In our youth, many of us developed a deep curiosity about the wildness of the west as exhibited through Hollywood westerns, or games like The Oregon Trail, and historical TV shows like “Hell on Wheels.” That spirit of exploration and discovering new frontiers left a lasting impression. Though we are far from that life in the big city, some places in our country still embody that untamed spirit. One such place for wine lovers is Ancient Peaks Winery, set within the historic Santa Margarita Ranch on the central coast of California.
Let’s take a journey west to a destination where sipping fine wine is perfectly paired with the adventurous wild west spirit.
CENTURIES IN THE SOIL
( Jacqueline Coleman)
The soils of the ranch contain ancient seabed, where you can still find fossilized remains of another time.
Long before vines were planted at Santa Margarita Ranch, the land told a story millions of years in the making. Once submerged beneath an ancient ocean, the ranch sits atop a fossil-rich seabed where you can still spot remnants of marine life among the vines today. The fossils do more than decorate the soil; they define it, contributing to the minerality and complexity found in Ancient Peaks wines, a striking reminder of the land’s deep geological past.
Established in 1774 during the time of the Spanish mission system in what is now California, the ranch has been continuously operating for centuries. It has served as a cattle ranch, a cultural landmark, and now the home of Ancient Peaks Winery. The ranch’s layered history includes Indigenous roots, Spanish mission and Mexican influence, and early Californian ranching, giving the land and the people around it a genuine pioneering core. Parts of old structures, such as the Asistencia building, a sub-mission of Mission San Luis Obispo, still stand today. Here, history isn’t just told through stories; it’s in every bottle made.
THE BEGINNINGS OF MODERN WINEMAKING
(Slava Narozhnyi)
Ancient Peaks Winery Tasting Room 1 = The Ancient Peaks Winery tasting room offers guests the opportunity to taste through a diverse selection of wines paired with food.
Franciscan missionaries farmed grapes in the area starting with the establishment of the nearby missions in the late 1700s, but it was not until much later that modern viticulture took root on Santa Margarita Ranch. In 1999, the Robert Mondavi family was interested in expanding their portfolio beyond Napa Valley and chose this place to plant a vineyard in a time when there were none planted nearby. The Mondavi family saw potential in the cooler climate compared with other parts of the region and the land where geological history ran deep in fossilized soil. Though Robert Mondavi Winery’s lease of the Margarita Vineyard ended in 2005, the three families who own the ranch chose to carry on the winemaking legacy of this carefully selected land with their own distinctly Western touch. They established Ancient Peaks Winery, named after the ancient Santa Lucia Mountain peaks surrounding the ranch, to produce estate-grown wines on the Santa Margarita Ranch, which today is its own sub-AVA in the Paso Robles wine region.
A SENSE OF PLACE AND ADVENTURE
(Slava Narozhnyi)
Ancient Peaks Winery Tasting Room 2 = Ancient Peaks wines can be enjoyed with a variety of dishes.
From the first vintage, the wines of Ancient Peaks showcase the unique place where the vines are grown, drawing from the diversity of soils and its location only 14 miles from the Pacific Ocean. The winery specializes in bold red wines, capturing the spirit of the ranch. But that is not the only thing you can expect from Ancient Peaks. Refreshing Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Noir rosé, and Chardonnay are also found in the diverse portfolio. All the wines are expertly crafted under the leadership of winemaker Stewart Cameron and founding winemaker Mike Sinor, who have both been involved with the winery since its earliest days. Together, they maintain a high level of quality in winemaking, awarded throughout the years with high-scoring wines.
The Peaks Collection includes the most widely recognized Ancient Peaks wines, but there is also the limited-edition Pearl Collection, which are the most prized bottles in the portfolio. This collection showcases specific vineyard plots with the most balanced yields, where the grapes are hand-harvested, and the wine is matured in French oak over an extended period. These grape selections vary by year, but include varieties such as Malbec, Petit Verdot, Petite Sirah, and the showstopping Pearl Cabernet Sauvignon.
(Lindee Newman)
Ancient Peaks Winery on the Santa Margarita Ranch embodies the Wild West spirit of early California ranching to this day.
Beyond the tasting room, Santa Margarita Ranch offers guests of all ages a chance to experience the land in an adventurous way. From western-style horseback riding past vineyards to zip-lining across vines, foraging in the woods, and more, there are numerous activities on the property for the curious explorer.
“Our visitor experience is rooted in the 250-year heritage of the historic Santa Margarita Ranch,” said co-owner Karl Wittstrom. “Through wine tasting and agritourism, we provide a guest experience that is founded on Western traditions, including what we call early California rancho hospitality.”
On this ranch, wine tasting doesn’t have to be a singular activity. Through Margarita Adventures, guests can explore the landscape via nature tours, e-bikes, and other outdoor activities, offering a more immersive way to connect with the land and gain a deeper appreciation for the concept of “sense of place.”
“We take great pride in sharing the ranch’s lifestyle and history with our guests,” said Wittstrom. “It’s who we are, and it’s what makes us unique.”
ANCIENT PEAKS IN MIAMI
Ancient Peaks wines are widely available at local shops such as Total Wine, Plum Market in Aventura, ABC Fine Wine & Spirits, and MrDWine.com. Individual bottles like Ancient Peaks Merlot are available at MB Liquors in Edgewater and Vinoteca in Coconut Grove. Enjoy Ancient Peaks Cabernet with your dinner at Lafayette Steakhouse in Brickell or Silverlake Bistro in Normandy Isles. Neme Gastro Bar on Coral Way has Ancient Peaks “Renegade” by the bottle.
Jacqueline Coleman is a wine and travel writer and Star Wine List’s ambassador in Miami. She is a contributor to Luxury Guide USA magazine, a regular guest host on Linda Gassenheimer’s “Food, News & Views” podcast, and founder of BYOBMiami.com.
Jacqueline Coleman