HISTORY
Timeline
1971: First planting, Harley Martin
1986: Hampton, Cramer and Cushman purchase property
1996: Robert Mondavi purchases property
1997: Mondavi team begins to replant property
2003: Doug Circle purchases property
2008: First Sierra Madre Vineyard branded wine is released
Key Facts
First planting: 1971
Previous Owners: Robert Mondavi, Dale Hampton
Vineyard: Among the westernmost vineyards in Santa Barbara County
Owner: Doug Circle, 30 years background in Agriculture
Planted Acreage: 173.29
Varieties: Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Pinot Gris, Pinot Blanc
Current and Past Customers: Au Bon Climat, David Bruce, Byron, Edna Valley Vineyard, Fiddlehead Cellars, Gainey Vineyard, Hahn Estates, Hitching Post, Ken Brown, Lane Tanner, LaZarre Wines, Paul Lato, Qupe, Row 11, Rusack, Sanford Winery, Scott Cellars, Wild Horse
Sierra Madre Vineyard has a historic past and looks forward to a progressive future.
The property was first planted in 1971, by Harley Martin, a San Joaquin Valley grower.
In 1975, the property was acquired by the Prudential Insurance Company, which purchased it, along with a number of other California vineyards, as an investment property. Dale Hampton, Prudential's Superintendent of Farming Operations, managed the vineyard. At that point, 700 acres were developed.
After having worked with the vineyard for 13 years, in August 1988, Dale Hampton purchased the vineyard, together with Douglas Cramer, a Hollywood television producer (Dynasty, Love Boat, Hotel) and John Cushman, an LA real estate developer. With considerable demand for Santa Maria fruit coming from the larger growing regions, Hampton wanted to ensure that San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara County vintners would be assured of this fine local resource for their wines.
At that time the property was 1000 acres, 630 planted to vineyards: Sauvignon Blanc, Johannisberg Riesling, Chardonnay, and Pinot Noir. Clients included Byron Vineyard and Winery, Zaca Mesa, Robert Mondavi, Qupe, Caymus, Cambria, Fess Parker, and Sanford Winery.
In the early ‘80s, wine critics began to take notice. Noted wine writer Mike Stepanovich called Sierra Madre Vineyard “one of the state’s – make that the nation’s – best Pinot Noir vineyards,” citing consecutive awards for Sanford Winery, Byron Vineyard & Winery, and Wild Horse Winery for “Best American Pinot Noir,” all from Sierra Madre fruit.
In 1996, Mondavi purchased the property from the Hampton group. The following year Mondavi, which had purchased Byron Winery in 1990, replanted the vineyard under Byron winemaker Ken Brown's auspices.
Brown planted using a multitude of rootstock and clone combinations, so as to offer Byron a variety of choices, as well as the opportunity for great complexity of blends. This planting experiment is an important milestone in Sierra Madre's history, as the outcome is a rich component in Sierra Madre's terroir.
Development and replanting continued during the Mondavi era, and indeed has continued to this day.
In early 2003, business man and strawberry grower Doug Circle purchased 500 acres of Sierra Madre Vineyard from Mondavi, with a plan to reintroduce the site to a multitude of great winemakers.
In 2002-2004, the vineyard remained under contract to Mondavi. Since then, winery clients have included Au Bon Climat, David Bruce Winery, Kenneth Volk Vineyards, Hitching Post Wines, Edna Valley Vineyard, Gainey Vineyard, Hahn Estates, Paul Lato, Point Conception Wines, Row Eleven Wine Company, Rusack, Sanford Winery, Scott Cellars, Wild Horse Winery and Diageo Chateau & Estate Wines, many of whom have or will be producing Sierra Madre vineyard designated wines.
This precious parcel is in good hands with Doug Circle. Doug’s more than 30 years in agriculture, on both the farming and business sides, uniquely qualifies him to be the next shepherd for Sierra Madre Vineyard. As he sees even more potential in this vineyard than it enjoyed in the past, Doug is eager to bring that vision to fruition. In partnership with the highly respected Mesa Vineyard Management Company, he is constantly researching, learning, and implementing new farming techniques to allow this very special vineyard to reach its potential.
In 2006, Doug Circle convinced celebrated winemaker, Ken Volk to craft 10 tons of Pinot and 3 tons of Chardonnay for a Sierra Madre Vineyard branded wine, the first in the vineyard’s long and distinguished history. These wines are set for an April, 2008 release.
The vineyard, currently planted to 173 total acres including Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Pinot Blanc and Pinot Gris, continues to be managed under the experienced purview of Mesa Vineyard Management, and Rodolfo Callado.
