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theCompass mobile application is a winery, brewery, and distillery locator for North America. |
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Rancho Sisquoc Winery
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Located in northern Santa Barbara County on the Sisquoc River 18 miles east of Santa Maria, California, Rancho Sisquoc is part of an 1852 Spanish land grant. To the Chumash Indians of the area, "Siaquoc" meant "gathering place"--and today Rancho Sisquoc is again a gathering place, this time for wine lovers.
The 37,000 acre ranch was purchased in 1952 by James Flood. The cattle business is the same as it has always been, but the beans and barley have been replaced with vegetables and grapevines. Because the area's climate and soil compared favorably with the renowned growing regions of Sonoma and Napa, Flood decided to plant grape vines. The initial planting in 1968 consisted of nine acres of Johannisberg Riesling and four acres of Cabernet Sauvignon grapes. Current acreage is 320 and growing.
In 1972, then ranch manager Harold Pfeiffer produced the first wines. "The reason I started making wine was to show what you could do with the grapes. Of course I didn't know what I was doing," he says.
By 1974 wineries wanted more grapes and 141 more acres of vines were planted. In 1977 Rancho Sisquoc became a bonded winery and the tasting room was built.
Warmer than vineyards in the lower Santa Maria Valley, Rancho Sisquoc is not as warm as the Santa Ynez Valley only twenty miles to the south, thanks to what's known as the transverse range, coastal mountains running west to east that bring cold winds and fog inland from the Pacific Ocean.
Today, as you drive the road that snakes along the edge of the valley floor to the ranch headquaters and tasting room, you leave the rush of the late twentieth century behind. The farmhouse and barn date from the early 1900s, and artifacts of an earlier age lend the ranch a feeling of when the pace was slower and unrushed.
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Directions
Rancho Sisquoc Winery is located about 14 miles east of US Highway 101 just off Foxen Canyon Road. From the north, exit US101 at Betteravia Road in Santa Maria and head east. Betteravia Road will become Foxen Canyon Road and make a series of right and left turns. Just follow Foxen Canyon Road until you reach San Ramon Chapel, then follow the signs to the winery. From the south, exit US101 at Alisos Canyon Road; turn left when it dead-ends into Foxen Canyon Road, got to the San Ramon Chapel and follow the signs into the winery.
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CABERNET FRANC
This deep purple, high viscosity wine has a wonderful nose of boysenberry, ripe fig jam and sweet vanilla. Toasty tannin holds the rich mouth and it finishes with sweet lactones and bright black fruits. Aged 20 months in French oak.
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Cabernet Sauvignon
(15% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc, 3% Malbec). Majestic in its deep ruby color, this Cabernet has brilliant clarity. Aromas of blackberry & blueberry dominate, leading to a palate of currants, leather and cherry. A smooth oaky lingering finish. Aged 19 months French, Slovakian & Russian oaks. Flood Vineyard.
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Cabernet Sauvignon
(3% Cabernet Franc & 3% Malbec) A very majestic Cabernet full of earth & fruit. The nose is pleasant with berries, sweet tobacco & hints of licorice. The flavors are full and ripe with black fruits to cola. A firm structure holds the wine firm with a rich middle and opulent tannins help this wine finish strong. Aged 18 months in French oak. Flood Family Vineyards.
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CELLAR SELECT MERITAGE
(45% Merlot, 30% Cab Sauvignon, 13% Malbec, 8% Cab Franc, 4% Pt. Verdot). A true Meritage indicative of a soft Bordeaux style blend. Blueberry, allspice and sweet oak make this wine very inviting. The huge structure has opulent tannins and the mouth explodes with dark chocolate, berries and nuances of leather. French oak aged for 26 months.
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CELLAR SELECT MERITAGE
37% Cab Sauvignon, 31% Merlot, 14% Malbec, 11% Pt. Verdot, 7% Cab Franc) This is a true Meritage indicative of a soft Bordeaux style blend. Blueberry, allspice and sweet oak make this wine very inviting. The huge structure has opulent tannins and the mouth explodes with dark chocolate, berries and nuances of leather. Flood Family Vineyards. French oak aged for 26 months.
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Chardonnay
This fresh Chardonnay has a sweet oak, honeysuckle, citrus to melon nose with a fabulous buttery mouth-feel. The oak is subtle, smooth and delicate and definitely does not over power the fruit flavors. The finish is long and balanced. Aged 9 months in French oak. Flood Family Vineyards
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Chardonnay
The full bouquet of tropical fruits is very exciting in this young, lively & fresh Chardonnay. It has a rich mouth with flavors from pears and green apple to more tropical fruits and citrus. It shows balanced sweet oak that does not overpower the flavors. This Chardonnay has a soft finish with hints of spice and honey. Flood Vineyard. French oak aged 9 months.
