Our Vineyard

With a viticultural history dating back to the 1790’s, San Miguel California was one of the first areas in California to be planted during the Spanish Missions. Historically grapes were first introduced into this part of California in 1787 by the Spanish missionaries at Mission San Miguel Archangel.

Elevation: 850 feet

soil: Calcareous shale, limestone, clay loam (179-Nacimiento-Los Osos Complex, 9-30% slope)

Diurnal temperature shift:

30-45 deg F

AVA: Paso Robles AVA (San Miguel District)

Our vines grow in calcareous shale soils—limestone-rich, fractured rock that forces roots deep in search of water and nutrients. This natural stress concentrates flavor, enhances minerality, and imparts a distinct structure and elegance to our wines, reflecting the unique terroir of Paso Robles.

• Calcareous → broad umbrella: anything lime-rich (soils, clays, limestones).

• Calcareous Shale → a specific sedimentary rock type: layered, lime-rich shale formed from clay/silt, prized in vineyards for deep rooting and mineral-driven wines.

Ecosynergetic Viticulture

Ecosynergetic Viticulture is more than a farming practice, it is a philosophy of care. Rooted in the Greek eco (oikos, “home of life”), syner (synergos, “working together”), and getic (-genēs, “generative action”), it embodies the principle that soil, vine, climate, and human hands thrive most when in harmony, creating vitality greater than the sum of their parts.

The wine world often invokes terms like sustainable, regenerative, or biodynamic. These have meaning and value, yet they can also become checklists of practices. Ecosynergetic Viticulture seeks to go further—not just defining methods, but framing the vineyard as a living system in which every element, from microorganisms in the soil to owls in the sky, participates in balance. It affirms that all creatures, whether rooted, winged, or walking, deserve to thrive, and that every being has a rightful place in this shared home. Our responsibility is not only to produce wine but to nurture the entire system so that it flourishes naturally, resiliently, and with integrity.

Old Vines make Great Wines !

Numerous studies and scientific analyses show that grapes from older vines typically exhibit more complexity and concentration of flavor, resulting in wines of greater depth and structure compared to those produced from younger vines. Wines crafted from old-vine plantings are especially prized for their layered, nuanced profiles.

We take immense pride in our vineyard—now almost 40 years old—and, unlike many others that opt to remove older vines and replace them with more “en vogue” varieties , we are committed to preserving them and elevating them to heritage status. As vines age, their root systems delve deeper into the soil, accessing more nutrients, minerals, and water. This not only enhances their resilience to changing climate conditions but also bolsters their ability to thrive despite extreme weather events such as megadroughts, flooding, intense heat, and frost.

Older vines develop thicker trunks and sturdier arms, lending them a striking, gnarled appearance that reflects their artistic beauty and remarkable endurance. Under challenging circumstances, these deep-rooted vines often remain the most productive and yield wines of exceptional quality.

With age, the vines’ physiology shifts, resulting in greater sap flow than younger, thinner vines can achieve. This robust sap flow promotes an ideal balance between leaf canopy and fruit, which is critical for optimal ripening and premium wine production. The mature plant morphology further enhances the sensory attributes of the wines they produce. The result is a wine that is fuller, more complex, and more enduring than that of younger vineyards.

Our winemaker recognizes the unique qualities of our mature vineyard and meticulously adjusts the winemaking process to coax out these inherent characteristics. By employing restrained, minimal-intervention techniques, we allow the old vines to express themselves more fully in the finished wine.

Finally, we cherish our old vines not only for their superior fruit and wine but also for their historical significance. As conscientious stewards of this land, we are proud that our historic vineyard, located in the historic town of San Miguel, stands as a symbol of one of the original dozen vineyards established in the Paso Robles area.

We are delighted to be included in the Old Vine Registry