Nestled against the northern flank of the Santa Ynez Mountains and just south of the Santa Ynez River, Refugio (rey-FOO-he-o) Ranch is a splendid, rustic 415-acre estate dotted with oak trees and 26 strategically planted vineyard acres. Owners Kevin and Niki Gleason and their family planted the vineyard and remain its careful shepherds as they sustainably farm the grapes in blocks, and at harvest, pick them by hand in the cool of the night.
“The terroir found us,” Kevin says. “After looking for two years up and down the Central Coast for a suitable environment, Niki and I came upon Refugio Ranch in Santa Ynez and immediately knew that this was what we had been searching for.” The land was untouched, having been a historical cattle grazing ranch for the past few hundred years. “We immediately brought the ‘dirt docs’ down from Napa, who—after careful analysis of the soils and microclimate—indicated Refugio Ranch was perfectly suited for growing Rhône varietals and Sauvignon Blanc. This resulted in our planting 15 blocks on 26 of the most prime acres of our 415-acre ranch.”
The Gleasons are extremely grateful for the expert knowledge of Vineyard Manager Ruben Solorzano (they call him the Grape Whisperer), Winemaker Ryan Deovlet, and Director of Operations Max Gleason who successfully launched the Refugio Ranch label in the Spring of 2011. In addition, each member of the Gleason family plays a role: Niki and Kevin oversee the operation; their son is responsible for the graphics, website, labels, and so on; and their two daughters are muses and inspirations for the labels and more. All share credit for the portfolio which consists of an impressive lineup of highly rated estate wines including two distinctive Sauvignon Blancs grown on the valley floor, and an exquisite lineup of expressive, beautifully balanced Rhône varietals and blends. The wines are crafted in small lots from 100 percent estate grown grapes.
“Making great wine is all about taking time for time,” Kevin says. “We don’t rush the process in the vineyard or in the cellar. The vineyard is constantly speaking to us and educating us, as is the evolution of the wines in the cellar. We want to be good listeners and let that be reflected in the quality of the wines.”
The vineyards are not open to the public, but in 2012, the Refugio Ranch tasting room opened on a busy corner in downtown Los Olivos. Guests are invited to sit on comfortable stools along the tasting bar, and then linger as long as they like over a favorite wine on the new outdoor deck overlooking the street. Many guests are quick to sign up for the Escondido Wine Club which guarantees them the latest Refugio Ranch offerings along with exclusive VIP privileges to the ranch. In a room adjacent to the main tasting room, an industrial stove provides opportunities for occasional culinary events and cooking demonstrations.
Each member of the tasting room staff spends time working on the ranch, and guests love to hear their stories as they fall in love with the wines of Refugio Ranch.