In the early 1970s, the Santa Ynez Valley was cattle country with barely a vineyard in sight. Then Brooks Firestone, grandson of the tire magnate Harvey Firestone, did something his family found baffling: he left the tire business to grow wine grapes in the middle of nowhere.

One of the first to believe

Brooks Firestone and his wife Kate founded Firestone Vineyard in 1972, planting on the rolling hills above Los Olivos along what is now the Foxen Canyon Wine Trail. It was one of the first estate wineries in Santa Barbara County, built years before the region had any reputation at all, and its early success helped convince others that this valley could make serious wine. The Firestone family stewarded the estate for more than three decades before it passed into the Foley family of wineries, but the founding role is fixed in the county’s history. The wider Firestone name went on to fame in beer as well, through the celebrated Firestone Walker Brewing Company.

When Brooks Firestone planted in 1972, almost no one believed in this valley. He did.

The wines

Firestone has long made an approachable, crowd-pleasing range built for its sun-warmed Santa Ynez Valley home: Bordeaux reds like Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, Rhone-style Syrah, and a lineup of aromatic whites, including Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Riesling, and Gewurztraminer. These are generous, easygoing wines made to be enjoyed on the spot, ideally on the estate’s view-filled terrace.

Firestone Vineyard was planted in 1972 by Leonard Firestone, a son of the tire-making family, together with his own son Brooks. It was the first estate winery in Santa Barbara County, a real gamble at a time when almost no one believed serious wine could come from this corner of the Santa Ynez Valley. The bet held, and the Firestones helped prove the valley could grow grapes worth taking seriously.

The estate farms sustainably and pours a broad, food-friendly range: crisp Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay, aromatic whites like Riesling and Gewurztraminer, and a lineup of reds that runs from Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon to Malbec and Petit Verdot. Now part of the Foley family of wineries, Firestone keeps the same approachable, estate-grown character that made it a Santa Ynez landmark in the first place.

What to drink it with

The Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot want lamb or a steak, where the tannin softens against the fat, while the Syrah is a natural with Santa Maria tri-tip. The off-dry Riesling and Gewurztraminer are the secret weapons: their touch of sweetness and bright aromatics make them perfect with spicy food, cooling the heat where a dry wine would only fan it.

Plan your visit

Firestone pours at its hilltop estate on Zaca Station Road outside Los Olivos, with one of the best terrace views in the valley and picnic-friendly grounds. It is a classic, relaxed Santa Ynez Valley stop.

Frequently asked questions