Concentrated Flavors
Smaller berries with thicker skins produce intense, focused fruit character.
California’s Highest Coastal Vineyard & Organic Estate
at 2,800 feet
High-Altitude Artisan Wines
Ojai Mountain is the state's southernmost cool-climate estate, where extreme altitude meets Pacific marine air. Our extreme growing conditions and marginal climate create wines with tension, bright acidity, and mineral complexity—a true expression of our dramatic mountain site.
Uncompromised Origin
The Vineyard is the Star
M ost wineries are built around a winemaker's vision. Ojai Mountain is built around a place. We are the only estate in Ojai growing and making wine entirely from our own grapes — 100% estate grown, every vintage, no exceptions.
“The results are stunningly singular out of the gate... How the wines can already express such a distinct, confident sense of terroir is beyond comprehension.”
Every cluster harvested, every drop bottled comes from this single mountaintop vineyard at 2,800 feet. No sourcing. No blending with outside fruit to soften a difficult vintage. What the mountain gives us is what we bottle.
Why Elevation Matters
Extreme elevation means cooler temperatures, intense sunlight, and dramatic day-night swings—conditions that produce wines with natural acidity, structure, and depth.
Bright Natural Acidity
Dramatic day-night temperature swings preserve freshness and balance.
Layered Complexity
Steep slopes and varied terrain create distinct microclimates in every block.
Mineral Character
Poor soils and rocky shale force vines deep, extracting pure terroir expression.
Without tipping into hyperbole, Ojai Mountain may be the next great vineyard in California.”
The Critics Have Spoken
From 96-points score to Editors' Choice, see what the most respected voices in wine are saying about Ojai Mountain.
96 points
2022 Syrah
“Boasting a flush of balanced acidity and racy, engaging textures, this is such an impressive wine. I'm taken aback by how much this already feels like it has its own voice. The future is very bright at Ojai Mountain.”
Billy Norris
Wine Critic
Editors' Choice
2022 Estate White
“From a very exciting mountaintop estate overlooking almost all of Ventura County, this white blend offers lively aromas of Asian pear, cherimoya and melon rind on the layered nose.”
Matt Kettmann
Wine Critic
Cellar Selection
2020 Estate Red
“There are many reasons to lay this wine down for years to come. It’s firmly built, featuring mountaintop-influenced tannins. Secondly, it’s the inaugural vintage of one of the more interesting estates to come to California in years.”
Matt Kettmann
Wine Critic
Our Team
Meet the winemaker
Erich Bradley has spent more than 25 vintages shaping wines that speak clearly of where they come from. Erich brings both scientific precision and an intuitive feel for the land, earned from years of small-lot winemaking across California.
“I fell in love with this place immediately. There was a visceral reaction when I first set foot on the property.”
His approach is meticulous but never formulaic. Each block is harvested and fermented separately, layered later for depth and tension. Native yeasts start the fermentations, small lots preserve character, and nothing is rushed. The result is wines that are fresh, lifted, and true to their mountain origin.
Our Commitment
Sustainable From Soil to Bottle
When we planted Ojai Mountain in 2018, we became the first winery in Ojai to farm organically and regeneratively from the very first vine. That commitment was recognised when Ojai Mountain was selected for the Slow Wine Guide 2025, an international honor recognizing wineries committed to sustainable, high-quality winemaking. The guide evaluates soil health, water conservation, biodiversity, and pollinator protection—standards we've built into every decision we make.
We farm organically, intervene minimally in the cellar, and let our mountain terroir speak for itself.
Shop Ojai Mountain Wines
Our Syrah, Mourvèdre, and estate blends are organically grown on California's highest coastal estate—critically acclaimed wines with firm structure, natural acidity, and serious aging potential.
Available
2023 Syrah
The most aromatic and immediately expressive Syrah from this estate — elderflower, lingonberry, tart cherry, and cracked pepper on a supple, rounded palate. Vinous 94 Points — “impressive textural polish.” Drink now–2035.
Available
2020 Estate Red
Our inaugural vintage — a modern Bordeaux-Rhône blend with notes of cassis, blackberries, and tart cherries, lifted by an iron-edged freshness. Structured, flavorful, and built to age. You can lay this one down for years. Wine Enthusiast Top 100 Cellar Selection.
Available
2024 Estate White
Floral and tropical on the nose, the most vibrant of the set — citrus zest, green pineapple, lychee, and a saline finish that grips and lingers. Roussanne holds the tension without softening it. Wine Enthusiast Cellar Selection. Drink now–2034.
Available
2023 Mourvèdre
Restrained and mineral — wild strawberry, red cherry, cracked pepper, and crushed stone on a silky palate. Wine Enthusiast called it “elegantly mineral-driven” from a “destined-to-be-legendary” estate. 95 Points Cellar Selection. Drink now–2035.
