Folded Hills

Kim and Andrew Busch’s Folded Hills pairs organically grown Grenache and Syrah with a 600-acre working ranch in California’s Santa Ynez Valley. Grapevines share the property with fruit orchards, 18 acres of organic row crops, and animals that range well beyond the usual farmyard residents. Sheep graze between the vines, cover crops replenish the soil, and vineyard work follows the biodynamic calendar. Hand harvesting and minimal intervention guide the small-batch winemaking.

Grenache and Syrah anchor the reds, with bottles such as Grant Grenache, Brothers Syrah, and Estate Grenache giving visitors several ways into those grapes. Rhône white varieties also grow here, while the broader range extends to Chenin Blanc, rosé, and sparkling wines. Folded Hills holds the 2026 USA Winery of the Year title from USA Wine Ratings, but the farm-and-vineyard connection gives the place its identity.

The Homestead tasting room offers daily tastings at indoor and outdoor bars and on the patio, with reservations encouraged. Private experiences open up more of the ranch: the adults-only VIP Off-Road Ranch Tour costs $150 per person and combines a lakeside tasting with encounters with George the camel and Zazu the zebra. For families, weekday Corks & Critters pairs a guided adult tasting with produce picking and farm-animal feeding, at $50 per adult and $15 per child.