When I arrived at Clos Pepe I was not knowing what to expect. I was up with my car club. Were they a high pressure wine house? Were they a snooty white gloved pretentious place that you had to hold the wineglass with your pinky extended? Or a mad monk hair shirt single focused obsessed wine maker where the process of making wine includes human sacrifice and no fun? Thank the wine gods Clos Pepe was none of the above. Clos Pepe is Wes and his Partner in Wine Crime Andrew. Two relaxed fun loving guys. But serious winemakers. Serious like that English teacher that drilled you on past participles or questions your use of Iambic Pentameter over Blank Verse. And he is right to do that. They let the wines speak for themselves with their comments and explanations putting the wine into laser sharp focus. Without the hucksterism. Clos Pepe is a relaxed place. They know what to grow to produce superior Chardonnay and Pinot Nior. But they also work with other varietals to learn and grow. The Guanches, a week old, was a revelation. Changing one's thoughts on wine. Like I said, they are serious students of wines. The glee when introducing each type of wine was infectious as well as their frank and forthright answers to questions. The "we work hard, have fun and produce great wine" should be the motto. I have become a fan. read more

Disclaimer - I did not actually visit the winery at the address listed on Yelp. I was fortunate enough to hear about a barrel tasting that was being held on the very weekend my wife and I planned to visit. The barrel tasting was held in a storage and bottling facility in Lompoc. The barrel tasting was hosted by the wine maker, Wes Hagan. I can honestly say that is the most I've learned about wine in roughly a one hour period. We tasted from several barrels of Chardonnay, both oak and stainless. Then moved on to Pinot Noir. Finally, we moved on to bottles, one Chardonnay, and a 2009 and 2010 Pinot Noir. I am usually not a Chardonnay fan, but this was not overly buttery like usual Chardonnay. The Pinots... Well, they were simply fantastic. I probably preferred the 2010 to the 2009, but I would be happy drinking either one! If you ever get the opportunity to visit Clos Pepe, especially if Wes is going to be talking about wine, you'd be a fool not to go. read more

Clos Pepe Vineyards - a truck parked in front of a building - Wineries Near Me - Lompoc, California

What a great tasting experience! I contacted the winemaker, Wes Hagen, a couple days in advance hoping for availability. He said that as long as we didn't mind tasting with a slightly larger group then he'd love to have us. There were four in my group and we joined another 15 or so people at the vineyard. The tasting started off with a sheep herding exhibition. They use sheep to take care of the weeds and undergrowth instead of herbicides. From there Wes gave us some background on the surrounding area. By background I mean that we gave us a short history lesson going back thousands of years explaining why the soil and mountains are perfect for pinot. To some this may sound a bit boring. Please don't think that though. This was one of the most entertaining and informative talks I've heard in a long time. If college were like that I would be working on my doctorate right now. After that it was off to the owner's house for the tasting. First we warmed ourselves by the fire (it was overcast and in the low 50s), but the sun peeked out from behind the clouds and we moved the tasting outside. Great snacks and amazing wines. Gouda, white cheddar, and a buffalo mozzarella drizzled in their olive oil were available with freshly warmed bread. That went with a chardonnay, three pinots from successive years, and a syrah. The pinots were the highlights for me. Wes explained how he likes to make lighter wines that express the terroir in which they were raised instead of higher alcohol fruit bombs. This translated to a wonderfully complex, elegant wine. After the wines Wes made everybody espressos. I highly recommend Clos Pepe. I only wish they had a membership. I will definitely be stopping back in the future. read more

