Ancient Peaks Renegade: A Bold Paso Robles Red Blend for Burgers, Bacon, and Big Flavors

Some wines are built for comfort zones.

Others are built to break out of them.

In this Wine of the Week episode from Chuck Furuya Uncorked, Ariana Suchia introduces Ancient Peaks Renegade, a bold red blend from Santa Margarita Ranch in Paso Robles.

It is also her husband’s favorite wine, which gives the bottle a personal touch from the start.

Renegade is not a single-varietal wine. It is a blend of Syrah, Malbec, Petit Verdot, Zinfandel, and Petite Sirah. That mix gives the wine dark fruit, body, spice, pepper, rustic energy, and enough structure to work with rich food.

This is a wine for people who want a bigger red without losing balance.

What Is Ancient Peaks Renegade?

Ancient Peaks Renegade is a red blend from Santa Margarita Ranch in Paso Robles, California.

Ariana describes Ancient Peaks as a family-owned winery connected to ranching families. That ranching identity fits the wine. Renegade feels hearty, outdoorsy, and a little wild rather than polished into something overly slick.

The blend includes:

Syrah;

Malbec;

Petit Verdot;

Zinfandel;

and Petite Sirah.

Each grape brings something different. Syrah can add pepper, meatiness, and dark fruit. Malbec can bring plush black fruit. Petit Verdot can add color, structure, and depth. Zinfandel can add ripe fruit and spice. Petite Sirah can bring inky color, body, and tannin.

Together, they create a wine with power and personality.

Santa Margarita Ranch and Sense of Place

The wine comes from Santa Margarita Ranch, an important part of the Ancient Peaks story.

Ariana points to the climate, coastal air, fog, and variety of soils as part of what makes the site special. Paso Robles can produce big wines, but Santa Margarita Ranch benefits from cooling influence that helps preserve balance.

That matters because a wine like Renegade could easily become too heavy.

With this site, the wine can have body and dark fruit while still avoiding the feeling of too much alcohol or jamminess.

That is one of the biggest strengths of the bottle.

It is bold, but still drinkable.

Why Blends Can Be Exciting

Ariana notes that wine drinkers often like varietal wines because they show a grape “true to form.”

That makes sense.

Cabernet Sauvignon tastes like Cabernet. Syrah tastes like Syrah. Pinot Noir tastes like Pinot Noir.

But blends can create another kind of magic.

When different grapes are brought together well, they can act like a symphony. One grape adds structure, another adds fruit, another adds spice, another adds color, another adds texture.

Renegade is a good example of that idea.

It is not trying to be one grape.

It is trying to become a complete red wine.

Appearance: Dark, Inky, and Purple-Tinged

In the glass, Ariana immediately notices the wine’s dark core.

It shows a deep ruby-red color edging toward purple, with a black center fading to a ruby rim. She also notices staining in the tears, which suggests thicker-skinned grape varieties and a more concentrated style.

That visual impression matches the blend.

Petite Sirah, Petit Verdot, Malbec, and Syrah can all contribute deep color and concentration. This is not a pale, delicate red.

It looks like a wine with body.

It looks like a wine built for richer food.

Aromas: Blackberry, Bramble, Pepper, and Herbs

On the nose, Renegade is black-fruit driven.

Ariana finds blackberry, bramble, and huckleberry. The fruit is ripe but not overripe. It does not smell cooked, jammy, or excessive. It feels properly ripe and controlled.

She also picks up black pepper, a little gaminess, and fresh herbs.

That combination is important.

The wine is not only dark and fruity. It also has savory and spicy elements that make it more useful with food.

Black fruit gives pleasure.

Pepper gives lift.

Herbs give freshness.

Gaminess gives depth.

That is what makes the wine feel more interesting than just “big red.”

Body Without Too Much Alcohol

One of Ariana’s main points is that the wine has body without feeling overly alcoholic.

That is exactly what many people want from a bold red.

Friends and family often ask for the “biggest red” available. But big reds can sometimes become too hot, sweet, heavy, or tiring. They may impress for one sip and then overwhelm the meal.

Renegade offers a better version of that experience.

It gives body and richness, but still keeps enough balance to pair with food.

That makes it useful for gatherings, grilled foods, burgers, hearty dinners, and people who want a bold wine that does not feel clumsy.

A Red Blend for Big Food

Ariana tasted the wine with a burger, and the pairing is one of the highlights of the episode.

The burger included bacon, fresh beets fried in bacon fat, beet greens, and Cambozola-style cheese richness.

That is a serious pairing.

The bacon brings smoke, salt, and fat.

