Presqu’ile

The name Presqu’ile, French/Creole for “peninsula” and literally translated “ Almost an Island”, refers to the Murphy family’s beloved gathering spot on the Mississippi Gulf Coast. A special place that captured conviviality among family and friends for many years. Sadly, the passage of hurricane Katrina in August of 2005 left nothing behind, but a lot of fond memories and a bond among all who “passed a good time” there. Presqu’ile winery got its name in honor of that place and way of life.

Soon after, Madison Murphy and his family made the decision to move to the west coast and, after nearly a century and four generations of farming the lands of Arkansas and Louisiana, start a new farming venture, only this time in viticulture and winemaking. Traveling and researching where to settle, looking from Oregon to the Russian River, the Murphys eventually found in Santa Maria Valley an exceptional terroir and a dynamic winemaking community that felt like home. In 2007, the Presqu’ile project was born.

Starting Presqu’ile Winery was not an attempt to recreate that place on the Mississippi Gulf Coast, but rather a new beginning where the same warmth and camaraderie would prevail. A communal place to share good times and great wines with friends and family. While Madison Murphy launched and ran Presqu’ile Winery for several years, the estate is now directed by his son and daughter, Matt and Anna Murphy. Matt presides over the estate while Anna runs the enology program, working closely with South African winemaker, Dieter Cronje.

Wanderlust Wine offers two classic, yet exceptional, wines from Presqu’ile, a 2018 Santa Maria Valley Pinot Noir and a 2018 Chardonnay. These Santa Barbara wines are blends from several select sites in the Santa Maria Valley, including Presqu’ile’s own vineyard. The Presqu’ile Vineyard is located at the winery, just 16 miles from the Pacific Ocean, benefiting from Santa Barbara’s unique East-West Transverse ranges, keeping the vines warm during the day and cool at night. The soaring elevations of 700 to 1,000 feet, dominated by deep sandy soils, help retain heat and provide a well-draining environment for the vines to thrive.  Currently under viticulture are 73 acres of vines, planted to Pinot Noir (39 acres), Chardonnay (13 acres), Sauvignon Blanc (6 acres), Syrah (6 acres), Gamay (5 acres), Nebbiolo (1.25 acres), and Aligoté (0.6 acres).

The resulting wines produced using both estate fruit and outstanding fruit from select vineyard sites across the Santa Maria Valley capture the true essence of the valley, the vintages, and the unique senses of place and community that Presqu’ile is all about. Naturally, the estate strives to produce exceptional wines that are food-friendly, as shown by the wide variety of chef-curated food pairings you would experience visiting the estate.

Over the past few years, Presqu’ile has been featured several times in the top 10 Best Tasting Rooms in the U.S. by USA Today’s National Readers Poll. A unique experience awaits anyone planning on wine tasting through Santa Barbara County. Soak up the breathtaking ocean and vineyard views while enjoying world-class wines and food pairings!