Fine wine from Malibu? Southern California's Malibu, home to movie stars and Bay Watch?

Yes, these wines are from grapes grown in Malibu not on the famous beach, but in a scenic valley four miles from the coast, 1,400-feet up, above the coastal fog, in the AVA Malibu Newton Canyon.

George Rosenthal, owner of movie studios, hotels, and other enterprises, first planted vineyards at his 250 acre estate in 1987, after spending two years checking soil and weather to make sure he planted the correct varietals in the correct locations.

25 acres of hillside vines are planted in this unique microclimate, where cool breezes filter into Newton Canyon in the evening, tempering warm, sunny days. Even with this boutique size, individual plots of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Cabernet Franc are separately vinified and barrel-aged before blending.

Winemaker Christian Roguenant strives to bring out the unique terroir of the site. The reds are unfiltered and unfined, and the Chardonnay does not go through ML. All the grapes come from the estate vineyards.

Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Chardonnay can be enjoyed in some of LA's toniest restaurants, and some of Hollywood's top stars have sipped the wines at the estate.

You may not be able to wrangle an invitation to the vineyard (then again, you might), but you can now enjoy these wines at your own –estate”.

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