Tag: old world

Tucked in a quiet spot, just two miles south of the flag pole in downtown Los Olivos, California, Beckmen Vineyards has spent the last two decades earning its reputation as one of the nation’s premier producers of Rhône varietals.

The winery was founded in 1994 by Tom Beckmen and his son Steve. Tom, who grew up on a farm outside of Chicago, began searching for promising vineyard property in the early 1990s. He purchased an existing small winery on 40 acres and established Beckmen Vineyards. Two years later, Tom and Steve purchased another parcel: an amazing unplanted 365-acre Santa Ynez Valley ranch.

It’s a steep drive up High Hill road to Madroña vineyards in Camino, California. When first-time guests arrive and realize how far they’ve climbed, they often report having an epiphany. They may have heard that Madroña stands at an elevation of 3,000 feet and is one of the highest-elevated wineries in the state of California, but now they feel it. The altitude imparts a clean, crisp quality to the air. The warm mountain days lead to cool mountain nights, yielding intense flavors and mild acidity in the grapes. Madroña’s three estate vineyards total about 67 acres, offering an exciting range of terroir.