Ojai Wine Country: A Central California Destination Waiting to Be Discovered

Ojai, California, is often overlooked as a wine destination. I should know—I was guilty of overlooking it as I motored past it on my way to the nearby wine country locations of Sta. Rita Hills and Paso Robles. I am happy to report that at least I've no longer overlooked Ojai, and I am finding more and more wonderful expressions of wine right in the magical location of Ojai.

Ojai Mountain wines capture the essence of the unique mountain terroir—a blend of boldness and elegance that reflects the wild beauty of the land.

Welcome to Ojai Mountain Estate

My own soul-searching came in the form of wine tasting, which brought me to Ojai Mountain Estate. Owner Olga Chernov, a finance executive and fintech entrepreneur, bought the property in 2015.

"My wife is crazy -- she planted a vineyard at 2,800 feet!" says Mikhail Chernov about his wife Olga and her 2018 plantings. This got the attention of renowned Sonoma-based winemaker Erich Bradley. "I fell in love with these mountains the moment I first saw them," Bradley says, "and when I realized they could produce high-quality wines, I felt compelled to make it happen."

Wine That's All About Ojai

Bradley makes Ojai Mountain wine along with head viticulturist Martin Ramirez and viticultural consultant Phil Coturri. They use minimal intervention in their winemaking and employ biodynamic farming practices.

"I'm a minimalist when it comes to intervening in the winery," Bradley says. "I devote my energy to making sure we're in a situation where the harvested fruit that comes into the winery doesn't need help. It is magnificent in its own right."

On the steep slopes of Sulphur Mountain, the vines of Ojai Mountain Vineyards capture optimal sunlight all day. This unique location ensures even grape ripening, directly influencing the wines' rich flavor and exceptional quality. The shale soil, once the ocean floor, offers abundant minerals and effectively retains moisture, which is crucial for the dry Ojai climate.

"We're trying to express the uniqueness of our rugged terrain, where grapes grow at almost 3,000 feet in a severe and challenging site," Bradley says. "This situation is truly unusual, as there are not many grapes being cultivated for wine production at such high elevations anywhere in the world."

Tasting at Ojai Mountain Estate

Intimate tastings at Ojai Mountain Estate, by appointment only, begin with the ride up the mountain. Reaching the top, you tour the vines and settle in to taste their wines while enjoying light snacks and the cool mountain breeze. They also offer private Jeep tour options, picking you up at any Ojai location for your journey to the mountain.

They focus on Rhône blends, but their 100 percent Estate Syrah never disappoints. Their Estate White, a beautiful blend of Grenache, Picpoul, and Roussanne, has melon and floral notes on the nose and lovely citrus and Asian pear flavors on the palate. Their Estate Red blends Bordeaux and Rhône varietals in perfect harmony, including Grenache, Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon, Mourvèdre, and Cabernet Franc.

Ojai Mountain wines capture the essence of the unique mountain terroir—a blend of boldness and elegance that reflects the wild beauty of the land. These wines tell the story of a high-altitude vineyard near the Pacific, where the cool ocean influence and intense sunlight combine to create vibrant, complex wines.