san luis obispo

Alamo Creek Vineyard

Central Coast California AVA
2200-acre ranch, 40 acres of vines

The grapes are Grenache, Syrah, Sauvignon Blanc.
The Grenache is Alban and Clone 1.
The Syrah is Clone 470.
The Sauvignon Blanc is Clone 1 SB from Rutherford. Own-rooted.

Alamo Creek Vineyard is in southern San Luis Obispo county, bordering Santa Barbara county.

In 2003 Robert Lieff purchased the historic Alamo Creek Ranch, a 150-year-old property of 2200 acres. The ranch is in a valley nestled against the rugged terrain of the Los Padres National Forest. The first planting of vines was in 2000 into pristine soil.  

Robert with his Border Collies: Alamo, Creek and Ranch

Vines - The Grenache and Syrah vines are cordon trellised, a permanent training on the wires. These are bilateral cordons. The Sauvignon Blanc vines are cane trellised and spur pruned whereby each year the best arm spur is selected and tied to grow. The Sauvignon Blanc vines are “own-rooted” or ungrafted. Some winemakers believe the best grapes come from vines on their original root stock, that these vines have a more profound relationship with the soil. Two acres of Grenache vines are head trained. This approach is especially suited for the upward reaching Grenache vines. These grapes must be hand pruned and hand-picked. The Grenache vines are grafted onto the vineyard’s original Merlot vines.

The vineyard is low till. There are many owl boxes on site. Owls are an environmentally sound way to curb rodent issues through natural predators versus poison, allowing our entire ecosystem to grow and benefit.  Native wild turkeys are effective pest control and natural sanitizers. Our bee colonies pollinate the flora and fauna and make honey. Critically endangered California Condor nesting sites are protected. There are oak woodlands, and two herds of Tule Elk roam the property.

Robert Lieff placed the entire Alamo Creek Ranch in a conservation easement in perpetuity.