Vinous Icons 2026 — Grand Tasting

Ojai Mountain will be pouring at Vinous Icons 2026 during the Icons Walk-Around Tastings, the main event of the Vinous Icons program.

Curated by the Vinous team of critics, the walk-around tastings feature more than 100 of the world’s most respected wine estates, each presenting two of their most sought-after wines. Attendees will have the opportunity to taste hundreds of exceptional wines and engage directly with winemakers and estate owners.

Ojai Mountain will pour on both days of the Icons Walk-Around Tastings, offering guests the chance to experience our high-altitude, organically farmed wines alongside iconic producers from around the world.

Ojai Mountain's Cool-Climate Story

Ojai Mountain represents Santa Barbara County's distinctive cool-climate character. Located in the mountains above Ojai, our estate benefits from elevation, marine influence, and dramatic diurnal temperature swings that define cool-climate viticulture.

California's reputation was built on warm-climate powerhouses like Napa Valley, but the state's most exciting evolution is happening in cooler regions. Areas influenced by marine fog, coastal winds, and higher elevations are producing wines with finesse, balance, and age-worthiness that challenge traditional California stereotypes.

Cool-climate California regions share common characteristics:

• Natural acidity that provides structure and freshness

• Lower alcohol levels resulting from slower, more even ripening

• Aromatic complexity with brighter fruit profiles and herbal notes

• Age-worthiness due to balanced pH and tannin structure

• Food-friendly profiles that pair elegantly with diverse cuisines

These regions, from the fog-shrouded Santa Cruz Mountains to the wind-swept Santa Rita Hills, represent California's answer to the global trend toward wines of place, restraint, and terroir expression.

What makes Ojai Mountain's terroir unique:

1. Elevation: 2,800-3,000 feet

2. Marine influence: 10 Miles from the Pacific with unobstructed views and strong winds

3. Unique East-West orientation of the mountains allows for Pacific to come into the ridge easily and moderate temperatures throughout the growing season

4. Diurnal shifts: 40-50°F temperature swings between day and night preserve acidity and aromatic compounds

5. Soil composition: fractured, well-drained shale rocky soils force vines to struggle and naturally limit vigor

6. Semi-arid climate with long-term average of 21 inches of annual precipitation with large variability. Multiple years below 6 inches. Rains is concentrated within 3 months of the growing season.

These conditions allow us to produce wines with the structure, acidity, and lift that define world-class cool-climate viticulture, characteristics we'll showcase alongside our fellow California producers at this masterclass.

Ojai Mountain is among the most southerly sites producing cool-climate wines.

What are we pouring

For this year’s Vinous Icons Great Tasting, we are bringing four wines that reflect the range and intent of our Rhône-focused estate in Upper Ojai. From mineral, wind-shaped whites to structured reds grown on fractured shale at elevation, each bottle speaks to a different facet of the mountain. Together, they show how site, season, and restraint shape our approach.

The wines chosen for Vinous Icons are foundational, reference-point wines from top vintages. The best of the best. Vinous Icons is the perfect opportunity to further your knowledge by hearing directly from owners, winemakers and other industry professionals. Critics Neal Martin, Eric Guido, Joaquín Hidalgo, Nicolas Greinacher, Rebecca Gibb MW and Billy Norris will be on hand to add their unique perspectives to those of the winemakers.

Friday

2022 Estate White

Rhône-style White Blend, a full-bodied white perfect for red wine lovers and foodies, blending Grenache Blanc's vibrancy, Picpoul's minerality, and Roussanne's elegance.

Vinous Review | Tasting Notes | Purchase Wine

2022 Syrah

Bold and complex, the 2022 Ojai Mountain Syrah layers dark berries, florals, and savory spice with vibrant acidity and refined tannins, promising a long, elegant evolution.

Vinous Review | Tasting Notes | Purchase Wine

Saturday

2024 Estate White

Precise and energetic, this high-altitude blend marries Grenache Blanc’s lift, Picpoul’s racy acidity, and Roussanne’s gentle texture. Long, vibrant finish with a whisper of mountain herbs.

Vinous Review | Tasting Notes | Purchase Wine

2022 Estate Red

This innovative GSM blend, enhanced with Tempranillo, presents a deep ruby-purple hue and delivers dark fruit, spice, and earthy intrigue within a refined structure, offering exceptional aging potential.

Vinous Review | Tasting Notes | Purchase Wine