Central Coast

Central Coast

Bassetti Vineyards

red wine being poured into a glass - Pixabay

Neil Bassetti Vineyards is a family owned company that brings you the boldest and richest wine traditions of California. Neil Bassetti Vineyards has a long history dating back to 1958 where Neil Bassetti started in the farming business of the Central Coast area. Today and every day Neil tends to the vineyards personally to ensure constant attention to the vineyard to maintain a generous annual yield. He still continues to follow family traditions. There's always plenty of food to eat after a long day's hard work. Whether it may be a celebration or family dinner, Neil preaches to bestow a bottle of wine as the salvation for anything and everything. Whether it be over dinner, a gift, or a toast at a very special occasion, we hope you enjoy a glass as much as we do. You have only so many bottles in your life, never drink a bad one.

Alapay Cellars

bottle of Alapay's Cab Sauvignon

Alapay owners Scott and Rebecca Remmenga are passionate about their wines and giving each customer personalized attention within an approachable, relaxing, non-intimidating setting. Alapay does not distribute to wholesalers, restaurants or wine shops, so you will only find these special wines in their seaside wine cellar. They pride themselves on being part of the total wine production process and being "hands-on winemakers".

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. 

Pianetta Winery

cluster of grapes - Pixabay

Pianetta winery is located on the vineyard, fourteen miles north of the downtown Paso Robles tasting room. The majority of the grapes harvested are sold to a major premium winery. Their success with Pianetta Estate grapes as well as their encouragement inspired Pianetta to develop a small winery so as to identify the wine from this vineyard.  
The first vintage yielded 370 cases of 2002 Estate Cabernet Sauvignon.  Since then, Pianetta has grown to a 2700 case production and added Shiraz, Syrah, a Syrah/Cabernet blend, and a Rose style wine to their Estate wines, as well as Sangiovese, Petite Syrah, Zinfandel, and a Tuscan style blend from the Paso Robles appellation. 

Buttonwood Farm Winery & Vineyard

Clusters of Chardonnay by photographer Randy Caparoso

Craddled in the breathtaking Santa Ynez Valley of Santa Barbara County, Buttonwood Farm & Vineyard is a true hidden gem for wine enthusiasts. This charming spot began its journey with a commitment to sustainable farming practices, nurturing a harmonious relationship between people, animals, and the earth. It all started with horses, then blossomed into an organic vegetable farm, and finally evolved into a flourishing vineyard.

Today, Buttonwood boasts a sun-kissed 42-acre vineyard on the eastern side of its 107-acre property. Since planting its first vines in 1983, the farm has lovingly tended to 38,000 vines—small in the vast wine world but monumental to their passionate team. The tasting room, surrounded by the vibrant bounty of their working farm, is a feast for the senses, featuring a delightful array of olives, pomegranates, peonies, herbs, vegetables, and, of course, their beloved peaches!

Over the years, Buttonwood has embraced change and innovation, grafting some of their original vines to introduce exciting new varietals. Among the standout additions are the Rhône varieties of Syrah, Grenache Noir, and Grenache Blanc, alongside the rich Malbec that complements their red Bordeaux lineup. They’ve also enhanced their white offerings with the Musque clone of Sauvignon Blanc, adding layers of complexity and aromatic charm. And in 2017, they planted a bit of Chenin Blanc—because let’s face it, outside of the Loire Valley, Santa Barbara County is simply the best place to grow this delightful grape.

For those looking for a unique wine experience, Buttonwood Farm & Vineyard is a must-visit, where sustainable farming meets exceptional wines in the heart of California's wine country. Cheers to the adventures waiting at Buttonwood!

Eberle Winery

bottle and glasses of wine with chateau in background - Pixabay

Eberle Winery is a family-owned producer and marketer of premium wines, including offerings from the Eberle Estate, single varieties, and designated vineyards. Since 1979, Eberle wines have highlighted the history and diverse flavors of the Paso Robles Appellation.

Gary Eberle, who grew up in a small town in Pennsylvania, attended Penn State University on a football scholarship. After earning a Bachelor of Science in biology, he continued his studies at Louisiana State University (LSU), focusing on cellular genetics. During his time at LSU, Gary developed an appreciation for wine, which led him to shift his academic focus towards winemaking.

Gary began his winemaking career and became known as a “Pioneer” of the Paso Robles Wine Region by helping establish his family's Estrella River Winery & Vineyards. In the late 1970s, he decided to embark on his own venture and acquired nearly 64 acres of land near Estrella River Winery. Soon after, Gary released his first Eberle wine, a 1979 Cabernet Sauvignon, which featured the iconic boar logo. This logo symbolizes the German origin of the name Eberle, meaning “small boar.”