The beets bring earthiness and sweetness.

The beet greens bring freshness.

The cheese brings creaminess and tang.

The burger brings protein and richness.

Renegade has enough fruit, spice, body, and structure to handle all of that.

Why the Burger Pairing Works

A bold red blend like Renegade works with a rich burger because it has several helpful elements.

The dark fruit connects with the sweetness of the beets and the browned meat.

The pepper and herbs connect with seasoning.

The body stands up to bacon and cheese.

The tannin works with protein.

The savory side connects with the earthy beets and meat.

This is the kind of pairing where wine and food both become more satisfying.

The wine is not just sitting next to the burger.

It is part of the meal.

Other Food Pairing Ideas

Ancient Peaks Renegade would work with many hearty dishes.

Good options include:

bacon cheeseburgers;

barbecue ribs;

grilled steak;

tri-tip;

smoked brisket;

lamb burgers;

sausages;

meatloaf;

mushroom burgers;

roasted beets;

blue cheese burgers;

pepper-crusted meats;

and grilled vegetables with smoky seasoning.

The wine’s dark fruit and pepper make it especially good with grilled or smoky flavors.

Its body helps with richer dishes.

Its herbal and savory notes help keep the pairing from feeling too heavy.

A Wine for Getting Out of Your Comfort Zone

Ariana describes Renegade as out of the box, wild, rustic, and a little different.

That fits the name.

This is not a safe, quiet red built only for sipping politely. It has personality. It wants food. It wants something grilled, smoky, rich, earthy, or creative.

Ariana encourages viewers to get out of their comfort zone and make something they actually want to try.

That is a good way to approach a wine like this.

Do not overthink it.

Cook something bold.

Open the bottle.

See what happens.

Why This Wine Works for Gatherings

Renegade is also a good gathering wine because it satisfies people who want a bigger red.

It has the color, fruit, and body that many casual red-wine drinkers expect. But it also has better balance than many heavy reds.

That makes it useful when different people have different tastes.

Someone who likes bold reds will find enough richness.

Someone who cares about food pairing will find enough structure.

Someone who wants flavor without too much alcohol heat will appreciate the balance.

That is a strong combination.

Final Takeaway

Ancient Peaks Renegade is a bold Paso Robles red blend with dark color, blackberry fruit, bramble, huckleberry, black pepper, fresh herbs, a little gaminess, and real food-pairing power.

It comes from Santa Margarita Ranch, where coastal influence, fog, climate, and varied soils help create a wine with body and balance.

The blend of Syrah, Malbec, Petit Verdot, Zinfandel, and Petite Sirah gives the wine its wild, rustic, generous character.

This is a bottle for burgers, bacon, grilled meats, roasted beets, blue cheese, barbecue, and bold home cooking.

It is big enough for people who ask for a bold red.

But it is balanced enough to bring to the table.

That is what makes it work.

FAQ

What wine is featured in this episode?

The featured wine is Ancient Peaks Renegade, a red blend from Santa Margarita Ranch in Paso Robles.

What grapes are in Ancient Peaks Renegade?

The blend includes Syrah, Malbec, Petit Verdot, Zinfandel, and Petite Sirah.

Where is Ancient Peaks Renegade from?

It comes from Santa Margarita Ranch in Paso Robles, California.

What does Ancient Peaks Renegade taste like?

It shows blackberry, bramble, huckleberry, black pepper, fresh herbs, a little gaminess, dark fruit, and a bold but balanced body.

Is Ancient Peaks Renegade a big red wine?

Yes, it is a fuller-bodied red blend, but Ariana notes that it has body without feeling overly alcoholic.

What foods pair with Ancient Peaks Renegade?

It pairs well with burgers, bacon, grilled steak, barbecue, lamb, sausages, roasted beets, blue cheese, and smoky or hearty dishes.

Why does this wine work with burgers?

The wine has enough body, tannin, dark fruit, pepper, and savory character to handle meat, bacon, cheese, and earthy toppings.

Is Ancient Peaks Renegade fruit-driven?

Yes, it is black-fruit driven, with blackberry, bramble, and huckleberry notes.

Is the wine jammy?

Ariana describes the fruit as ripe but not overly ripe or jammy.

What makes the wine feel rustic?

The blend, dark fruit, pepper, gaminess, herbs, and bold structure give it a wild, rustic edge.

Is this a good wine for parties?

Yes. It works well for people who want a bold red, but it still has enough balance to pair with food.

What is the biggest lesson from this episode?

The biggest lesson is that a bold red blend can be powerful and food-friendly at the same time when it has balance, spice, fruit, and structure.