Central Coast

Central Coast

Bon Niche Cellars

Painting by Wine Artist Agata Zaborowski

Melani, Owner & Winemaker
Melani’s love of wine started when she was a Navy nurse stationed in Naples, Italy, in 2009.  While living in Italy, she traveled throughout Europe and gathered wines along the way, creating an impressive collection. She fell in love with the way wine brought people together. Over the next 10 years, she hosted wine gatherings, taught and took classes, and took an informal but fun approach to learning about wine.

In 2017, Melani began volunteering at the Tackitt Family Vineyards for a Warrior Helping Warriors fundraiser, where she fell further in love with the winemaking process, the people, and Paso Robles.  She offered to assist the Tackitts at their events and started to learn more about the intricacies of winemaking and viticulture under the tutelage of Leon Tackitt- this is where she realized her dream of owning a winery.  Melani knows the importance of the translation of the Bon Niche name- “a good place.”  Through the years, she has come to realize that life is about enjoying the people, the place, and the moment.  Wine has brought many people, places, and special moments to life for Melani, and her dream is to create a very good place with great wine.

Meridian Vineyards

clusters of grapes in vineyard

Meridian is the leading winery in California's Central Cost, yielding exceptional varietals including Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Pinot Noir, Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Grigio. Website was under being worked on at the time of this post.

Cinquain Cellars

Painting by Agata Zaborowski - Woman enjoying wine

Ciento Cellars is a charming boutique winery with an incredibly small yet dedicated team: Dave, Tonia, Jake, and their beloved dog, Oakley! While they may be few in number, the beauty of their wines and the quality of their fruit are the results of a collaborative effort that extends far beyond their small crew.

At the heart of their success are the tireless vineyard crews led by second-generation grape growers Mia and Juan Nevarez, whose hard work nurtures the vines that produce Ciento's exceptional grapes. Equally important are the mentors, teachers, and friends from the vibrant Paso Robles community, whose wisdom and support have shaped their winemaking journey.

And let’s not forget the families and friends whose love and encouragement fuel their passion for winemaking year-round. Ciento Cellars’ estate vineyard spans 14.4 acres, nestled between 1,200 and 1,400 feet above sea level. Here, gently rolling terrain meets steep hillsides, creating a diverse landscape that enhances the complexity of their wines.

The vineyard's soils are rich in calcareous limestone shale, characteristic of Paso Robles' westside terroir. With just the right amount of clay to retain moisture and loamy soils that provide essential nutrients, the ground is perfectly suited for growing premium grapes. Wine lovers are invited to visit the tasting room and check out samples of the limestone shale that contributes to the unique character of their wines!

Most of Ciento's estate vineyard was planted in the spring of 2019, with the Cinsault and Petit Verdot blocks added in 2021. As these blocks come into production in 2024, the team is thrilled to introduce new, intriguing components to their wine portfolio. The Viognier block, situated just below the tasting patio, was planted in 2023, so it will be a couple of years before this block begins to yield fruit.

For those seeking an intimate wine experience filled with passion and community spirit, Ciento Cellars is a must-visit destination in Paso Robles!

Adelaida Vineyards

people enjoying wine - wine artist Agata Zaborowski

You will find in the picturesque rolling foothills of the Santa Lucia Mountains near Paso Robles, California, lies a contemporary gem of a winery owned by the Hoffman family. Operated by Dr. Stanley Hoffman and his two sons, David and Michael, this idyllic winery boasts 12-year-old vineyards perched at elevations of 1,400 to 1,800 feet, all dedicated to producing premium estate-bottled wines.

The story of this remarkable winery dates back to 1964 when Dr. Hoffman first planted French varietals like Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Cabernet Sauvignon. He discovered that the unique climate, terrain, and chalky, lime-rich soil of his Central Coast ranch closely resembled the renowned viticulture regions of France.

In 1973, Dr. and Mrs. Hoffman made the bold move from Southern California to Paso Robles, setting out to create a winery focused solely on estate-bottled premium wines. That same year, they welcomed the legendary Andre Tchelistcheff, the “dean of California Winemasters,” as a consultant. With Andre’s expert guidance, the Hoffman brothers began crafting wines that soon garnered prestigious accolades, including a gold medal at an international wine competition in London in 1975.

Tchelistcheff praised the Hoffmans, noting, “Love, devotion, and self-sacrifice are rare in this day but essential for making great wines,” and he believed the Hoffman brothers embodied these qualities. He also referred to HMR Vineyards as “a jewel of ecological elements,” predicting that some of the best white and red Burgundies would emerge from this exceptional region.

For those who adore California wines, the Hoffman family's commitment to quality and their stunning vineyard is a true treasure waiting to be explored!

