By DOUGLAS W. MOTLEY
Senior Writer
Sycamore Ranch Vineyard & Winery, located on Dart Canyon Road in Crestline, was named the best Inland Empire winery in January’s “Best of the Best 2025” issue of Inland Empire Magazine. That comes as no surprise to the dozens of wine connoisseurs who visit the winery’s tasting room and outdoor patio.
Sycamore Ranch owner Richard Krumwiede is surrounded by nearly 100 barrels of fermenting wine inside his Dart Canyon winery. (Photos by Douglas W. Motley)
Richard Krumwiede who owns Sycamore Ranch with his wife, Elizabeth, told the Alpine Mountaineer, “Sycamore Ranch Vineyard & Winery is an award-winning, small craft winery producing red Bordeaux and white Rhone varietals, along with zesty, locally grown hard apple ciders. We offer an intimate tasting room (by appointment only) set among the pines and sycamores in Dart Canyon, near Crestline.”
According to Krumwiede, Sycamore Ranch, which has been featured in Sunset Magazine, the wine grapes are grown at its own 3.5-acre ranch, as well as sourced at select Central Coast vineyards within the Ballard Canyon, Los Olivos and Paso Robles AVAs (American Viticultural Area). He added that wine production is limited to 800 cases per year, to assure that every bottle receives the craft and dedication it deserves. They also limit their hard cider production to about 50 cases, annually.
“Sycamore Ranch is a beautiful, small mountain winery that provides amazing wines and breathtaking views. It truly is a breath of fresh air,” commented Lake Arrowhead resident Jileen Pattison in the January 2025 issue of Inland Empire Magazine.
These wine vats are used in the early stages of fermentation.
Asked what inspired him to become a vintner of fine wines, Krumwiede said that, prior to making wine, he had been trained as a landscape architect. Then he decided to continue his education by enrolling at the University of California Davis where he successfully completed the winemaker certificate program.
When asked what his best-selling wines are, Krumwiede cited the winery’s award-winning Cabernet Sauvignon and Red Bordeaux as well as red and white Rhone varietals, their award-winning 2022 Primitivo and their 2022 Grenache.
Not one to shy away from wine industry competitions, Krumwiede has fared quite well in recent years, garnering multiple Best in Class, Gold, Double Gold and Silver awards for their handcrafted wines. The biggest winner of their entered wines, Krumwiede said, was their 2019 Quail Run Vineyard Mourvèdre, which was awarded Double Gold/Best in Class Red and (at 99 points) the overall highest score of all entered wines in the Orange County Commercial Wine Competition.
Other notable awards include Best of Class/Double Gold for their 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon (98 points) and 2019 Ranch Red (97 points) at the Sunset International Competition, which had over 2,900 wines submitted. Orange County judged over 2,400 wines, while the Central Coast competition had 94 wineries enter with 508 wines judged. Overall, Sycamore Ranch placed 30 wines, 14 of which placed Gold or better, and 16 Silver.
The machine on the left is used for crushing grapes and the one on the right removes stems from apples.
“This is a big deal,” Krumwiede said, “as all of these competitions are blind-tasted and judged by some of the most well-respected wine industry professionals. It just goes to show you what quality grapes, knowledge, hard work and attention to detail can do.”
It all began in 1999 when Richard and Elizabeth purchased 3.5 acres of land in Dart Canyon and, with his landscaping skills including some terracing and clearing of some land, he began planting and growing Zinfandel and Syrah grape vines along with raspberries, blackberries, cherries and pears. And with his techniques, the orchards of apple trees that surrounded them in Dart Canyon began to flourish again. The heritage apples are dry crisp and that first batch of hard cider they made was amazing.
Now, with experience and better techniques learned by trial and error, the cider has improved and won more awards each year. Their orchard’s grounds are producing even better apples these days with the proper pruning and care. As the old 100-year-old trees stop producing, they are being replaced in complementary varieties that made the taste of the finished cider truly “pop.”
Some of these dormant apple trees on Sycamore Ranch’s 3.5-acre orchard date back 100 years.
Sycamore Ranch is one of the favored wines offered at Crestline’s own wine and beer tasting event Corks & Hops offered monthly from June through October. On March 1, at the Mardi Gras at the San Moritz Lodge, come taste their newest wines, including this award winner. Sycamore Ranch wines can also be purchased at Goodwin’s Market, the Littlebear Bottleshop in Skyforest and other local grocery and liquor stores.
Tastings are offered by appointment from 1 to 5 p.m. on Friday and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on most Saturdays and Sundays, weather permitting. Call (909) 338-1725 or email them at reservations@sycamoreranch.com to make an appointment to taste and tour your way through these prize-winning wines and hard ciders.
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