Cannot recommend Wes Hagen and his hospitality at the Ranchos De Ontiveros facility enough. 5+ stars! Wes' incredible amount of knowledge, and painstaking explanations (without being boring) of the entire growth, processing, and history of the winemaking and vinting process was nothing short of a wonderful journey into the heart of California winemaking. Like I told Wes when we set out on our tour, I'm no oenophile. I simply know what I like when I taste it. Wes was patient, inquisitive, and not high minded about wine and how and when it can be enjoyed. I really appreciated the thoughtfulness and thoroughness with which he constructed the tasting, and the accompanying culinary pairings. For those considering the tour, the Ranchos De Ontiveros grounds are a little further out there, but you'll be rewarded with the majesty of the Santa Maria valley and the bucolic surrounds which envelop the landscape. Between the setting and the awesome educational experience through Wes, you will undoubtedly feel privileged to have spend a wonderful couple hours in his and the vinyards company. read more

Ranchos De Ontiveros - Top flight tasting - Wine Tasting Room Near Me - Santa Maria, California

They hosted us for a 31 person private tasting on a Saturday afternoon. This was to celebrate me and my fiancée's engagement which happened only an hour prior. These guys went above and beyond to show us a good time and were incredibly kind and generous. The wine was spectacular. Most guests bought bottles at the end. And every single person was thrilled with their experience. They way way way exceeded our expectations - which I'm not saying lightly. The venue was stunning, and we couldn't be more grateful to have had such spectacular hosts. read more

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We had an amazing wine tasting experience at Native9 winery on Saturday. Our wine host ,Wes Hagen, takes your wine tasting experience to a whole different level. You're able to taste wines at one of the oldest ranches in California in their very cool and rustic wine tasting room. Wes Hagen's knowlege of wines, California early history, food, and music makes for a wonderful wine tasting experience. It is truly a pleasure to taste Native9 wines with Wes. The wines are delicious, and you will not forget your time at Native9. We've brought friends here in the past and they always say it was one of their favorite wine tasting experiences. Anyone who enjoys great wines and conversations will enjoy your time with Wes at Native9. read more

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Wonderful Burgundy style wines. Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. They also have a fantastic Cabernet Sauvignon.

Fantastic, informative, entertaining, delicious Vinyard tour and tasting experience! I can't say enough good things about how welcome our group was made to feel. I loved the informal vibe of our tour/tasting. It was like hanging out with fun new friends. And the wine, amazing! Every glass was exceptional! Definitely worth a visit! read more

One of the finest tastings I've ever had the pleasure of attending (and I've been to many). Wes is a fantastic host. The pairings are amazing, the learning opportunity is unmatched, and of course the wines are magnificent. read more

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What an incredible afternoon we spent with Wes here- the wine, view, laughs and education were all beyond expectation. We found out about Wes on an episode of V is for Vino, and KNEW we had to set up a tasting with him. We tasted such a wonderful line up of Chardonnays, Pinot Noirs and Cab Sauvs paired with Wes' knowledge and sense of humor- in such a beautiful location... NOT to be missed if you come to the Santa Barbara area! And cannot forget Blue- what a smart, fun winery dog- watch her toss the ball to herself, best trick ever! Looking forward to getting our case and sharing SOME with friends... cheers and thank you Wes for an elevated experience. read more

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Outstanding Deep Dive tasting with Wes Hagen. Wes is a walking encyclopedia of wine, and an expert in the history and viticulture of the Santa Barbara County region. We started in the vineyard. A master class tutorial on grape growing and vine morphology. Fascinating. Next up the wines. 4 outstanding selections from the Native 9 and Rancho Vinedo portfolios. Each one stellar. One of the most informative and delightful wine experiences we have ever had. read more

We had a spectacular time with Wes at Native9. It was amazing learning from his 30 years of experience and seeing how he connects so many disciplines, ideas, metaphors, and stories around wine making. The tasting itself was magnificent, with delicious and generous food pairings. My family thoroughly enjoyed this time and are still talking about the lessons Wes has imparted. We hope to be back soon. read more

Every single wine that I have tasted from this winery is magnificent! I am usually a red wine kind of person but their Chardonnay is out of this world amazing! If you have a chance to go taste this wine, I highly recommend it. You will not regret it. If you can have Wes pour your wine, even better! He has a way with words and know so much about the wine industry. read more

Ranchos De Ontiveros - Wine Tasting Room Near Me - Santa Maria, California

Wes lead this experience and it was rustic and informative and fun with great food and cheeses. Among my favorite Pinot's from this region and I am anxious to see (and taste) what comes next! The Best. read more