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In my humble opinion, the true quality test for a winery "post tour" is whether it tastes good when you get home. Think of it this way: when you are at the vineyard with a charming host and you walk among the grapes, even the dregs of the barrel taste good. When you get it home, without the ambiance and the charm, the dregs suddenly taste like what they are. This isn't to say that your place isn't charming and full of ambiance. I'm sure it is. However, doesn't wine taste better with a vineyard view? Some friends invited us to take the tour with Wes at Clos Pepe. Sure. We are always in for a wine tour. Why not, right? We showed up and were immediately entranced with the setting. See? Already we are brainwashed with the rolling hills, wildlife, and temptress vines. When Wes walked up and joined the group, the fun really began. Talk about knowledgeable! I'll skip ahead, not revealing spoilers, so that you have to come here to experience it yourself. In the end, we joined the wine club and left with a few bottles simply because we do like a little bit of instant gratification. Fast forward a bit with me. It's been a month. We reach into our wine fridge and find our hands resting on a bottle from Clos Pepe. We grin a wicked grin knowing that the ultimate taste test has arrived. Unlike Wes, we will serve our wine with a plain, weekday meal, not decanted, and after a busy night. Verdict? Oh, yeah! Hey there. Wait. Why haven't you called already and made your own appointment? Don't forget to thank me for the push. read more

Place is simply awesome example of clean, high acid, Pinots (though they will make wine that represents the vintage). If you go for a tasting, they have some rules that you might think are pretty funny. This is a wine geek experience. If you're not interested in vast wine knowledge and takes wine seriously this isn't for you. Wes Hagen, the Clos Pepe winemaker, was our guide. He's a former High School English teacher and gives his tour with an educational flourish that is rare and much appreciated. He'll review a few things including vineyard's aims, Santa Rita Hills geologic and viticultural history, soil, pruning, etc. Pretty much you name it and he can expound upon it. They try to avoid mono-culture and they incorporate as many species: grasses, sheep, etc, to keep the vineyard healthy. He farms in a scientifically and choosing to adopt common sense rather than extremist philosophies. Then the tasting in the Pepe house. Everything we tasted was excellent. As soon as Wes was sure we knew something about wine, gossip, the house olive oil (which was excellent, we took a bottle home for a cool climate balance to our usual buttery central valley source), funky cheeses, a new sparkling release, home made sea salt (that's right HOME-FREAKIN'-MADE salt), and a macchiato. This was an amazing tasting, though he says he'll be trying to focus on the wine making and tours/tastings will stop in 2012 unless you know someone who buys direct or you buy direct. If you like leaner Pinots with depth and minerality GET ON THE LIST! Simply the best tasting I've had. You can guarantee I'll be back. read more

I went to the wine maker's saturday morning 10:30am vinyard tour. The wine maker (Wes Hagen) first told us about his philosopy about making wine (organic vs. non-organic) then showed us his minature English sheep that he uses to get rid of weeds w/o using herbicides. He showed us some of his pinot noir vines while teaching us about the geological history of the area and how that affects the wine. Facinating for those who want to learn about wine. After about 45 minutes, Wes took us to the tasting room. It was a very wonderfully decorated building and Wes made us all feel very much at home. He then proceeded to give us a tasting of four cheeses, fresh bread to go along with the five pinot noir wines of his that we were going to be tasting. The first was a pinot noir rose "champagne" that was good and brut just like it should be. Then he gave us different vintages of other pinot noir wines. Everything was delicious. He also makes an olive oil from his own trees. It too was excellent. I got two bottles for myself and a gift. Then to top it all off, Wes made macciatos for us all. His generosity was really unexpected and unparalleled in all my days of wine tasting and visiting wineries. He made me a fan plus he taught me a lot. read more

What a fantastic place to visit. Went to the all-stars weekend and enjoyed a great array of pizzas, cheeses, fruits, nuts, breads and of course their fantastic wines and sparklers. Thanks again Wes and Chandra. First class all the way. read more

Do you like fermented grape juice? Do you like knowing things? Do you like plants? Then Clos Pepe is the place for you. Before I visited "the Clos" I was like a bandy-legged barbarian, grunting and shuffling through the mud. Now, I stand erect, spine straight and chin held high, as I swirl my Pinot Noir and say things like "esther" and "terroir". So you have two choices: Wallow in the mud, or say "terroir." I've made my choice, now it is up to you. Also, sheep! read more