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Malbec
This deep purple, high viscosity wine has a wonderful nose of boysenberry, ripe fig jam and sweet vanilla. Toasty tannin holds the rich mouth and it finishes with sweet lactones and bright black fruits. Aged 20 months in French oak.
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Merlot
(3% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Malbec). This very big Merlot has a thick jam filled nose with sweet oak highlights. The ripe plum & sweet cherry flavors are intense in this very concentrated wine. A thick juicy steak would be perfect with this exciting Merlot. French, American, Slovakian & Russian oak aged for 18 months.
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Merlot
This Merlot is big with very concentrated flavors of cherry, plum, blackberry & sweet tannins. It has a rich opulent mouth yet finishes dry. There is subtle oak throughout. Flood Vineyard. Barrel aged 19 months in American, French and Hungarian oak.
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Merlot
(10% Cabernet Sauvignon) Sweet chocolate and cherries open this fabulous Merlot to a palate of forest berries, earth and cedar. The mouth is friendly and the finish is soft making this a very approachable Merlot for many occasions. Flood Family Vineyards. Aged 18 months in French oak.
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Pinot Noir
A power Pinot, full & ripe with concentrated ruby red color. The aromas begin with rich chocolate and toasty oak giving way to spicy cran-raspberry. Lush flavors are ripe and full with integrated oak and vanilla yet there are subtle tannins. The superb structure holds for a firm and long finish. Aged 14 months in French oak. Flood Family Vineyards.
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Riesling
Fresh, young and lively, this Riesling has brilliant clarity and high viscosity. Flavors of sweet pear and tangerine lead to hints of honeydew melon. While it is sweet, it is very light and clean on the finish from the addition of the Sylvaner. Flood Family Vineyards.
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Sangiovese
This balanced and well structured wine is full of fruit with pronounced flavors of plum, cherry and blackberries. There are also hints of licorice, oak and tobacco through-out. Aged 30 months with great long term aging potential.
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Sauvignon Blanc
Cheers to this fine Sauvignon Blanc with low viscosity and brilliant clarity. It is crisp and refreshing with a nose of grapefruit and tropical fruits. The rich mouth-feel is a wonderful surprise and brings out the melon to vanilla flavors. The simple fruit domination and strong acid help showcase the citrus highlights throughout this wine. Enjoy now.
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SISQUOC RIVER RED
(36% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Merlot, 13% Syrah, 9% Sangiovese, 7% Malbec). A rich oak & berry dominated nose with hints of vanilla and toast. This wonderful blend has a firm palate with flavors of cherry & blackberry and dry subtle tannins. American & Hungarian oak aged for 14 months.
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SISQUOC RIVER RED
(47% Cabernet Sauvignon, 38% Merlot, 9% Syrah, 6% Sangiovese) A rich oak & berry dominated nose with hints dried herbs and vanilla. This exciting blend is soft and easy drinking. The flavors are straight forward, full of blackberry jam and sweet toasty oak leading to a clean finish. Flood Family Vineyards. New American and Hungarian oak aged for 15 months.
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Sylvaner
6% Riesling (1.0% residual sugar). This very unique wine has luscious flavors of peaches and tropical fruits. It is a real treat for anyone wanting to try something different.
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Sylvaner
Sylvaner is a wine that is unique to Rancho Sisquoc as we are the only producers of this varietal in California. The wonderful fruit forward flavors of honeydew, sweet pear and spice are present from the nose to the finish. The aromatics of our sweet Riesling are upfront and marvelous. This crisp favorite finishes clean with a hint of lingering sweetness. Flood Family Vineyards.
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SYRAH
From the start the nose gives the impression this wine is rich and thick. Chocolate aromatics give way to ripe cherry, plum and hints of licorice. Flavors are rich with dark fruits, spices, black pepper, hints of mint and toasted oak. The finish is long, full and very cleansing. Aged 16 months in Hungarian and Slovakian oak.
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Syrah
Deep and thick in color with sweet vanilla, lush blackberry, black cherry and ripe plum fruit aromatics. The mouth is full and firm with chewy tannins that create a clean and youthful finish. This Syrah will age very well. Aged 18 months in French and Hungarian oak. Flood Family Vineyards.
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