The Old Creek Ranch Winery is owned and managed by John and Carmel Whitman. Carmel is the daughter of Mike and Carmel Maitland, the original founders of the winery in 1981. Chuck Branham, also one of the original founders, remains in charge of winemaking.
During the 21 years of the Winery's operation there have been many years of award winning wines – more... produced. The Winery has been a contributor to the economy and as a visitor site of the Ojai Valley since 1981.
The greatest attention to quality and detail are forefront to our winemaking process. All red wines are cask aged in three different new French oak barrels for 18 months, followed by one year bottle aging. We will not rush the process. White wines will be made in a fashion best suited for the specific varietal.
The Winery is located on the Old Creek Ranch. The Ranch is part of a Spanish 22,000 acre land grant awarded to Don Fernando Tico, dating back to the early history of California. In the late 1800's the ranch was purchased by Antonio Riva from the island of Corsica. He was a chef in Paris, London and later in San Francisco. He built a winery on the ranch at that time.
Today the original winery still stands and is depicted as the logo and on the label of the current wines. At that time, wines were made without electricity and utilized gravity as a means to move the wine in the processing. Riva produced wine until about 1942, including the prohibition years. Wine purchasers would leave an order and money on the clothesline and would return later to pickup a jug of red wine left at the base of an oak tree. On one occasion he was warned that the FBI was coming to raid the winery. All wine beyond what was legal for one family to produce was dumped prior to their arrival.
In 1976 the Maitlands purchased the property with the intention of revitalizing the old ranch. A couple of years later they were approached by Chuck Branham, a college school friend of their daughter, and Paul Belgum with the proposal to start a new winery on the property. In 1981 the first vintage was introduced. Many award-winning wines were to follow.
A vineyard of 20 acres was planted during the 1980's. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Chardonay, and Sauvignon Blanc were produced. Sadly, the vineyard fell prey to the bacterium that causes Pierce's Disease. All but two and one half acres have been removed. Plans are now being developed for a new vineyard at the top of the Ranch that will distance the grapes from the insects that transmit the disease.
Now, the soil is wonderful and the microclimate is perfect for growing wine grapes. 2005 should resume full production of grapes.
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