Had a spectacular day with Wes at Clos Pepe. We did the 10:30am tour on a beautiful Sunday morning. Wes is a walking encyclopedia (that's what we had prior to Google) of knowledge on, viticulture, viniculture and the St. Rita Hills and surrounding AVA. The wines that Wes grows (yes it all does start in the vineyard) are clean, lower in alcohol (YEAH!!!) so they do not crush food and are varietal correct on the palate. Great tasting on his front porch that overlooks the vineyards and the landscaping team (AKA: the lambs!). The new little black lamb stole our hearts and the wines more than pleased our palates. Call for a reservation when you plan your next trip as this is a spot not to miss! read more

Wes Hagen is a master winemaker and educator and the Clos Pepe vineyard and brand is one of the best in the Santa Rita Hills area. His pinots are world class as are all the wines. Clos Pepe is still flying under the radar when it comes to Wine Spectator and the other wine publications, but I've found some of the best wineries in SRH don't get the press they deserve. Clos Pepe sells their surplus grapes to many other winemakers in California, which gives you an idea of the quality of their vines. If you get a chance to take a vineyard tour with Wes, jump on it! He takes you out into the vineyards for a thorough education in how winemakers ply their craft, then he sits down with you for a tasting of the entire Clos Pepe line-up. Two hours up close and personal with one of the most interesting and personable winemakers in the region - a most memorable day indeed. Check out their website for details. read more

Had a great Vineyard tour and tasting this weekend with Wes Hagen, the Winery Manager at Clos Pepe. First, off, if you haven't tasted any of the the Chards or Pinot's from this winery go and do so. They are world class wines with phenomenal depth and character. Wes Hagen was formerly a high school teacher and his dual passions of education and wine making combine for a one-of-a-kind experience. Wes loves to delve into all aspects of the history and craft of wines, from how all modern wines can be traced back to a single vine from somewhere in Soviet Georgia to how the shifting of tectonic plates transformed the Santa Barbara area into the perfect wine growing region. Wes has an engaging style and shows genuine enthusiasm, I highly recommend the tour. Call ahead, it's by appointment only. read more

I was so looking forward to my reservation .... I had contacted the winery a month before to ask about a tasting. I shared my travel dates and made inquiries to times that worked around other tasting appts we had that day. A few days before I was to arrive I contacted the host Andrew. He shared that he had another group he invited in and asked if I would please come at 1030am instead of 1pm as I had requested. I replied telling him that I would not be able to be make 1030. But he insisted and stated that if we missed the first few wines we could linger after the tasting to revisit anything. So I agreed. I sent him a text and vm that morning and shared that the GPS put us on location @11. When we arrived the gate code had been changed and no-one would answer the phone. We sat at the gate for close to 20 minutes before we gave up. A 2hr drive for this? We went about our day and had some great tastings. That night we actually ran into Andrew. Yep, face to face. He was eating dinner in a place in town. When we came by our dinner table, I had just told the guests what had happened earlier that day and they took some joy in introducing us to him to see his reaction. He came to my side with a meager hug and a poor attempt to smooth things over. " so sorry I don't know what happened" really? You really dont know? At the very least own it. Yelpers...It's important to note the following 1) there are many choices of amazing wines in the area to taste. You will not be disappointed by avoiding a bad experience or a cheeky host. 2) They no longer are actually making wine. The vineyard is under lease. They are only selling inventory. I guess that's why I was also shocked when after meeting me he still did not return my initial call or offer a proper apology via email. I told him we were coming to buy and he blew our request off 3)which brings me back to 1...there is always other Wine! read more

Clos Pepe Vineyards - Wineries Near Me - Lompoc, California

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Truly inspiring to be part of this one of a kind club and private tasting. Knowledge, beauty and delicious wines pour from the geological wonders of Clos Pepe in the Santa Rita Hills! A must experience! read more

Clos Pepe Vineyards - Here is just one of the many great Pinots at Clos Pepe - Wineries Near Me - Lompoc, California

