Central Coast

Central Coast

Stolo Family Vineyards

red wine splashing in the glass

Don and Charlene Stolo purchased 53 acres of property to call home, located just east of Cambria CA. The coastal property had an existing 9 acre vineyard planted to Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Syrah. Soon after their purchase, they were faced with the following choice: continue to sell the high in demand coastal grapes to local winemakers, or produce their own wine.n 2004, with the help of their three children and neighbors, Don and Charlene harvested their first vintage from Stolo Family Vineyard. They bottled 176 cases and officially became part of the wine industry.

Stephen Ross Wine Cellars

grape cluster

Stephen Ross's story begins with the "Stephen Ross Dooley wine story" in Minnesota, where in my teenage years curiosity in wine led Stephen to make rhubarb and apple wines in the family basement…

Things progressed on a nice upward trajectory from that point. Curiosity evolved into a passion for winemaking, which led to a degree in Enology from The University of California, Davis;  then 10 years of winemaking (all vinifera from here on out, thankfully) in the Napa Valley, two southern hemisphere harvests, and seven years in the Edna Valley before launching his brand, Stephen Ross.  Paula joined the team soon after Stephen hired their first employee in 2005. A companion brand, Flying Cloud, was launched in 2003. 

Stephen Ross was founded on the principles of working with quality vineyards and hand-crafting the best wines possible from the grapes they yield. 

Cottonwood Canyon

glass of wine

Cottonwood Canyon Vineyard & Winery is a boutique winery known for its handcrafted Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Syrah. Established in 1988 by the Beko family, the winery is situated in Santa Maria Valley, on the northern edge of the Foxen Canyon Wine Trail within Santa Barbara County's wine country. Visitors are welcome to explore the 78-acre estate and sample the distinctively different, age-worthy wines produced there.

The key to crafting these unique, age-worthy wines lies in both the vineyard and the wine caves. The fruit is hand-harvested when it reaches slight tropical flavors, typically around 24 brix. The naturally high acidity of the fruit allows lees to remain in contact with the wine until bottling, enhancing flavor extraction while maintaining a balanced interplay between fruit, oak, and acidity.

The combination of the fruit's inherent high acidity and the controlled conditions of the wine caves results in wines with exceptional longevity. These wines evolve gradually over many years and achieve near perfection when aged between 8 to 12 years.

Vina Robles

wine corks and glass - Pixabay

With 25 years of farming experience in the region, we take a ground up approach to quality, integrating it into every aspect of wine production, from our six SIP Certified sustainable vineyards to our premium hospitality offerings. Vina Robles Vineyards & Winery is built upon the core values of sustainability, hospitality, and quality.

Beckmen Vineyards

pouring a glass of wine - Pixabay

In a world where wines are marketed with flashy labels and endless award stickers, Beckmen Vineyards stands proudly apart, grounded in traditional family values and a commitment to authenticity. Here, wine lovers can forget the "paradox of choice" and enjoy the comfort of wines that genuinely reflect their origins.

Nestled in the heart of Santa Ynez Valley, Beckmen Vineyards became Santa Barbara County’s first biodynamically farmed vineyard. Rather than chasing trends, they focus on what truly matters—cultivating exceptional grapes. The result? A lineup of critically acclaimed Rhône-style wines enjoyed in prestigious restaurants and homes nationwide, even making its way to the White House.

For California wine lovers, Beckmen’s portfolio offers a reliable, genuine experience every time, celebrating the valley's unique terroir with every sip.

Dracaena Wines

bottle of Dracaena wine

Mike and Lori Budd have loved wine for a long time now, and have made wine for several vintages. The couple began with one of those “make wine with us” type places. Mike and Lori didn’t know where the grapes were from, other than Lodi, California. They graduated to a more serious operation with both their fruit and winery in Paso Robles, CA. The couple has had rave reviews from their friends and colleagues that had tried their wines. The winemaking couple have dreamed of retiring to California and have purchased property in Arroyo Grande to fulfill this dream. Now onto the “what are we going to do when we get there” aspect of their lives. So enter Dracaena Wines. Yes, it is a little strange name but there is a story behind it. You can check it out on their winery's website. Dracaena Wines produces some very fine Cabernet Franc wines. At this time you can order wines or make an appointment to tour and taste their wines right in the vineyard. 

