August 2022 – see websites for availability of wine

Pinot Noir is a popular red wine grape for a reason: it’s elegant, nuanced, smoky, earthy, fruity and pairs well with a wide variety of dishes. In our cool-climate, coastal wine region of San Luis Obispo, you’ll find a large range of Pinot Noirs from these nineteen wineries that specialize in the esoteric variety.

1. Aequorea

Latin for “Of The Sea,” Aequorea began in 2011 as a search for vineyards that ventured deep into the coastal no man’s land where we were raised. Here, on this foggy, windswept coast west of the Santa Lucia Mountains, they work with a group of dedicated growers who possess a shared passion for farming closer to the ocean than most anywhere else in California. From these special sites, they focus on single-vineyard Pinot Noirs and aromatic white wines that are transparent of their terroir and the extremity of where they lie.

All of the vineyards are no more than 6 miles from the ocean, blanketed by a thick marine layer in the summer which recedes each afternoon as cool breezes arrive off the Pacific.

• 2020 Pinot Noir seafarer – While our focus is mainly on single vineyard Pinot Noir, each year we create Seafarer as a blend of fruit from all our coastal vineyards – four in total, to create a truly harmonious wine that showcases why we make wine here on the coast.
• 2020 Pinot Noir greengate ranch – Greengate Ranch lies toward the southern end of Edna Valley, directly exposed to cool winds blowing off the Pacific a few miles away. Its shallow calcareous clay soils, unique to this area, give it a dark, generous profile.
• 2020 Pinot Noir spanish springs vineyard – Lying just 2 miles from the Pacific Ocean in Pismo Beach, Spanish Springs is the last vineyard we pick each year and always produces our most feminine and aromatic Pinot Noir, loaded with personality and freshness.
• 2020 Pinot Noir lost lands – A multi-vineyard Pinot Noir blended from our most structured barrels each vintage, Lost Lands represents our efforts at showcasing the intensity of what our coastal terrior can bring.

2. Baileyana Winery

Named for the Acacia Baileyana tree abundant throughout the Central Coast, Baileyana Winery was founded over 35 years ago and is one of the original shapers of Edna Valley winemaking.

Situated in California’s coolest growing region, nearest the Pacific Ocean, Baileyana exudes a graceful yet vivid elegance. Our array of distinctly exceptional wines – highlighted by cool climate Chardonnay and Pinot Noir – are the epitome of the excellence, charm and potential of Edna Valley. This stunning region remains a breathtaking getaway, hidden in plain sight.

• 2019 Baileyana “Firepeak” Pinot Noir – Exemplifying the vivid excellence of the Edna Valley region, this Pinot Noir exudes expressive dark fruit notes, currants and blueberries, along with a hint of vanilla and cherry cola. The wine has a brilliant acidity that is balanced by fleshy notes of ripe cherry and brown sugar, along with soft, supple tannins that lead to a long, memorable finish.
• 2020 Baileyana “El Pico” Pinot Noir – This vintage of El Pico is balanced and beautifully extracted with aromas of strawberry jam, cherry and vanilla. There is a hint of cotton candy along with traces of cinnamon throughout the wine. The crisp, clean fruit matches well with silky sweet oak tannins. The oak provides a nice backbone, but does not over power the balanced acidity. This medium bodied Pinot finishes with delightful strawberry notes.
• 2020 Baileyana “Halcon Rojo” Pinot Noir – This Pinot Noir has aromas of cherry and raspberry with a hint of root beer. It showcases flavors of ripe red fruit, plum and molasses along with silky tannins and a very smooth mouthfeel. The light acidity is balanced with a nice oak influence that rounds out this full-bodied Pinot Noir. The finish is long and smooth with lingering flavors of supple fruit.
• 2020 Baileyana “La Entrada” Pinot Noir – This Pinot Noir has aromas of black and red cherry, anise and a hint of cedar. Characteristics of cherry cola, vanilla, and cinnamon are entwined with bright red fruit for a beautiful balance. Silky tannins with a medium body are prevalent along with great acidity, complemented by delectable fruit flavors.
• 2020 Baileyana “The Architects” Pinot Noir  – Named in honor of our incredible Winemaking team, led by Rob Takigawa, this blend consists of hand-selected barrels (each from a specific block or clone) to develop this complex and delicious wine. Notes of strawberries and cherries burst from the glass and are framed by notes of baking spice, a tad of cola, and vanilla.
• 2017 Baileyana “S-BAR” Pinot Noir  – Vine- and barrel-select, very limited production, this is arguably the best Pinot we make! Aged for 9 months in 30% new French oak, this bottling represents around 1% of our total Pinot Noir production – you won’t find this wine in stores.

3. Biddle Ranch

Not that long ago, friends with deep roots in California’s Central Coast planted the seeds to start making wine. What you see now is the labor of love that took us and our families on a journey into winemaking.

For us, Biddle Ranch has always been about the simple indulgence of drinking a great wine in a beautiful place with the people we love. It’s this feeling that we strive to create in our tasting room every single day. With our experienced winemaker, Ryan Deovlet, guiding us from grape to glass and the next generation running the show, we couldn’t be more proud of what we have to share.