This is by far the best winery/tour on the central coast, if not the whole state. My wife and I had the opportunity to visit on a sunny, warm day in mid-February before the vines showed any form of life. Wes Hagen, the winemaker/winery manager knows his stuff and makes it interesting and fun for wine drinkers of all status. The property is beautiful and the estate (home) on the property where the wine sampling takes place is gorgeous as well. We sampled 13 of his wines dating back to 2000 to his current release (2010) which included Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and even some Rhone varietals. If you've never tried Clos Pepe's Pinot, you're missing out. During the tasting, he also provided us an awesome European cheese plate with 5 varieties and Clos Pepe Pinot jelly. Wes even served us fresh baked bread and wild-picked chanterelle mushrooms, that he cooked with butter and shallots on the spot to pair with his wines. This place is by appointment only and space is very limited and reserved for the privileged few. There's no sales gimmick or pressure to buy anything, but I guarantee the wine and the tour/presentation sell themselves. If you're fortunate enough to reserve a spot o the tour, you'll have a blast and at the minimum walk away with great stories and memories. Enjoy! read more

Clos Pepe Vineyards - Wes Hagen and his wine line up. - Wineries Near Me - Lompoc, California

You simply cannot visit Santa Rita Hills or the surrounding areas, without making an appointment to visit Wes Hagen at Clos Pepe. The tour of the vineyard, and the education/history Wes provides is priceless. You'll walk away as though you just completed a vinticultur course at UC Davis! Wes is generous, and beyond entertaining. Just a great guy. After your tour, you'll have the pleasure to taste the best Pinot (I'll take it over any Pinot, anywhere...its that good!), Chardonnay, and varietals paired with artisan cheeses, meats, olive oil, and fresh baked bread. Wes is an expert in pairing. My suggestion is to try to end your tasting trip with Wes. You'll wonder why you went anywhere else. My husband and I have had the privilege of hosting a private tasting with Wes in our home. It was one of the best evenings we can remember! We recommend booking a private event with Wes if you have the opportunity. Wes and Clos Pepe is beyond 5 star! read more

Last Saturday I had the pleasure of attending a private tour of the vineyard. I had a lot of family visiting from Los Angeles and Andrew did an amazing job of explaining the wine making process as well as Clos Pepe's sustainable practices. Following the tour of the vineyard he invited us back to the "big house" for a tasting in the kitchen. The wines were paired with artisan cheeses. This was the perfect way to start our day of tasting. My Uncle forgot his prescription sunglasses at the house and Andrew went out of his way to make sure he was able to pick them up the following day! Clos Pepe is now on my permanent list of places to visit when I go tasting. read more

We had the pleasure of visiting Clos Pepe over Labor Day Weekend , 2013. Wes Hagen conducted the tour and tasting. Wes is refreshing, talented, knowledgeable and he readily shares his passion for winemaking! The tour was informative yet entertaining and the tasting was delightful and intimate as it was held in the main house. The wines are excellent and it was such a personal and small group tasting - very pleasant after so many of the overcrowded wineries. Wes has probably recited the same information many times, but it certainty didn't feel that way. His stories enhanced the wonderful wines. It was most definitely a wonderful start to our day. We were very thankful to be included. read more

Always start your wine tour in Santa Barbara County with Wes Hagen at Clos Pepe. You will learn more, smile more and simply enjoy yourself more the entire day. Driving by vineyards is more fun when you can appreciate and understand entire process of tending and cajoling the vines to produce the best (not the most) grapes. Wes' enthusiasm and passion for the art of winemaking is rather infectious as well as entertaining and his many and varied wines are delicious and drink well with the cheeses and breads he will share with you as well. Enjoy the sheep, the dogs, the ambiance and the setting of Clos Pepe. You can then go on to taste other wines with a fuller background and education. read more

