About us
Established in 1853.
At The Ironwood Ranch, we offer nature-inspired decor and authentic wooden accents along with the floor to ceiling window overlooking the Hill Country beauty as a setting for you to customize your day unique to you.
After 40 years in the hospitality business, we understand the value of building relationships, sharing a table for special moments over food and wine, and experiencing the beauty and bounty of Santa Barbara Wine Country.
With a concentration on our estate vineyard, we have sought to produce wines that are “a window to a place.” Each one of our wines is different in expression, with its own subtle, yet distinctive character and voice. Each year renews in us an intense drive to understand, react to, and work with the vineyard to allow it to reach its full potential. This process, led by our winemaker, Steve Clifton, is crucial for the execution of successful wines.
Demetrios ("Jimmy") and Karen Loizides found their calling in the Santa Ynez Valley, where the landscape reminded Jimmy of his ancestral village of Kathikas, Cyprus, and his childhood in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe. After relocating to the valley in 2011, the couple was drawn to its familiar Mediterranean warmth and farming heritage.
Inspired by Jimmy's roots in agriculture and their shared love for the region, they established Vega Vineyard & Farm to create a genuine farm-to-table experience. Today, they honor the community that welcomed them by producing estate wines and honest food, grown and crafted on the land they now call home.
Steve Clifton's journey from musician to acclaimed winemaker began in 1991 at Rancho Sisquoc Winery. After honing his craft at prestigious Santa Barbara County wineries including Beckmen and Brander, he founded Palmina in 1995, specializing in Italian varieties. His partnership with Greg Brewer led to the internationally acclaimed Brewer-Clifton, known for exceptional Chardonnay and Pinot Noir from Sta. Rita Hills.
Though his winemaking expertise has taken him from Italy to Argentina, Steve's heart has always remained in Santa Barbara County, where he continues to craft wines with his signature passion and skill. He is the proud father of two sons, Roman and Luca.
Santa Barbara native Christopher brings over two decades of culinary excellence to Vega Vineyard. A graduate of the California Culinary Academy, he honed his craft at prestigious restaurants including Michel Richard's Citronelle and San Francisco's Namu, where he embraced the importance of seasonal, locally-sourced ingredients. After successful ventures in both Northern and Southern California, including roles at Bouchon and The Hungry Cat, Christopher discovered his perfect match at Vega Vineyard.
Now settled in Santa Ynez Valley since 2016 with his wife Randi and their three children, Christopher brings his passion for creating beautiful, delicious food to every event at Vega. When he's not in the kitchen, you'll find him tending his garden or cheering on his kids' activities in the community he's proud to call home.
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