• 2020 Pinot Noir SLO County – Complex and lifted on the nose, this combination of sites brings out the layers from each – saffron and paprika spice from the volcanic soils at Odyssey highlight the high tone, fruit-driven lift of Spanish Springs.  Rincon frames the aromatics with its denser soils bringing the layers of oolong tea, green peppercorn and Moroccan spicecake.  Energetic minerality on the palate with velvety tannins that frame lingering floral and spice notes.

Biddle Ranch has 3 more Pinot Noirs exclusively for Wine Club.

4. Center of Effort

The powerful forces of skillful cultivation, artistic winemaking and a passion for unparalleled excellence are blended together to capture what COE refers to as the “magic” in the bottle, focusing solely on estate-grown Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. The Center of Effort estate is blessed with a remarkable growing environment for classic Burgundian varietals.

There is nothing expedient in the winemaking approach. They embrace the detailed, labor-intensive methods that are required to produce the finest wines. Even then, only a handful of elite lots from each vintage are ultimately deemed worthy for designation under the ‘Center of Effort’ label.

• 2016 Pinot Noir, Center of Effort – The terroir of the Edna Valley truly comes to life in this bottling, offering a beautiful bouquet of spicy red and black fruits, bay leaf, ground herbs, and candied violets. Elegant, medium-bodied, and lively textured, it has loads of fruit and is a charming effort to drink over the coming 4-6 years.
• 2019 Prova Pinot Noir – Beautiful fruit tones of Black Cherry and ripe plum. Mid-weight with a sweet palate and balanced spicy barrel notes. Accents of marjoram and Herbs de Provence. A crowd-pleaser with grilled foods, perfectly roasted poultry, and holiday meals.

5. Chamisal

Chamisal is devoted to understanding this magical piece of ground and applying the knowledge and experience of several decades to produce quintessential Central Coast Chardonnays and Pinot Noirs using sustainable practices. The vineyard is located in a tranquil setting just 10 minutes from downtown San Luis Obispo in the beautiful Edna Valley.

Chamisal specializes in sustainably produced Chardonnay and Pinot Noir from Central Coast vineyards located between Monterey and Santa Barbara. The wines are known for their intense flavor, mouthwatering texture, and impeccable balance.

• 2021 San Luis Obispo Pinot Noir – Light ruby in color, this Pinot Noir is expressive on the nose with vibrant notes of cherry, raspberry, and cinnamon. On the palate, the wine is bright and juicy with light tannins and a fresh finish.
• 2019 Soberanes Pinot Noir Santa Lucia Highland – Notes of morello cherry, hazelnut, and dark chocolate shavings are layered and inviting on the nose of our Soberanes Vineyard Pinot Noir. Bright, intense, and persistent on the palate, the wine features notes of luscious red fruit and wild dried herbs. Silky, supple, and complex, this is a stunning expression of one of the most sought-after sites for pinot noir on the Central Coast. This is a very expressive pinot that can be enjoyed young, until 2025.
• 2019 Califa Pinot Noir Edna Valley – The 2019 Califa Pinot Noir leaps from the glass with an incredibly intense and expressive nose, redolent of ripe blackberries, bay leaf, graham cracker crust, and strawberry preserves. The bright fruit notes carry through to the palate, framed by structured tannins and a rich, intense mouthfeel balanced by juicy acidity.
• 2018 Edna Valley Pinot Noir – This wine leaps from the glass with notes of cinnamon, freshly grated nutmeg and strawberry preserves. On the palate, the wine is silky and fresh with soft tannins and notes of our signature Chamisal spice, cherry and an earthy finish.

6. Claiborne & Churchill

Claiborne & Churchill is a small, family owned and operated winery, founded in 1983 and located in the heart of the Edna Valley, just outside San Luis Obispo, California. Inspired by the wines of Alsace, they specialize in premium dry wines made from Riesling, Gewürztraminer, and Pinot Gris grapes, as well as handcrafted Pinot Noirs and Syrahs from several vineyards here in the Edna Valley.

They also produce small lots of other wines, including a Pinot Blanc, Chardonnay, Dry Rosé, and a Port-style wine.

