Ancient Peaks Winery Vineyard stands alone as the southernmost vineyard in the Paso Robles region, tucked beneath the peaks of the Santa Lucia Mountains just 14 miles from the Pacific Ocean. Here, the vines unfold along a rare array of soils amid one of the region’s coolest growing environments. The resulting wines express an unmistakable sense of place, with balanced structure and flavors that are native to Margarita Vineyard.
Painting by Wine Artist Agata Zaborowski
Al Scheid set his roots in Monterey County in 1972. Al has said if he had every planned to build a family winery it never would have happened. Instead, by his entrepreneurial spirit, skills at building relationships and a lot of hard work today it has become just that. Enjoy the passion and heart in this wineries wines.
Claiborne & Churchill is a small, premium family-owned winery located in the Edna Valley of San Luis Obispo. Founded in 1983 by Claiborne (Clay) Thompson and Fredericka Churchill Thompson, former University of Michigan teachers, the couple transitioned from academia to the vineyards of California in 1981 to pursue a new life in the wine industry.
With its first crush, Claiborne & Churchill announced its special focus by producing 565 cases of Dry Riesling and Dry Gewürztraminer, inspired by the fruity but dry dinner wines of the French province of Alsace. Today, Claiborne & Churchill produces about 8,000 cases of wine each year, sourcing grapes from vineyards in the cool maritime valleys of California’s Central Coast and its own small estate vineyards.
River Star Vineyards consist of approximately 80 acres, family owned and operated. River Star is dedicated and committed to providing top wineries throughout California that purchase their superlative fruit. In the late 1990’s, the decision was made to transform the River Star facility and begin producing wines in addition to growing their top-quality vineyards. The 2001 Syrah was their debut red. Additional production of Merlot, Sauvignon Blanc and Cabernet Sauvignon varietals completes the portfolio of initial offerings for the River Star family of wines. At River Star not only realize that it takes great fruit to make great wine, they grow those winegrapes themselves.
Hours:
Mon 11:00am to 5:00pm
Tues CLOSED
Wed CLOSED
Thur 11:00am to 5:00pm
Fri 11:00am to 5:00pm
Sat 11:00am to 5:00pm
Sun 11:00am to 5:00pm
Mon 11:00am to 5:00pm
Seven Angels Cellars, a charming family-owned boutique winery nestled in the heart of Paso Robles, California! This delightful winery kicked off its winemaking journey in 2009 with a small batch of Petite Sirah and has since expanded to produce around 3,000 cases a year. At the helm is Greg Martin, the passionate owner and winemaker, while Pamela Martin expertly manages social media, food pairings, wine clubs, events, and their website. The name “Seven Angels” is a heartfelt tribute to their blended family, which includes seven wonderful children.
Greg’s love for wine began in rural California, where he spent his childhood learning the ins and outs of winemaking from his neighbor, who grew grapes. His passion continued during his time in the US Coast Guard, stationed in the Bay Area, where he had easy access to the fabulous wineries of Sonoma and Napa. Pamela, on the other hand, hails from a family of foodies and wine lovers. With a background in winemaking courses and experience as a home economist on a cooking show, she’s developed an obsession for pairing food and wine to create delightful culinary experiences.
Married in 2008, the couple dove into winemaking the following year. Specializing in Rhône blends and single varietals, Greg is hands-on in every step of the process, from vineyard to bottle, while Pamela brings her expert palate to the blending process.
Seven Angels Cellars has made quite a name for itself, with many of their wines earning impressive ratings in the 90s from Wine Enthusiast, along with numerous gold medals at California and international wine competitions. Recently, their 2024 Orange County Wine Society and Central Coast Wine competition recognized their new whites, awarding gold medals to the 2023 Chardonnay, 2021 Estate Chardonnay, and 2022 Viognier. The accolades continue with a Double Gold for the 2019 Merlot and gold medals for the 2019 Chosen One, Petite Sirah, Mourvèdre, and Syrah.
The winemaking philosophy at Seven Angels is simple: “less is best.” They focus on minimal manipulation and embrace natural methods, with Greg experimenting with different types of oak in their barrel program. Their wines are designed to be food-friendly and approachable, both in flavor and price.
Still water is a hidden gem in Paso Robles and those that greet you make you feel welcomed. The wines were excellent! Grounds are beautiful. Paul the owner was nice, very knowledgeable and ready to help us enjoy our visit. This is a small winery were you will likely have a chance to deal one on one with the people making the wines. A little off the beaten path, but well worth it.
Arnaud and Guillaume Fabre moved to California for love. For Guillaume, it was his passion for winemaking and farming without limits that brought him to Paso Robles. This love led him to one of the most prestigious wineries in Paso Robles,
Meet Arnaud and Guillaume Fabre, two brothers from France whose passion for winemaking is deeply rooted in their heritage. Their journey to California was sparked by love—Guillaume's ardor for winemaking and limitless farming led him to the picturesque Paso Robles, where he initially joined one of the region’s most esteemed wineries, L’Aventure, before launching his own venture, Clos Solène.
Arnaud's tale is equally captivating, reminiscent of a romantic film. His move to California was driven by his love for Chloe, leading the brothers—Les Deux Frères Fabre—to settle in the heart of Paso Robles.
But the story doesn’t end there. The Fabre brothers invite wine lovers to discover the intriguing chapters of their journey for themselves. With a deep respect for their family legacy spanning six generations in the Languedoc-Roussillon and Bordeaux regions, their winery, BENOM, beautifully marries the freedom of winemaking in Paso Robles with the exceptional talent inherent in the Fabre lineage.
Painting by Wine Artist Agata Zaborowski - people enjoying wine
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.
Today, James Ontiveros represents the ninth generation of the Alta California Ontiveros family, continuing the tradition of farming in the same valley that his ancestors have cherished for centuries. For wine lovers who enjoy California wines and visit its wineries, the wines crafted here tell a compelling story about the resilience of truth, the people, and the land itself. In the face of a cold, windswept coastal desert, the vines stretch deep into the earth, seeking water and nutrients from the depleted soil. Coupled with intentional farming practices in the cool Mediterranean climate, Santa Maria produces exceptional raw materials for winemaking. The singular goal at Ranchos de Ontiveros is to create wines as complex and rich as the story of their heritage.
Good wines, friendly owners, fun animals. A field full of alpacas greets you as you enter Oso Libre. The husband and wife owners were absolute gems, but let's face it, unfriendly people simply don't own alpacas. They shared a lot of interesting info about the winery and animals which made for an entertaining conversation. The wines were tasty and the term “wine farm” setting of Oso Libre is a great experience.
