An upcoming addition to Bien Nacido Vineyard has the potential to open the floodgates for countless new opportunities at the estate.
Currently under construction, The Gatehouse—a new tasting room and outdoor courtyard area set to open during the spring—will grant the general public access to the renowned Santa Maria vineyard for the first time in its 50-year history.
While the gatekeepers behind Bien Nacido already operate a tasting room in Los Olivos, there has never been a traditional tasting area on the estate grounds, located on Santa Maria Mesa Road.
“This really marks the first time that we’re opening the estate up to the public, which is exciting,” said Elisabeth Rodrigo, brand manager for Bien Nacido Vineyard.
If all goes according to plan, completion of The Gatehouse later this year will coincide with Bien Nacido’s 50th anniversary. The vineyard was planted in 1973 by brothers Bob and Steve Miller, four years after the pair purchased the land.
Over the next five decades, the vineyard’s reputation gained international recognition, earning spots in top 10, top 25, and similar published lists designed to chart the world’s most celebrated vintners.
Jerry Ferraro, director of hospitality at Bien Nacido, believes The Gatehouse will honor the vineyard’s historical legacy, while kicking off a brand new chapter in the estate’s ongoing mythos.
“Hospitality is all about stories, it’s about making that connection to our guests and to who we are,” said Ferraro, who added that not only will the public soon have access to the new tasting room and outdoor courtyard area, but also to new, exclusive tours that explore the estate grounds, not previously offered on the property.
The location of The Gatehouse itself is “pivotal to guests’ experience,” Ferraro explained, as visitors will be able to take in the scenic views of Bien Nacido’s vast estate, whether they’re sitting outside on the patio or looking through the tasting room’s large windows.
“Everybody can sit down and drink our wine, while enjoying where it’s coming from,” Ferraro said. “We want guests to come here to relax, enjoy the weather, enjoy the view.”
While the first floor of The Gatehouse’s interior will be open for regular tasting room hours and offerings, the second floor will be home to a private room for parties to rent for special occasions.
The Gatehouse also includes a kitchen, perfect for guest chefs and collaborators to host special food events at the venue, said Ferraro, who added that charcuterie dishes and other bites will be available for purchase to wine tasters on a regular basis.
Meanwhile, the outdoor courtyard area just outside The Gatehouse will have fire pits and other amenities to make a comfortable patio space, intentionally set against the backdrop of Bien Nacido’s idyllic terrain.
Anthony Avila, Bien Nacido Vineyard’s winemaker since 2013, said he’s excited for the public to enjoy the estate’s wines on-site, walking distance from where the grapes are grown.
One of Avila’s personal favorite offerings from the winery is the 2020 Bien Nacido Estate chardonnay, “exclusively sourced from vines that were planted in 1973 that are on their own roots,” the winemaker said.
Avila added that the vines he was referring to are just 500 yards southeast of the site of The Gatehouse. Like all of Bien Nacido’s wines, Avila and his team embraced a “hands-off” approach with the 2020 chardonnay.
“We work really closely with the vineyard management team on the farming. We do all that so that when we get the fruit to the winery, I think it’s mostly our job to stay out of the way as much as possible, just to let that terroir shine,” Avila said. “We don’t have a whole bag of enological tricks that we’re adding to the wines.”
Arts Editor Caleb Wiseblood’s got a brand new bag (of tricks). Send tricks and treats to [email protected].