First thing to know is that you need to make a reservation, can't just drop in. Half of the experience is the walk through part of the vineyards; our guide was Andrew, incredibly knowledgeable and friendly. Then you get taken into the elegant main house - it's an actual residence, and a gorgeous one at that - and you're seated at an island in the kitchen and walked through a tasting of Clos Pepe's excellent wines, along with some yummy nibbles. However, the Clos Pepe label is winding down, not producing any more wine and the tour + tasting will only continue until they've sold off the last of their inventory, so if you want to visit, better go soon! read more

About 6 years ago Clos Pepe hosted a visit by 12 or so of my flying friends. Wes gave us a refreshingly informative tour of the vineyards, the production facility (including some true barrel tastings) and then wonderful food and wine . Since that time I have returned ( along with a number of friends) for numerous other tours and events at the winery. Several friends regularly fly down from the Bay area for events . The wine experience of the Santa Ynez Valley is similar to that of the Napa Valley in the 1970's . Clos Pepe is one of the gems of the valley and excels in several areas, the wines are among the best, the ambivalence of the facility is great and the people are special. Wes' knowledge and enthusiasm show in the quality of the wines. The Pepe's have constructed a wonderful facility that sits well in their beautiful vineyard . From the dirt to the finished bottle it's a great operation. It's at the top of my list of recommended wineries to visit in the area. Their wines age well and are uniformly excellent. Check with their website for tours and events. read more

Wonderful experience which went from vine to knowlegable review of Pinots. Lower alcohol food compatible movements in wine making was new to me. Cheese, fresh bread and a lovely experience. Expresso before we left. Don't miss it. Calling ahead for an appointment is a good idea read more

Although the region is growing, Clos Pepe put the Santa Rita Hills on the map for wine LONG before Sideways! Wes is everything you want in a host and tour guide... How rare is it that the winemaker gives your tour? You're guaranteed to learn a lot about the vineyard, growing practices and how different vintages are drinking right now. Last but not least, Wes is always very generous pouring tastings. Even at events he usually has something special under the table. If you're lucky enough to be "on the list" the summer BBQ is a blast every year! read more

This is an exceptional wine tour experience: personal, informative, inspiring, delicious. The vineyard tour in a fabulous setting and information that Wes provides is exceptional. We have just completed our 2nd Clos Pepe tour and are looking forward to the next. The tasting itself in the vineyard owner's palatial home "seals the experience" with delicious wines, cheese, breads, and ambience. Make the time for Clos Pepe! read more

All the other reviews say it well. Awesome experience and well worth the time. We went as a group of 6. Three of us joined on the spot. The others will regret not joining, lol. Wes was knowledgable and kept the visit entertaining. Amazing grounds, visit and wine. read more

Not only is the wine incredible, but your tasting is sure to be enjoyable with Wes Hagen. Wes is the viticulturist and wine maker for the Clos Pepe Estate. Not only is he funny and full of knowledge, he manages to synthesize all kinds of information and makes it relate to your experience. The atmosphere is beautiful and relaxed and the Pinot Noir and Chardonnay are lovely. read more

Went on a Sunday tour with some close friends and had a Great time. Wes was a great tour guide and we learned an amazing amount about the art of grape growing. This was topped off with the best wine tasting experience we have ever had. The wine was amazing. We bought about 2 cases of a mixture of Reds and whites. If you enjoy great wine don't miss this vineyard! read more

If your wine-tasting adventure takes you anywhere near Lompoc or the Santa Rita Hills, Clos Pepe is a must! The vineyard tour is my favorite - but you need to make advance arrangements to do it as it's not generally just open to the public (it's their private residence). The tasting room in Lompoc is different and has regular business hours. Wes Hagen is a brilliant winemaker and outstanding speaker. His knowledge of everything from grapes to terroir to politics will pique your interest and blow your mind. His wines, Burgundian in style, will mesmerize your palate. So contact Clos Pepe. Do a vineyard tour. Meet Wes. You will not be disappointed! read more

