One of the best places to experience the tranquility of the Santa Ynez Wine Country is Piocho Ranch. Piocho means “where the two rivers meet and go to heaven” and the ranch has other-worldly beauty with grand horses roaming green pastures and immaculate vineyards.
Happy Canyon Vineyard is nestled in the hills of Piocho Ranch and is named after the Happy Canyon AVA of Santa Barbara County, where it’s located. The AVA was established in 2009 and has the warmest microclimate in the Santa Ynez Valley making it an ideal place for growing top-notch Bordeaux varietals.
While onsite, I had the pleasure of meeting Sean Pitts, Executive Winemaker and Managing Director of Happy Canyon Vineyards. Sean guided my boyfriend, Matthew and I through a wonderful experience where we learned about the ranch’s vineyards then made our way to the Vineyard House to taste Happy Canyon Vineyards wines while indulging on gourmet bites.
We tasted the following wines:
2021 Piocho Sauvignon Blanc – 91% Sauvignon Blanc and 09% Sémillon. It has a fruit-forward aroma and on the palette it’s crisp and elegant.
2021 Piocho Rosé – It’s a rosé of Cabernet Franc that’s bright, crisp, and has a touch of spice. It’s not your average rosé wine and is perfect for watching polo on a warm summer day!
2019 Piocho Patrón – An elegant estate vineyard red blend that’s richly concentrated and aromatically has notes of blueberry, black cherry, clove, cedar wood, and plum.
2018 Piocho Reserve – 57% Cabernet Franc, 20% Cabernet Sauvignon, 13% Merlot, 3% Petit Verdot, and 7% Malbec. It’s fruity, spicy, and has strong yet soft tannins.
2019 Family Estate Brand – 80% Merlot, 11% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4% Cabernet Franc, 4% Petit Verdot, and 1% Malbec. A darkly blue-colored wine with medium body and silky structure. The palette consists of spice notes with dried black cherries, plum and violets.
2019 Family Estate Ten~Goal – 84% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Franc, 3% Petit Verdot, and 1% Malbec. It’s an elegant wine featuring dark fruits and aromatics of chocolate, violets, bing cherries, and toasted oak.
From where the wine tasting took place we had a wonderful view that looked out across two regulation sized polo fields and the majestic Santa Ynez Mountains. The family that owns the property blends its commitment to excellence in wine with a passion for Polo – a wonderful combination!
Happy Canyon Vineyard wine club members can book a stay at one of the beautifully appointed cottages onsite with sumptuous fittings. Located in a serene setting they are a perfect place to relax and unwind.
Overall, Piocho Ranch and Happy Canyon Vineyard are the perfect destination for anyone looking to escape the hustle and bustle of everyday life and experience the beauty and tranquility of the Santa Ynez Wine Country.
