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At Brewer - Clifton, we focus
solely on the production of vineyard designated Chardonnay
and Pinot Noir from several carefully selected vineyards that
represent the best of the extreme Sta. Rita Hills appellation
in Santa Barbara County. The area's cool climate, morning
fogs, long growing season and diversity of soils combine to
produce extreme wines that reflect the special characteristics
of the area. The vineyards selected for Brewer - Clifton wines
represent the full range of the Santa Rita Hills - from the
furthest eastern point to the coastal vineyards to the west.
We work with each grower to produce fruit that will allow
the pedigree of place to shine forth in each wine.
For a printable summary of our growers,
please click here.
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ampelos
 This
recent addition to our vineyard portfolio is owned and farmed
by Peter and Rebecca Work. We are thrilled about the future
potential of this new site near the eastern end of the appellation.
Our
two-acre parcel is on a west-facing slope and was planted
at 7' by 3' spacing to clone 828 in 2004. The vineyard is
managed by Jeff Newton of Coastal Vineyard Care.
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Courtney's/Lindsey's
(formerly Ashley's)
 Originally
planted and named by the Fess Parker family after Fess’
daughter Ashley, this vineyard is not only one of the largest
in the appellation (200 acres), but also one of the steepest
and most extreme. The vineyard was purchased in 2007 by Bill
Foley and was renamed after his daughters Courtney (Chardonnay)
and Lindsey (Pinot Noir).
Our
three-acre Chardonnay section was planted in 1999 to the Mt.
Eden clone in sandy loam. Our two-acre Pinot Noir section
is at the very top of the property, on a severely-sloped north-facing
hillside. The soil is a clay loam planted to clones 4, 114
and 115. Once the fog clears, you can see the ocean from this
block. The vineyard is currently farmed by Coastal Vineyard
Care.
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Cargasacchi
 If
we were growers, we would love to be seen in the same light
as Peter Cargasacchi. His sixteen acre clone 115 Pinot Noir
vineyard was planted in 1998 at his family’s ranch at
the far western end of the appellation. The hills surrounding
his vineyard look almost lunar as they are comprised almost
completely of diatomite and other calcareous materials. Our
two acre section features some very unique soils. We know
of no other grower who is as sensitive to his site and his
vines as Peter. His commitment is admirable, and his insatiable
quest to further his knowledge and his vineyard is inspirational.
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Clos
Pepe
 Our
one-acre Pinot Noir section was planted in 1998 on a knoll
to Pommard clone on this 30-acre site owned and farmed by
Wes Hagen and the Pepe family. While most of the vineyard
is Pinot Noir (26 acres), we also work with a one-acre section
of Wente clone Chardonnay planted on another windswept knoll
in 1997.
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 Huber
This 24 acre ranch is owned by Norman and
Traudl Huber and is farmed by Brewer-Clifton. The sandy soil
was planted to Chardonnay (Wente) in the mid 1980's, some
of which has been grafted to Pinot Noir clones 115 and 667
over the past several years.
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Kimberly
 This
is a very special, ½-acre vineyard planted on two steep,
opposing slopes at Melville to Pinot Noir clone 777. The block
is planted at a spacing of 3’x3’ (4,200 vines
per acre). We produce two barrels per year of this block which
was created to memorialize Greg’s cousin, Kim, who was
brutally attacked and murdered in Philadelphia while jogging
in the mid 1990’s. The wines from the vineyard are only
sold through restaurants, and all are donated to philanthropic
causes.
Click here for more details on
Kimberly.
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Melville
 Chad
Melville and the Melville family farm this stunning vineyard
from which we have access to three particular sections. Our
one-acre Pinot Noir section was planted to clones 114 and
115 on a windswept clay loam mesa in 1997. We also receive
the entirety of the fruit from Kimberly as mentioned above.
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Mount
Carmel
 This
steep, south-facing and celestial vineyard was planted by
Ron Piazza and Paul Abrecht in 1991 in accordance with a cloistered
order of Carmelite nuns. There are currently 15 acres of Pinot
Noir (clones 667, 2A, 5, 115, 777, 828 and Mount Eden) and
7 acres of Chardonnay (Wente clone).
Click here for more details on
Mount Carmel.
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Rancho
Santa Rosa
 This
is another very ambitious project (240 acres) owned by Bill
Foley of Foley Estates Winery. We have gained access to two
very steep one-acre parcels of Chardonnay, each limestone
ridden and planted to clones 76 and 96. We also work with
a steep one-acre section of Pinot Noir planted to clone 667,
also in soils replete with limestone. We received fruit for
the first time with the 2003 harvest. The vineyard is farmed
under the guidance of Stan Johnson and Beto Garcia.
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Rio
Vista
 This
vineyard was planted in 2000 and came into production for
us in 2003. It is located on a steep, west-facing slope on
the extreme eastern end of the appellation. Our one-acre section
is planted to Pinot Noir clone 777 and is farmed by John Belfy
of Buona Terra Farming.
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Seasmoke
 We
are extremely fortunate to have the opportunity to work with
the limited chardonnay from this prestigious vineyard planted
predominantly to pinot noir in the late 1990s. We have access
to a three acre parcel from which we receive dijonnaise clones
76, 95 and 96. The block is in Metz loamy sand and is situated
on a small mesa immediately above the Santa Ynez river.
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Sweeney
Canyon
 This
eighteen-acre, Chardonnay vineyard was planted in 1981 by
the Marks family who still own and farm it. The property is
located along the Santa Ynez River channel just down and to
the west of Mount Carmel and immediately to the east of Cargasacchi.
Not only is this our oldest planting, but Sweeney is also
the only vineyard in our current portfolio with which we have
worked every year since our inception in 1996. We currently
control approximately 3 acres of the property, which is managed
by John Krska.
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Zotovich
 This
exciting vineyard project on Highway 246 is owned by Steve
Zotovich and is under the vineyard management of Krska Farming.
Our four acre section is planted in sandy loam soils to clones
113, 114, and 115.
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