Family Vineyard
June 20, 2022 (from the archives!)
Hello Roberts Road neighbors! Our 875 Roberts Rd vineyard project has been growing well and we wanted to take a moment to update you on our progress.
My name is Joshua Stewman, and I’m the oldest of four boys who were raised at 895 Roberts Road. It has been our family home for over 30 years. Back in 2008, I returned from grad school in Illinois to find work in architecture here on the Central Coast and as a family project that spring, we decided to plant a small Pinot Noir vineyard. We loved it! The whole process of tending the vines, watering, and harvesting the grapes in the fall soon became part of our family traditions.
In the spring of 2011, my family and I purchased the 21-acre property next door to my parent’s home and began to prepare for additional vineyard plantings. For the past 9 years we have been working on establishing a small winery at the top of the hill. The winery was bonded in 2018, and we currently have about 4 acres in Pinot Noir vines.
Biodiversity and Organic Farming Practices
Since first planting our hillside vineyards, one of the chief goals has been creating overlapping layers of diversity. This has meant planting and tending to lavender fields and olive & fruit orchards too. This has meant cultivating cover crops that stabilize our hillside and promote better water retention during the winter months. Bee hives are in residence at the top of the Ranch to help with pollination. Our winemaking style has developed into 100% native yeast fermentations. This year marked the first season where we had a flock of visiting Baby Doll sheep grazing our hillside (you might have seen them if you drove past on Robert’s Road).
Construction Completion & Prep for Wine-Club
This coming spring means the completion of our winery construction phase. We have just recently submitted an application for an ABC license - WINEGROWER permit, so you may see this posting at our driveway. This permit will enable us to sell wine through our wine club. Our vision is to be 90% wine club (DTC) and then sell 10% of our wines to local restaurants. Our property is set up as a winegrowing location, but not a place for a regular public tasting room. We may have a bi annual wine club pickup day for local members. If we do this – we will be sure to invite you to stop by and pick up a bottle (on the house). Down the road, we may pursue having a tasting room in Ben Lomond or Santa Cruz, but are taking this journey one step at a time. Please know that we value the quiet and peacefulness of our neighborhood and will seek to honor and maintain that.
If you have any questions about the winery, please don’t hesitate to call me.
Joshua Stewman - Winemaker for Roberts Ranch