Gewurztra-what?

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The tasting room has been aflutter since the release of our first vintage of Estate Gewürztraminer (sounds like girls are meaner).  Although guests have been shy to call it by name, the wine has been flying out the door.  Some guests have resorted to renaming it “The G Wine”.  Some simply point at the tasting menu and say, “I want that one”.  The somewhat awkwardness of this grape's name is slowing down no one

We planted a one acre test plot of Gewürztraminer in 2008, harvested our first vintage in 2013, and recently released this vintage to the public a few weeks ago.   It was planted along with our Estate Sauvignon Blanc to determine whether Stolo Family Vineyards was indeed the proper climate for these lively whites to grow.  Gweurztraminer thrives in cool climate regions. Based on the feedback we’ve been receiving, we’re pretty sure our vineyard site is optimal.

Gewurztraminer is an interesting grape.  It hails from Alsace and can produce wines varying in sweetness.  German versions tend to be on the dry side, whereas French styles tend to hold onto the high natural sugars this grape produces.  We’ve opted to create an off-dry version of this wine, leaning towards dry but retaining a touch of sweet.

All that being said, it is a fun wine.  It’s approachable yet classic.  It pairs well with spicy food or a warm summer day.   We are one of very few, if not the only, estate grown & bottled Gewürztraminer in San Luis Obispo County.   So far “The G Wine” has been a huge crowd pleaser….we may have to plant more.

Drink What You Like

I get a lot of self-imposed neophytes in the tasting room.  Most are very shy about telling me “they know nothing about wine.”  I’ll ask them if they prefer white wine, red wine, or like both.  They’ll pick one and I’ll reciprocate with, “See, you already know something about wine, what YOU like.”  This is, quite frankly, the most important thing you’ll ever need to know about wine.

Wine has been celebrated for thousands of years.  It holds agricultural, religious, and historical significance. For centuries, wine has been woven through the facets of the everyday life of the common man.  Not until the 20th century was wine perceived as a luxury good surrounded by this notion that you had to be in the know to partake.  Ratings, medals, websites, classes, flashy label designs, and marketing schemes all developed to tell you what wine is hot and what you are supposed to be drinking right now.  Most people feel lost and are afraid to admit it.

You don’t need any of that. You need your mouth and your nose.  It’s mindblowingly simple.

If you are truly interested in wine, into finding the one that makes your mouth sing, then get out and try as much of it as you can.  You are the only critic of your taste buds.  Have fun with it.  Pick up a $6 bottle of wine and give it a try.  Like it?  Great!  Pick up a different bottle next time, go wine tasting, or grab a glass of wine at a restaurant.  Don’t be afraid to try different types, it’s only wine.  If you like it, fantastic!  Put it in the “like” column.  If you don’t, there’s always next time.  But, at least you know. You are beginning to form your own opinions about what YOU like and more importantly, what you don’t like.  

So, next time you wander into a tasting room, don’t be shy.  Boldly tell the person behind the bar you are on a quest for the perfect wine for you.

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.