It’s no secret that we’re wild about Cabernet Sauvignon at Ancient Peaks! Indeed, we have been making our flagship Estate Cabernet Sauvignon since the start of our winery in 2005, and it has become our national bestseller. We have since created a growing family of Paso Robles Cabernet offerings for every price point and occasion. You can see them all here.

Here are five amazing facts that you might not know about our Cabernet Sauvignon program:

Planted by Wine Royalty
Did you know that our estate Margarita Vineyard—including our first Cabernet Sauvignon vines—were planted by the famed Robert Mondavi family of Napa Valley? These legends of Napa Valley believed that Paso Robles was California’s next great Cabernet region, and they made their bet right here on the Santa Margarita Ranch. The rest is history!

Rooted in Fossilized Soils
Many of our Cabernet Sauvignon blocks are planted in ancient sea bed soils, which are found in an area of Margarita Vineyard that we call Oyster Ridge. Wine & Spirits Magazine called Oyster Ridge “one of the most calcareous chunks of earth in California.” Calcareous soils are coveted by winemakers worldwide, and they impart fine structure and textures to our Cabs.

Blended to Perfection
The Estate Cabernet Sauvignon comes not only from Oyster Ridge, but from other areas and soil types at Margarita Vineyard, including shale and rocky alluvium. These different blocks and soil types provide varying expressions of the Cabernet grape, enabling us to blend natural complexity into the wine. We also use small complements of other Bordeaux varieties for enhanced mouthfeel and structure.

The Edge of Ripeness
Our Founding Winemaker Mike Sinor has a saying: “Greatness is found on the edge of ripeness.” He’s talking about how Margarita Vineyard is located just 12 miles from the Pacific Ocean in the coolest area of Paso Robles. The result is an extended growing season, during which it takes our Cabernet fruit considerable time to reach full ripeness. Consequently, our Cabernet fruit has just enough time to develop rich flavors, but it also maintains fine structure and acidity along the way. These are the qualities that make our Cabs stand out from the crowd.

Always Innovating
Our Cabernet Sauvignon program not only draws from the original plantings at Margarita Vineyard, but also from newer sections like the Quarry block, which is located along the northernmost area of the vineyard. This extension of Margarita Vineyard features tight vine spacing and premium Cabernet Sauvignon clones, representing the next generation of wines from our ranch. Rather than rest on our laurels, we pursue continual improvement and innovation with our Cabernets.

There you have it—the five essential facts behind the success story of Ancient Peaks Cabernet Sauvignon!