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Costa De Oro Winery

Winery sign

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.

Whitcraft Winery

red wine pouring into a wine glass - Pixabay

A long-standing member of the Santa Barbara winemaking community, Whitcraft Winery is obsessed with producing the highest quality wines. Their signature varietals are Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Syrah, but also produce a variety of other unique, hand-crafted varietals.

Caliza Winery

Painting by Agata Zaborowski People enjoying wine out doors

Caliza is a small, family-owned and operated vineyard and winery located in the coveted Willow Creek district of Paso Robles, California. Carl Bowker, owner, and winemaker, has followed a long yet steady path towards his goal of producing special wines. Born and raised in Hawaii, Carl began his farming experience while tagging along with his father, an irrigation specialist to the local farms. This early introduction left a lasting impression and a true appreciation for soils and farming life. Little did he realize that this childhood curiosity would lead him to the special soils of Paso Robles, California.

This winery's focus is on crafting wines from varietals common to the Rhône Valley of France - Syrah, Grenache, Mourvèdre, and Viognier, among others. But like many winemakers in Paso Robles, we like to throw a surprise or two in the mix. Our wines reflect what we feel are an excellent example of what the region has to offer – bold, yet elegant wines that drink well today and well into the future.

Painting by Agata Zaborowski People enjoying wine out doors

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.

Chalone Vineyard

glass of wine with vineyard in the background - Pixabay

While the grapes for Chalone Vineyard Estate come from their high mountain estate, the grapes for the Monterey County wines come from distinct vineyards in the 75-mile long Salinas Valley, which begins in Monterey Bay and runs southeastward. Ancient volcanoes, active faults and tectonic plate movement created the Santa Lucia and Gavilan Mountain ranges, which flank the valley. The mountains form a wind tunnel, drawing cool ocean breezes off the Pacific Ocean into the valley. The cool air causes the vines to shut down and delays ripening of the grapes, leading to a longer growing season and hang time that results in intense fruit flavors. Not open to the Public

Solis Winery

Cabernet Franc - Photographer Randy Caparoso

There is simply no better place to sit back and relax than on the Solis Winery back porch, sipping a glass of wine and enjoying the scenic views of vineyards nestled against the Gabilan mountain range. 

All Solis Winery wines are grown and produced at the Vanni Estate Vineyard in Gilroy in the heart of the Santa Clara Valley, California’s oldest continuous wine-growing region. From planting the vines and harvesting the grapes to producing and bottling the wines, everything is done on-site. Nothing ever leaves the property—until bottles go home with happy customers!

The original winery was founded in 1917 by Italian immigrant Alfonso Bertero on rich, fertile land that was once part of the Rancho de Solis Mexican land grant. David and Valerie Vanni purchased the winery in 1989 and renamed it Solis Winery. The Vanni’s had a passion for creating extraordinary wines in a friendly, down-to-earth environment. The passion was passed on to their son Michael, his wife Julie as well as their daughter Frankie who are now working together to continue the family tradition of excellence.

Dusty Nabor Wines

Dusty Nabor in his winery

Dusty Nabor and his wines are born out of a passion for producing site-specific, terroir-driven California Wines. Dusty's focus on wines is Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Grenache, and Viognier. While the majority of the wines are obtained via Dusty's mailing list, this little gem has agreed to open it's humble doors to California Corks members. Dusty Nabor Wines is a unique little boutique winery that puts our some wonderful wines and limited in production. Dusty offers two free tastings to each California Corks member so bring a guest. Be sure to make an appointment and perhaps your timing will allow for a barrel tasting experience as well. While tasting is free no current discounts are available due to the limited productions of Dusty's wines. ~

Hours:

By Appointment Only

Prospect 772 Wine Company

grape cluster - Pixabay

Welcome to Prospect 772

Francis Johnson and his wife Kristina recently became the proud new owners of a stunning 25-acre estate in the Sierra Foothills, having purchased this slice of paradise on January 5, 2024. Along with the breathtaking property, they inherited an esteemed line of Rhone wines recognized for their exceptional quality.

Founded in 2001 by Ron Pieretti and Wendy Sandra, Prospect 772 has long been dedicated to producing some of the finest Rhone wines available. As the new stewards of this winery, Francis and Kristina are committed to honoring the legacy established by Ron and Wendy, employing their tried-and-true winemaking techniques to ensure the continued excellence of the wines.

They will carry on the tradition by producing all the legacy wines of Prospect 772, including the beloved Black Tie Charlie. In addition to these established favorites, they plan to introduce two new varietals during their first year, starting with Tatum's Grace, a delightful white wine that will be released in April 2024.

Wine lovers and enthusiasts are warmly invited to stop by and enjoy a glass of wine with Francis and Kristina. They look forward to many years of winemaking and building friendships in the vibrant wine community.

Demetria Estates

Corks and Glass - Pixabay

Demetria Estate produces two separate portfolios of wines including, Burgundian varietals and Rhone-style blends that capture the singularity of the vineyards and the region from which they originated. The Burgundian offerings comprise of varietal honest manifestations of Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Pinot Gris and Pinot Blanc, farmed sustainably in the Santa Rita Hills appellation of Santa Barbara County. The Rhone blends feature a rich, aromatic array of wines that are well-balanced, and intensely flavorful. The Rhone blends are styled after the famous Chateauneuf du Pape reds and are made from varieties of Syrah, Mourvedre, and Grenache. The white Rhone wines are blends of Viognier, Roussanne, Marsanne, and Grenache Blanc.

Image: Corks and Glass

Brick Barn Wine Estate

Brick Barn Logo

At Brick Barn Wine Estate, a winemaking philosophy is embraced that is deeply rooted in the character of the estate vineyard and the unique attributes of its location. Guided by the essence of the vineyard, the estate follows non-invasive farming practices, allowing the fruit to express its inherent qualities, resulting in wines of remarkable personality and distinction.

The commitment to the "will of the vineyard" is reflected in the estate’s approach, with minimal interventions, purposeful inputs, and a dedication to showcasing terroir clarity. This philosophy demands constant vigilance both in the vineyard and the cellar, where winemaking practices are adapted to the nuances of each variety and vineyard lot.

Under the discerning guidance of Winemaker Adrian Bolshoi, a diverse array of fermentation and maturation vessels, including neutral oak barrels, new oak barrels, oak puncheons, stainless steel, and concrete, are employed. Each wine undergoes a tailored maceration and fermentation process to accentuate and celebrate its unique characteristics.

Brick Barn Wine Estate’s pursuit of excellence remains unwavering. The team is steadfast in their quest to amplify the voice of each vineyard block, continuously exploring new techniques to honor the terroir’s intention and unlock its boundless potential for greatness.

Adrian Bolshoi, Winemaker

Adrian Bolshoi, the winemaker at Brick Barn Wine Estate, brings a wealth of experience and a global perspective to his craft. Growing up in Moldova, a region known for its wine production, Adrian learned the art of winemaking from his family. Inspired by this heritage, he pursued enology studies at the Polytechnical University of Moldova.

After completing his education, Adrian sought to expand his knowledge of winemaking methods and technologies, immersing himself in New World practices in 2011. Since joining Brick Barn Wine Estate in 2019, Adrian has risen to the position of winemaker. His focus on crafting wines that reflect the essence of each varietal has earned him recognition for his exceptional skill and dedication. For Adrian, winemaking is not just a profession, but a passion deeply rooted in family and tradition.

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