Year in Review

2013 was an amazingly busy year for our little winery.  As the final blog post for 2013, I thought I’d recap a few highlights as we put this year to rest:  

Pacific Coast Wine Trail is launched in January- Working together with the six other tasting rooms along the Coast from San Simeon to Cayucos, we successfully launched the first coastal wine trail in California.  The trail meanders down HWY 1 and boasts multiple activities to enjoy along with first class wine tasting.  The Pacific Coast Wine Trail was highlighted in several publications this year and organized its first charitable fundraiser for Project Surf Camp.  We have big expectations for next year and are already planning our events (which I am super excited about!)  If you want to check out our first event for 2014, join us for dinner on January 26, 2014 as we attempt to do the impossible; pair 2 wines with each of 4 courses!  The Winemaker Dinner is part of the ever popular Cambria Art & Wine Festival weekend.  

Sunset Magazine visits Stolo Family Winery- September 2013 was a memorable month.  We were  tapped to host an Adventure Tour for Sunset Savor the Central Coast 2013.  A huge honor for a boutique winery.  Guests were invited out to the vineyard and winery to learn all about growing coastal.  They toured the vineyard and property, planted their own vines, tasted through two flights of estate grown Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, had lunch, and enjoyed the day.  We hosted guests from all over the country as well as staff from Sunset Magazine, Food Channel, and  lifestyle blogs.  What an amazing day!

First Crush at Stolo Family Winery-  2013 harvest brought with it the long anticipated first crush at our own facility.  The opportunity to realize the completion of our plan set out in 2004 had finally arrived.  We harvested a remarkable crop both in quantity and quality.  The press, destemmer, tanks, and barrels were all put to the test and performed without a hitch.  The family is grateful for all the hard work our winemaker, vineyard consultant, staff and crew put into making our first crush so successful.

Wine Enthusiast Magazine pick for Editor’s Choice-  Being the little guy is great, but we’re not always easily recognized in the wine world.  Which is why we were so pleased to learn our 2011 Stolo Family Vineyards Chardonnay was chosen as Editor’s Choice among the 100’s of other submissions to Wine Enthusiast Magazine.  Our boutique size bars us from many competitions and reviewers.  It was refreshing to see a national magazine shine its light on a small producer.

Inclusion in The New California Wine by Jon Bonne-  I got a call from Jon Fall of 2012.  He said he had finished writing a book and that he was doing some fact checking.  He asked me a few questions about the vineyard and our family.  I asked him what the book was about and he said it was about the the winemakers and vineyards on the forefront of the revolution in winemaking.  Speechless.  I managed to thank him for including us and hung up.  Us?  On the forefront of the revolution in winemaking?  WOW.  We were forced to wait until November 2013 to actually read his newly released book.  Again, I was immediately touched to be included along side many prestigious labels.  It has been wonderful to watch the publication gain such momentum since its release a month ago.

Above all, a fantastic year.  Many thanks to all who helped make it so.  The bar is set high for 2014.  I’m ready...

-Cent'Anni!

Double Digits

First Harvest: 2004

This past Saturday brought the last day of 2013 harvest for us as we picked our cool climate syrah from the vine.  Last Saturday also marked the end of our 10th harvest here at Stolo Family Vineyards. As I sit here and reflect, I am struck with how much we have accomplished as a small winery and how much our family has changed.  We’ve had many new additions to the family; births and weddings.  We’ve also had many, many losses; most recently, my Grandpa Stolo.  His passing affects me most definitely as a granddaughter, but curiously as a businesswoman as well.  

Dominick Stolo at work circa 1957

My grandfather, Dominick Stolo, started Stolo Cabinets out of his garage in Orange County in 1953.  It slowly grew into a thriving business my father, Don, eventually began running.  My dad has since taken Stolo Cabinets to a new level of success  I know my grandfather was pleased to see.  I watched my grandfather and father work closely through my childhood and adult years.  I saw what it took, and sometimes, how difficult it was, to run a family business.  It isn’t easy to build a business around a family, but it can be done.

