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.

Fort Ross Vineyard & Winery is one of the closest, if not the closest winery to the ocean in all of California. From the vineyard you can see the breaking surf and the misty silhouettes of Bodega Head and Pt. Reyes far below. The vineyard’s high elevation above the coastal fog and its proximity to the ocean provide a gentle, sunny and temperate climate that has proved to be very favorable for the slow and even ripening of Burgundian varietals.

It started over 20 years ago as a fantasy: living on a lush beautiful vineyard, producing your own style of favorite premium varietal wines that are well received and appreciated by those who have discovered the wines and shared them among friends.

Drive along the scenic Highway 46 West, about three miles west of the 101 Fwy at Oakdale Road, you will find this dream has become reality for David Hunt, Winemaker and owner of Hunt Cellars, a winery committed to producing “Memorable Wines.” We believe that great wines leave indelible impressions when poured with wonderful meals and great friends and scintillating conversations.

The Parsons Family, Bill and Mary with daughters Rachael, Ali and Brooke, planted the seven-acre Parsonage Village Vineyard in June 1998. The south-facing hillside vineyard is 14 miles from the Pacific Ocean and a half mile east of the Village on Carmel Valley Road. The vineyard is planted to 3.5 acres of Syrah, 2.0 acres of Cabernet Sauvignon, 1.0 acre of Merlot and 0.5 acre of Petit Verdot. The Parsons were the first to plant Syrah in Carmel Valley.

Yields averaged about half a ton per acre for the first harvest in 2000. The tiny yield was just enough to produce 200 cases. Annual production since then has been in the 1500-2000 case range.

Over 20 years later, Parsonage is still very much a family-run vineyard and winery. Ali's husband, Frank Melicia, has been the winemaker and vineyard manager for many years.  Ali and Rachael also work full-time while Brooke and her husband, Marshall, help out whenever they can.  Bill and Mary live in the center of the vineyard and pretend that they are semi-retired while the business roars around them every day.

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woman enjoying picnic and wine - by wine artist Agata Zaborowski 

Everything we do at Dutcher Crossing begins with the concept of family. Whether you are the oldest or newest member of the winery, everyone’s contribution is needed and integral to our success. From the vineyards to the tasting room, even though we all have walked different paths on our journey to Dutcher Crossing, we’ve settled into family life together.

Our belief is simple—to be a well-balanced, three-legged stool. Leg one is make the best wine we can staying true to the vineyard, vintage, and varietal. The second leg is the beautiful sense of place within our vineyards and winery. Finally, our third leg is hospitality. Whether you are a long-time visitor or new to the property, we want to welcome and treat everyone as we would our own mothers. With the balance of all three legs, we create an experience like none other in Sonoma County.