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 Miller Family in the late 1990’s; it is owned and farmed by the same team that manages the famed Bien Nacido Vineyard nearby. The vineyard is split in two by Clark Avenue, and the soil profile is shallow, well-drained sandy loams. Grapes for Flying Goat’s vineyard designated Pinot Noir come from a one-acre block on a southwest facing slope on the south side of Clark Avenue. The block is visible from Highway 101, just downhill from the water tower. Clone 113 was chosen for its aromatic, unique profile. The vineyard section to the north of Clark supplies Pinot Noir grapes for Goat Bubbles Rosé. The Flying Goat block is a very long single row of clone 23 Pinot Noir, a clone often used in sparkling wines. The grapes are picked early – at about 19 Brix – when the sugars and acids are in balance. The early flavor development and lively acidity of clone 23 is perfect for Goat Bubbles.
The Solomon Hills Vineyards takes its title from neighboring hills named for Salomon Pico, a celebrated bandit who in the 1850’s traveled frequently along the stretch of El Camino Real that is known today as Santa Maria Valley.
The site is treated with the attention to detail expected from the Miller Family. In addition to being SIP (Sustainability in Practice) certified, it is also recognized and certified by the CSWA (California Sustainable Winegrowing Alliance).