Stolo Cabinets: Late 1950's

Family is one of the cornerstones of this winery and I hold it dear to my heart.  We are dedicated to producing a hand-crafted, quality wine we are proud to put our name on.  My grandfather did get to see the first 10 years of this winery take shape.  He got to see his son venture down the same entrepreneurial road he did and his grandchildren join in the journey.  

I plan to continue down the path.  I plan to follow in his footsteps, adding my touches along the way.  They are large shoes to fill.  But, hey, I’m a Stolo.

First Day: Stolo Family Tasting Room, November 2012

Inheriting Trouble

There is a lot of history behind the property where Stolo family Vineyards now sits.  Probably the most noted was

Dairy Barn

that of owners Salvadore and Katherine Berri back in the early 1900’s.  Salvadore (Sam) was an Italian-Swiss immigrant who landed on the Central Coast of California and became a dairy farmer.  Sam and Katherine built the beautiful barn that still sits on the property today to house their dairy cows.  The farm was very lucrative selling their dairy products to the nearby Creamery in Harmony.  But, Sam was also an Italian, and wine was in his blood.  In his native land, he learned the basics of wine making.  After settling here, Sam began purchasing grapes from the York and Pesenti Families in Templeton, the oldest grape growers in the area.  He started making wine and grappa (a grape based brandy consisting of alcohol contents of anywhere between 35-60%) on site for self-consumption and for his neighbors.

Cammozi's Saloon

Prohibition hit and Sam was barred from making wine and grappa further.  Sam decided to dig an underground cellar under the barn where he placed his still and barrels and secretly continued to make his wine and fiery grappa, although it was illegal to do so.  Word got around that he was still producing alcohol and he began quietly selling the grappa to local saloon owners Rosa Camozzi and Joseph Reali.  Rosa and Joseph would then sell Sam’s “grape juice” at their saloon, Camozzi’s, in Cambria (now named Mozzi’s).  

"Prohibition Bust"- stock photo

Sam did get busted and sent to jail a few times for producing alcohol, but he continued to produce through Prohibition and afterwards.  The location of the underground cellar housing the still is still a mystery.  Sam and Katherine passed away in the 1960’s along with the information regarding where the secret cellar was.  The Stolo family has poked around in several locations searching for where it might be, but have yet to uncover it…..

Double Crossed

If you’ve been out to visit us here at the tasting room and vineyard, you’ve most likely noticed the two crosses perched high upon the hill, watching over the Stolo property.  Simple in construction, two old pieces of wood strapped together by barbed wire, but striking against the skyline.  I’ve had lots of people asking if I know why the crosses are there.

I do know how one cross made it up to the hilltop.  The previous owner of this property, as he tells it, put one there during his time of need.  Being a religious man and having had fallen on difficult times, he dragged two large pieces of wood up the steep hill, strapped them together and plunged the makeshift cross into the ground next to the cross that was already in place on the hill.  He immediately felt a sense of inspiration after placing his worries into that hilltop cross.  Every time he felt overwhelmed he would gaze up at the cross and feel a sense of calm, knowing that someone was watching over him.  

How or why the original cross was erected continues to be a mystery along Santa Rosa Creek Road.  Descendants from families that have lived along this road for decades know almost everything about the evolution of Santa Rosa Creek Road except the origin of that one cross.  Most people believe that someone is buried up there since it was common practice back in the day to bury the dead at the highest point possible, closest to God.  No one feels the need to dig around to find out.

Whatever the story is behind the original cross, it is obvious that both crosses were placed high upon the hilltop for meaningful reasons.  You can still feel it to this day, a sense of peace when you gaze up at the two.  It is a beautiful sight.

 

You Want My Opinion?

I had a fantastic time chatting with a young wine blogger in the tasting room the other day.  Megan Bauer, wineallday.tumblr.com, has recently started a wine blog and was out to review the wineries on the Pacific Coast Wine Trail.  I believe Stolo Family Winery was her 3^rd(ish) stop along the trail.  Megan is a shade of my younger self; loves wine, food, and was ready to tell me just what she thought about it all.  She loved to talk foodie and we spoke at length about wine styles and food pairing.  She was unabashedly upfront with her opinions…I loved it.

