The Inspiration Behind Artiste

For Bion Rice, winemaking was more than a family tradition—it was a way to merge two of his greatest passions: wine and art. Growing up immersed in the craft, Bion’s curiosity for blending wines took root early on, fueled by his creative drive. In 2002, he founded Artiste Winery, where he introduced the concept of “Art Inspired Wines,” blending his love for the arts with winemaking in a unique and innovative way.

Meet Bion Rice – Owner and Winemaker

As a fifth-generation winemaker, Bion Rice carries a rich family legacy. His great-great-grandfather worked as a grape grower for renowned Napa Valley wineries in the late 1800s. Bion grew up hearing stories from his grandfather, who fondly recalled his childhood days spent picking grapes on the family’s vineyard. When Bion’s family planted their own 25-acre vineyard in the Santa Ynez Valley in 1990, that legacy continued to flourish.

After years of hands-on experience in the cellar and formal enology training under acclaimed winemaker Daniel Gehrs, Bion was ready to make his mark. In 1997, he produced his first vintage as Head Winemaker at Sunstone Vineyard and Winery in Santa Ynez. But Bion’s vision didn’t stop there—he wanted to blend his artistic side with winemaking. His college background in art and filmmaking inspired him to experiment, and in 1999, he created his first Artiste wine, featuring the artwork of James-Paul Brown on the label. This sparked the idea that would eventually become Artiste Winery.

The Opening of Artiste’s Tasting Studio

In 2003, Artiste’s “Tasting Studio” opened its doors, quickly becoming a favorite among wine lovers with an appreciation for the arts. It wasn’t just a place to taste wine; it was an immersive experience. Visitors could paint on large easels, sketch in art journals, and even take part in wine blending classes. It was where art and wine truly came together.

At the heart of Artiste is Bion’s innovative approach to blending wine. His "Art Inspired Wines" are crafted in response to the emotional and sensory impact of artwork. For Bion, each blend is a translation of a visual experience into a sensory one, creating wines that evoke feelings and memories through their aromas, flavors, and textures. Every wine is treated as a limited-edition masterpiece, never to be replicated, ensuring that each bottle is as unique as the artwork that inspired it.

wine corks and glass - Pixabay

Starr Ranch is a family owned and operated ranch located in the central coast of California specializing in altar, premium wine, group, production. 

Starr Ranch is a family-owned and operated ranch situated on the Central Coast of California, specializing in ultra-premium wine grape production. In addition to wine grapes, the ranch also cultivates walnuts, a variety of fresh fruits, and persimmons.

After an extensive search throughout California, the owners discovered the hills of Adelaida, where they found a ranch with the potential to produce exceptional ultra-premium wine grapes. Like others before them, including Tablas Creek and L'Aventure, they conducted a thorough investigation before choosing Paso Robles as their vineyard home in 2000.

Costa de Oro Winery's mission is to craft the finest wines from the Central Coast by blending the artistry of Old-World winemaking with New-World grape growing practices.

In 1989, Ron Burk and Bob Espinola, owners of Gold Coast Farms, planted the Gold Coast Vineyard. This 30-acre vineyard, featuring Chardonnay and Pinot Noir grapes, is situated on a stunning bluff at Fuglar's Point in the esteemed Santa Maria Valley AVA of Santa Barbara County.

The vineyard began yielding fruit in the early 1990s, with grapes sold to local wineries including Au Bon Climat, Foxen, Lane Tanner, and The Hitching Post. During this period, Gary Burk, Ron Burk's son, formed a friendship with Jim Clendenen of Au Bon Climat. In 1994, Clendenen offered Gary a harvest position at the renowned Au Bon Climat/Qupé Winery, where Gary eventually accepted a full-time role and remained until 2002.

While at Au Bon Climat/Qupé in 1994, Gary produced the first Costa de Oro wines—one barrel each of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Costa de Oro continued to expand each year, reaching 2,500 cases by 2002, when Gary chose to dedicate himself entirely to the winery. Today, Costa de Oro produces 6,500 cases annually and also creates special private labels for clients such as James Beard Award Winner Roy Yamaguchi of Roy’s Restaurants, the Halekulani Hotel on Waikiki Beach, and CF Pinot Noir for Master Sommelier Chuck Furuya of the Sansei Restaurant Group.

The Costa de Oro Tasting Room opened in 2006 at the original location of the Gold Coast Farms' strawberry stand off the 101 Freeway in Santa Maria. Gary and his wife, Teresa Gasca-Burk, manage the tasting room, where visitors can enjoy local live music on weekends. Occasionally, they can even be seen performing with the bands. Guests are invited to savor wine, music, and the relaxed ambiance at Costa de Oro.

Saxum Vineyards focus is primarily with Grenach, Syrah and Mourverdre based blends from the Templeton Gap/Willow Creek area of Paso Robles, California. This Central Coast Winery produces 3,000 to 4,000 cases a year from these winegrapes.