Native9 Wine (Tasting by Appt.)

"One of the finest tastings I've ever had the pleasure of attending (and I've been to many). Wes is a fantastic host. The pairings are amazing, the learning opportunity is unmatched, and of course the wines are magnificent."

"On a sun-drenched day in February, we stood with Wes Hagen in the vineyards and soaked in the beauty of the Santa Maria hillside. After our vineyard trek, we sat in the recent homestead of James Ontiveros and tasted some very special Pinot Noirs, Chardonnays and yes, even some Cabs from Native 9 / Ranchos de Ontiveros. I can’t imagine a better way to enjoy your day than spending it with Wes, along with a glass of wine, while he shares the rich and storied history of Santa Barbara wine country. His knowledge of the surrounding soils and terroir completely elevated the tasting for us. Carve out some time for your own deep-dive into the wonderful world of Native 9 / Ranchos de Ontiveros wines; it’s worth the trip!"

"Beyond amazing tasting and tour experience. The wines are prefect. Hearing about the history of the family, ranch, vineyard and wines makes you respect and appreciate the wines even more. Arranging and experience the tasting with Wes, James and Nina was easy. 10 out of 10 day."

"This was the nicest of all the many wine tastings I've ever attended. At the majority of wineries the hosts are just doing a job. Here, the host treated it as his calling. Our host Wes provided instruction for finding the winery, met us at the gate, and led us for a few minutes into the vineyard itself to explain cultivation techniques. He reiterated the accessibility information he had emailed earlier for any of us with mobility challenges. Then we drove the rest of the way up to the tasting facility--outside in this pleasant weather, so we could bask in the bucolic views. Wes had already prepped a charcuterie plate for us with a dusting of spices he himself had chosen to pair with these wines. He explained to us which particular cheeses would likely be preferred with which wines. He gave us at least two vintages of each wine so we could discern the differences. His enthusiasm was palpable--he obviously loves the business. And the wines themselves were delicious. Anyone who loves wine will love tasting at this Vineyard."

"Highly recommend going to a tasting here! I used to be an "ABC" type (Anything But Chardonnay), but these Chardonnays were seriously delicious. The Pinots are great, and the Cab Sauvignons are even better - complex, flavorful, and just nice to drink. Wes led a fun and informative tasting for us, covering wine history, how the vines are maintained, food paring, and several taste comparisons. We all got quite an education in just 90 minutes, in a rural, picturesque part of the country. We'll be back!"