Our estate Margarita Vineyard stands alone and apart as the southernmost vineyard in the Paso Robles region, and as the only vineyard in the Santa Margarita Ranch AVA.
Our estate Margarita Vineyard is the only vineyard located in the Santa Margarita Ranch AVA of Paso Robles on California’s Central Coast. The Santa Margarita Ranch AVA is distinguished by one of the coolest, longest growing seasons in the Paso Robles region. It also features a rare diversity of soil types—a testament to the tectonic friction that created the surrounding Santa Lucia mountain peaks.
In the Oyster Ridge block of Margarita Vineyard, thousands of large white oyster fossils are literally spilling out of the soil—testifying to the land’s origins as an uplifted sea bed. Wine & Spirits magazine called it “perhaps the most dramatically calcareous chunk of earth in the state.” Here, elevated calcium content yields high-toned flavors with pretty aromatics.
Monterey shale is part of a coastal formation that accumulated in deep structural basins during the mid-Miocene period. Soil pits in parts of Margarita Vineyard reveal densely packed, orange-tinged layers of Monterey shale rock that are brittle and flaky to the touch. The abundantly rocky profile in these spots yields intense flavors with dimension and complexity.
Ancient volcanic activity has indelibly shaped the landscape of southern San Luis Obispo County—most notably in the towering “morro” mountains that were formed by volcanic extrusion. The volcanic deposits at Margarita Vineyard occupy sloping terrain that includes rocky basalt. The high iron content of these blocks brings lower yields with excellent flavor concentration.
The rocky alluvium found at Margarita Vineyard is dominated by gravel with elements of clay, silt and sand. This amalgam was created by ancient water flows and erosive phenomena, which weathered the surrounding terrain into a downflow of alluvium deposits. This richer soil profile lends itself to dry farming, and that produces pure, plush fruit flavors.
Granite is an intrusive igneous rock. The granitic elements at Margarita Vineyard were created by the weathering of granite-based formations to the east of the vineyard. These weathered granite soils are composed of diverse minerals mixed with organic deposits, yielding fruit with fine mid-palate weight and rich flavors.