oaks Ranch: the front vineyard and Windmill Hill vineyard. Both vineyards are hand farmed and carefully tended under the expert eye of John Belfy of Buona Terra Farming.

The rolling front vineyard, shown to the left, is split into two blocks - one of Syrah and the other Sauvignon Blanc. The Syrah vines are clone 1, which has shown to be perfectly suited to the weather and soil of Santa Ynez Valley and is a favorite among our neighboring wineries. The Sauvignon Blanc is the Musque clone, originally from the Sancerre/Loire area of France and is well known for producing fresh, almost floral, aromatic wines.

From these front blocks we craft our Sauvignon Blanc, Syrah and Rosé of Syrah.

The Windmill Hill vineyard, on the left, is a steeper vineyard, giving more exposure and sunlight to the red Bordeaux grape varieties grown there. The vineyard includes two clones of Cabernet Sauvignon - clones 08 and 337 - and Cabernet Franc, clone 01. These grapes are used to produce our Great Oaks Ranch and Vineyard Windmill Hill Cuvée.