Capay Valley Vineyards was established in 1998 by Tom Frederick and Pam Welch, long time residents of Capay Valley, CA. This beautiful valley is located in the northwest corner of Yolo County bordering Napa and Lake counties. It is approximately 1½ hours from San Francisco and an hour from Sacramento. Capay Valley Vineyards produces wines from their own grapes. Varietals were chosen to complement the climate and soils. All vineyard tasks - pruning, shoot thinning, and harvesting are done by hand and tailored to each variety. Harvesting is done at night to ensure that the fruit is cool to start the winemaking process.

Ampelos has been a family endeavor from the start.Initially “corporate folks”, we loved getting away to the Sta. Rita Hills on the weekends and dreamt of one day planting our own vineyard and making wines. A cancelled meeting in New York on the morning of September 11, 2001 helped us to realize that someday was today! Driven by a deep love and passion for the art of viticulture. We are truly a small boutique winery producing about 3500 cases a year. Our focus is viognier, rosé of syrah, pinot noir, syrah and grenache.

This place is really different and relaxing. The wines are very reasonable and great quality. Love the historic aspect and the grounds are beautiful to get your picnic on. Great Pinots and Cabs the atmosphere is so cool and off the beaten track. This winery is a little out of the way, but well worth the trip! The tasting room is lovely and the wines are good. There is a really nice lawn/yard outside of the tasting room that you could have a picnic on and there is a covered area with picnic tables for larger groups. The entire place has a very relaxing atmosphere.

History 

The term "Sisquoc" is a native Chumash word meaning quail. The Sisquoc River meanders through Los Padres National Forest, the San Rafael Wilderness area, and Rancho Sisquoc before merging with the Cuyama River, north of Santa Barbara.

James C. Flood arrived in California in 1850 in search of opportunity and sunshine. By 1882, the Flood family was established in California, engaging in farming and ranching. James C. Flood’s grandson, Jim, and his wife, Betty, continued the family tradition when, in 1952, they acquired the historic Rancho Sisquoc, an 1852 Mexican land grant.

During the 1950s, the Floods operated Rancho Sisquoc primarily as a cattle ranch, while also farming beans and grain. Jim and Betty taught their four children—Jimmie, Judy, Johnny, and Elizabeth—how to ride horses and round up cattle. Today, their great-grandchildren (the 6th generation Floods) refine their riding skills with the ranch’s cowboys, as the cattle operation persists.

Inspired by the chaparral watershed and the classic Mediterranean climate, the Floods planted their first vineyards in the late 1960s, among the earliest in Santa Barbara County. With guidance from Napa Valley enologist Andre Tchelistcheff, they matched grape varieties to the climate and soils of Rancho Sisquoc. By 1972, the Floods produced their first wine. Over the years, they have selected additional varieties based on the ranch’s microclimates, resulting in superb vineyards and award-winning estate wines.

For over 40 years, the grapes at this vineyard have thrived on volcanic earth, snowmelt waters from Lassen Volcanic National Park, and abundant sunshine in the new AVA of Manton Valley. Genuine farming practices are employed, with friends and neighbors coming to help during the harvest and, of course, to enjoy the wine.

The vineyard's altitude provides cool nights during the hot summer growing season, and the vines are planted in well-drained, volcanic soils on arid slopes. As a result, the grapes exhibit great tannic structure and firm fruit acids. With meticulous attention to detail, the winemakers strive for a distinctive mountain character with focused flavors.

Had a wonderful afternoon enjoying the variety of wines from this lovely little vineyard. John and Linda Alger poured for us and took extra time to explain some of the complexities of the wines. The tasting room and outside deck area are tranquil and relaxing and the wines are excellent. Produces an outstanding Syrah!!