Wines & Ratings
The quality of Ascona Vineyards is best reflected in the wines crafted by the exceptional winemakers who work with our fruit. Wines made from Ascona Vineyards fruit have earned critical acclaim for their purity, balance, and expression of place. This collection highlights standout bottlings from our winery partners, along with notable scores and accolades they’ve received from top publications and critics.
Madson Wines
Madson Wines is one of the premier producers sourcing fruit from Ascona Vineyard, known for crafting elegant, site-driven wines that reflect the complexity of the Santa Cruz Mountains. Led by winemaker Cole Thomas, Madson focuses on minimal intervention and organic practices, allowing the vineyard’s natural character to shine through in every bottle. Their bottlings from Ascona—particularly Pinot Noir and Chardonnay—have garnered critical acclaim for their balance, energy, and refined structure, showcasing the synergy between thoughtful farming and precision winemaking.
95 PTS VIRGINIE BOONE
98 PTS VIRGINIE BOONE
98 PTS VIRGINIE BOONE
94 PTS VINOUS
94 PTS WINE ENTHUSIAST
93 PTS JEB DUNNUCK
95 PTS WINE ENTHUSIAST
93 PTS WINE ENTHUSIAST
94 PTS WINE ENTHUSIAST
Leo Steen Wines
Leo Steen Wines is a boutique producer dedicated to crafting expressive, honest wines with a deep sense of place. Winemaker Leo Hansen brings a restrained, Old World sensibility to his work, focusing on organically farmed vineyards and native fermentation. His use of Ascona Vineyard fruit—particularly Chenin Blanc and Cabernet Franc—results in wines that are vibrant, mineral-driven, and layered, capturing the vineyard’s mountain energy and coastal freshness in every glass. Leo Steen’s thoughtful, transparent approach aligns seamlessly with the values and farming philosophy behind Ascona.
93 PTS KEN'S WINE GUIDE
93 PTS WINE SPECTRUM
98 PTS VIRGINIE BOONE
Big Basin Vineyards
Big Basin Vineyards is a trailblazer in the Santa Cruz Mountains, known for producing bold yet balanced wines that capture the rugged beauty of the region. Founded by Bradley Brown, the winery has a deep commitment to organic farming and hands-off winemaking—an approach that resonates with the ethos of Ascona Vineyard. Big Basin has sourced Pinot Noir from Ascona, producing wines that are both powerful and refined, with savory complexity and striking purity. Their partnership reflects a shared dedication to crafting wines that honor terroir, texture, and time.
92 PTS JEB DUNNUCK
94 PTS VINOUS
Arnot Roberts
Arnot-Roberts is widely respected for its nuanced, terroir-driven wines that showcase some of California’s most compelling vineyard sites. Founded by childhood friends Duncan Arnot Meyers and Nathan Lee Roberts, the winery is known for its restrained style and commitment to minimal intervention. Their work with Ascona Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc and Gamay highlights the site’s cool-climate freshness and mountain intensity—producing wines that are vibrant, mineral-laced, and beautifully expressive. The partnership reflects a shared philosophy: let the site speak, and let the wine tell its story.
95 PTS JEB DUNNUCK
94 PTS VINOUS
“Tastes of a sunny day near the ocean.”
Jeb Dunnuck • 95 / 100
"From a site set at 2,500-feet, the 2023 Sauvignon Blanc Ascona Vineyard tastes of a sunny day near the ocean, combining lithe layers of wet stone and salinity with lemony green apple. Sleek and polished, it is light-bodied and quite beautiful, delivering an exciting level of freshness that persists from start to finish. Enjoy now through 2033."
“Ascona is wonderfully distinctive”
Vinous • 94 / 100
"The 2023 Sauvignon Blanc Ascona Vineyard is powerful, deep and super-expressive. A wine of phenolic intensity and serious complexity, the Ascona is wonderfully distinctive. Dried citrus peel, sage, mint, dried flowers and chamomile are some of the many notes that build in this Santa Cruz Mountains Sauvignon Blanc."
3P Wine Company
3P Wines is a rising, quality-driven producer focused on small-lot wines that emphasize purity, balance, and site specificity. Founded by a team of passionate wine professionals, 3P brings thoughtful intention to every step of the process—from vineyard sourcing to bottling. Their work with Ascona Vineyards' Pinot Noir showcases a fresh perspective on lesser-seen cultivars in the Santa Cruz Mountains. The resulting wines are vibrant, expressive, and deeply rooted in the land, reflecting a mutual commitment to farming excellence and innovation.
2023 Pinot Noir (Blend)
90 PTS WINE ENTHUSIAST
MarBeso
MarBeso Wines is a boutique producer crafting small-lot wines that reflect the intersection of coastal influence and mountain-grown character. With a focus on minimal intervention and site transparency, MarBeso sources fruit from select vineyards that offer purity and distinction—including Ascona. Their Pinot Noir bottling from Ascona Vineyard is vibrant and finely structured, with a sense of precision and energy that reflects the site's elevation, rocky soils, and cool maritime influence. MarBeso’s thoughtful approach aligns beautifully with the vineyard’s ethos: honest farming, expressive fruit, and wines that speak clearly of place.
93 PTS WINE ENTHUSIAST
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