Just got back from Native9, my all-time favorite winery. Once you have Wes Hagen take you through a wine tasting experience, you'll have an entirely new appreciation for wine. There are many places to go if you just want to drink. But if you want to SAVOR your wine, find new ones, or try a vertical tasting, then go to Native9. Every single wine we tried was unique and delicious, and Wes will go as deep into the processes as you like. Want to see what old-school, hand-crafted California winemaking, like in the movie Bottle Shock? This is where you go. read more

Amazing historic grounds and vineyard. The wines are exceptional for a small batch production. Wes is an excellent host who is extremely knowledgeable about wines and the industry. This is a must see when in the Santa Maria area. Must have an appointment. read more

We had a beautiful tour of Ranchos de Ontiveros last week with Wes as our guide. Wes began the tour by taking us through the vineyards and educating our group on how the land was acquired, the story of James Ontiveros (winemaker), and general wine fun facts that I otherwise would not have known! Following this, we headed to the ranch park where we were greeted by kittens, a beautiful open space, and a lovely spread of snacks. Now for the best part... we began tasting and were given a variety of 9 wines to try ranging from Chardonnay, to Pinot Noir, and then finished with a Cab. Each and every wine was delightful and our group enjoyed chatting about the notes we picked up on as well as our personal favorites. We should have made this our last stop of the day, as nothing was able to top it. Thank you Ranchos de Ontiveros and staff for the amazing experience, I can't wait to come back! read more

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Wow, I don't know what was better: the wines or the host? It's a tough choice but I'd really have to say my five-star rating is the wonderful combination of both! I only wish I had thought to take pictures of the beautiful rancho and all the cute farm animals we encountered and the picturesque rolling hills and rows of vines. The wines were wonderful and we were thrilled to jump into the wine club! I really loved the pinots noirs and found out that if we sign up for the wine club that we can receive a vertical of previous years which seems to me like a rare treat for my wife and I! The host was super laid-back and extremely knowledgeable and explained so many of the things that help us understand not just how the weather and the soil give the wine its character, but also the history of Native9 and the reason why this vineyard is unlike any I had ever seen: a truly compelling story told by a delightful storyteller! read more

I had an incredible library tasting of Rancho Vinedo Chardonnays and Native9 Pinot Noirs with Wes in Los Alamos. The delicious wines, thoughtful selection of breads and cheese and interesting history of the vines was a lovely experience. Wes was very knowledgeable and made it comprehensive and enjoyable for everyone. I personally enjoyed learning more about how steps in the wine making process influenced each vintage. My partner and I got several bottles of wine for home and wish we got more. We were very happy this was our first tasting of the day, and it was the best wine tasting we had during our few days in Los Olivos/Lompoc area (Out of the 6 we had). We look forward to trying more wine soon, hopefully at the vineyard next time. read more

Wes Hagen does his usual masterful job of engaging you with his knowledge of wines, winemaking, the region, pairing of food and wine (he served up an interesting mini charcuterie combo to pair with his wines)- and just sharing views on just about anything. He's always entertaining. And the wines were really exceptional. The Chardonnays and Pinot Noirs were pristine examples of what each grape should produce and the Cabernet Sauvignons were the best we'd tasted from the region. Wes makes you feel welcomed and part of the family. It's a fun tasting, so I'd encourage anyone interested in learning more about Native9 and wines or winemaking generally to schedule a tasting event with Wes. You'll enjoy it. read more

We had a private tasting with Wes Hagen and he featured wines from Ranchos de Ontiveros, including Native 9. We had many wines on the day of this wonderful tasting, but the two wines that stuck out the most were the 2016 Cañada de los Pinos Cabernet Sauvignon from the Santa Ynez Valley and the 2019 Rancho Veñedo Doña Martina Chardonnay from the Santa Maria Valley. Both wines were amazing in their own respect and we immediately joined their wine club to take advantage of getting these wines on a regular basis several times per year. read more

Recently attended a private wine tasting here at Ranchos De Ontiveros and I must say that I was extremely impressed. Our host Wes was someone you could tell loved what he does for a living and it really shined through. Not only was he greatly knowledgeable and educational but the way he delivered the information made you want to listen to every word. The tasting area was absolutely beautiful. Shaded but still plenty of sun. They had a full spread of amazing cheeses, meats and bread waiting for us. The wine... what can't I say. I'm someone who basically goes for Cabernets and that's about it. Never been a huge Pinot Noir fan but I have to admit I've only just started getting into wine and going to tasting last year. Their Pinot Noir was out of this world. I liked every year I tasted, it every year was quite different. However my favorite had to be the 2016 Native 9 Pinot Noir. It was absolutely amazing and may even be my favorite red to date. Their Chardonnay was great as well and I don't really even care for whites. Long story long so I'll cut myself off here but go! Taste the wines, have a amazing experience. If I can leave you with one this is what I felt while sitting there tasting wine with great friends and music and listening to Wes give us the history of every wine is that I felt an overwhelming sensation that I never wanted to leave that moment. It was perfect. I really want to say thank you to Ranchos De Ontiveros and especially to Wes for making our day such a wonderful one! Highly recommend! read more

