BACKSTORY
A SACRED RITUAL was born in 1782. It was a time when the sun, a silent partner in creation, gilded the untamed hills of a coastal California mission. The serene rhythms of nature inspired a small order of monks to begin a quiet, profound act: they planted the first vines.
These dutiful monks tended to the fertile soil not just with labor, but with reverence, coaxing life from the earth to fulfill a higher purpose. For centuries, the rich, coastal air, scented with salt and sage, and the radiant sun worked in unison to forge a singular terroir.
These were not just vines; they were a living testament to patience, faith, and the enduring power of a place blessed by both the ocean's grace and the land's bounty.
For 300 years, the hallowed grounds lay dormant, their rich liquid untouched by human palate became legacy lost within coastal mists.
REBIRTH
A NEW CHAPTER was architected by the Upper Vintage Family Estate in 2017. This passionate family–drawn by the legends of the past–returned to this historic coastal region to once again cultivate and bottle the spirit of the land.
They began their work with the same passion as the monks, honoring the tradition by avoiding the clamor of our current time.
This journey has led us to the creation of our elevated wine experience.
AMMALIARE
2022
UPPER VINTAGE FAMILY ESTATE has begun achieving its goal of cutting through a saturated wine market and stand alone from California wines in Napa Valley, Sonoma, and others throughout the region. Notably, the 2022 Ammaliare has been lauded by panels and new brand appreciators for its unique blend.
The crossover consensus from those fortunate to acquire a bottle of the 2022 Ammaliare detail the sensory experience as herbs and spice on first approach: rosemary, thyme, cinnamon, and dried orange peel are all there for the taking.
A refined palate will encounter savory richness following through with tastes of elderberry, morello cherry, and plum, offering sweetness nestled against scents of saddle leather, turned earth, and spring pine. The complexity deepens on the palate, informed by baked black cherry mingling with Darjeeling tea, mint, and a kiss of vanilla. The finish is long and lingers with focused acidity with hints of bergamot orange and fine blonde tobacco bringing it home.
UPPER VINTAGE OLIVE OIL & HONEY
UPPER VINTAGE FAMILY ESTATE has more to offer from its artisanal arsenal as it produces honey and olives created on its properties in the south of France. The estate is recognized as the original collaboration for wine, honey, and olive oil, bridging France and California.
TODAY
TO EXPERIENCE Upper Vintage is to gain entrée into an exclusive community. The family wine has carved a lane entirely its own, earning acclaim from panels and a growing circle of appreciators who have been drawn to this singular blend—a liquid testament to a heritage that is both ancient and newly born.
The very name, Upper Vintage, speaks to the higher purpose behind every bottle. It is a homage to the legacy of the past and a commitment to the future.
The inspiration behind the release of the family’s acclaimed Ammaliare in 2022 derived from the renowned super-Tuscan wines. The 2022 Ammaliare vintage easily holds its own as an homage to those refined and complex blends. Upper Vintage is already proving its vision.