Malibu Family Wines specializes in crafting unforgettable experiences around premium wines. With 70,000 vines on the 1,000 acre Semler Family ranch nestled in the hills of Malibu, Malibu Family Wines produces over 12 different varietals between the Semler and Saddlerock brands.
Call it Southern California in a bottle. Perfectly positioned at the crest of the Santa Monica Mountains, the vineyards are quite unique: The rocky terrain and steep south facing slopes provide the perfect environment for growing premium wine grapes. Planting started in 1997 with 15 acres of Cabernet Sauvignon. Today, the hillside vineyards consist of approximately 70,000 vines on 70 acres with twelve varietals. Varietals planted are Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Syrah, Sauvignon Blanc, Mourvedre, Grenache, Viognier, Malbec, Sangiovese, Petit Verdot, and Chardonnay.
The fascinating history of the property dates back some 300 years when the vast expanse of land surrounding the Santa Monica Mountains was part of the original Spanish Land Grant. The 200,000-acre site is a perfect spot for raising sheep and cattle. Up until the 1930s the area was known as El Malibu. Local caves are still covered with pictographs painted by the Chumash Indians, which date back to the Portola Expedition of 1769. These pictographs have become very rare due to erosion and weathering, but some of the most well preserved examples remain on the Saddlerock Ranch property and have been studied by archeologists.
Tours of the vineyard and Saddlerock Ranch are also available. Please visit our experiences page to see our current offerings.