04/08/2026
Join us for a special comparative tasting dinner with Wes Hagan of Rancho de Ontiveros
A former English teacher by training, Wes Hagen brings an analytical and deeply thoughtful approach to winemaking. After a stint teaching college in Minnesota, a call from California led him to the Santa Rita Hills, where his mother and Steve Pepe had purchased a ranch near Lompoc. Wes started his winemaking adventures in 1996 in Santa Barbara County, receiving his viticultural and winemaking training through the UC Davis extension program.
The 29-acre Clos Pepe vineyard, planted in 1994 to Pinot Noir and Chardonnay near the western edge of the Sta. Rita Hills AVA, became Hagen’s home and proving ground for more than two decades. His small-lot production and strict allocation program helped earn him 90+ point scores from Wine Spectator, Robert Parker, and Decanter Magazine. By the time he bottled his final Clos Pepe vintage, he had been named Winemaker of the Year by the Wall Street Journal and one of the 100 Most Influential Winemakers in the United States.
Beyond the cellar, Hagen’s legacy in Santa Barbara is equally remarkable. He served as the primary author of the AVA petition for the Sta. Rita Hills — a nearly four-year writing project — helping bring national and international recognition to the region’s Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. He has since written four AVA petitions in total, including Happy Canyon and Ballard Canyon. He has also served for more than a decade on the boards of both the Santa Barbara County Vintners Association and the Santa Rita Hills Winegrowers Alliance. 🎟️ Tickets available in profile links.
