In California, there’s a lot of talk about “The Big One”—the large earthquake that could strike at any moment. But at Ancient Peaks, it’s “the little ones” that produce some of the magic behind our wines.
There are two active faults that run through our ranch. The Nacimiento Fault follows the western border of our estate Margarita Vineyard, while the Rinconada Fault travels along the eastern border. Needless to say, there’s no shortage of seismic micromovements (and the occasional noticeable quake) here in San Luis Obispo County, and Margarita Vineyard is uniquely situated to benefit from it all—at least from a terroir perspective.
Indeed, over time, these faults are largely responsible for the rare array of soil types to which our vines are planted: rock alluvium, granite, volcanic, shale and ancient sea bed.
“You can see the ongoing effect of these faults with the naked eye as you drive along next to our ranch,” says winery co-owner Karl Wittstrom. “The county road is constantly moving, settling and buckling. There are uneven parts that need to be re-paved regularly—it’s not unusual to see six inches of drop from one year to the next.”
Diversity = Complexity
There are also large geological factors in play at the ranch, such as the massive tectonic forces that created the surrounding Santa Lucia Mountains. However, the smaller movements of the Nacimiento and Rinconada faults keep the ground churning, too. And that’s how we ended up with such a wide range of soil types across a span of just several hundred acres.
The most astonishing soil type of all is the calcareous ancient sea bed—especially considering that the ranch is today a full 14 miles from the ocean! The volcanic soils are also remnants of long-past phenomena, while the shale speaks to clay, silt and organic matter undergoing eons of extreme compression.
Each bottle of Ancient Peaks has a visual key that shows you which of these five soil types the wine was grown in—it’s our way of showing you how the flavors and textures of the wine are shaped by the land. Our winemakers love being able to grow the same grape (such as Cabernet Sauvignon) in different soil types, as it provides a way to blend natural complexity into the wine, as each soil imparts its own characteristics.
The next time you pour a glass of Ancient Peaks, be sure to check out the back label to identify the corresponding soil types, and to enjoy the complex flavors that are millions of years in the making—and the shaking!