• 2019 Pinot Noir, Greengate – The wine opens in the glass with aromas of orange zest, holiday spice, and beautifully integrated oak. One of the trademarks of the 2019 vintage is the sweet fruit flavors that intertwine with hints of earth. Texturally speaking, this mouth-filling Pinot boasts well-placed acidity and the velvety tannins that suggest its cellaring potential. Whether you’re enjoying this wine in its youth or five years from now, we highly recommend pairing it with your favorite holiday fare. Some of our favorites include pork loin with herbs, roasted duck, or a full harvest salad.
• 2019 Pinot Noir, Runestone, 95 Points, Cellar Selection, Wine Enthusiast – When we decided some thirty years ago to produce our first “reserve” Pinot Noir, our mission was to create a hallmark wine by selecting the very best barrels in the cellar. Soon this “barrel-select” Pinot Noir was christened “Runestone”, and to this day it represents all we love about Pinot Noir in its highest form. To do this, our winemaking team has the (“arduous”) job of sampling and grading every barrel of Pinot Noir in the cellar in order to decide which eight-barrel blend best represents the essence of “Runestone.”  This 2019 Runestone rewards the nose with intriguing aromas of rhubarb, cloves and anise, leading to notes of sweet tobacco, sherry and red berry compote. A burst of red fruit is flattered by a backdrop of quality new French oak. This 2019 Runestone is ready to enjoy now, but guaranteed to age beautifully over the next six to eight years.
•  2020 Classic Pinot Noir – When we look back on the 2020 growing season, we remember the huge challenges we faced: wildfires north and south of us, smokey skies above, and relentless heat waves. We very much appreciate how hard our awesome winemaking and vineyard teams worked to create flawless, outstanding wines from this vintage. This Pinot Noir “Classic” is a prime example. The wine may be somewhat light in color, but it is definitely not a “lightweight”. It opens with aromas of strawberry jam, cloves, licorice, and fine herbs, while on the palate there is a mouth-filling burst of cherry, confectionary, and roasted coffee flavors. The finish is smooth and well-balanced. This wine is ready for your immediate enjoyment!
• 2020 Pinot Noir, Twin Creeks – The Pinot Noir we call “Twin Creeks” comes from small vineyards located just a stone’s throw from us. We have had a close relationship with the vineyard owners since their first crop in 2001, and because we participate in the management of these parcels, we consider them to be “Estate” grapes and have trademarked the name “Twin Creeks.” Our winemaking team crafts each vintage of this wine by tasting and evaluating dozens of barrels in order to assemble a blend worthy of distinction. The 2020 Twin Creeks opens with aromas and flavors of blackberries and blueberries and hints of earth and oak. The finish is savory and well-balanced, with just enough tannins to suggest a long aging potential. Perhaps you could put away a few bottles to enjoy over the next 4-6 years. Right now it might go well with a spicy pasta carbonara, with grilled vegetables, and especially roasted duck with pears and peppercorns.

7. Cutruzzola Vineyards

Nestled among towering pines and breathtaking views of the Pacific Ocean is the quaint village of Cambria, California. There, Cutruzzola Vineyards specializes in Pinot Noir and Riesling, both grown right in Cambria near Santa Rosa Creek Road. We produce just 500-600 cases a year so quality over quantity as we can monitor closely every stage of the process!

Our estate vineyard is in a coastal valley just outside the town center only a few miles from the water’s edge, just over the coastal mountains and rolling hills of the Westside Paso Robles wine region. It’s a picturesque sprinkling of small, family-owned farms and artist studios that unfold along scenic Highway 1. On most days you’ll be warmed by sunlight and cooled by ocean breezes as you stand in the vineyard, where we grow Riesling and Pinot Noir on steep hillsides in a cool climate that is ideal for these varietals. At the moment, we offer three Pinot Noirs.

• 2018 Pinot Noir, Gloria Estate – New Release! A bright nose loaded with red fruit, predominately red cherry. Cedar, spicebox and silky tannins round out the mid-palate and the wine graduates to a gorgeous finish.
• 2016 Pinot Noir, Giacomino Reserve, 92 points, Vinous Media – The nose brims with minerality and bright aromas of plum and black cherry. The oak integrates beautifully with the abundant mineral and fresh fruit. The balance on this wine is impeccable. Massive fruit is perfectly balanced by acid and tannins. We expect this wine to age for decades.
• 2017 Pinot Noir, Gloria Estate

8. Edna Valley Vineyard

Nestled halfway between San Francisco and Los Angeles, Edna Valley Vineyard is the jewel of California’s Central Coast. Just five miles from the Pacific Ocean, constant refreshing breezes and warm sunshine create the longest growing season in California. For more than three decades, Edna Valley Vineyard has been dedicated to producing a grape that grows best in this long, cool growing season: Chardonnay. Today, Edna Valley Vineyard offers a portfolio of balanced, food-friendly wines. Enjoy a taste of Edna Valley Vineyard wine at the iconic tasting room or with a great meal shared with family and friends.

Tucked away in a prime location along California’s Central Coast, Edna Valley Vineyard lies just a few miles from Pismo Beach in San Luis Obispo. Amid the stunning scenery and the casual, laidback lifestyle of San Luis Obispo, a significant wine culture has quietly emerged over the past few decades. Come visit us to experience the laid-back lifestyle where we have learned to take time to take a step back, relax, and enjoy life.

