Ballard Adobes Vineyard

SUSTAINABLE FARMING PRACTICES

Today, our family lives on and farms the same 12.5 acre parcel that William Ballard used to grow the crops and raise the livestock that fed the stagecoach travelers during their stop at the Ballard Adobes. Much as we are stewards of our historic home, we take seriously our role as stewards of this land.

At least in part because our grape vines and olive trees grow quite literally in our family’s back yard, we ensure that our farming practices work with nature to restore and improve the health of the soil and to help develop a rich, sustainable ecosystem. 

VINEYARD

After much soil testing and soul searching, Paul decided to plant primarily Rhone varietals, plus some Cab Franc and Albariño because the dirt seemed to be crying out for them. Each year since our first harvest (in 2022), our vines have grown happier and more robust. Most recently, our 2023 harvest yielded 32 tons of grapes, all of which were purchased by local Santa Ynez Valley winemakers, whose work we respect and wines we hope you will enjoy as much as we do.

OLIVES

Our property is lined with Mission Olive trees planted by the Rhodehamel/Rossi family that owned the Ballard Adobes from 1946 until we purchased them in 2018. Learning as we go, we have worked to restore the older trees to good health and to relocate new “volunteer” olive trees as they pop up. So far, we have had enough olives to pick and press every other year. We are hoping that, with a little more attention and careful handling, we will have enough olives to warrant bottling the oil annually.