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Wonderful experience, amazing service and breathtaking area. Wine was incredible. Hands down best winery I've been to private peacefully area. read more

If I could give this review 6 stars, I wouldn't hesitate doing so. The unassuming honed expertise of Wes Hagen is memorable. He met the group and transported us to a hands on education of vinticulture worthy of praise. A great unpretentious experience from vine to vitner. From walking in the vines to tasting... a must for sure. read more

If you're looking for an intimate, personal, informative wine tasting, this is the place. Wes is the consummate host, with the Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Cabernet all being delicious. You will learn about California agricultural history, vineyard management, winemaking, and much, much more. A visit not to be missed as this tasting sets the bar on how to do a tasting right! read more

The tasting at Tyler wines was my favorite before tasting here. That makes sense as Justin Willett is the winemaker for both! Throwing Wes Hagen in as your tastemaster gives the gold medal to Native 9/Rancho de Ontiveros though. His knowledge of wine and the area's history, coupled with his sense of humor makes this a unique experience to be sure. Can't wait to go back and can't wait to drink the wines that I bought! read more

We spent the late morning last Sunday with Wes at Rancho De Ontiveros tasting some incredible wines! He met our large group of 17 at the gate with his assistant Sara and had our tour shuttle follow him in. We had a short stop in the vines for some fun and informative wine/vine/Ontiveros history education. Wes is extremely knowledgeable in all things wine and the Ontiveros Family history, but the way he presents the information is fun and lighthearted and easy to understand! After our little stop in the vines we continued on to the Park area on the property for an amazing tasting of some delicious wines along with a very nice cheese, fruit and bread spread for us all to enjoy while we tasted. From the very first yummy Chardonnay he poured (normally not a chard fan but these were delicious) to the incredible fruity Cabernet we ended with, it was an incredible taste experience for our palate! The 2018 Chardonnay, the 2016 Pinot Noir and of course the "Cowboy" Cabernet were favorites. If you want a High end experience in a relaxed setting with some delicious wine...do yourself a favor and schedule a tasting with Wes and Sara at Rancho De Ontiveros! read more

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Another wonderful visit with Wes Hagen to discover more about Ranchos de Ontiveros, and to taste some delicious Native 9 wines, including Rancho Vinedo 2018 and 2019 Chardonnays, several vintages (incl 2014) Native 9 Pinot Noir, and a 2016 Cabernet Sauv... The venue (Station/Maker's Son) in Los Alamos was such a wonderful place to sit and have a tasting, and Wes made it a pleasant time with stories and anecdotes about the wines and the regional history. Looking forward to opening a few bottles of these wines with friends and sharing ... read more

Ranches De Ontiveros was AMAZING! Wes was so nice and knowledgeable and made the experience so worthwhile! The wine was delicious and the kitty's that were roaming the grounds were great :) read more

Just had an excellent tasting of some of the wonderful Native9 and Rancho Vinedo wines hosted by the always knowledgeable Wes Hagen. Highly recommended. read more

Thanks for the informative and awesome wine tasting! Wes was the best!!

This was the nicest of all the many wine tastings I've ever attended. Our host Wes provided instruction for finding the winery, met us at the gate, and led us for a few minutes into the vineyard itself to explain cultivation techniques. He reiterated the accessibility information he had emailed earlier for any of us with mobility challenges. Then we drove the rest of the way up to the tasting facility--outside in this pleasant weather, so we could bask in the bucolic views. Wes had already prepped a charcuterie plate for us with a dusting of spices he himself had chosen to pair with these wines. He explained to us which particular cheeses would likely be preferred with which wines. He gave us at least two vintages of each wine so we could discern the differences. His enthusiasm was palpable--he obviously loves the business. And the wines themselves were delicious. Anyone who loves wine will love tasting at this Vineyard. read more

What a great experience. I was so enthralled with the wine, we bought a six pack right away. If you have never had the opportunity to taste with Wes Hagen, you are missing out. Very informative and entertaining to boot. Don't miss your chance to taste these wines. We are Native 9 fans now. read more