Like many of California’s top winemakers, Steve is predominantly self-taught. While working side-by-side with respected Santa Barbara viticulturalist Jeff Newton, Steve honed his craft and refined his own distinct philosophy towards viticulture. Revitalizing the original Beckmen Vineyard, and cultivating Purisima Mountain Vineyard from its inception helped Steve fully recognize the importance of being true to the land while implementing cutting edge viticultural practices.
To further enrich his knowledge, Steve made a pilgrimage to great winegrowing regions around the world to study both classic and cutting edge viticultural and winemaking techniques. His pivotal meeting was with renowned wine producer Paolo de Marchi, of Tuscany’s Isole e Olene, who shared with him his views on optimal vineyard plantings, clonal and rootstock selections, and other viticultural ‘trade secrets’.
It is Steve's goal for the Beckmen Vineyards Rhône wines, especially the Syrah, to continue to advance Santa Barbara County as a premier wine region of international renown. "Purisima Mountain Vineyard is a winemaker's dream," according to Steve Beckmen. In cultivating this vineyard, Steve has strong sense of being in the right place at the right time.
Together with his father Tom, Steve is pioneering new ground for viticulture and winemaking in Santa Barbara County. He is widely acknowledged as a viticultural leader within the Santa Barbara winegrowing community. Hailed as a key figure in the Rhône varietal movement, he was a keynote speaker at the 2002 Hospice du Rhône.
