Petite Sirah

Petite Sirah

Aaron Winery

woman enjoying a picnic and some wine - wine artist Agata Zaborowski

Winemaker Aaron Jackson

Hailing from California's beautiful Central Coast, Aaron Jackson's journey into winemaking began with a thought-provoking question: “How can we write a new story for Central Coast wine, and how do we unlock its potential?” With a thirst for answers, Aaron found himself working in coastal Pinot Noir vineyards near his hometown of Cayucos, alongside crafting wines from the celebrated westside of Paso Robles, especially the distinctive Petite Sirah.

While studying wine at Cal Poly in San Luis Obispo, Aaron pooled together his hard-earned pennies from weekend jobs to launch his own label, debuting with the first vintage of Aaron Petite Sirah in 2002. His career blossomed as he collaborated with several acclaimed wineries in Paso Robles and earned a Master’s degree in Oenology from the University of Adelaide in South Australia.

In 2017, Aaron took on the ambitious task of spearheading the creation of the San Luis Obispo Coast AVA (SLO Coast), which proudly gained approval in 2021.

Now, with over 20 years of experience under his belt, Aaron remains committed to pushing boundaries and celebrating his homeland through his wines. Each bottle reflects his authenticity and passion for unearthing the incredible potential of Paso Robles and the stunning San Luis Obispo Coast. For those who love California wines, Aaron Jackson is a winemaker to watch!

Lava Cap Winery

pouring red wine into glass - Pixabay

Lava Cap is a family-owned winery in Placerville, California. The Jones family planted their first vines in 1981 and opened the winery in 1986 on a special site in the heart of the Sierra Foothills. The family of geologists specifically selected this location for its prime volcanic soil that is particularly well suited to growing fine wine grapes. They named their new business after this unique "lava cap," where their grapes flourish in the volcanic soil, warmed by the foothill sunshine and cooled by gentle Sierra night breezes.

Kent Rasmussen Winery

red wine swirling in the glass - Pixabay

Kent Rasmussen Winery produces three different lines of wines, all beautifully made by winemaker, Kent Rasmussen. Should you desire detailed production notes, you can either email us for them, or go to our national sales manager, Ron Berger's website. KENT RASMUSSEN * RAMSAY WINES * ESOTERICA Wines can be found via online sales

Marietta Cellars

glass of wine - Pixabay

Marietta Cellars is located just outside the little town of Geyserville in one of California’s premier wine growing regions, Sonoma County. Owner and winemaker Chris Bilbro initially founded Marietta Cellars in 1978 in a rented cow barn in the Dry Creek Valley. The winery is named after Chris’ great aunt.

Cheateau Margene

Cluster of grapes - Pixabay

Atop the rolling hills just outside Creston, Michael & Margene Mooney began the fulfillment of their dream to plant a vineyard, build a winery and establish their home. The family took up residence on the property in the Summer of 1998 and planted the 5.5 acre estate vineyard in the Fall of 1998. Chateau Margene’s first wine was their 1997 Paso Robles Cabernet Sauvignon, with grapes sourced from a vineyard in Paso Robles’ west side Templeton Gap area and another vineyard off Airport Road in east Paso Robles. The first wines off the estate were the 2001 Cabernet Sauvignon and 2001 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon. The 2006 GSM & 2007 GSM both sold out very quickly at the two tasting rooms, as did the 2007 Syrah & 2008 Mourvedre. After producing Pinot Noirs from Paso Robles from 2002 to 2007, Michael and Margene researched the cooler weather climates of California and chose to acquire grapes from Monterey County for their Santa Lucia Highlands Pinot Noir. The 2008 and 2009’s both sold out immediately. Chateau Margene at Limerock Orchards Tasting Room hours: Daily from 11:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. (except major holidays) 6996 Peachy Canyon Road (Corner of Vineyard Drive & Peachy Canyon Road) Paso Robles, CA

Long Creek Winery

cluster of grapes - Pixabay

Long Creek Winery & Ranch is a boutique winery encompassing thirty acres neatly tucked away in the Sierra Foothills within a stone's throw of massive Lake Oroville, seventy miles north of Sacramento, California. The vineyards and winery are uniquely situated on the western side of the Sierra mountain range where the four seasons are relatively mild. The vineyards enjoy a micro-climate that is comparable to some of the hillside country of central and northern Italy.

1850 Wine Cellars

1850 wine logo

THE PROMISE OF GOLD

California was founded on the promise of gold, a standard that 1850 Wine Cellars upholds to this day. Inspired by the state's breathtaking natural beauty and a spirit of discovery, 1850 Wine Cellars exemplifies the gold standard in winemaking. By sustainably farming and sourcing grapes from vineyards primarily in Amador County, Fair Play, El Dorado County, and other Sierra Foothill growing regions, they craft high-quality wines designed to complement every adventure.

MEET THE WINEMAKER: BRIAN DARWAZEH

Winemaker Brian Darwazeh has deep roots in California agriculture. Raised in a small farming community in Northern California, and with a grandfather who worked the land, Brian's connection to California-grown fruit is personal. For him, working with local harvests and experiencing the rhythm of the land and seasons is a labor of love. Brian is drawn to the Sierra Foothills for its diverse microclimates and the wide variety of grape varietals that thrive there. His passion lies in creating fruit-driven wines that express the true character of each varietal, with minimal intervention.

Manzanita Creek Winery

wine and cheese - Pixabay

We stopped in here several years ago, quite confused, because I had read about another winery with a similar name in the area and I was looking for the fields of lavender. Obviously that's not what you'll get in this industrial warehouse near Healsburg square, but it's not about the scenery here - it's all about the wines, and how delicious they are. If you're a fan of big, bold Zins, I cannot recommend this place enough. They also make a very decent Chardonnay and some Syrah and Petit Syrahs, but my heart belongs to the zin, especially the amazing Stealth.

Beaver Creek Vineyards

man at table with his cat and enjoying a glass of wine

At Beaver Creek Vineyards, our approach is simple: "Let nature create the wonders and we will work hard to support and enhance her efforts." With this credo as a guiding principle, Beaver Creek Vineyards strives to make wines of utmost quality borne from viticulture practices that are in alignment with nature. Beaver Creek Vineyards is an eco-friendly, organic and biodynamic certied boutique winery specializing in limited production, estate wines as well as select wines from exclusive organic or biodynamic certied vineyards. Harvests are done by hand, choosing only the best grapes for Beaver Creek wines.

Robert Biale Winery

bottle and glasses of wine with chateau in background - Pixabay

Perfecting the old California classics, Robert Biale Vineyards has become a revered standard of heritage vineyard Zinfandel and Petite Sirah in the Napa Valley. From the winery’s inception, the Biale founders have cherished the tradition of historic old vines, some dating back to the 1880s, and they prize the small quantity of concentrated and intense fruit that these vines produce. Diligent farming, expressive terroir, and superb elegance define the winery’s hallmarks. Among the winery’s portfolio of 20 wines crafted by Winemaker David Natali, Black Chicken Zinfandel stands out as the flagship and has become a benchmark for the varietal.

The story began in the 1940s when 14-year-old Aldo Biale helped his mother make ends meet by selling homemade Zinfandel, along with eggs and produce, to insider Napans. Over the old “party line” phone system, the code words “a Black Chicken” signified a jug of bootleg wine, keeping nosy neighbors and the authorities from discovering Aldo’s underground Zinfandel operation.

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