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Presqu’ile (‘press-keel’) is a family-owned winery in the Santa Maria Valley dedicated to crafting exceptional  Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Syrah. Roughly translating in French to “Peninsula”, Presquile was the Murphy family’s gathering place in the Mississippi Gulf Country who after Hurricane Katrina, decided that they would name their winery in homage to the place that engendered a conviviality among family and friends, evoking a warmth of human spirit and a rapport among all who “passed a good time” there. 

 In 2007 the Murphy family set out to find the perfect place to farm pinot noir and chardonnay, a search that spanned America’s West coast, from California up to Oregon. The Santa Maria Valley in Santa Barbara Wine County won out, and the Murphy’s set about building what has become one of the most beautiful wineries in California with a wine experience to match. South African born Dieter Cronje has been making wine with the Murphy family since Presquile’s beginning. Dieter was drawn to California on the tales of promise of its wine industry and never left. Dieter invited me back to Presquile to enjoy some Santa Maria hospitality and I took the opportunity to capture his journey and perspectives on Presquile, Santa Maria and everything in between. A massive thanks to Dieter for joining me. 

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