Our Grapes

Nielson Vineyard with Hills in the background
Santa Maria Valley AVA
Nielson Vineyard

Nielson Vineyard pays homage to its namesake, Uriel J. Nielson, who in 1964 planted the first commercial vineyard in Santa Barbara County, a region previously considered too cold to grow grapes. Known as a ...

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Sierra Madre Vineyard shot with clouds and hills in the background
Santa Maria Valley AVA
Sierra Madre Vineyard, Santa Maria Valley AVA

Sierra Madre Vineyard is the most northern vineyards in Santa Maria Valley, only 15 miles from the coast, and benefits greatly from its unique marine influence. As its proximity to the ocean dictates, the so...

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Solomon Hills vineyard shot
Santa Maria Valley AVA
Solomon Hills Vineyard, Santa Maria Valley AVA

Located just east of highway 101 and Clark Avenue, near the city of Santa Maria, the Solomon Hills Vineyard is the most western vineyard in the Santa Maria Valley winegrowing region. It was planted by the Mi...

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Rio Vista Vineyard shot
Sta. Rita Hills AVA
Rio Vista Vineyard, Sta. Rita Hills AVA

Rio Vista is the eastern most vineyard in the Sta. Rita Hills appellation and has a warmer microclimate. Norm remembers being flattered when he received a letter of invitation to source grapes from property ...

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Rancho Santa Rosa Vineyard Shot
Sta. Rita Hills AVA
Rancho Santa Rosa Vineyard, Sta. Rita Hills AVA

Norm helped to develop this former horse property beginning in 1998, when he relocated to Santa Barbara County to be the winemaker at Foley Estates. Needless to say, he knows the vineyard intimately. Situate...

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Dierberg Vineyard shot
Santa Maria Valley AVA
Dierberg Vineyard, Santa Maria Valley AVA

Flying Goat Cellars was lucky to be one of the first wineries to craft a Pinot Noir from the meticulously farmed Dierberg Vineyard in Santa Maria Valley. Founded in 1997, the family planted twelve “heritage ...

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Bien Nacido Vineyard shot
Santa Maria Valley AVA
Bien Nacido Vineyard, Santa Maria Valley AVA

Bien Nacido Vineyard is celebrating 50 years in 2023! Flying Goat Cellars began sourcing grapes from old vines at Bien Nacido Vineyard Block N in 2010. We sourced Martini clone from the original 1973 plantin...

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Ampelos Vineyard shot
Sta. Rita Hills AVA
Ampelos Vineyard, Sta. Rita Hills AVA

Flying Goat began sourcing sparkling wine Pinot Noir from Ampelos Cellars in 2016. Ampelos is the first vineyard in the U.S. to be certified with a “trifecta” in all 3 practices: biodynamic farming, organic ...

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Cool Climate, Santa Barbara County Vineyards
Cool Climate, Santa Barbara County Vineyards

Pinot Noir is all about “place.” When grown with care (and patience!) and treated well at the winery, this grape will express a vineyard and region like no other varietal. We work with very dedicated and pas...

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