Available
2022 Estate Red
A GSM blend with Tempranillo — our most taut and savory Estate Red to date. Boysenberry, pomegranate, white pepper, and crushed stone on a broad, structured palate. Vinous 94 Points. Structured and drinking well now, with years ahead.
The Rhône Connection
A vineyard built for
Rhône varieties
At 2,800 feet in Upper Ojai, the mountain's climate and geology demand Rhône varieties. Cool nights, steady Pacific winds, and fractured Monterey shale create ideal conditions for Syrah, Grenache, and Mourvèdre—our three red varietals—along with Grenache Blanc, Roussanne, and Picpoul for whites.
Sharp temperature swings after sunset preserve acidity and structure as fruit ripens, producing wines that lean toward the savory, mineral-driven style of Crozes-Hermitage or Saint-Joseph rather than the richer, fruit-forward profiles common in Paso Robles. This distinction matters: our elevation and shale soils create tension and lift instead of weight and power.
Member of Rhône Rangers
Ojai Mountain is a proud member of Rhône Rangers, America's leading nonprofit dedicated to promoting American Rhône varietal wines. We're thrilled to share these wines with you.
Featured In
Our high-altitude vineyard has earned recognition from Forbes, Decanter, Wine Enthusiast, and leading sommeliers who recognize Ojai Mountain as one of California's most distinctive emerging estates.
Pick Your Adventure
We're 30 minutes from downtown Ojai and a world away from every other tasting room. Choose from three exclusive experiences — no crowds, no rush, just sweeping mountain views and wine worth the journey.
$125 / guest
Private Wine Tasting
Our private tasting is a seated, sommelier-led visit featuring five estate wines with cheese and charcuterie, served outdoors overlooking the vineyard and coastline. Reserved for your group alone, the visit unfolds at a relaxed pace with an optional vineyard walk to learn about our regenerative farming.
$225 / guest
Tasting & Jeep Transport
Jeep tasting experience by Cloud Climbers includes round-trip pickup anywhere in Ojai in open-air vintage vehicles, making the drive itself part of the visit and removing the need to navigate the mountain road. The tasting at the estate follows the same format as our private sommelier-led experience.
Private Celebration on the Mountain
At 2,800 feet, with panoramic views and no neighbors, this estate has a way of making occasions feel like they couldn't have happened anywhere else. Our mountain vineyard is the perfect setting for proposals, elopements, weddings, and photo shoots.
Mountain Vineyard Retreat
Ojai Mountain Ridge, our villa next door to the estate vineyard, welcomes guests for private stays. Visitors may walk across to the vines for guided tastings with our sommelier, or watch the sun sink into the Pacific from the terrace, glass in hand.
Featured in
Guest Reflections
“The views rivaled Hawaii—pictures can't do it justice. The perfect getaway for a quiet retreat.” — Madison
“Place was beautiful. Shannon was a great host and very communicative, making sure we had everything we needed.” — Emily
“Our own private retreat in Ojai! The mountaintop views are breathtaking, and the house was perfect for a luxurious staycation.” — Julie
“The best place I've stayed in Ojai. The space and views are incredible! The pictures themselves do not do it justice.” — Mustafa
“The house and views are even more breathtaking than the photos. Shannon went above and beyond—can't recommend this home enough!” — Toni Ann
“Beyond our expectations. The views were even more breathtaking in person. If you need an oasis and a relaxing escape, this is for you!” — Gabriel
Your Questions, Answered
From vineyard visits to our winemaking philosophy—find answers to the most common questions about Ojai Mountain.
Ojai Mountain is a small, high-altitude vineyard and private estate at 2,800 feet on Sulphur Mountain in Upper Ojai, California. We grow Rhône varieties and Tempranillo on ancient Monterey shale soils, farm organically using regenerative practices, and produce around 500 cases per year of 100% estate-grown wine under winemaker Erich Bradley. The estate is 10 miles from the Pacific Ocean, above the marine fog layer — a rare combination that gives our wines uncommon structure and freshness for Southern California. → About us
Three things rarely exist together: elevation (2,800 feet, among the highest active vineyards in California south of the Bay Area), ocean proximity (10 miles from the Pacific, above the fog line), and ancient Monterey shale with virtually no topsoil. The elevation drives 40–50°F diurnal swings that naturally preserve acidity. The ocean moderates heat and lengthens the growing season. The shale limits vigor and concentrates flavor. Vinous critic Billy Norris called Ojai Mountain potentially "the next great vineyard in California" after the first two vintages. → Our terroir
Yes. Ojai Mountain has been featured in Forbes, Decanter, the San Francisco Chronicle, Wine Enthusiast, Vinous, Wine Business Monthly, Luxury Travel Magazine, Southwest Travel & Life, the Santa Barbara Independent, Edible Ventura County, Ojai Magazine, and others. The 2022 Estate Syrah earned 96 points from Vinous (Billy Norris) and 94 from Wine Enthusiast (Editors' Choice). The 2021 Estate Syrah scored 95 at Vinous and 93 from Jeb Dunnuck. The 2023 Mourvèdre earned 95 from Wine Enthusiast (Cellar Selection). → Press & media
No — they are completely separate wineries with no connection.
