Just off Highway 246 west of Buellton, where the cold maritime air of the Sta. Rita Hills begins to soften into warmth, Blair Pence built something more than a winery. Pence Ranch is a true working ranch, with gardens, farm animals, and even a polo field laid out among the vines.

A ranch first, a winery always

Pence Vineyards sits at the warm eastern threshold of the Sta. Rita Hills, a transitional spot where cool-climate and warmer exposures meet on the same property. That range lets the estate farm an unusually wide planting: Pinot Noir and Chardonnay on the cooler, fog-touched blocks, and Syrah, Grenache, and other Rhone varieties where the sun lingers longer. Everything is estate-grown on the ranch, and over the past decade Pence has built a reputation as one of the more serious and exciting estates in the area, all while keeping the unhurried, agricultural soul of a real ranch.

Vines, gardens, animals, and a polo field, all on one piece of Sta. Rita Hills ground.

The wines

The cool-climate Pinot Noir and Chardonnay are the heart of the estate, bright, savory, and detailed in the Sta. Rita Hills mold. But Pence is just as compelling for its Rhone wines, particularly Syrah and Grenache off the warmer blocks, which add a peppery, generous counterpoint. The breadth, from delicate Pinot to robust Syrah, all from one property, is the whole point.

What to drink it with

The estate Pinot Noir is a natural with grilled salmon, seared duck, or mushrooms, where its earthy side meets the fungi. The Chardonnay, fresh and mineral, loves crab or a roast chicken. And the warmer-block Syrah is built for Santa Maria style tri-tip or grilled lamb, its pepper and dark fruit locking into the smoke and char.

Plan your visit

Pence offers one of the most scenic tasting experiences in the area, set among the gardens and vineyards of a genuine working ranch. Reservations are recommended, and the setting alone is worth the short drive off Highway 246.

Frequently asked questions