Mitchella Vineyard & Winery

In the eighties, after indulging in a fair amount of White Zinfandel, Angela and Darren Mitchell were converted by a bottle of 1987 Eberle Cabernet Sauvignon, sparking their passionate quest for fine red wine. By 1993, Darren, frustrated by the high costs of their new hobby, decided to take a winemaking class taught by local Zinfandel legend Charles Poalillo at Cuesta Community College. What began as a cost-saving measure evolved into a deeper pursuit of wine knowledge and production, leading to more classes at institutions such as UC Davis, Allan Hancock, Aspen School of Wine, Copia, and Cal Poly, as well as investments in equipment and supplies. Ultimately, this journey returned Darren to his farming roots with the establishment of their own vineyard.

In 1997, seeking greater control over the quality of their grapes, the couple planted their first crops: 10 acres of Cabernet Sauvignon and 10 acres of Syrah on the hilltop overlooking the old adobe farmhouse where Darren had grown up. They realized that to give the grapes the attention they deserved, they needed to move onto the property. What was intended to be a temporary two-year stay turned into a nearly nine-year adventure, culminating in the construction of the home and tasting room that exists today. Since then, their passionate endeavor has involved updating, cultivating, and nurturing the vineyard, producing small lots of truly handcrafted wines, and enjoying the fruits of their labor with friends, family, and customers.

Located just off Highway 46 East behind Robert Hall Winery, this family-owned estate winery features a rustic, Tuscan-style tasting room that extends from the main house. Visitors can enjoy award-winning estate wines in a welcoming, elegant, and relaxing atmosphere. Whether you choose to taste inside the tasting room, outside on the patio by the fountain, or within the enclosed patio, you will be treated to continuous views of the vineyard throughout your experience. It's an ideal spot for a picnic paired with a bottle of Mitchella wine. Additionally, a selection of non-alcoholic beverages, cheeses, crackers, and other small edibles are available for purchase.

River Bench Vineyard & Winery

cluster of grapes - Pixabay

Riverbench Vineyard was established in 1973, when the first Chardonnay and Pinot Noir grapes were planted along the bank of the Sisquoc River, known as the Santa Maria Bench. For decades, some of the most renowned wineries have purchased its fruit for their wines. In 2006, Riverbench began producing its own wines in limited quantities, with many available exclusively through its wine club and tasting rooms in Santa Maria and Santa Barbara, California.

Tolo Celars

Pouring wine - Pixabay

Way out along the Adelaida Road stands a little red farmhouse, home to Tolo Cellars. Josh Gibson, proprietor and winemaker, offers a sumptuous array of wines including Zinfandel, Cabernet Sauvignon, Tempranillo, Barbera, and exotic Rhone Blends all sourced from vineyards tucked away in the rustic hills, where once frolicked the pioneers of the Adelaide Township.

This historically adventures area, marked by rugged terrain, offers ideal hillside conditions for vines bearing hardy and distinctive wine grapes.

Josh's goals in winemaking is to allow these vineyards, each with its own "flora and fauna" to express themselves in a glorious harmony. Thus, all his wines are fermented on native yeast, allowing the robust and wild flavors of the vines to exude in the wines. The results are libations of uncommon depth and mysterious character - much like the surrounding hillsides.

Josh opened his tasting room in 2005, though he was well-versed in the Far Out lifestyle long before that. As assistant winemaker at Le Cuvier for several years, Josh learned the tricks of crafting high quality wines in small lots, limiting production to just around 1,200 cases.

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