• 2018 Edna Valley Central Coast Pinot Noir – Our Edna Valley Vineyard Central Coast Pinot Noir is deliciously rich on the palate while delivering a light-body that is true to the varietal. Layers of blackberry compote and black cherry meld with a touch of tart cranberry for a vibrant acidity. The silky mouthfeel leads to a lasting finish. Serve this versatile, food-friendly wine with herb-encrusted salmon, roast lamb or wild mushroom galette.
• 2020, 2019, 2018 Edna Valley Reserve Pinot Noir, Santa Lucia Highlands – Our Reserve Pinot Noir, an elegant expression of the Santa Lucia Highlands AVA and our Olson Ranch, showcases a silky dark fruit profile with a touch more oak than our Winemaker Series Pinot Noir. Aromas of fig jam and boysenberry meld with hints black cherry. Facets of cola and black tea leaves build complexity on the palate while dashes of peppered strawberry jam and cardamom add to a long, spicy finish. Enjoy this wine now or lay down for 3 years. With earthy undertones, this wine pairs beautifully with duck, cherry glazed ham, mushroom risotto and sweet potato lasagna.
• 2019 Edna Valley Winemaker Series Pinot Noir – Our 2019 Winemaker Series Pinot Noir is a dry, medium-bodied wine with delicate notes of red fruit, layered oak and sweet aromatics. Garnet and ruby red color show in the glass with hints of forest floor and brambleberry emanating with touches of cocoa and white pepper. Pops of raspberry and ripe strawberry brighten the mouthfeel as complex tannins emerge mid-palate. Layers of red fruit are underscored by accents of pastry and black tea leaf on a long finish.
• 2018 Edna Valley Winemaker Series Pinot Noir – Our 2018 Winemaker Series Pinot Noir is a delicately layered, fruit-focused and medium-bodied Pinot that reflects what makes the Edna Valley terroir special. Earthy notes of whole nutmeg, ripe plum and cherry marzipan greet the nose. Bright layers of dark cherry, cranberry and red currant meet accents of dried lavender for a savory sweetness. The finish is long with hints of candied raspberry, cocoa and a dash of cayenne. Our Pinot makes a lively pairing with hearty stews with wild game, such as boar, duck or rabbit ragù. Paella with chorizo and spices and cassoulet are also a delicious match. Enjoy this wine now or lay it down for 18 months to 3 years for a nuttier flavor.
• 2017 Edna Valley Winemaker Series Pinot Noir – Our 2017 Edna Valley Vineyard Winemaker Series Pinot Noir captures a taste of what makes our home in the Edna Valley AVA so special. On the palate, layers of black cherries, raspberries and currant intertwine with subtle aromas of dried lavender, clove and earthy mushroom. The mouthfeel is elegant with a silky, lingering finish.

9. El Lugar (online only)

Family owned and operated, El Lugar means the place, and makes small-lot, vineyard-designate Pinot Noir, defined by its place of origin.

Coby Parker-Garcia has been making wines for 12 years and fell in love with Pinot Noir long ago and dreamed of creating high quality Pinot Noir from well-known vineyards and AVAs. In 2013, Coby and is wife took a leap of faith and made that dream come true by producing their first vintage of two vineyard designate Pinot Noirs. Currently we source fruit from four vineyards for our four Pinot Noir offerings.

• 2020 Pinot Noir, Spanish Springs Vineyard – Spanish Springs is one of the closest vineyards to the Pacific Ocean in California. It sits 2 miles inland from Pismo Beach. This site produces wines with great structure and ample amounts of acidity.
• 2020 Pinot Noir, Rincon Vineyards – Rincon Vineyards is located in Arroyo Grande, and is owned by the Talley Family. Consisting of two hillsides rising from the floor of Arroyo Grande Valley, the clay calcarious soils of the West Rincon Vineyard yield wines with distinctive mineral and iron notes.
• 2020 Pinot Noir, Bien Nacido Vineyards – Bien Nacido is located in the Santa Maria Valley. A very cool climate site with well drained soils. The vineyard sits only 14 miles from the Pacific Ocean. From the vineyard we selected two specific blocks based on the clonal selection.
• 2020 Pinot Noir, Greengate Vineyard – Greengate is located off Hwy 227, just past Price Canyon Road, only 3 miles inland from the Pacific Ocean. The vineyard is SIP (Sustainable in Practice) Certified.

10. Kynsi Winery

Kynsi Winery is a family run operation focused on producing distinguished wines from renowned Central Coast vineyard properties.

The blessed coastal climate, along with unique soil profiles and innovative farming techniques is why this region is considered to be one of the finest of the world. Our mission is to produce wines of the highest caliber while reflecting the unique terroir of nature’s most expressive sites.

Kynsi Winery resides on a historic ranch in a charming and renovated old dairy in the heart of the Edna Valley. Visitors are welcome to experience their acclaimed wines in one of the most idyllic settings in the region. Depending on the vintage, we bottle eight different pinots, with four available now.

• 2019 Pinot Noir, Edna Valley – As an overall expression of the Edna Valley AVA, this appellation bottling shows red cherry, sweet earth and warm cumin spice on the nose with notes of pomegranate, vanilla cream and mocha that come in waves.
• 2020 Pinot Noir, Solomon Hills Vineyard – Solomon Hills is the sister property of Bien Nacido Vineyard, and has emerged as the jewel of the region. Similar to the old vines and clones we worked with at Bien Nacido, it opens with classic old world style and complex, heritage Pommard clone characteristics of black cherry, peppery nasturtium, beetroot and blood orange. Thick and rich on the palate with notes of juicy red fruit, bay leaf and hallmark Santa Maria spice on the satin-textured finish.
• 2020 Pinot Noir, Stone Corral Vineyard – Grown on the Estate less than five miles from the Pacific Ocean, it shows beautiful, feminine attributes of strawberry, allspice and clementine blossoms with hints of rhubarb, dried sage and juicy, fresh picked raspberries on the finish.
• 2019 Pinot Noir, Precious Stone – This reserve level Estate bottling is a blend of a few precious, standout barrels of the vintage that stood out in blind tasting trials. Boasting a core of black raspberry, forest floor and California Sagebrush with showy notes of currant, root beer, purple lilacs and Pecan Sandie cookies that wash over the palate in a plush cloak of velvet.
• 2019 Pinot Noir, Clone 2A – Originally the Wadenswil clone from Switzerland, it was sent to America in the early 1950’s and was cataloged by UC Davis who named it clone 2A. At Stone Corral it performs well and is a workhorse of a clone – as pinot noir and also to a whole cluster pressed rosé. The 2A cuttings at Stone Corral are from Talley’s Rosemary Vineyard. It offers structural balance and a sound mid-palate with characteristic black cherry and baking spice flavors.
• 2019 Pinot Noir, Clone 115 – Clone 115 is an important clone over the past decade of California vineyard development and has become the most widely planted of the aforementioned clones. It carries the most architectural weight of the four clones on the Estate, but it has to get ripe enough to reach that backbone potential. It offers fine grained tannins and deep flavors of black plum, allspice and forest floor.
• 2019 Pinot Noir, Clone 667 – 667 doesn’t seem to work as well in warmer growing sites (like Russian River) offering a greener simplicity when it accumulates sugar too quickly as opposed to deep Christmas spice in cooler sites (like Edna Valley and Santa Rita Hills). At Stone Corral there is some magic in block four in the 667 plantings and is often a favorite in blind tasting trials.It shows bright floral aromatics, blue fruit and bramble fruit flavors with clean, finessed tannins.

