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I have been perennially humbled by the level of excitement in the winemakers who work with Rancho Ontiveros fruit. I am doubly fortunate to have customers that I can rely on to consistently make truly remarkable wines. I'm doubly fortunate to be able to count on them as friends.
 
Loring Wine Company
A.P. Vin
Hug Cellars
Ambullneo Vineyards
 
 

Loring Wine Company

Brian Loring has been buying grapes from me since 2001, and, I think he is more responsible for putting new California Pinot Noir on the map than any other winemaker.  The vineyard-designate Pinots that Brian made from Rancho Ontiveros Vineyard (ROV) are some of his most elegant, in my humble (and unbiased!) opinion.  He is full of dichotomies; you couldn't ask for a nicer guy or for someone more frank, which I appreciate.  Brian was my litmus test for the vineyard in those early years.  If the wine was good, that was a pretty good indication that the fruit was good, too.
 
Brian's first vintage with ROV was his first ever, so he said, "James, you're the expert.  You tell me when to pick."  Well, Brian liked and developed the big California Pinot style, but you wouldn't guess where he was going from that first vintage.  The wine was 13.2%, which isn't the sort of wine he's interested in making now, but people's overwhelmingly positive response to it gave me the encouragement to develop that in my own wine.
 
Brian Loring on Rancho Ontiveros Vineyard
We've been getting fruit from James since 2001, so it's one of our longest grower relationships.  James does an amazing job for us and our Rancho Ontiveros bottlings have developed their own cult status amongst our mailing list members.  And deservedly so.  The wines tend to be very deep and rich, with little resemblance to the "old school" lighter Santa Maria Pinots.  ROV Pinot Noir is typically a favorite within our portfolio of 14 different single-vineyard Pinots.  We're thrilled to be getting fruit from James!
 
Production from Rancho Ontiveros: 265 cases a year average
Years getting the fruit: 2001 - 2009
www.loringwinecompany.com
 
 

A.P. Vin

Brian Loring felt that more people should be making ROV wines, so he introduced me to Andrew.  I really like Andrew's wines; they are solid and well-done.  Plus, he's uber energetic and that is contagious.  His wines have been well-received by the media, which is great because people are catching on that he sources from our small vineyards and I'm glad to be one of them.
 
Andrew Vignello on A.P. Vin 2004 Rancho Ontiveros Vineyard Pinot Noir
James Ontiveros is the meticulous grower of this very impressive vineyard. I guess with oil deposits underneath, it really is planted in gold! My ROV wines are made mainly from clones 113, 114 with a bit of 115.  Pinch me!
 
Production from Rancho Ontiveros: 100 cases a year average
Years getting the fruit: 2004-2009
www.apvin.com
 
 

Hug Cellars

I met Auggie at the Hospice du Rhone in Paso Robles.  I was tasting his wines and he said, "Ontiveros, you have a good Pinot vineyard," and he knew that because he'd tasted Foxen and Loring ROV Pinots.  I just liked Auggie.  His wines are solid and he is really nice.  Plus, Paul (my longtime friend and now business partner) was consulting for him at the time and we just hit it off.  I liked Auggie's winemaking style: a little more low-key and understated, but very pretty and nice.  He does a wonderful job.
 
Augie Hug on Hug Cellars 2004 Rancho Ontiveros Vineyard Pinot Noir
James Ontiveros is one of the most dedicated growers on the Central Coast.  He is providing us  with some of his stellar fruit, grown on his family vineyard overlooking the Santa Maria Valley.  We have produced a wine that is all about spice and complexity. The color is deep ruby, with hints of nutmeg, clove, cinnamon and sweet red cherries. For those of you who enjoy their Pinot Noir with multiple layers and dimensions, you’ll love this wine.
 
Production from Rancho Ontiveros: 100 cases a year average
Years getting the fruit: 2005 - 2009
www.hugcellars.com
 
 

Ambullneo Vineyards

I met Greg Linn [winemaker for  Ambullneo Vineyards] while doing a tasting at Tantara Winery.  Greg kept showing up for these tastings, and one time he came around while his wife and kids were out of town.  Since I was the only single guy around at the time we ended up paling around together, and we've been friends ever since.  Greg has to be one of the most generous people I've ever known.  In fact, my grape growing methods and appreciation for wine have changed as a result of the Burgundies Greg has opened for me out of his own cellar.  For that I owe him a huge debt of gratitude.
 
Greg is a tremendous wealth of knowledge with an equally tremendous palate.  Together, he and I tasted so many wines whose fruit had undergone whole-cluster fermentation, and just one season later I was dabbling with the same method for my own wines.  The style of wines that I wanted to make and drink changed after Greg introduced me to whole-cluster fermentation.  Like Native⁹ wines, Ambullneo wines are distinctive, and that's what I like so much about them.
 
Greg Linn on Rancho Ontiveros Vineyard
Rancho Ontiveros Vineyard is ideally situated within what I consider the greatest place in the United States to grow Pinot Noir - I would be so bold as to say the greatest place on the planet!  When it comes to cool climate varietals, these wines are purer than any others in the  world.  Greg puts ROV and his wines on the table with all the great wines of the world.
 
Production from Rancho Ontiveros: 100 cases a year average
Years getting the fruit: 2005 - 2008
www.ambullneovineyards.com