Peake Ranch

Peake Ranch in Buellton, California, pairs estate-grown Pinot Noir and Chardonnay with Syrah and Grenache on the eastern side of the Sta. Rita Hills American Viticultural Area (AVA). Owners John and Gillian Wagner anchor the operation, with John bringing a background in family citrus and avocado farming, physics, and finance. Vineyard specialist Michael Anderson adds more than 30 years of research and teaching experience at the University of California, Davis.

The estate’s geography gives the wines their point of difference. Peake Ranch Vineyard occupies a 105-acre property with 50 acres of vines, much of it sheltered from Pacific winds by a protective saddle in the hills. John Sebastiano Vineyard sits higher and more exposed, while Sierra Madre Vineyard in the Santa Maria Valley supplies Chardonnay from a cooler site with a later harvest. Single-vineyard bottlings make those differences a useful thread for a tasting.

The tasting room opens daily from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., with $50 Classic Tastings and reservations strongly recommended. Outside food and picnics are welcome, and cheese and crackers are available for purchase. Dogs are welcome; children require a reservation in the kids zone. For visitors who prefer vines to a seated tasting, the vineyard walking tour runs on select Saturdays at 11 a.m. for $75 plus a 20% service charge.