11. Laetitia Vineyard & Winery

At Laetitia Vineyard & Winery, we are passionate about producing premium estate wines that showcase the distinctive qualities of the Arroyo Grande Valley.

Located in Southern San Luis Obispo County, our coastal property overlooks the Pacific Ocean. Originally known for méthode champenoise sparkling wines, Laetitia continues to produce seven unique sparkling wines. Currently, we are just as well known for our handcrafted Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and more, offering eight Pinot Noirs.

• 2020 Laetitia Pinot Noir, Arroyo Grande Valley, Block Z, Clone 828 – Our Clone 828 is a distinguished example of this attractive clone originating in the Dijon region of Eastern France. Dense aromas of cola, acacia, and spiced cherry are accompanied by a full-bodied palate expressing a big fruit-forward punch of dried fig, pomegranate and cassis. The finish is long with round tannins and refreshing acidity.
• 2020 Laetitia Pinot Noir, Arroyo Grande Valley, Block Y, Clone 115
• 2020 Laetitia Pinot Noir, Arroyo Grande Valley, Block Y, Clone 667 – This wine has an alluring ruby red color and delicate aromas of spiced cherry, black pepper, and savory smoked meats. Notes of red fruit continue on the palate, where linear tannins are accompanied by a full-bodied texture expressing pencil shavings, and raspberry notes.
• 2019 Laetitia Reserve du Domaine Pinot Noir – Each vintage of the Reserve du Dumaine Pinot Noir is marked by notes of red berries and earthiness. The 2019 is distinct with subtle aromas of blackberry cobbler, strawberry and pencil shavings. This full-bodied Pinot Noir reveals fine texture coupled with cola, mushroom, toasted bread and wet masonry.
• 2020 Laetitia Whole Cluster Pinot Noir – This old-world style Pinot Noir has made a name for itself here at Laetitia due to its unique mouthfeel and well-driven structure. Subtle notes of strawberry jam and dark cherries lead into layered flavors of spice box, dried herbs, and tobacco. The wine is round and full-bodied with a silky mouthfeel and flavors of dark fruit, forest floor, and signature earth. Beautifully balanced with seamlessly integrated tannins, balancing acidity, and a lingering finish.
• 2018 Laetitia Single Vineyard La Colline Pinot Noir – Our original Pinot Noir planting on the vineyard, La Colline leans toward the Burgundian side. Extremely aromatic, with fresh pomegranate and raspberries and a bright purity and focus. This medium-bodied wine has classic notes of stewed cherries, flint and morel mushrooms, with a long, mouthwatering finish.
• 2018 Laetitia Single Vineyard La Coupelle Pinot Noir – The La Coupelle vineyard resides in a protected micro-climate of the ranch which yields warmer temperatures and in turn, a wine of deep, rich complexities. Aromas of blueberry pie and hints of strawberry blossom are beautifully coupled with violet floral notes. The aromas set the stage for a full-bodied wine, expressing sweet fruit flavors, baked tart, tightly wound citrus and leather.
• 2018 Laetitia Single Vineyard Les Galets Pinot Noir – The stones indigenous to the Galets Vineyard perfectly describe the wine produced, rich in mineral-driven notes of chalk and wet limestone. Dark in color with aromas of blackberry, currant, truffle, and flint. This full-bodied wine delivers deep flavors of earth, spiced cherry, and wet stone, leading to a smooth finish with delicate tannins coating the palate.

12. Oceano Wines

Oceano premium Chardonnay and Pinot Noir is grown at Spanish Springs Vineyard on the coast of San Luis Obispo; the closest vineyard to the Pacific in all of California. 350 cases produced.

100% pinot noir hand-harvested at Spanish Springs in San Luis Obispo County. This SIP certified sustainable vineyard is nestled in the slopes of Price Canyon on the southern edge of the Edna Valley. Separated by a small mountain range it is the closest vineyard to the Pacific in California.

• 2019 Oceano Pinot Noir, Spanish Springs Vineyard – A perfumed nose of fresh strawberry, raspberry, cranberry, red currant, violets, vanilla, and sweet tobacco. A raspberry attack leads to a layered mouth of pomegranate, red currant, blueberry, plum, anise and hints of cocoa. Firm but elegant tannins give way to a long bing cherry finish.

