ESTATE VINEYARDS
Estate vineyards are the foundation of our winemaking program. Our two estate vineyards—Ambassador’s Vineyard and Crossroads Vineyard—are guided by Winemaker Chuck Carlson, who carefully selected clones, rootstocks and trellising to match the unique conditions of each site. The resulting wines are distinguished in both quality and personality.
Ambassador’s Vineyard
Ambassador’s Vineyard was planted in 1990 as the cornerstone of our Syrah program. Here, we chose to plant the Chapoutier (a.k.a. Estrella River) clone, which offers rich black fruit and spice flavors for a classic Santa Barbara County Syrah profile. The vineyard is situated atop a broad, flat mesa with balanced sun exposure for even ripening. The ancient uplifted marine soil, composed of gravelly loam and limestone, is deep and well-drained for excellent flavor concentration. The personality of Ambassador’s Vineyard is particularly evident in the wine’s distinctive accents of blueberry and white pepper.
Crossroads Vineyard
Winemaker Chuck Carlson planted our estate Crossroads Vineyard in 1997 as a complement to our Ambassador’s Vineyard. Crossroads Vineyard is tucked along a sheltered oak-studded nook across from our winery, where afternoon warmth is trapped for full, steady ripening. The soil is composed of sandy loam and limestone. The Syrah Noir clone and a vigor-limiting rootstock were chosen to match the unique characteristics of the site. The result is a wine that is consistently intense and exotic, with a rich, silky texture. A complementary planting of the Grenache Noir clone at this site is the basis for a Grenache-Syrah blend that we call “The Crossroad.”
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