About Toogood Estate Winery

In December 2019, Toogood Estate Winery was purchased by the Ron and Darin Mittelstaedt family from El Dorado Hills. Their sons, Bradley and Timothy, along with Tim’s fiancé Kayla, are involved in the daily operations, each contributing their unique skill sets to the winery. The family is supported by a dedicated staff that has previously provided excellent wine knowledge and expertise. Their daughter, Haley, plans to join the team after completing her studies in Texas. Ron and Darin can be found on-site most weekends, assisting with various operations.

With years of experience in diverse business sectors, Ron and Darin are excited to help Toogood Estate Wines grow and flourish. Plans for new developments are underway, building on the foundation established by Paul Toogood, who started the winery in 2001.

The talented and beloved winemaker, Marco Cappelli, will remain with the winery, continuing to craft the wines that many have come to cherish. The family looks forward to being an active part of the Fairplay wine community.

Toogood Estate Winery was established on a picturesque 40-acre parcel of rolling foothills purchased in May 2001. This quarter-mile square property features microclimates ideal for the carefully selected grape varieties. Excavation for the wine cave began on September 11, 2001, and was completed nine months later, resulting in 5,000 square feet of underground winery production and aging space, all maintained in a delicately controlled atmosphere.

The winery's first crush was the 2002 vintage, with the initial bottling occurring in January 2003. Since then, sales and acceptance of the wines have been remarkable.

Currently, the vineyards boast 12 acres planted with a variety of grapes, including Zinfandel, Primitivo, Tempranillo, Pinot Noir, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and Petite Sirah. Visitors are always welcome to come by and say hello.

Photo courstesy of photographer Randy Caparoso

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!

Jennifer & Herb Lamb developed a 7 acre hillside vineyard at the base of Howell Mountain in 1987, and planted it to Cabernet Sauvignon in 1988. The fruit from their vineyard became widely sought after for premium wine, leading them to start their own brand in 1997 with only 50 cases of wine, the HL Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon. The vineyard has been completely re-planted and is now the sole source of the growing HL Vineyards wines. There are also two "Companion Labels", Two Old Dogs Cabernet Sauvignon grapes from the estate vineyard and Two Old Dogs Sauvignon Blanc from Yountville.

2500 ft up the mountain from the "flatlands" of St. Helena. Very different feel from the wineries down on the valley floor. Small family owned and operated winery. We did not get a tour but had a very pleasant tasting.