13. Peloton Cellars

Peloton Cellars® is the creation of four longtime friends and it is our mission to create quality wines that are a pleasure to drink any night of the week and enjoy with any meal. All of our wines are from the California’s Central Coast wine region. Our winemaker, Bill Kesselring, believes that a good wine is made from the ground up. Each varietal is meticulously crafted from bud break to the barrel.

The name Peloton; pronounced “pell-O-tawn” is a French word meaning “group”, but more specifically refers to the dynamic, main pack of riders in a cycling race. We feel that our wines embody the color and spirit of cycling. Whether it’s a long road ride to the coast or a fun, beach cruiser stroll through town, our love for good wine rivals our passion for riding bikes. Peloton Cellars is our way of paying homage to two of our favorite pastimes.

In 2005, we produced our first vintages of Zinfandel, Syrah & Cabernet Sauvignon, all crafted from the rolling hills of Paso Robles. Over the years, we explored the cool, coastal valleys of the southern Central Coast and created incredible Syrah from Arroyo Grande Valley and Pinot Noir from famed Edna Valley.  Along the way, our flight of wines received countless awards and acclaim from experts & journalists within the wine & food industry. In 2010, we set up shop and opened our tasting room in sunny, laid-back Avila Beach. Visit us and taste our award-winning wines in a friendly, relaxed beach town setting. We offer wines for sale by the glass or bottle.

• 2017 Spanish Springs Pinot Noir, 93 points,Vinous – “Brilliant ruby. Expansive, spice-tinged red berry and cherry liqueur, succulent herb and floral aromas show impressive energy and shartp devinition. sweet and broad in the mouth, offering juicy raspberry, cherry cola and boysenberry flavors and an earthy touch of licorice. Clings with strong tenacity and the subtly tannic finish, which features plush berry and cola qualities. “ ~ Josh Raynolds
• 2018 SLO County Pinot Noir – Rich nose of baked berries and a hint of earth. Warm strawberry/rubarb pie, reduced blackberry sauce, hint of clove and toast. Finishes with traditional earthiness and a slight hint of white pepper.

14. Sinor-LaVallee Wines

Sinor-LaVallee was founded in 1997 by Mike Sinor and Cheri LaVallee-Sinor. Our wines are all from our Estate vineyard in Avila Beach with an Ocean View. There we have 8 clones of Pinot Noir along with Syrah, Chardonnay, Pinot Gris and Albariño.

Our journey began almost 23 years ago, when we met at college in San Luis Obispo and started working at local wineries. The wine bug bit us hard, and the Pinot Noir bug bit us even harder. We worked one harvest after another, consuming the craft of winemaking, and studying the art of Pinot Noir. We got married in Burgundy. We had two beautiful children. Experience led to opportunity, and opportunity led to more experience, and both led to fanaticism. And from fanaticism our little winery was born. We currently have four Pinot Noirs, with more on the way.

The SLO Estate wines come exclusively from Bassi Vineyard. Because the vineyard falls outside of any recognized AVA, these wines are designated with a San Luis Obispo County appellation. But make no mistake—these are limited-production estate bottlings that speak vividly of a single vineyard. The White Label is reserved for ultra-limited wines that exhibit a leaner expression of Bassi Vineyard. We select clones, blocks, yeasts and barrels that cultivate structure, yielding wines with lower alcohol and higher acidity. These wines are all about litheness and clean site expression. The Black Label is reserved for ultra-limited wines that offer a fuller expression of Bassi Vineyard. We select clones, blocks, yeasts and ultimately barrels that foster weight and roundness, yielding wines with higher alcohol and lower acidity. These wines are all about power and richness.

• 2019 Pinot Noir Estate Whole Cluster
• 2017 Pinot Noir White Label
  
• 2019 Pinot Noir Black Label
• 2021 Carbonic Pinot Noir
• 2014 Pinot Noir Pinot Noir Anniversary Cuvée

15. Stephen Ross Wine Cellars

Stephen Ross Wine Cellars was founded on the principle of working with quality vineyards and hand-crafting the best wines possible from the grapes they yield. The winery started small, grew as financial resources allowed, and we stuck to our principles in winemaking and business – great, small production wines, solid business practices, and a nice, engaging place to work for our crew.

We planted our estate vineyard, Stone Corral Vineyard, entirely to Pinot Noir in 2001 in partnership with two other wineries in the area. In addition to our estate vineyard, we have continued to contract grapes from some of the best vineyards on the Central Coast.

Our wines reflect our commitment to consistently produce elegant, mind-blowing wines that demonstrate both terroir and Stephen’s winemaking skill from ultra-high premium grapes, estate and contracted. Small production for over 20 years, Stephen Ross wines have won acclaim throughout the industry. We offer five Pinot Noirs at the moment.

