Rancho Sisquoc Winery has been crafting quality wines in small quantities for decades. They grow over 300 acres of superb vineyards for their estate wines. Visit their tasting room which is situated at the end of a long, winding country road and nestled among rolling hills and pasture on the Foxen Canyon Wine Trail. Here you will find a friendly and knowledgeable tasting room staff, wonderful wines and beautiful picnic grounds.
Rancho Sisquoc's vineyards grow some of the most sought-after grapes on the Central Coast, and only their estate-grown grapes are used in crafting their award-winning wines. Varietals include Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Johannesburg Riesling, Malbec, Merlot, Nebbiolo, Petit Syrah, Petite Verdot, Pinot Noir, Sangiovese, Sauvignon Blanc, Sylvaner and Syrah.
This iconic winery in Santa Maria has over 300 acres of vineyards on a nearly 40,000-acre cattle ranch that was purchased in 1952 by James and Elizabeth Flood of San Francisco. Rancho Sisquoc is part of an 1852 Spanish land grant. The Chumash Indians called this area "Sisquoc," which meant "gathering place." The cattle business is the same as it has always been, but the beans and barley have been replaced with vegetables and vines. Because the area's climate and soil compared favorably with the renowned growing regions of Napa and Sonoma, Mr. Flood decided to plant grapes. The initial planting in the late 1960's consisted of nine acres of Johannesberg Riesling and 40 acres of Cabernet Sauvignon.
In 1972, Rancho Sisquoc produced the first wines and by 1974 wineries wanted grapes grown on the Rancho Sisquoc and 140 additional acres were planted. In 1977, Rancho Sisquoc became a bonded winery and the tasting room was built. Today, Rancho Sisquoc is again a gathering place, this time for wine lovers, and the winery produces over 20,000 cases per year.
