Blog
Spanish Springs Vineyard
The Vineyard
At Oceano Wines we pride ourselves in our ability to capture and highlight the uniqueness of Spanish Springs Vineyard in every bottle. Being the sole vineyard for our Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, we are able to focus all of our efforts on this San Luis Obispo County AVA vineyard.
Spanish Springs Vineyard is the closest vineyard to the Pacific Ocean in the larger Central Coast AVA, allowing it to have a distinguishing terroir. It is perched on the slopes of Price Canyon, less than two miles from the ocean. The cool marine breezes allow the grapes to slowly warm up throughout the day and ensure that the grapes gradually ripen and preserve the precious sugar and acid levels.
Each area in the San Luis Obispo AVA has its own special terroir that encompasses the soils and microclimates specific to that area. Spanish Springs Vineyard has mix of sandstone, shale, and limestone soils that are ideal for the growth of our Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, although the vineyard also grows other red and white varietals.
The vineyard is also SIP (Sustainable in Practice) certified, which reflects the biodynamic grape growing and winemaking practices.
The Winemaking
Oceano Wines winemaker, Marbue Marke, takes a “precision” winemaking approach to each vintage and each varietal, recognizing that each harvest is different and should be treated as such. The winemaking approach starts before planting has even begun, selecting clones that will grow to highlight the unique terroir of Spanish Springs Vineyard in a “sculping” rather than “painting” approach.
A precise approach to harvest is key to capturing and maintaining the acidity required to make exceptional wines. The timing of pick, process, temperature, yeasts, nutrients, barrels, aging time, and release date are all pertinent to the quality of the wine.
One important step that Marke uses is a low yield juice approach by using the five-hour press cycle on the Wilmes Sigma press. Pictured below is the Oceano Wines harvest crew, who start their harvest around three in the morning. This is ideal for many vineyards because it allows the grapes to stay cool during the harvest and keep the astringency to a minimum during their journey to the crush facility.
There is not one formula to make the best wine. Understanding the uniqueness of each varietal of each vintage and accommodating those needs allows Oceano Wines to continually produce award-winning wines that are unique to the Central Coast regions.
This article is also featured on the News & Features section of the ilovewine.com blog
May 2, 2019 at 6:59 AM
PermalinkRachel Martin and Oceano Wines: Making a Difference.
Learn more about this unique premium wine and the woman leading the change. Oceano Wines makes giving back one of the pillars of their business.
Rachel Martin
Rachel is well-suited for the wine industry lifestyle and possesses the commitment needed to build an award-winning winery from scratch. She began her career at the inception of Boxwood Estate Winery in Virginia in 2005 as the Executive Vice President of Winery Operations.
From there Rachel followed her Bachelor of Fine Arts from the School of the Museum of Fine Arts with a degree in Viticulture and Enology from Napa Valley College and completed the Sensory Evaluation program at the University of Bordeaux School of Enology.
Her extensive education and years of experience in the wine industry gave her the skills needed to successfully build Oceano Wines.
On top of her busy career, Rachel is dedicated to giving back to her community and the wine industry through a number of organizations and events.
WEBNC
The Women’s Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC) is the largest certifier of female-owned businesses in the United States. Their main goal is to advocate for female business owners and entrepreneurs.
They work to provide women with the certification, opportunities, resources, and engagement necessary for their businesses and ideas to flourish.
Oceano Wines was WBENC certified April of 2019.
Women of the Vines and Spirits
Oceano Wines is a corporate member of the Women of the Vines and Spirits organization. The organizations goal is to provide its members with education, networking, mentorship, training, and tools for personal and professional advancement.
Les Dames d’Escoffier
Rachel is a member of Les Dames d’Escoffier International (LDEI) New York and Washington D.C chapters and was the first woman to be inducted into the District of Columbia chapter of the International Wine & Food Society.
Les Dames d’Escoffier International is a philanthropic invitation only organization of women leaders in the food, beverage, and hospitality industries.
This organization looks to share knowledge, support members and those in the industries, and provide leadership and educational opportunities.
Rachel supports the organization by sponsoring wines by Oceano and Boxwood for LDEI NY and DC Chapter Events. Most recently was the NY Chapter Member Holiday dinner. Next will be April 29 the LDNY Scholarship Dinner honoring LDEI founder Carol Brock.
A Scholarship Program Fundraiser
Reception & Dinner At New York City College of Technology
http://ldny.associationsonline.com/site_event_detail.cfm?pk_association_event=18667
Oceano Wines will also be a Patron Sponsor at the 2020 LDEI annual conference from October 24-27th, 2019
Philanthropy
Oceano Wines was the exclusive white wine sponsor of Steven Tyler on Music’s Biggest Night to support Janie’s Fund.
The goal of this fund is to raise our voices (and glasses) to help bring hope and healing to abused and neglected girls.
Rachel and the rest of the Oceano Wines team are dedicated to philanthropy and making the world a more united place for everyone.
Rachel and the Oceano Wines team has also participated in many other charity events and causes:
- Heart’s Delight Wine Auction Heart’s Delight raises money for the American Heart Association
- MCC Theater- Oceano donates wine for the MCC Theater Gala. MCC Theater encourages the production of plays and musicals that focus on hard to talk about issues and ideas
- City of Hope –Oceano donates wine for the City of Hope Gala. City of Hope is a leader in the research and treatment of cancer, diabetes, and other serious diseases
- AIM at Melanoma- AIM focuses on Melanoma education, research, and advocacy
- Exposed - Revealing the Need for Melanoma Awareness and Research
- James Beard Foundation – Oceano Wines participated in the 2018 dinners: Carla Hall and Shepherd + Friends
- Middleburg Film Festival- Founding Board Member and sponsor. Oceano Wines and Boxwood Estate Winery are both heavily involved in the Middleburg Film Festival
- Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum – Wine donation for the Boating Party Annual Fundraiser
- Chesapeake Bay Wine Classic Foundation – Oceano Wines donated to The Grand Auction
Projects for the future
Oceano Wines continues to practice philanthropy and is excited for the upcoming events of the organizations they support. Oceano plans on doing a concert series by partnering with Kurt’s (Rachel’s husband) record label, Ghostlight.
For the winery’s future projects, Oceano Wines just harvested their first vintage of Pinot Noir. The vines have been planted at Spanish Springs for 13 years. Both the Chardonnay and the Pinot Noir are grown in the same vineyard.
April 17, 2019
James Beard House – Southern Spring, Dinner with Kevin Johnson of The Grocery, Charleston SC (Boxwood Estate wine donation)
May 5, 2019
Jazz at the Ballroom featuring Byron Stripling – Wine sponsor
May 30, 2019
Bottling our first vintage of Pinot Noir (v. 2018) and our third vintage of Chardonnay (v. 2018)
Summer 2019
Poolside at Jazz at the Ballroom with TBD – Ghostlight / Oceano Concert
August 14, 2019
Society of Wine Educators Conference – Seminar “Come Hell or High Water” – Rachel Martin
October 17 – 20, 2019
Middleburg Film Festival- Wine and Venue sponsor, Boxwood and Wine Sponsor, Oceano
November 7 - 9, 2019
Consumers who support philanthropic and socially responsible companies like Oceano Wines allows us to continually reach out to organizations and support non-profits by donating our time, wine, and money.
Combining the industry that we love and the act of giving to some of our favorite organizations keeps our hearts full as we continue to grow Oceano Wines.
This article is also featured on the News & Features section of the ilovewine.com blog
Apr 15, 2019 at 7:26 AM