The Edna Valley, in San Luis Obispo is home to Baileyana. In 1982, in recognition of its distinctive topography and climate, the eight-mile-long Edna Valley, which runs east and west, was designated an American Viticultural Area. The Los Osos Valley channels cool Pacific breezes straight to the mouth of the Edna Valley, bringing frequent fog and a remarkably mild climate that gives the region one of the longest growing seasons in California. Frequent summer fog and afternoon winds act as a natural cooling system keeping the valley's temperatures far below the averages found in some of the more inland growing regions of the Central Coast. These climatic conditions are ideal for growing concentrated Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Sauvignon Blanc, and cooler climate Syrah.

The Edna Valley in San Luis Obispo is rapidly becoming acclaimed as a premier winegrape-growing region, especially for Pinot Noir, Syrah and Chardonnay. The jewel in the crown of Edna Valley is the Firepeak Vineyard.

The Firepeak Vineyard is located at the foot of Islay Mountain, the last in a chain of extinct volcanoes known as the Seven Sisters. Located just a few miles from the Pacific Ocean (as the seagull flies), the Firepeak Vineyard is the first to benefit from the cool maritime breezes funneling in from the Morro Bay. The blanketing fog, which may not clear until late morning, moderates the climate throughout the growing season.

Located adjacent to the new state-of-the-art Baileyana winery, the newly bearing Firepeak Vineyard was planted utilizing the wealth of knowledge and experience of the Niven family, viticultural pioneers in the Edna Valley. The vineyard is divided into thirteen blocks, devoted to Pinot Noir, Syrah and Chardonnay. Seven different clones of Pinot Noir and four of Chardonnay, all on a variety of rootstocks, were selected for their ripening patterns and bunch sizes and for their contributions to color, complexity and nuance. A cool climate Syrah, known for its richness and dark deep color, ripens just after the Chardonnay.

Soils in the Firepeak Vineyard are a combination of clay loam and rocky marine sediment, with Islay Mountain providing a volcanic element to the soil. Known geologically as a Diablo series, this "dirt of the devil" stresses the vines, encouraging the intense varietal characteristics found in the Firepeak wines. Situated on a rise at the foot of the mountain, the vineyard slopes on all sides and the vines are oriented in a north-south direction, allowing for excellent drainage.

The vines of the Firepeak Vineyard are vertically trellised in an innovative "ballerina" style, allowing more light to reach the fruiting zone. This method minimizes the need for leaf pulling and allows the vine to develop in a more natural fashion. Early in the spring, the vines receive all the water they need from available soil moisture. Later in the season, deficit irrigation, carefully managed by soil analysis, leaf pressure and evaporative transport monitoring, forces the vine to work deep, enhancing the complexity of the fruit.

An intensive hands-on approach is used in farming the Firepeak Vineyard. Canopy management includes cane pruning, shoot and crown thinning. During the growing season, a small amount of leaf thinning and culling of green clusters after veraison may be done. The Firepeak Vineyard is entirely hand-harvested, with the fruit hand-sorted on tables in the vineyard. The grapes are then gently transported to the winery, primarily in 4x4 bins or 2-ton gondolas.

Baileyana Winery, owned by the Niven family, recently released their first bottling of Firepeak Pinot Noir, Syrah and Chardonnay. Approximately half of the harvest of Firepeak Vineyard is shared among other premium wineries; a few of these wineries offer Firepeak vineyard-designated wines of their own.