Move Over, Napa!

Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Syrah (also known as Shiraz) and even Malbec varietals have found their place along the Malibu hillsides as a growing number of homeowners can add "vintner" to their resumes. The number of vineyards hosted by the coastal Santa Monica Mountains, reaching back as far as Agoura Hills and the San Fernando Valley has quadrupled to approximately 150 acres of planted vines.

Available only at ultra-premium prices in local wine shops, Malibu wines are becoming a coveted wine-cult catch and a chance for Malibu residents to share their passion amongst fellow enthusiasts. Micro-vineyards are mostly manned by the homeowners themselves, many of whom only bottle their precious nectars for family and friends.

Costing two to three times as much to grow grapes as it does along California's Central Coast, there is little public support for Malibu's ambitious wine community. Some claim that the Malibu Fire Department is supportive of the plantings since the irrigated rows pose less of a threat than brush-covered hills in relation to fires.