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Cottonwood Canyon Vineyard

Cottonwood Canyon Vineyard Description

At the northernmost end of the Foxen Canyon Wine Trail lies the unique and interesting winery of Cottonwood Canyon. Sitting on a small hillside, the rectangular tasting facility sits above the wine caves as it looks out over the Santa Maria Valley and the cool coastal estate vineyards.

The vineyard’s close proximity to the ocean allows slow ripening and longer “hang time” to improve sugar and acid development. Fifty-six acres are planted with Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Syrah and are used to produce meaty, long-lived, high-acid wines. These “distinctively different” wines are paired with food as part of the Cottonwood Canyon tasting experience. Olives, cheese, breads and spicy vegetables are matched to the full-flavored wines. Cottonwood Canyon is also one of the few wineries that offers older reserve vintages for tasting.

A small kitchen is found in the back room, along with comfy chairs and a chess board. Barrels topped with wooden planks create individual tasting tables. A lovely deck looking east over the vineyards has an outdoor fireplace, overhead trellises and a fountain.

The winery and vineyard conceal the 6,000 square feet of wine caves that serve as barrel rooms, as well as the Cask Room event area. Tours of the caves, along with barrel tastings, are available at 11am, 1pm and 3pm on weekends and by appointment. Wines available include various vintages of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Merlot, Syrah, and red Bordeaux blends.