PROPERTY DESCRIPTION

EAGLE GAP WINERY

26330 Eagle Gap Road

Santa Ysabel, CA 92070

 

The majestic 20 acre EAGLE GAP WINERY and homestead is situated on Mesa Grande in Santa Ysabel, California. This meticulously maintained vineyard, winery, and home site is located one hour north of the San Diego metropolitan area in the heart of San Diego’s beautiful backcountry near the town of Julian. The site features an unobstructed panoramic view of the Lake Henshaw basin, Palomar Mountain, and Hot Springs Mountain (the highest point in San Diego County at 6,633’), and the Volcan Mountains . This rare and special property is shown by appointment only. Please visit www.EagleGapVineyards.com. 

 

Eagle Gap Winery is a working boutique winery.  The winery is bonded and licensed to produce and sell wine.  There is always wine inventory in the winery in various stages of production.  The new owner will take ownership of all wine in barrels, tanks, and bottles.  All artwork for labels, business cards, and other aspects of marketing conveys with the sale.  The branding and marketing of the Eagle Gap Winery label is an ongoing effort and the new owner will benefit from all past and present marketing efforts.  Eagle Gap Winery is truly a turnkey opportunity and positioned to fulfill the vision of new ownership.

 

The development of the Eagle Gap Winery was completed in phases. Initially, the site was purchased, the land cleared, infrastructure installed, and the vines were planted.  Presently, the vineyards are between 7 and 10 years old and in full quality production mode - and will be for 20 to 30 more years. The most recent phase involved building the winery and obtaining the bond required to produce and sell wine. Equipment was purchased based on a yearly production of 1000 cases of wine.

 

Production could be increased if desired. There are presently 2 outside vineyards from which grapes can be purchased on a regular basis. These quality vineyards would likely appreciate the opportunity to continue supplying grapes for the new owner.

 

Situated at an elevation of approximately 3.300’ in a very private setting, EAGLE GAP WINERY is accessed along a 1 mile private road (Eagle Gap Road) from Mesa Grande Road through a solar electric driveway security gate. The site is also easily accessed by helicopter. The site is protected from winter storms and winds approaching from the west and extreme summer heat. The topography of the property may be described as gently sloping. Finished gravel roads with culverts for drainage allow access throughout the developed areas of the ranch. Foliage includes many oak trees and mountain Manzanita shrubs.

 

The vineyards are accessed along graded, gravel roads engineered for shedding surface water culverts. The Main Vineyard consists of one-half Shriaz clone and one-half Cabernet Sauvignon (337 clone VSP trellis). The Terrace Vineyard is comprised of one-half French Syrah and one-half Cabernet Sauvignon French (VSP trellis). The Quartz Vineyard features all Pinot Gris, a U.C. Davis clone on a 5-wire vertical trellis. All vineyards are enclosed by an 8’ chain link fence to keep the grapes in and the wildlife out.

 

The winery consists of a newer 1200 square foot insulated metal building erected on an epoxy-sealed concrete floor with a large floor drain. The facility has 4 sky lights, propane heat, air conditioning, 120/240 power, ceiling ventilation fans, two 12’ by 10’ insulated sectional drive-in doors, and two 48” walk-in doors. The winery also a kitchen with granite counter tops, a bathroom with shower, and a utility sink. High speed satellite for Internet access and high definition satellite television are on site, as well as full cellular phone coverage provided by Verizon and ATT. From the outdoor flagstone patio area and fire pit, all three vineyards can be enjoyed.

 

The winery equipment includes the following:

·         Kawasaki Mule utility vehicle

·         Several oak barrels and barrel racks

·         Stainless steel stemer/crusher

·         60 gallon hydraulic basket press

·         1 - one and one-half inch hydraulic wine pump with 4 lengths of hose

·         1 - 40 plate wine filter

·         3 - 300 L Stainless steel tanks with floating lids

·         2 - 200 L Stainless steel tanks with floating lids

·         3 - spout Stainless steel bottle filler

·         2 - 60 gal plastic tanks

·         1 - 350 gal plastic tank

·         2 - Stayvin Infusion Tubes.