• 2019 Pinot Noir Stone Corral Vineyard, 94 points, Vinous – There are aromas of small red berry fruits, cherry, and a hint of botanical and wet forest notes, and nutmeg spiciness from the french oak. Nicely balanced, good acidity and energy on the palate, fine tannins and lingering rose petal and dried mushroom flavors.
• 2019 Pinot Noir San Luis Obispo County, 90 points, Wine & Spirits – Deep garnet red color with an enticing nose of dried rose petals, wet slate, black tea, dark cherry and cranberry. Medium bodied, silky smooth with bright acidity and fine tannins. The finish is quite long with elements of fruit and spice.
• 2019 Pinot Noir Arête – A very deep ruby garnet color for Pinot Noir. Nose has dried rose petals, Montmorency cherry, spicy nutmeg, and vanilla.
• 2018 Pinot Noir Edna Valley Estate, 93 points, Wine Enthusiast. 92 points, Vinous. 90 points, Wine & Spirits – Beautiful deep ruby red color, transparent and dense. Bright notes of fresh rose blossom, some cedar forest and dried cherry aromas. Youthful, with a good balance of acidity and moderate alcohol, ripe blue fruit notes on the palate, lingering fine tannins on the finish.
• 2017 Pinot Noir Santa Lucia Highlands – Brilliant ruby red transparent color. True to variety aromas of dried rose petals, cherry, and damp redwood forest notes. Elegant, refined textures, lovely balance of acidity and fine tannins. A very pleasant, well balanced, classic Santa Lucia Highlands Pinot Noir that is refreshing, lively and easy to drink.

16. Stolo Vineyards

Located at the southern gateway to Big Sur in Cambria, California, Stolo Vineyards and Tasting Room is tucked into an unspoiled corner of California’s Central Coast. Planted by world famous John Alban in 1998 Stolo Vineyards Hillside Reserve Vineyard expresses a sense of place unique to Northern Coastal San Luis Obispo County.

All Stolo wines are estate grown, sustainably dry and hand farmed west of Paso Robles 3 miles from the Pacific Ocean. Discover estate grown Pinot Noir, Syrah, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, and Gewürztraminer in our comfortably modern winery. Or, enjoy a bottle in our pet friendly meadow with your loved ones.

• 2019 Creekside Estate Pinot Noir, 93 points, Wine Enthusiast – Aromas: Black cherry, pomegranate, rootbeer, hint herbs. Flavors/Texture: Fruit forward, raspberry, hint vanilla, structured. Color: Dark Garnet.
• 2018 Hillside Reserve Pinot Noir – Aromas of Cranberry, mint, crushed herbs, hint of orange rind, red cherry. Flavors of Red currant, minerality, licorice/fennel, oregano, hint eucalyptus. Color: Dark garnet.

17. Talley Vineyards

Talley Vineyards is a family owned and operated winery that specializes in estate grown chardonnay and pinot noir ideally suited for the climate and soils of the Arroyo Grande and Edna Valleys. The Talley’s farming history in the area dates to 1948 when Oliver Talley began growing vegetables in the Arroyo Grande Valley.

Guided by this legacy and a commitment to long term sustainability, Talley Vineyards focuses on attention to detail in all aspects of farming and winemaking operations. The goal is to produce distinctive wines of consistently high quality that best express the unique character of each of the Talley family’s six vineyard sites in the two valleys. We currently offer four Pinot Noirs, with more being released soon.

• 2020 Talley Vineyards Estate Pinot Noir – Our Estate Pinot Noir is the quintessential expression of Talley vineyards, representing the cool climate and hillside topography of our home on the San Luis Obispo Coast’s Arroyo Grande Valley. The bright and crunchy 2020 vintage is laced with accents of black raspberry and orange zest.
• 2019 Rosemary’s Vineyard Peak Pinot Noir – Rosemary’s Pinot Noir is the most elegant expression of Talley Vineyards. Planted in 1987, Rosemary’s Vineyard is climatically our coolest estate vineyard and produces a nuanced Pinot Noir with refreshing energy and approachable minerality. The 2019 vintage has a powerful elegance with lingering notes of Bing cherry, black tea and nectarine.
• 2019 Rincon Vineyard Pinot Noir – Don Talley planted his first vines in the Rincon Vineyard in 1982. The warm winds that often blow across the sloping hills of Rincon, provide just enough struggle for the vines to produce Pinot Noir of a supple character. The juicy flow of the 2019 vintage hints of plum and clove on the palate. 
• 2020 Stone Corral Vineyard Pinot Noir – Translated from Corral de Piedra, the name of the land grant that underlay this vineyard and much of the Edna Valley, our Stone Corral Vineyard consistently produces a crowd-pleasing, delicious Pinot Noir. The juicy and deep 2020 vintage offers beautiful notes of rich raspberry and chai.

18. Timbre Winery

Timbre (pronounced TAM·ber or TIM·ber) is the “color” of music. It is what makes two voices sound different, even when singing the same song. It is why two winemakers, working with the same vineyards, make unique wine. As a terroir-driven winery, we make wines expressive of the places and times from which they came. As winemakers, we channel those sites through our experience, adding our own mark- our TIMBRE- to the resulting wines.

Founded by Joshua Klapper and Alex Katz, Timbre Winery is the culmination of years of hard work, and dedication to our craft. It is winemaking expressed through the universal language of musical sound.” Currently, we have eight Pinot Noirs.

• 2019 Supergroup Pinot Noir – This wine comes from 4 classic vineyard sites which include Bien Nacido, Mission Ranch, Pali, and Spanish Springs. Ruby red this wine is smoky with hints of Christmas spice. Tobacco, cherry cola, and blackberry sorbet accent the long, creamy finish.
• 2019 Understudy Pinot Noir – Strawberry roll-up, chai spice, hibiscus…
• 2017 Lead Vocals Pinot Noir – Dark red, the aromas immediately pop, with chai tea, evergreen, rose petal, and baking spices. Silky tannins frame the super long finish that goes and goes.
• 2017 Guest Star Pinot Noir – ‘Guest Star – It’s always good to have friends drop in when you are playing a show. Squire Canyon may not be part of our regular cast, but when we got the opportunity to bring this San Luis Obispo County fruit on our 2017 vintage tour, we jumped at the chance.’

