“We chose a vineyard in Templeton in the Paso AVA because we love the pioneering spirit of the wine industry in this area. For logistical reasons, we like the fact that it's almost exactly half way between LA and San Francisco. Also, Templeton is a quiet, unassuming little place. Nobody would suspect that world changing forces are at work here. By the time they realize, it will be too late. Enough about that, though.”
– Ray Schofield
Read MoreSmall producers have undeniable focus, laced with exciting stories of small scale production.
— Ethan Etnyre
Read More“Our story begins on the corner of 13th Street and Third Avenue in New York City where my wife Julie and I first met. Our tag line “New York Roots. California Vines.” Lets people know where we’re from, and where the wine is from.”
– Gregg Rothburg
Read More“Jean & Larry Rowe were both in the computer industry. Jean is a serious photographer and Larry spent many years working on digital media and entertainment applications. So, it was natural to think about color spectrums and related terminology. Jean created the tag line “Wine is neither black nor white. It’s always shades of grey” that perfectly captures the notion that winemaking requires constant attention to detail and continuous adaptation to the grapes produced each year.”
Read More“We work with Syrah, Grenache, Mourvèdre, Grenache Blanc and Viognier. We have plans to also work with Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot, Chardonnay and perhaps Pinot Noir in the future. Our winemaker is especially passionate about Syrah for its dark fruit flavor, peppery finish and gorgeous full body.”
– Anita Kothari
Read More“I specialize in Petite Sirah and blends using that grape. It’s just so versatile based on location, farming practice and winemaking style. I also use Syrah, Grenache, Tannat and Petit Verdot in my red blends, and sometimes as single varietal bottlings, depends on the vintage. I make a Viognier as well with grapes from the Caliza Vineyard.”
– Matt Villard
Read More“The name says it all. We are all about family and this passion project is my attempt to integrate my wife and children into my daily life and, hopefully, create some sort of a legacy that they will want to be a part of as they get older. I want the smells of harvest to be one of the smells that they remember vividly from their childhood. The labels are just fun little works of art. Some people think I’m crazy for having such a weird and wild label like Boomshakalaka but I am far more focused on the wine inside of the bottle and letting it speak for itself.”
– Mark Ferguson
Read More“Knowing where your food (and wine) comes from is an important aspect for consumers, especially here in California. I see more people becoming interested in the stories behind their wine; the people, the area, etc. and appreciating small-lot wines made with intention and quality.”
–Riley Hubbard
Read More“ I love that it’s still small in Dry Creek and a little below the radar for Cabernet unlike Alexander Valley. Russian River gets all the credit for Pinot. Dry Creek sits quietly in the middle growing more Cabernet than Zinfandel, even though everyone thinks of Zinfandel when they think of DCV.”
– David Scheidt
Read More“Through the necessary rose-tinted glasses of a small business owner. The consolidation of the distribution market has made wine sales increasingly cutthroat and competitive, hindering the smaller producers, while at the same time the market demand for artisanal products has risen dramatically, giving the local winemaker spotlight and attention. As long as consumers continue to demand wines with soul and stories, there will always be a place for the independent small-lot winemaker.”
–Taylor Bodstun
Read More“The vineyard is located on the land of Pomo natives and we choose a Pomo name to honor the history of the place, Powicana or red clay earth. The label illustration is a rendering of a view of the vineyard.”
– Zoubeida Zajac
Read More“ My favorite is Tempranillo. The wines are dark, full of tannins, and surprisingly acidic. When young they are fresh and fruity yet when aged have connotations of tobacco and leather. It’s great for blending. It’s very versatile variety and it ripens early!”
– Mark Welch
Read More“Cab Sauv is my fave as it's the wine that inspired me to start my own label.” — Dusty Nabor
Read More“Volatus means flight in Latin. My background is not wine but as a Navy pilot. I flew FA-18 Hornets and Super Hornets for the Navy and served two tours as a TOPGUN Instructor. When I started the wine label I wanted something aviation related but not immediately apparent. Over the years we have made the Volatus label more and more about aviation and flight and the branding works very well.”
– Hal Schmitt
Read More“At Monochrome, we are focused exclusively on white wines. In 2016, we worked with Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Marsanne, Roussanne, Viognier, and Albarino. In 2017, we are planning to add Chenin Blanc to that list. We have enjoyed working will all those varieties, and don’t really have a favorite yet. In 2016, the Chardonnay was probably the most fun, as we broke it up into a lot of very small components, and took different approaches with each of them.”
Read MoreWe never get tired of tasting our own wine, however, it is important to also taste other wines to keep our palate in tune. Dipping into our inventory is purely a form of quality control!
— Roger Nicolas
Read More“Grenache is my favorite. It loves to give. It is big fruited, bright when it’s not overripe, has guts but can be complex, and likes our sunny climate. “ — Dennis Sharpe
Read MorePaso Robles is very special to us not only because the climate allows us to grow top quality grapes; but also because Paso is rich with honest and hardworking families. — Enrique Torres
Read MoreThe more I learned about wine, the more I want to know. I fell in love with the nuances between different regions and different winemaker styles.
—Maria Stolo Bennitti
Read More“Pedro started by making small batches of wines with friends. He eventually studied enology at UC Davis and graduated with a Winemaker Certification.”
–Vicky Vargas
Read More