·         1 - Hydraulic pallet lift

·         1 - Hand pallet jack

 

The main home site has been engineered for a 5 bedroom home elevated above the vineyard and winery. All utilities, including the septic system, are installed to the building site. There are also three additional pads with power and water on the property. 

 

The guest home is a 2007 Cavco Manufactured Park home with central heat and air conditioning, custom cabinetry, and a large (35’ x 11’) custom Trex deck. This dwelling is perfect for weekend get-a-ways, entertaining guests, and living in while overseeing the construction of your dream home. You can view pictures of the guest home online at: www.EagleGapVineyards.com.     

 

There are many recreational activities available in the area: the California Riding and Hiking Trail and the Pacific Crest Trail for riding, golfing at Warner’s Ranch and Borrego Springs, hunting and fishing, dinning, and a variety of other opportunities for each family member. The newly opened Santa Ysabel Open Space Preserve offers excellent riding trails connecting the Santa Ysabel, Wynola, and Julian communities. The famous Hale Observatory on Palomar Mountain is less than 30 minutes away.

 

Of great importance are the various directions from which the ranch can be accessed across lightly traveled state highways and picturesque county roads. The Los Angeles-Orange County metropolitan area, Temecula-Murrieta, the San Diego metropolitan area, and the southwest desert communities are all within a short drive to this undiscovered equestrian paradise.

 

This is a rare opportunity to own a turnkey winery and vineyard located in one of the most beautiful settings in California.

 

From the founder and winemaker at Eagle Gap Winery:

 

“I will agree to act as consultant during the ownership transition period.  Telephone consultation will be sufficient for most situations. However, a site visit may be required on occasion. I will offer my consultation will be for a reasonable period of time during the transition of operations and will not include actual labor or management.  Eagle Gap Winery presently has no full-time employees and, therefore, no burdensome accounting. There are several local contract workers that assist in the production of wine and I would suggest that new owners keep them on during the transition period.  Some of these workers have been helping me for years.  They assist in all aspects of winery production, including; pruning, netting, harvesting, crushing, and bottling.  The new owner will need bring his winemaking ability and attitudes regarding cultural practices in the cultivation of grapes and the making of wine. The existing crew is fully capable of handling the labor necessary to execute the vision of new ownership. Supplier contacts will be provided.

 

During the 11 years that I have been developing the Eagle Gap Winery project I remained true to one simple goal…To produce the best honest wine possible. Over the years this philosophy became increasingly more difficult to adhere too, but I have not wavered from this basic principle. There are many decisions that go into making wine and a operating a viable winery. Each decision was approached with wine quality and winery sustainability in mind.  There are many corners that can be cut when developing wine and a winery, and I never cut any.  Each decision was made without regard to cost; only to fulfill my goal of producing the best wine possible.  To that end, I have been successful. 

 

Honest wine is wine that comes from the land; grapes that a wine maker comes to know year after year, understands how they react in the winery, and learns from experience what to expect. Honest wine is wine which can be reproduced year after year with only minor differences due to weather between vintages. An honest wine is consistent; if you like the 2008 vintage, you will like all future vintages. Today, many wineries in San Diego County purchase grapes on the open market. Each year their grapes may come from a variety of different locations. Some good wines are produced, but it is hard to reproduce those flavors year after year from buying grapes on the open market. I have been purchasing grapes from two nearby vineyards for 4 years, one of which I designed the growing program for the vineyard manager. All grapes coming into Eagle Gap Winery possess a known quality value.  As a result, consistent wine flavors are produced year in and year out. I have two other sources of very high quality grapes which I intended to use for expansion. These vineyards were selected on the basis of years of personal knowledge of the vineyards, and will provide new ownership the opportunity to increase the  production of  wine while remaining true to the principle of honest wine.