Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/1011938
{ SOMMjournal.com } 105 { SOMMjournal.com } 105 Located 22 miles south of downtown Paso Robles, the 1,000-acre Margarita Vineyard is one of the coolest growing areas in the southernmost part of the Paso Robles re - gion. Buttressed to the west by the Santa Lucia Highlands and influenced by wind, fog, and rain blowing in from the nearby Pacific Ocean; it's home to a rare array of soil types, including dramatic outcroppings of shale and petrified oyster shells pushed up from the ancient seabed. Although the first grapes on the prop - erty were planted by Franciscan monks in 1780, the modern renaissance began when Robert Mondavi Winery planted new vines in 1999. Two years later, the Rossi, Wittstrom, and Filipponi families, who later established Ancient Peaks Winery in 2005, purchased Santa Margarita Ranch. Led by Mike Sinor and Stewart Camer - on, Ancient Peaks' winemaking team takes advantage of the long growing season today by cherry-picking the best lots: This approach produces an impressive series of wines that overdeliver for their price. At the top of the chain stands the flag - ship Cabernet Sauvignon. The 2016 vintage features deep flavors of ripe raspberry, cherry, and blueberry layered with nuances of chocolate and spice, fine tannins, and a well-integrated touch of oak on the finish. Another striking wine was the 2016 Merlot, which shows distinctive notes of wild berries, cassis, black currants, and car - damom with firm structure and a velvety texture—a true steal at $20 per bottle. In the higher-end category is the 2014 Oyster Ridge, a proprietary blend of 51% Cabernet Sauvignon, 36% Merlot, 5% Syrah, 3% Petite Sirah, and 3% Malbec all grown in the ancient-sea-bed section of the vineyard and aged for 23 months, primarily in fine French oak barrels. In addition to tasting these wines and the other annual estate bottlings of Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Zinfandel, and the Renegade Red Blend, the campers enjoyed a complete tour of the vineyards in a safari-style jeep driven by winery co- founder Karl Wittstrom; exhilarating rides on the zipline, which was added to the estate in 2011; and a delicious lunch at the Ancient Peaks tasting room in the quaint town of Santa Margarita. "Just as somme - liers are the gateway to consumers, we want to do our part to attract wine lovers to visit to the Margarita Vineyard, Oyster Ridge, and the other great wine producers in Paso Robles area on a year-round basis," VP of Operations Amanda Wittstrom- Higgins said. Amanda Wittstrom-Higgins, VP of Operations for Ancient Peaks Winery, is pictured with SOMM Camp attendee Sharon Coombs, Beverage Director for E.P. and L.P. in West Hollywood, CA, in new Cabernet Sauvignon plantings. "We believe this site to have the best potential as a south-facing, high-density site that'll eventually show more color and character in the wine," Wittstrom-Higgins said. Ancient Peaks' stunning Sauvignon Blanc displays minerality with abundant aromatics and fruit. The Ancient Peaks Renegade brand blends Syrah, Zinfandel, Malbec, Petit Verdot, and Petite Sirah. Staying Cool at Ancient Peaks Winery