COQUELICOT ESTATE

About WINERY

Planted in 1997, the Coquelicot Estate, named after the French red poppy flower, warmly welcomes visitors to experience the charm of Santa Ynez wine tours, including the renowned Black Oak Vineyard. The Rosenson’s 94-acre CCOF Certified Organic vineyard, a pivotal part of the Santa Ynez wine tours, is situated in the Los Olivos District AVA, extending between Ballard Canyon to the border of Happy Canyon. This picturesque vineyard, often compared to the scenic beauty of Black Oak Vineyard, lies just south of the historic Mission Santa Inés and on the eastern border of the town of Solvang, offering a comprehensive experience of the region's viticulture.

BEYOND ORGANIC

In 2007 we implemented sustainable and organic farming protocols with the outcome of obtaining our organic certification by the California Certified Organic Farmer association in 2015. This process takes five years to complete and requires yearly testing, site inspection, and reporting to the association. It all starts with healthy soils. Our commitment to organic agriculture runs deep. Organic grape growing is more than just resisting the use of synthetic pesticides and fertilizers.  Instead of using toxic herbicides, we take care of weeds the old-fashioned way. In place of chemical fungicides, we use a biodegradable natural mineral oil derived from stylet flowers to combat powdery mildew and botrytis bunch rot. We practice in regenerative farming which lets nature take its natural course. Every element in the vineyard is there for a reason and creates a symbiotic relationship. Even the weeds add something to the picture. Healthy microorganisms in the soil make for healthy vines. By creating a bio-diverse farm landscape that encourages natural predators, we eliminate the need for insecticides. Cover crops are planted as a natural way to introduce nutrients to the soil. These cover crops include a variety of grasses, legumes, and mustards that protect the soil from erosion. These plants also fix nitrogen into the soils and offer a habitat for many beneficial insects. The benefit of cover cropping over a period of years contributes greatly to the health of the soil and the quality of our vines. Cover cropping is also a form of companion planting. Mustards, for example, when grown alongside grapevines help discourage soil born nematodes (tiny little worms) that would feed on grapevine roots.

MIKE ROTH WINEMAKER

A New Jersey native, Roth got interested in wine while in school in North Carolina, and when he came West, he got connected with a handful of Napa luminaries, including Nils Venge (Saddleback) and Mike Grgich (Grgich Hills). At Grgich Hills, he became entranced with a leaner, fresher style of wine and with biodynamic farming, although that didn’t preclude him leaving to study winemaking at Fresno State. He ended up at Demetria, a biodynamic property in Los Olivos, then at Martian Ranch, another nearby biodynamic estate, where he made fun, affordable wines like Albarino and Grenache rosé.

Two years later, he left to work on his own wine, Lo-Fi, with longtime friend Craig Winchester. Lo-Fi describes his style in the cellar: indigenous yeast, little or no sulfur dioxide, old-fashioned techniques. But Roth is also a fastidious winemaker and a stickler for organics, which helps keep the wines clean and approachable.