Ampelos Cellars
A husband-and-wife team turned a cold Sta. Rita Hills hillside into the first vineyard in the country to earn three green certifications at once, and made soulful wine while they were at it.
Ampelos is the ancient Greek word for vine, and Peter and Rebecca Work chose it deliberately. When they planted their vineyard in the cold Sta. Rita Hills, they wanted to farm it in a way the ancients would recognize: by hand, in tune with the land, with as little intervention as possible. They ended up setting a national first.
Three certifications, one hillside
The Work family planted the Ampelos Vineyard near Lompoc and committed to farming it the hard, honest way. The result was a milestone: Ampelos became the first vineyard in the United States to be certified Sustainable, Organic, and Biodynamic all at once, a triple distinction almost no one else holds. For Peter and Rebecca, the certifications were never the point so much as the proof of a philosophy, that healthier soil and a lighter touch make more honest, expressive wine. It is a small, hands-on family operation, and the care shows in the glass.
Farm the soil right, and the wine takes care of itself. Ampelos staked its whole identity on it.
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Start the quizThe wines
Ampelos works the cold Sta. Rita Hills classics and a touch of the Rhone: bright, savory Pinot Noir, cool-climate Syrah that leans peppery and floral, Grenache, and aromatic whites like Viognier. The wines are made with native fermentations and a gentle hand, energetic and food-friendly rather than heavy, a clear expression of organically farmed, cold-climate fruit.
What to drink it with
The Pinot Noir is a natural with grilled salmon, seared duck, or mushrooms, where its earthy side meets the plate on the same note. The cool-climate Syrah loves Santa Maria tri-tip or grilled lamb, its pepper and dark fruit meeting the char, and the Grenache, softer and red-fruited, is lovely with roast pork. The Viognier, full and floral, wants roast chicken or stone fruit and a soft cheese.
Plan your visit
Ampelos pours in the Lompoc Wine Ghetto, the unpretentious heart of Sta. Rita Hills winemaking, where you can often talk farming with the people who actually do it. Reservations are recommended on weekends.
Taste honest farming
Book a tasting at Ampelos and drink organically grown, cold-climate Pinot and Syrah from a true believer.
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