Legendary Vineyard, World-Class Wine
A California Icon in the Heart of the Santa Maria Valley
One of the oldest cool-climate vineyards in California and home of the world’s most single vineyard designations, Bien Nacido Vineyard has been an acclaimed source of world-glass grapes and estate wine since its founding in 1973 by brothers Stephen and Bob Miller.
Meaning “Well Born” in Spanish, Bien Nacido was planted on the historic site of the Rancho Tepusquet land grant, a plot of land that was granted to Tomás Olivera in 1837, when California was still a part of Mexico. The Olivera Family’s adobe, built in 1857, still graces the estate today – a majestic sentinel looking after the vines.
Purchased by the Miller Family in 1969, what is now Bien Nacido Vineyard began as the shared vision of brothers Bob and Steve Miller: to develop a vineyard that would be acknowledged as among the elite vineyards of the world. Four years of hard work and sweat equity led to the original vineyard plantings – 300 acres of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay – in 1973.
Since then, under the Miller Family’s stewardship, Bien Nacido Vineyard has become one of the most coveted sources of cool-climate Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Syrah in California, if not the world. Celebrated as the most single vineyard-designated site in the world, the combination of remarkable terroir and an incredibly dedicated team who cares for the land, enables Bien Nacido’s legacy of exceptional winemaking and grape-growing to further grow with each passing vintage.
A Distinct and Diverse Site
Interactive Vineyard Map
From Land Grant to Iconic Vineyard
The History of Bien Nacido Estate
In 1837 Tomas Olivera received a Spanish land grant that stretched from the Santa Maria Mesa to the San Rafael Mountains. He called it Rancho Tepusquet after the nearby creek.
Olivera’s daughter and son-in-law, Don Juan Pacifico constructed an adobe in 1857 and lived there with their family, raising cattle, grain, and wine grapes. Over the years, Don Pacifico’s family divided up the property and the Rancho diminished in size until the two largest parcels were reconnected by the Miller family.
In 1969, brothers Bob and Steve Miller came together with one vision – to develop a vineyard that would be acknowledged as among the elite vineyards of the world.
The vineyard was planted in 1973. Bob and Steve called it Bien Nacido, meaning “well born” in Spanish, because of the passion and commitment they shared in bringing it to life.