Event

Every weekend we have free tastings that give you a chance to explore the wide word of wines! 

Each Friday we try to start your weekend off with a sampling of fine wines and beers that will allow you to relax into your "days off" with a positive note. Always a gathering of friends and neighbors and good conversation.

Come in this weekend and visit with us!

Ancient Peaks Winery

Our estate Margarita Vineyard stands alone as the southernmost vineyard in the Paso Robles region, tucked beneath the peaks of the Santa Lucia Mountains just 14 miles from the Pacific Ocean. Here, the vines unfold along a rare array of soils amid one of the region’s coolest growing environments. The resulting wines express an unmistakable sense of place, with balanced structure and flavors that are native to Margarita Vineyard. Ancient Peaks Winery, Margarita Vineyard and the historic Santa Margarita Ranch are owned by our three families. We are proud to steward this land, and honored to share it with you. Ancient Peaks Winery represents the shared vision of three longtime local winegrowing and ranching families—the Filipponis, Rossis and Wittstroms. Two generations are actively involved in the winery’s daily operations, all dedicated to producing extraordinary wines from Margarita Vineyard. 

Origins of Ancient Peaks 

Rob Rossi acquired Santa Margarita Ranch in 1999. His friends Doug Filipponi and Karl Wittstrom soon joined him as partners in the ownership of the ranch, which they had all regarded as a special property for many years. That same year, the Robert Mondavi family planted Margarita Vineyard on the ranch under a lease agreement (click here for more background on the Mondavi connection).  In 2005, the three families acquired ownership and control of Margarita Vineyard. The obvious potential of the vineyard ultimately inspired the three families to become vintners as well as winegrowers. They knew that they could cherry-pick their favorite blocks and make distinctive wines with a strong sense of place.    The name Ancient Peaks was chosen to honor the towering Santa Lucia Mountains that border Margarita Vineyard. These peaks define the land’s complex geology and regulate the vineyard’s climate, ultimately shaping the character of the wines. 

A Rich Viticultural History

Santa Margarita Ranch enjoys a long and illustrious cultural pedigree, beginning with the Chumash and Salinan Indians more than 10,000 years ago. In the 1770s, the ranch became part of Father Junipero Serra’s famed Mission trail Grapes were first planted at the ranch by Franciscan missionaries in 1780. Today, Santa Margarita Ranch remains one of California’s oldest continuously operated cattle ranches. We are proud to be stewards of the ranch’s winemaking tradition and its legacy of early California rancho hospitality.

22720 El Camino Real, Santa Margarita, CA 93453

Overview

Along the southernmost reaches of Paso Robles lies Margarita Vineyard, cradled by the Santa Lucia mountains just 14 miles from the Pacific Ocean. There are no other vineyards in the vicinity, so Margarita Vineyard stands alone in benefiting from the remarkable growing conditions of the surrounding Santa Margarita Ranch AVA.  Here, the vines unfold along a rare diversity of five soil types—ancient sea bed, shale, rocky alluvium, granitic and volcanic—amid one of Paso Robles' coolest growing environments. The sense of place here is vivid, and we are dedicated to expressing it in our wines. 

“At Ancient Peaks Winery...the perfect location has given way to some of the best wines coming out of Paso Robles.” 
              The Tasting Panel Magazine

“One of Paso Robles’ coolest spots…Oyster Ridge is perhaps the most dramatically calcareous chunk of earth in the entire state.”
              Wine & Spirits

“The diversity we found at Ancient Peaks was simply mind boggling …Oyster Ridge was the most complex, terroir-driven wine of the trip.”
               Sommelier Journal

The Wines!!

Ancient Peaks Sauvignon Blanc $15.99

The 2015 Sauvignon Blanc exhibits a vivid varietal character that is rooted in our estate Margarita Vineyard. Here, amid one of the Paso Robles region’s coolest growing environments, the Sauvignon Blanc grape achieves a fine balance of ripeness and raciness, with crisp acidity and appealing mineral accents.

Paul Hobbs "Crossbarn" Chardonnay $29.99

Luminescent pastel gold in color, this chardonnay has an aromatic mélange of stone fruit with hints of lemon zest. The juicy palate is filled with slowly unfolding layers of gala apple, nectarine, and apricot with subtle notes of brioche & lees. The round texture is accentuated by vibrant acidity and a pronounced, mineral-driven finish.

Oyster Ridge Red Blend $49.99

Each year, we craft the limited-edition Oyster Ridge cuvée to exemplify our finest winemaking efforts. The name Oyster Ridge honors an outcropping that always astonishes visitors to our estate Margarita Vineyard. Here, large white oyster fossils are literally spilling out of the ground, fostering the type of calcium-rich soil that is coveted by winemakers worldwide. The 2012 vintage is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (68%), Petite Sirah (25%), Petit Verdot (5%) and Malbec (2%), all from meticulously farmed vineyard blocks cultivated for the Oyster Ridge program. 
The 2012 Oyster Ridge offers a brooding bouquet of dark fruits with suggestions of tobacco leaf, cigar box, pine and graphite. A sumptuous palate is densely packed with layers of cherry, cassis, blueberry and black olive. Hints of toasty oak, cola and spice anticipate a juicy finish that is loaded  with fine, plump tannins. This wine will generously evolve in the bottle for years to come. 

Ancient Peaks Cabernet Sauvignon $19.99

Cabernet Sauvignon excels at our estate Margarita Vineyard, where it achieves both ripeness and balance amid one of the coolest, longest growing seasons in the Paso Robles region. Here, our Cabernet Sauvignon vines are planted to a range of soil types, bringing added natural complexity to the wine.
Ancient Peaks Zinfandel $19.99

Our estate Margarita Vineyard has become renowned for producing one of Paso Robles’ most acclaimed Zinfandels. Here, amid one of the region’s coolest growing environments, the Zinfandel grape achieves a rare balance of robust flavors and elegant structure. Zinfandel has been a cornerstone variety of Paso Robles for more than 100 years, and we are proud to feature it in our small family of wines.