We had a tasting with Wes today and had an incredible time at Clos Pepe. Wes is the wine maker and gave us an educational vineyard tour to start. From there we proceeded to the main house and tasting room where we were served a wine and cheese pairing that was second to none! I'd never heard of Clos Pepe before, but now they are at the top my list for wineries in this area. Wes is very knowledgeable about wine making as well as many other things. Our family has been to many wineries all over California and our experience at Clos Pepe was memorable! Thanks again Wes and we sincerely hope you will come and visit us in Hawaii. read more

This is an awesome wine tasting experience. Wes is extremely knowledgable and thorough in his education and explanation of SRH. It is a ton of fun for any wine geek, science geek, or someone just learning about wine to go out and taste here. To be able to go out into the field with winemaker as he explains the way the valley formed, the science behind how he knows the grapes are right, to how birds come and eat the grapes when they turn red because it the grape vine saying to the birds come eat me; the whole experience is awesome. I thank Wes for taking the time to show us everything, let us sample some great wine. A great experience and worth the two hours. read more

Wes is an amazing winemaker with so much knowledge to share. I learned more in his private 2 hour vineyard tour and tasting than I did all weekend in SRH. Not only that, but he is extremely personable and generous. How many other winemakers let you into their home or respond to your emails almost immediately? The private tasting experience in the kitchen of his huge family villa was like none other. The wine line-up was fantastic, and Wes was extremely hospitable. I look forward to attending more of Wes's events and continuing to learn from him. I highly encourage you to do the same! read more

Wes (the winemaker) gives an excellent little vinyard tour with lots of interesting science and hisorical tid bits. One of the BEST tasting experiences we have had. read more

My children took me wine tasting as a Mothers Day gift Clos Pepe Estates was by far my favorite place to visit. Andrew is very knowledgeable and generous to share his love of the vine. The actual wine tasting in the beautiful main house with appetizers and wonderful wines was the best. Don't miss this, it is a great experience. Met Winemakers Wes & Chanda Hagen, very gracious couple. read more

A tasting at Clos Pepe is an experience like no other: small group, intimate and delightful. It is well worth making the appointment. The wines are beautifully crafted and reflect the very best of the unique Sta. Rita Hills AVA. Supporting a small family business never tasted so good! read more

Probably the most informative tour I've been on. Wes is a veritable fountain of information. The wines were excellent; joined the club. Will make this a must-stop every time we're in the area. read more

I had the privilege to take some guests to Clos Pepe for a private tour and tasting and it is the best wine tasting experience anywhere. The wines are exceptional and I have been drinking them for years. My guests were blown away by the quality of the wine but also by the formidable tour by Andrew, the tasting, paired with delicious cheeses, the gorgeous setting and the warm hospitality. This is a rare find and must be experienced when visiting the Sta. Rita Hills and Santa Ynez Valley. Thank you, Andrew, Wes, Cathy and Steve!! read more

Nicely done Andrew... Wow outstanding experience! Exceptional location, wines, host. Learned many interesting facts, tasted superior wine, joined club. Frisbee Golf inspired vino. We will be back. mucho gusto, K read more

Wes Hagen is entertaining, informative, and pours a great glass of Pinot. His small scale tours and tastings at the Clos Pepe estate half way between Buellton and Lompoc in the Santa Rita Hills need to be scheduled in advance, but it's worth the effort. Your experience will be unlike any winery visit you've made in the past. read more

The tour at Clos Pepe was exceptional. The vineyard tour and wine tasting was more than we could imagine. Wes was so informative and the wines were fantastic, highly recommended. What a treat to be able to be a part of such an experience. read more

Wes did a INCREDIBLE job explaining the history/culture behind wine. He even let us try a grape that was almost ready to be harvested. The hospitality and knowledge he has brought was priceless. Clos pepe wine is amazing and their olive oil is the best I have ever had. I have been fortunate to keep touch with Wes after and he does a remarkable job to the community and to other vino makers. read more

There is a reason why every review is five stars. This tour is a must. Wes' wines are top notch.