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.

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.

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Huber

This 24 acre ranch is owned by Norman and Traudl Huber. 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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Sea Smoke

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 Coastal Vineyard Care. Our four-acre Pinot Noir section is planted in sandy loam soils to clones 113, 114, and 115. Our Chardonnay section is planted to clone 76.

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