Mosby Winery

Mosby Winery sits on Rancho de la Vega in Buellton within the Santa Ynez Valley, where vines first took root on this land in 1853. Located in one of California’s most varied coastal pockets, Mosby Winery (now operating as Vega Vineyard and Farm under new ownership) specializes in Italian varietals planted across 21 estate acres and offers a distinct Santa Ynez Valley wine tasting experience that marries history with contemporary winemaking. The tasting room occupies a former carriage-house barn while private tastings move guests into the 13-room adobe that anchors the property, creating a sensory bridge between old adobe clay, crushed vine stems and bright coastal fruit on the palate.

The production team at Mosby Winery continues a lineage that began when Bill Mosby purchased the property in 1976 and renamed it in 1980; today the Loizides family oversees hospitality and a renewed winemaking direction. Winemaker Steve Clifton brings focused expertise in Italian varietals, stewarding vines whose roots date back to 1966 and shaping a philosophy that privileges estate expression and varietal clarity. The winery’s craft centers on estate-grown fruit, careful fermentations and measured oak influence rather than heavy manipulation; while no major awards are listed in available sources, Mosby Winery’s reputation rests on provenance, rare old-vine material and a program of small-lot, allocated releases beginning with estate-driven 2022 bottlings.

Tasting the portfolio traces a clear product journey from vine to bottle. Nebbiolo from the old-vine blocks shows tannic structure with dried rose, dark cherry and iron-tinged finish; the Sangiovese leans toward cherry, tomato leaf and medium acidity, ideal with the kitchen’s savory plates. Albariño and Bianco whites highlight saline coastal brightness, citrus and stone-fruit aromatics, while Pinot Noir and Chardonnay reflect cooler microclimates on the ranch. Production notes emphasize estate fruit, traditional vinification for reds and targeted white fermentation techniques; select lots receive aging in neutral and French oak to enhance texture while preserving varietal lift. New estate-grown bottlings released beginning with the 2022 vintage are presented as limited allocations, intended for mailing list members and on-site purchasers; visitors frequently encounter single-vineyard lots and small-production barrels that illustrate vintage variation across the Santa Ynez Valley.

The guest experience is quietly refined. Mosby Winery’s tasting room in the historic barn offers rustic beams, natural light and views across the vineyard rows; VIP guests are escorted to the original adobe home for seated flights paired with dishes from Chef Erik Thurman’s farm-to-table kitchen, which leverages produce from the property and neighboring farms. Tours can include a walk through 21 acres of Italian varietals, a peek into the cellar and curated verticals or single-vineyard tastings when available. Architectural anchors — the 1853 adobe, the carriage-house barn and legacy vine plantings — provide the property with a distinctive aesthetic that feels historical yet approachable.

Best times to visit are during late spring through harvest when the vineyard is most active and the kitchen highlights fresh produce; private tastings and VIP experiences are limited and recommended to reserve in advance. General tastings and estate-release appointments are offered on a reservation basis, and visitors seeking allocation bottlings should inquire directly or join the mailing list for priority access.

For travelers seeking a contemplative wine-country stop that values place, historical continuity and Italian varietal expression, Mosby Winery delivers an intimate, terroir-forward program. Plan ahead for a seated tasting in the adobe or a curated barn flight, and experience how Mosby Winery’s 21 acres and thoughtful winemaking translate Buellton’s soils and coastal influence into wines that reward slow, attentive tasting.