Ranchita Canyon
San Miguel, California
Overlooking beautiful Pleasant Valley, the Ranchita Canyon Vineyard and boutique winery is family-owned and operated with the goal to achieve rich, concentrated, bold fruit for our estate wines. The unique hilly location provides great views, and helps the carefully hand-tended vines produce high quality fruit. The Hinrichs family owns and operates the vineyard and winery with the goal to achieve rich, concentrated, bold fruit. We have south facing rolling hills at 1000’ — 1400’ elevation, with primarily calcareous soil. A vertical “V” shaped trellis system is used for optimum flecked sunlight. We farm using the latest best practices for canopy and irrigation management, and maintain balanced vines for even fruit maturation — with low yields per vine/acre. The vineyard is hand pruned and hand harvested, and our farm plan emphasizes sustainable practices. Our fruit is known for making award-winning vineyard designated wines, and our own artisan wines are now being widely acclaimed.We believe wine is “made in the vineyard,” and we have a year round commitment to the vines. The latest best practices for canopy and irrigation management is used to maintain balanced vines for even fruit maturation – with low yields per vine / acre. The vines are managed by hand with the utmost care, from pruning, shoot positioning, leafing, trimming, to harvesting.
Traditional “old world” family wine making techniques are combined with modern concepts, to ensure our grapes unique qualities are reflected in the wines. Grapes are carefully picked and sorted by hand, and then de-stemmed and fermented in small open top containers. Cold and extended maceration, multiple hand punch downs, pump overs, etc., are used to extract optimum color and flavor. Grapes are gently basket pressed, and the wines are cellared in primarily French oak.Our vineyard is planted with 10 different varietals, giving us many blending options for our limited production estate wines. Our artisan wine making style then strives to maintain the balance that began in the vineyard — handcrafting a finished wine that brings out all the big flavors the fruit has to offer. We hope you will see our passion in the finished product, and that our fine wines will help create a unique and memorable experience for you. Come visit and see how we are “Taking wine to greater heights…..”