The Ojai Vineyard was founded in the 1980s by winemaker Adam Tolmach and is a well-regarded producer working with a wide range of grape varieties sourced from multiple vineyards across Santa Barbara County. Some of these vineyards may be organically farmed, while others use conventional farming practices.
Ojai Mountain was established in 2018 on a high-altitude estate in Upper Ojai and produces wines exclusively from its own organically farmed estate vineyard at 2,800 feet on Sulphur Mountain. The wines are made by renowned Sonoma County winemaker Erich Bradley. This distinctive site is the southernmost vineyard producing cool-climate wines in California, shaped by elevation, wind exposure, and proximity to the Pacific Ocean. Ojai Mountain farms 100% of its fruit organically and does not purchase grapes from outside vineyards.
Both wineries use “Ojai” in their names simply because they are located in the Ojai region — that is the extent of the connection. The key difference is that The Ojai Vineyard produces wines from sourced fruit across a broader region, while Ojai Mountain is entirely estate-grown and focused on expressing a single high-elevation mountain site.
No. Ojai Mountain Farm is a completely separate agricultural business — different ownership, different products, different operations. Ojai Mountain Farm produces vegetables and other crops. Ojai Mountain is a high-altitude winery and estate vineyard at 2,800 feet on Sulphur Mountain, producing exclusively estate-grown wines from organically farmed Rhône varieties and Tempranillo. The two businesses share part of a name because they are both located in the Ojai region. That is the only connection.
Our signature event is the annual Harvest Dinner, held on the mountain each November. It's a sit-down dinner — usually 30 to 40 guests — with a French-inspired menu prepared by a guest chef using locally sourced ingredients, paired course by course with estate wines. Past dinners have featured charcuterie and cheese from Paradise Pantry in Ventura, sourdough from The Dutchess in Ojai, and winemaker Erich Bradley at the table talking through each wine. One of the most memorable moments from our second annual dinner: the Ojai Raptor Center released two rehabilitated owls back into the wild during the evening. One guest described it as "nothing short of magical." Invitations go to club members and the mailing list first.
We also host occasional private events in collaboration with local chefs, photographers, and hospitality partners. If you're a chef, event producer, or creative partner interested in working with us on something at the estate, we'd love to hear from you — reach out at info@ojaimountainestate.com. → Events
Yes. The Ridge is our luxury villa, located on the estate directly adjacent to the vineyard at 2,800 feet. It's one of the most distinctive places to stay in Southern California — not just because of the setting, but because of what it gives you access to: waking up inside a working mountain vineyard, a terrace with views of the Pacific Ocean, Lake Casitas, and the Channel Islands, and private sommelier-led tastings at the vines just steps from the front door.
The villa sleeps up to 10 guests across four bedrooms. Amenities include a hot tub with direct Pacific views, a fully equipped kitchen with Weber gas grill, multiple outdoor patios, a private half-mile hiking loop, media room, washer/dryer, full HVAC, stable Wi-Fi, and helicopter landing pad. Double-gated access means complete privacy — no nearby homes, no through traffic.
Guests consistently describe it as unlike anything they've experienced. One guest wrote: "The views rivaled Hawaii — pictures can't do it justice." Another called it "better than Tuscany." A third: "It feels like another planet." The most common theme across reviews is that the photos undersell it — the setting needs to be experienced.
The Ridge is available through ridge.ojaimountainestate.com as well as Airbnb, VRBO, and Booking.com. The property is 90 minutes from Los Angeles and 45 minutes from Santa Barbara. → The Ridge
The main channels:
- Instagram @ojaimountain — vineyard life, wine releases, tasting experiences, and the mountain through the seasons
- Instagram @ojaimountainridge — The Ridge villa, views, and stays
- YouTube @OjaiMountain — longer-form content about the vineyard, winemaking, and the team
Facebook facebook.com/ojaimountain and Pinterest OjaiMountain for additional content and event updates
For release notifications and event invitations, the mailing list is the most reliable channel — social media algorithms don't guarantee you'll see announcements when they go out.
Have Questions?
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Text us at: +1 (805) 214-4339 or drop us a line at: info@ojaimountainestate.com