19. Tolosa Winery

At Tolosa Winery, we are true believers in the special terroir that is Edna Valley, nestled amongst the northwest to southeast running volcanic hills of San Luis Obispo County and the frontier for the most complex cool-climate varietals in California.

Our Pinot Noirs and Chardonnays reflect the cold northwest wind that sweeps down the coast and funnels into the valley, as well as the remarkable diversity of soil types: ingredients for nuanced and balanced wines of distinctive character. Now, we have ten current-release Pinot Noirs and ten library Pinot Noirs.

• 1772 Pinot Noir 2018 – This Pinot Noir is a medley of Tolosa’s estate vineyard Edna Ranch. The estate vineyard is spread throughout the Edna Valley, producing six unique vineyard sections with 60 soil types and a myriad of microclimates. For the 2018 vintage, this wine will show the bright red fruit common in Edna Valley as well as the freshness that comes with the cool coastal climate.  Juicy fruit with acidity upfront exhibiting notes of blood orange, and rhubarb progressing to forest floor, blonde tobacco, black tea, crushed oyster shell and potpourri on the finish.
• Pacific Wind Pinot Noir 2019 – As a homage to the daily Pacific Wind that moderates the Edna Valley’s climate, we strive for this wine to be fresh as the marine sea breeze. Most of the grapes represented in this wine come from the Hollister and Monighetti sections located on the westside of Edna Valley. These sections are the first to receive the influence from Pacific Wind and are the closest to the Pacific Ocean. The moderating influence preserves the crisp acidity in the grapes.
• Stone Lion Pinot Noir 2019 – The 2019 vintage was a classic expression of a cool climate Pinot Noir. Stone Lion is a Pinot that is on the bolder side of all the Pinot Noirs we make from Edna Ranch. It will have more weight and more structure than our other offerings. We always use a little bit more new oak to age our Stone Lion Pinot Noir.
• Cuvée Pinot Noir 2019 – The Cuvée Pinot Noir is tied to different terroir throughout California. The climate, topography and soils all play a vital role in creating the environment the grapes experience on the vine. The concept of Cuvée, a precise blend, lends me the liberty to highlight specific nuances from a collection of California appellations. The result is an exemplary wine that represents everything we love about California Pinot Noir.
• Apex Vineyard Pinot Noir 2021 – Ray Franscioni’s Apex Vineyard is in the heart of the southeast-facing terraces of the Santa Lucia Mountain range overlooking the Salinas River Valley. The vineyards, at an elevation of 1,250 feet, receive morning sun exposure before being influenced by the daily fog and ocean breezes 28 miles from Monterey Bay.
• Drum Canyon Vineyard Pinot Noir 2020 – Drum Canyon vineyard is farmed by the Dierberg family and situated in the Sta. Rita Hills AVA in western Santa Barbara County. The region is adjacent to the Pacific Ocean and famous for its transverse mountain range which allows the strong maritime winds and fog to cool the vines. Drum Canyon is planted alongside Highway 246, on a steep southwest facing hillside between Lompoc and Buellton.
• Hollister-Edna Ranch Pinot Noir 2020 – Hollister is located in the heart of the Edna Valley and named for the iconic California family who played a prominent role in the history of our valley from their ranch on this property. The Hollister portion of our home vineyard, Edna Ranch, is the closest to the Pacific Ocean receiving a moderating influence to maintain balanced acidity in the grapes. Hollister has a series of rolling hills optimizing sun exposure to ripen concentrated grapes.
• Solomon Hills Vineyard Pinot Noir 2020 – Solomon Hills Vineyard experiences a long and mild growing season perfect for the style of Pinot Noir we are seeking. Located at the westernmost end of the Santa Maria Valley AVA, the vineyard sits in the valley widely open to the Pacific Ocean only 10 miles away and gently slopes towards it, so you can actually see the dunes from the vine rows. Our blocks are located on the valley floor with sandy soils and receive an aggressive afternoon sea breeze which serves as a moderating influence.
• Bien Nacido Vineyard Pinot Noir 2020 – Bien Nacido benefits from one of the longest growing seasons in California, punctuated by warm, temperate, sunny days and cool, foggy nights and mornings. The vineyard soils are Elder series which consist of well-drained gravelly loam formed from acid shale and sandstone.
• Poletti-Edna Ranch Pinot Noir 2020 – The Poletti portion of our home vineyard, Edna Ranch, is located on the mountainside slopes of the Edna Valley. The slopes offer more sun exposure, while the vineyard sits in the direct path of the coastal sea breeze, offering a cooler temperature to maintain natural acidity and fruit aromatics in the grapes.
• Primera Pinot Noir 2020 – Our flagship Primera demonstrates the full potential that makes Pinot Noir one of the most coveted grapes in the world. Primera is a small-lot selection of the best of our estate vineyard, Edna Ranch, located in the coolest appellation in California, Edna Valley.  Only the finest choice of French oak barrels is used to age our highest echelon wine. This is a statement Pinot Noir for the enophile ready for prestige.