Pinot Noir

The Pinot Noir grapes used to produce our wine were grown in a small two-acre vineyard called Vista del Maré Vineyard. The vineyard is perched on a south-facing hill in the Santa Cruz Mountains with a beautiful view of the Pacific Ocean. At about 500 feet in elevation, the vineyard is part of the Santa Cruz Mountains Appellation and is surrounded by tall pines and redwoods. Because the land available to grow Pinot Noir grapes in the Santa Cruz Mountains is limited, our little vineyard is very special. Bathed by coastal fog in the morning, and the ripening sun in the afternoon as it crosses the southern sky, our vineyard is the perfect location to grow Pinot Noir grapes.

Our grapes have become increasingly more robust in flavor in the past several years and have generated some interest from local winemakers. Hallcrest Vineyards created an estate wine from our 2004 crop, and it won several awards at the Orange County Fair in 2005. Thus, the wine made from the grapes we grow is generally regarded as a premium wine.

The Growers and Makers

It takes a lot of effort and sacrifice to make a vineyard special, and financial profit from a small family-run vineyard is generally an illusion. The real benefit is the lifestyle that living on a vineyard provides to your family, and your neighborhood. The Vista del Mare Vineyard is a partnership of friendship, labor, and land contributed by Jim and Ann Hogan, Dixie Rees, and John and Beth Mangan. We grow our wine grapes for sale, personal use, and to share with you, our friends. We also have friends that partner with us in creating a custom crush. They include the Scott and Jackie Becker Family and the Donna and Ken Potts Family.

John Schumacher and his crew at Hallcrest Vineyards have made our wine for us for the past few years. Hallcrest Vineyards is a local Felton winery that makes Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Pinot Noir wines. They also make organic wines, where both the grapes and the process are completely organic. Visit them at HallcrestVineyards.com.