FAQ – Folded Hills

FAQs

GENERAL

Folded Hills Ranch was founded over 100 years ago. When the Busches purchased the ranch in 2004 they considered changing the name, but after enjoying the golden twilight gently lighting the “folded hills” they decided it was perfect. In 2014 the family planted grapes alongside existing acres of organic row crops and stone fruit orchards. Kim and Andy launched Folded Hills wine in 2017 and have been sharing the land, the food and the wine from their land ever since. You can learn more about our story by clicking HERE.

Folded Hills is a sustainable, integrated farm and working ranch. Organic grapes grow side by side with row crops, stone fruit orchards, cattle and farm animals. Dorper and Rambouillet sheep graze the cover crops in the vineyards, and natural ladybugs come down from the hills every February to grace the vineyard. The ranch is also home to a pair of Budweiser Clydesdales (Gus and Dolph), a camel named George and Zazu the zebra. Peacocks and chickens share the land with Kunekune pigs, llamas, donkeys and even a rescue cow named Peaches.

Folded Hills estate vineyards are 4.5 miles from the Pacific Ocean and are the southernmost vineyards of the entire Central Coast. Because the mountain range is transverse and runs east /west, the fog sweeps through the valley in the mornings and the ocean wind blows the fog back out, bringing in sunshine, and allowing for warm days, and very cool nights and mornings - perfect for grapes!

visit

Yes! You can stop by the Farmstead, just across the road from our Estate Tasting Room, and take advantage of our U-Pick organic fields, pick up some delicious homemade baked goodies, or visit with our beloved animals. We have goats, Kunekune pigs, llamas, miniature donkeys, and more.

We also offer VIP tours of our winery, vineyards, and ranch. You can find out more about these tours by clicking HERE or emailing us at experiences@foldedhills.com.

WINES

To us, it means allowing the grapes and location to do most of the speaking, to allow us to become shepherds to the grapes and then to the wines. The most important work is done first in the vineyard. Keeping the vineyard organic means we carefully manage each vine with care and love; not with chemicals. Then, as the grapes mature and are ready for harvesting, we hand-pick them and bring them to the winery. Our winemaker, Angela Osborne, treats each pick differently, allowing the grapes to speak for themselves and to express that year’s unique vintage variation. Our style is really about simply guiding the grapes into the glass.

We specialize in Rhône varieties. When we were planting the vineyard, we wanted to honor the land, so we did extensive testing to determine what grapes would flourish best in this climate and soil. The answer was Grenache Noir, Grenache Blanc, Syrah, Clairette Blanche and Marsanne. These medium to light bodied wines pair beautifully with many foods, from grilled vegetables to steaks.

That's a funny question, because when we hired our winemaker, Angela Osborne, she said “if you are chasing points, I am not your girl.” We assured her that awards and points were not what we were after. We wanted a cleaner bottle of wine that reflected the land on which it was grown. Then, surprise! We started getting high points and awards. And while we do love awards and accolades, that is still not our mission. Our mission is to bring you a delicious glass of wine that pairs beautifully with your healthy foods, and makes you feel good about what you are drinking. That said, humble brag — click HERE to see our awards and accolades.

We believe that following the lunar cycle not only helps to produce a higher quality grape, but that this quality can transcend all the way into your glass. Just like the ocean responds to the gravitational pull of the moon, so do all living things, including vines. Following the lunar cycle is about following the moon’s gravitational pull, which controls the flow and timing of nutrients and moisture into and out of the vines.

The lunar calendar can be categorized into four groups: flower, fruit, leaf, and root. Each stage of the moon’s cycle translates to the most optimal times to take care of the plants. Leaf days are best for thinning the vineyard, and watering and rotating cover crops into the soils. Root days are best for pruning the vineyard. Fruit days are best for harvesting grapes. On flower days, the vineyard is left alone to bloom.

MEMBERSHIP

Wines are curated by our team based on your membership tier and the season, and may include new and current releases.

We also offer the ability to customize your allocation based on your preferences. After we send out an email with our curated picks, you’ll be able to log in to your online account to customize or reply directly for personalized assistance or recommendations.

ONLINE ORDERS

THE FARMSTEAD

Why Folded Hills

EXPERIENCES

Membership

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