Ecluse Wines

painting of people enjoying wine outside - wine artist Agata Zamobowski

Écluse Wines and Lock Vineyard, created by Steve and Pam Lock, is a small, family-owned boutique winery producing estate wines from their Lock Vineyard. In 1997, they purchased 30 acres of gently rolling hillside terrain on the highly sought-after Westside of Paso Robles. The Locks are dedicated to producing limited-production, handcrafted, award-winning wines.

From the start, their philosophy has been that great fruit makes great wine. Owning their own winery onsite allows them the added benefit of picking and crushing small lots throughout the vineyard when the fruit has reached its peak flavors. This control from vineyard to bottle ensures that Écluse wines remain truly remarkable.

A frequently asked question is the origin of the name Écluse. Écluse is the French word for the locks on the canals that gently carve their way through the French countryside. Having enjoyed several beautiful barge trips in France, and with their last name being Lock, the name Écluse for their wines was a natural choice. Their label depicts an “écluse” from a photo taken while traveling down the canals through an actual lock in France.

Jada Vineyard

grape clusters

Jade Vineyard & Winery is a premium, all-estate producer of Rhone and Bordeaux wines on the West-side of Paso Robles, CA.

Jada Vineyard came into being in 1999 when fields of golden barley were planted over to grapevine by the Messinas, second-generation Italian immigrants from Brooklyn, NY who traveled to Paso Robles as one of the pioneering families of the Westside. Their ambition was to establish a small, sustainable estate vineyard that would produce world-class Rhônes and Bordeauxs. By 2005, Jack Messina, the original founder, had named his 55-acre estate, Jada. Today, the Riboli Family, from Piedmont, Italy, continues this pioneering tradition and ambition to produce only the best organically farmed, estate wines.

Zenaida Cellars

grape cluster - ai generated - Pixabay

It all started back in 1988 when Eric’s parents purchased the land where the winery and vineyard sit today. Eric was still attending Cal Poly earning his BS in Ecology and Systematic Biology at the time but helped his dad by designing and planting the vineyard. After getting the vineyard planted and producing, Eric began to expand his wine knowledge. Biologist as his day job, Eric went back to school, attending UC Davis’s enology extension courses. Eventually, landing his first wine job with Ken Volk at Wild Horse Winery in Templeton and then moving into a position with Kendal-Jackson Winery. Eventually in 1998, Eric made the first official vintage of Zenaida Cellars and has been working on developing the wines ever since.

Cheateau Margene

Cluster of grapes - Pixabay

Atop the rolling hills just outside Creston, Michael & Margene Mooney began the fulfillment of their dream to plant a vineyard, build a winery and establish their home. The family took up residence on the property in the Summer of 1998 and planted the 5.5 acre estate vineyard in the Fall of 1998. Chateau Margene’s first wine was their 1997 Paso Robles Cabernet Sauvignon, with grapes sourced from a vineyard in Paso Robles’ west side Templeton Gap area and another vineyard off Airport Road in east Paso Robles. The first wines off the estate were the 2001 Cabernet Sauvignon and 2001 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon. The 2006 GSM & 2007 GSM both sold out very quickly at the two tasting rooms, as did the 2007 Syrah & 2008 Mourvedre. After producing Pinot Noirs from Paso Robles from 2002 to 2007, Michael and Margene researched the cooler weather climates of California and chose to acquire grapes from Monterey County for their Santa Lucia Highlands Pinot Noir. The 2008 and 2009’s both sold out immediately. Chateau Margene at Limerock Orchards Tasting Room hours: Daily from 11:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. (except major holidays) 6996 Peachy Canyon Road (Corner of Vineyard Drive & Peachy Canyon Road) Paso Robles, CA

Clavo Cellars

corks and wine glass - Pixabay

If you appreciate handcrafted Californian wines made in an honest 'Old World' style, welcome to Clavo Cellars. It's great to have you with us.Clavo Cellars is the winemaking project of respected Central Coast viticulturist Neil Roberts. A pioneer of regenerative vineyard farming, Neil's wines exemplify boutique production. Crafted with an expert light touch from premium grapes, Clavo Cellars wines are perfect expressions of the vineyard and terroir that nurtured them.

Whether you enjoy Clavo Cellars wines at home, in a restaurant, or in the Templeton tasting room, you will taste the time, care, and attention that goes into each bottle. The grapes are sourced from vineyards known and managed by Neil, and picked only when they are ready. This ensures that Clavo Cellars wines tell a story not just of their place, but of their time as well.

Le Cuvier Winery

Corks in a wine glass - Pixabay

Shortly after John Munch moved to Paso Robles in 1978, he acquired a bond to build a winery at his home property. Located at 3333 Vine Hill Lane, this served as the original bonded site of Adelaida Cellars, which John founded in 1981. He and his partners subsequently settled on a vineyard and winery site further west, but the bond remained intact, as did John’s dream of someday building a winery there…
 

Please call our tasting room if you do not see the time or experience you would like to book.  We are in the office daily from 11 to 5 to assist you with your reservation. We may be able to accomodate you!    805-238-5706

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