I was ultimately envious of her new adventure in wine reviewing and tried to squeeze every bit of information out of her about what it was like to wander from tasting room to tasting room critiquing wine as she went.  This is something that I have always secretly wanted to do (in my spare time of course).  But, I have no spare time.  And, I am not as gutsy as she is…anymore.  I think my wine review blog would ultimately turn into a lukewarm dissertation of why I “kind-off” liked the wine.  I can usually find the good in a glass, even if it’s not my style.  I always try to appreciate what the winemaker is aiming for and based on price, production size, etc. I tend to judge accordingly.  I am the type of person though, that if I don’t like a glass, I don’t say anything.  My response, now, mirrors the age old saying, “If you can’t say something nice, don’t say anything at all”.

Who am I to deem whether the Chardonnay has too much oak?  It may for me, but for someone else, it may be right on the mark.  You will hear me say time and time again in the tasting room, “It’s o.k. to not like a particular wine.  Tasting all wines is part of the journey to discovering what it is you do like”.  I do believe strongly in that.  But, naturally we are all inclined to have opinions and would like others to agree with us. 

I have to hand it to those out there laying down their personal opinions like a new law.  It appeals to the “scrappy” part of me that has softened over the years when it comes to giving my private opinion in a public setting.  Really, only my husband is privy to my actually opinion when it comes to wine, and I think he’s had an earful!

At the time of this post, Megan had not yet published her review of Stolo Family Winery and Vineyards.  I look forward to reading exactly what she thinks about us!

The Perfect Duo

In anticipation of our Sauvignon Blanc Oyster pick-up/release BBQ, I’ve asked Mia Trevelyan, our tasting room assistant extraordinaire and daughter of George Trevelyan (owner of Grassy Bar OysterCompany), to share insight into her family’s local, organic business:

“Grassy Bar Oyster Company is the pursuit and passion of Cayucos local marine biologist George Trevelyan and his family. With more than 21 years of experience in the shellfish business, George purchased the oyster farm in 2009 with the intention of bringing high quality, fresh, local oysters to our community. The farm is located in perhaps the most beautiful work environment on the coast. Situated in the back bay of Morro Bay, the Trevelyan boys and a few other lucky ones witness aspects of the estuary few others are privileged to enjoy. From a dock in the back bay the boys plant, sort and harvest the oysters by hand. The oysters are completely organically raised and thrive in an estuary where cold open ocean water predominates, giving the Grassybars a briny, robust and satisfying flavor. As the farm and business become increasingly established the Trevelyan family is proud to supply Grassybars not only locally, but with the help of their supplier, state and nation wide as well.”- Mia Trevelyan

Grassy Bar will be providing their delectable delicacy for the BBQ at the end of the month!  We could not be more excited to team up with another local family business to offer the best.

Oysters and Sauvignon Blanc are a classic duo.  The bright acidity of the wine dances gracefully with the saltiness of the sea.  Stolo Family Vineyards’ Sauvignon Blanc shows traditional varietal characteristics;  light body, crisp acidity and minerality, tangerine peel, and citrus notes.  This style shines when paired with the salty, briny notes of the oyster. 

I’m ready to slurp, sip, and enjoy these two local, classic, first-class, family crafted delights that are cultivated with love.

*A few tickets are still available for the June 23rd BBQ, come join us! Tickets

Our Doors Are Open




It’s been 2 months since we opened our tasting room doors and I am completely overwhelmed with the response we have received.  We truely had no idea what to expect.  Would people show up?  A scarey question to ask.  Luckily they did, and have been ever since.  We've had the pleasure of hosting locals and tourist.  All curious about our wines and our story.  All more than happy to leasurely sip wine and enjoying their surroundings.  I think the goats have gotten as much attention as the wine.  But, that's what the goal has always been.  To be able to invite our guests to come out and see where the wines are grown and experience first-hand the beauty and uniqueness of this location. 


It has been a lot of fun as well.  Meeting so many new people and watching them experience our wine for the first time, hearing their stories, and finding out how they wandered our way.   We could not have asked for a better first few months and look forward to a successful first year (fingers crossed).  It has been a very long road to get the doors open, and yet we are now only at the beginning of our journey.

*Photo by Brandon Follett of Bridge Street Inn, Cambria: www.bsicambria.com