Central Coast

Central Coast

Vihuela Winery

grape cluster - Pixabay

Several years ago Matt and his wife would travel to the Central Coast to enjoy the rolling hills, the laid-back attitude and of course, the wines. Through the years Matt developed a greater thirst for the Central Coast and it's wines than any weekend trip could quench. Following his heart, he enrolled into Fresno State's Enology program and next thing he knew he had graduated and was working for the likes of Geyser Peak and Rudd in Napa Valley. After several years of saving and searching, he found just the right property for a small vineyard in Templeton, California.

J. Wilkes

cluster of white wine grapes - Pixabay

In 2001, Jeff decided to venture out with the goal of making world class wines. Initially, he limited his production to Pinot Noir from Bien Nacido in 2003, he expanded his horizons a bit and added Pinot Noir from Solomon Hills Vineyards in the Santa Maria Valley. Jeff also wanted to produce a white wine so he added a Pinot Blanc from Bien Nacido in 2004 and a Bien Nacido Chardonnay in 2008. Jeff tragically passed away in 2010 just as he was coming into his prime as a winemaker. Remembered as a friend, co-worker, and extraordinary winemaker, the Miller Family, owners of Bien Nacido and Solomon Hills Vineyards, purchased the J. Wilkes wine label with the intent of paying tribute to all of Jeff's accomplishments and continuing his legacy of making outstanding wines from the Santa Maria Valley.

Alta Colina Vineyards & Winery

people enjoying wine together - wine artist Agata Zaborowski

In 2003, after 35 years as an engineer by day, and a home winemaker by night, Bob Tillman found the 130-acre parcel in Paso Robles' Adelaida District that would become Alta Colina Vineyard. The 31 planted acres and 8 Rhone varieties that make up Alta Colina Vineyard hit the dirt in 2005 and his daughter, Maggie Tillman, came on in 2008 to help in the efforts. With a complete focus on estate-grown Rhones, Bob crafts about 2,000 cases a year and continues to sell the remainder of the fruit to other great Rhone winemakers throughout the Central Coast. Quality, legacy, and love of the land are Bob's signature.

Cairjn Wine Cellars

Painting by Agata Zaborowski - woman and her cats and a glass of wine

Derived from the word, "cairn" means "a heap of stones piled up as a memorial or as a landmark." Our founder, Andy Neja, chose this name as a tribute to his family's farming legacy and as a nod to the limestone-rich terrain of West Paso, where our vineyards are located. It requires hard work and dedication to make wine, and at Cairjn, we have a deep respect for the men and women who work tirelessly to bring each vintage to fruition. 

Now producing 500 cases annually the winery's portfolio of wines reflects their commitment to quality and sustainability. Our dream is to provide their customers with a truly unique wine experience. Join Andy Neja, Winemaker & Founder as he builds a landmark winery. 

Painting courtesy of Wine Artist Agata Zaborowski - woman and her cats and a glass of wine

Herman Story Wines

person standing in front of winery

Russel From releases is limited production wines twice a year in the spring and in the fall. All wines are allocated via a membership list or by dropping in to the tasting room which is open Thursday through Monday.

Rocky Creek Cellars

glass of wine - Pixabay

Drive out on Highway 46 for a bit and you will find tucked away Rocky Creek Cellars. Rocky Creek is a homey little tasting room with the charm of a rustic cabin. The folks that run this place, like most of the wineries and tasting rooms in the area, are a family, so you can tell a certain amount of personal flair and attention has been put into everything right down to the tasty crackers they serve with their flights.

Phelan Vineyards

barrel room - Pixabay

Phelan Farm embodies the lessons learned from a life dedicated to wine and the vision of a vineyard deeply connected with nature. Situated at the far edge of the continent, the cooling influence of the Pacific Ocean shapes the farm's philosophy and sharpens its purpose. The farm envisions a future where wine is not only a gift to humankind but also to the earth itself. With humility, Phelan Farm strives to inspire, just as it has been inspired. Visitors are invited to be part of this journey.

Tablas Creek Vineyards

grape cluster - ai generated - Pixabay

Tablas Creek’s 270-acre estate vineyard, rich in limestone, is nestled in the heart of the Adelaida District, within the hills north and west of Paso Robles, approximately 11 miles from the Pacific Ocean. Their approach to viticulture centers on quality, using dry-farming techniques and maintaining moderate crop levels. Since 2003, the vineyard has held organic certification, underscoring a commitment to sustainable practices.

Beginning in 2010, Tablas Creek integrated various Biodynamic methods throughout the estate, which include the use of a mobile herd of sheep and alpacas. This holistic approach aims to capture the unique character of the vineyard’s terroir, yielding grapes of intensity and depth. The estate achieved its Biodynamic certification in 2017.

Tablas Creek views regenerative agriculture as a vital approach to addressing global climate and resource challenges. In pursuit of this mission, they became the first vineyard globally to receive the Regenerative Organic Certified® designation in 2020 and the first Regenerative Organic Certified® Gold vineyard in 2022.

Byron Wines

glass of wine

Since 1984, Byron Winery has cultivaed an obsession for crafting site-specific Pinot Noir from distictive vineyards in the Santa Maria Valley and Santa Rita Hills appellations. At the time of this winery's listing their wines are available by allocation only. You can contact Byron WInery by going to their website and signing up.

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.

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