Discover the Grape Whisperer in this article.
Ruben was born in Mexico and immigrated to the US in 1989 when he began working in the wine industry. Over the years, he has established himself as one of the most talented winegrowers in America. Ruben manages Rancho Boa Vista’s vineyard and various other well-known estates in Central California. Today he’s a respected star in the Santa Barbara County wine world.
Ruben oversaw the planting and installation of RBV’s infrastructure starting in 2011. He suggested the best Rhône varietals for Ballard Canyon’s micro-climate — Syrah, Grenache, Grenache Blanc and Petite Syrah. He selected the best clones for the varied terrain and soil types. He shared his vision with Andrew and Claudia and they happily accepted and followed his knowledgeable advice.
Ruben’s passion and desire to create the best wine possible has driven RBV to optimal heights with each new vintage. He oversees an organic farming operation that meets state of the art standards. He includes a mix of technological tools, common sense and constant attention to detail to produce excellent results.
The Ballard Canyon AVA covers a relatively small area. The main unifying element that protects its quality and helps build its reputation is Ruben Solorzano. Those who know Ruben understand why he’s known as “the grape whisperer”.
It’s mainly because he seems to communicate with the vines, and in return, they apparently aim to please him. Only minimal watering is key to his technique, and when the leaves give him their secret signal, only then does Ruben listen to them.
Ruben’s “magic touch” with Rancho Boa Vista’s fruit is a primary reason the wine consistently excels and is drinking better with each new vintage.
Tranquilino has been employed in the wine industry for more than a decade. He began working for Coastal Vineyard Care in Santa Barbara County and moved to Rancho Boa Vista five years ago.
He oversees various aspects of keeping the vineyard and olive grove well looked after and painstakingly maintained. He is a great asset who always manages to find solutions to problems, especially when it involves RBV’s infrastructure — the water system, vineyard irrigation, the wells and cisterns.
Tranquilino is very familiar with every aspect of the annual wine cycle from spring to harvest and everything in between. He’s made Claudia’s olive grove flourish like never before, and the olives are thriving under his vigilant care.
Tranky, as he is also known, makes a major contribution to the quality of RBV’s fruit and the overall success of its agricultural operation.