California’s Historic Rancho Arroyo Grande Announces Collaboration with Pacific Coast Farming
March 31, 2025 (San Luis Obispo County, CA) – Rancho Arroyo Grande, a sweeping estate covering over 3,500 acres of wild country within the SLO Coast AVA of California, has retained Pacific Coast Farming to oversee its estate vineyard operations. Erin Amaral, Vineyard Manager and Partner at Pacific Coast Farming, will lead farming directives for the Rancho’s 230 acres of organically and sustainably farmed vineyards. Amaral will practice Organic Farming and Regenerative Viticulture at this historic designate. The three vineyard blocks that comprise the estate’s plantings, the Zepherino, Potrero and Coquina Blocks, are composed of nine varieties and produce grapes distinct in quality due to the unique microclimates and soil profiles that characterize the property.
Pacific Coast Farming has been managing diverse vineyard designates along the Central Coast of California since planting its first vineyards in 1973. Today, this dynamic farming company manages over 1,600 acres throughout San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara Counties, with clients in Edna Valley, Arroyo Grande, Nipomo, Avila Beach, Paso Robles, Templeton, San Miguel, Santa Maria and Lompoc. Amaral, who was raised on a farm in Crow’s Landing, California, where her family maintains a commercial harvesting business, serves on the Board of Directors of the San Luis Obispo Farm Bureau and is a graduate of the California Ag Leadership Program.
“Rancho Arroyo Grande Vineyard is a special place with its deep historical roots dating back to the Mexican Land Grant and its unique terroir,” Amaral says. “This family-owned vineyard is deeply committed to respecting the land and serving its community, which aligns with my core values. I look forward to working alongside a passionate team to elevate the vineyard’s legacy by fostering environmental stewardship, connecting with the community it serves, and growing exceptional wines,” she continues.
Informed by their contributions to the fields of mental health, social justice, and the arts, Rancho Arroyo Grande owners and siblings, Kathleen and Eric Kim, foreground equitable inclusivity in their work. Kathleen is a tenured law professor at LMU Loyola Law School, where she recently served as the inaugural Associate Dean of Equity and Inclusion. Prior to joining the legal academy, Kathleen launched the nation’s first legal services program that advanced the civil rights of immigrant trafficked workers. She is also an experimental musician and composer. A student of the late avant-jazz innovator Yusef Lateef, Kathleen’s performance highlights include the openings of the 2012 Whitney Biennial and the 2017 Venice Biennale. Eric is Senior VP of Strategic Initiatives for the nation’s largest privately held system of behavioral health treatment facilities. He sits on the founding board of GYOPO, a non-profit collective of Korean diasporic artists and cultural producers, and is co-owner of the contemporary art gallery, Belami.
The Kim siblings hope to grow a community of inventive winemakers who share an appreciation of holistic ecosystems that integrate agriculture within wilderness rich in biodiversity. To learn more about Rancho Arroyo Grande, please visit https://www.ragvineyards.com/
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