The staff were super friendly and I think the owner was hanging out outside drinking wine with his show dogs running around. Modern vineyard that has literally everything! From Bocce Ball, Cave Tours, Private Tasting, and to holiday themed events, they have it all. The cave tour and flight of wine was complimentary and exquisite. Their Cotes du Robles Blanc white honeysuckle and candied ginger, tingled delightfully as an opening for the palate. Their Red Barbera gold medal with tones of raspberry. Their Reserve estate Cabernet Sauvignon Cassis (black currant), was clean and smooth.

Lone Madrone Winery

wine grapes

The year was 1996. A young man named Neil Collins embarked on a journey at The Carver vineyard, producing the inaugural vintage of Lone Madrone, named after the solitary tree that stands watch over the vineyard. He was not alone in this venture; from the start, Neil's wife Marci and sister Jackie provided unwavering support and encouragement. Initially, there was no intention of this becoming more than a young winemaker’s hobby, something separate from his day job. However, things did not turn out that way.

Lone Madrone grew, slowly but surely. The philosophy remained consistent: each wine should be unique, with its distinctiveness derived from where the fruit was grown, how it was grown, and who grew it. Over time, they added more vineyards, focusing on the dramatic hills of West Paso Robles. The soil, the climate, the proximity to the great Pacific Ocean and its profound influence, and the people who chose to farm grapes in this beautiful but challenging land—all these factors played a role in their evolutionary choices. They chose to focus on dry-farmed vineyards, believing this method offers “the purest expression” of any given piece of land. This world-class terroir, once a hidden gem, has now gained broader recognition.

Windward Vineyard

glass of red wine

Pinot Noir is the driving passion of Marc Goldberg and Maggie D'Ambrosia, the husband and wife team who own Windward Vineyard. This vineyard is exclusively devoted to producing Burgundian-style Pinot Noir, reflecting the couple's deep commitment to creating a "Great American Pinot Noir" that can rival those from Burgundy.

Marc and Maggie acquired and planted the vineyard in 1989, drawn by the terroir and microclimate of Paso Robles' Westside. The unique combination of cooling Pacific breezes, calcareous soil, and a significant daily temperature drop of 50 degrees contributes to the production of exceptional Pinot Noir.

Embracing the Burgundian French concept of "Monopole," which signifies total control over both the vineyard and the winemaking process, the 15-acre property is planted with four notable French clones.

Windward Vineyard aims to re-establish Paso Robles' reputation for Pinot Noir, following in the footsteps of two influential figures in California wine history. In the late 1960s, consultant André Tchelistcheff managed the Paso Robles Hoffman Mountain Ranch property for Dr. Stanley Hoffman. During the 1970s, Hoffman's Pinot Noirs gained international acclaim and continued to impress even after 20 years.

Since their debut in 1995, each vintage from Windward Vineyard has been sold out and received significant acclaim, particularly from wine enthusiasts who value the layered complexity of Burgundian-style Pinot Noir. Marc notes, "The vineyard consistently produces formidable fruit. It is meeting our expectations as it matures and develops its intricate complexity."

Al Lago Wines

people enjoying wine outdoors - wine artist Agata Zaborowski

Blair Allan and Simone Lagomarsino after many trips to Napa, Sonoma, and Europe, planted a vineyard to bridge their European heritage with the new world of winemaking to create remarkable wines with unique character and flavor.  They planted varietals proven to grow well in the area.  Among these were Sangiovese, Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon and three different clones of Pinot Noir, and thus, Al Lago Wines was born.  In 2014, they proudly partnered with winemaker Guillaume Fabre who further enhanced the exceptional quality of the vineyard.  Each vine is carefully tended, hand-pruned, and picked to guarantee wines of the highest quality.
 

Saucelito Canyon Vineyards

cluster of grapes

Discover the Rich Heritage of Saucelito Canyon Vineyard

Nestled in the picturesque hills just five miles east of Arroyo Grande, Saucelito Canyon Vineyard invites California wine lovers to explore its storied legacy. Established in 1880, this vineyard faced abandonment during Prohibition, only to be lovingly revived in 1974 by visionary Bill Greenough, who poured his heart and soul into restoring these historic vines.

As you journey along the winding roads past Lopez Lake and deeper into the serene canyon, you’ll be greeted by a charming Zinfandel vineyard that has flourished amidst the chaparral for over 130 years. Once a pioneer of the Central Coast’s wine scene, this hidden gem has reclaimed its place in California's rich viticultural tapestry.

Bill Greenough saw potential in the gnarled, overgrown vines, and his intuition bore fruit—literally! Today, Saucelito Canyon Vineyard is celebrated for its exceptional Zinfandel, crafted with a deep respect for tradition.

This family-owned winery is now a labor of love spanning two generations, dedicated to producing a diverse range of limited-production wines. Join us in savoring the unique character of our estate-grown Zinfandels, each bottle a testament to our vineyard's remarkable journey and the passion that continues to drive us forward. Come and taste the history!

Saucelito specializes in Zinfandel, and has some really nice ones. Great place to enjoy a picnic and a bottle of wine. The history of Zin presentation on the outside wall should not be missed by lovers of the grape.

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