Stewart Cellars was founded in 2000 by Michael and Anne Stewart of Houston, Texas. Michael founded Texas MicroSystems which he left in 1999 after merging the company with the Radisys Corporation. In 2000, the Stewarts bought a majority interest in Juliana Vineyards, a 3,400-acre property in the Pope Valley area of the Napa Valley. The winery focuses on Pinot Noir and Cabernet Sauvignon.
Aaron Winery
Aaron Jackson’s path to winemaking began with a question. “How can we write a new story for Central Coast wine, and how do we unlock its potential?” To answer this, he found himself working in coastal Pinot Noir vineyards near his hometown of Cayucos, and working in cellars producing wines from Paso Robles’ westside, most uniquely Petite Sirah.
While studying wine at Cal Poly in San Luis Obispo, he pooled together the pennies from his weekend jobs and launched his eponymous label with the first vintage of Aaron Petite Sirah in 2002. His career continued to lead him to work with several acclaimed wineries in Paso Robles, along with earning his Master’s degree in Oenology from the University of Adelaide in South Australia.
In 2017, Winemaker Aaron Jackson took charge in leading the effort to create the San Luis Obispo Coast AVA (SLO Coast), which was approved in 2021.
Sean Capiaux founded Capiaux Cellars in 1994 with a dedication to producing single vineyard bottlings of Pinot Noir. The philosophy is to produce wines that express the unique location from which they came, a sense of place or distinctive quality that sets them apart. Only high quality, low yielding, select clonal grapes are used from unique viticultural areas.
What a fantastic wine tasting experience. We were taken inside Mrs. Sullivan's home for a tasting at the table overlooking her lawn and pond, with a fire crackling away. The people were fantastic. By appointment only. Incredible wine, try the Merlot, if you don't think you like Merlot. You'll leave with a bottle.
What a hidden gem! They only make four types of wine: sauvignon blanc, rosé, cabernet sauvignon, and a blend. Normally after you wine taste, you would just buy your favorite wines and leave the winery, right? Well, Doug, the vintner and now tour guide, then took us for a tour outside the wine cave and showed us the estate's 200+ year old rose, the extensive car collection residing in a renovated barn, and the fully restored functioning green house.
The story of Copia Vineyards begins with the passion of Anita and Varinder Sahi, their shared love of wine, and the beauty of its source. The Sahis each had different paths to this world. He has an engineering and business background, and she is a restaurant and marketing veteran. He globetrotted for work and his love for wine grew. She worked with some of the finest restaurateurs and Michelin-starred chefs, cultivating her zeal for fine food and wine.
In 2017, the Sahis’ search for a special site to produce world-class Rhône and Bordeaux varietals was successful. They became the proud stewards of 50 acres of paradise-on-earth in the Willow Creek District of Paso Robles. It is now a veritable winemaker’s dream with nearly 40,000 vines planted in 24 distinct blocks. In 2022, their estate grew to include 26 acres of dramatic landscape in the Adelaida District. Both vineyard sites have breathtakingly beautiful slopes, calcareous soils, and strong marine influence. Simply put, the Sahis believe that these vineyards are legendary. The vines on the Copia Estate are now producing some of the most abundant, concentrated fruit with densely rich varietal characteristics.
The word Copia is a Latin root word that means abundance or plenty. It’s an apt name for a winery that is created by two people who have always chased the glass half full.
Located off the beaten path and decidedly unpretentious, an afternoon visit to Bouchaine is a favorite. Their wine is quite good, especially considering the mostly modest bottle prices. Their riesling is crisp and wonderful, perfect for a warm sunny afternoon. Their pinots are excellent. There is a self-guided tour through the vineyards that offers great views of the southern Napa Valley.
This little hidden gem is very easy to miss while whizzing past on Silverado Trail. But don't overlook this one. You won't be disappointed. Some of the best zinfandel and very good cabernet sauvignon. It is a great value wine that will hold its own against some higher priced wines. This is a very small winery with limited production and only offers a few wines. You won't find this in too many stores so you will need to make a trip out there of go on-line. If you call in advance you can get a quick tour around the winery via golf-cart.
Helen and Dave Dart started their dream as home winemakers with a passion for great wines. After winning several awards in that category, they decided to make small lot commercial wines to share with like-minded enthusiasts.
I highly recommend to make an appointment few weeks in advance if going there during weekend. There is only 1 ~ 2 tastings offered per day (except Sunday, closed) for about dozen people, so availability is very limited.
Tasting are FREE.
