As I was driving from my home in Paso Robles to Talley Vineyards in San Luis Obispo, I couldn’t help but wonder why I hadn’t already explored this part of wine country on the Central Coast of California. The area is beautiful with ranches, farms, and vineyards tucked in valleys and alongside hills.
What I learned quickly, is that Talley Vineyards is found in the eastern section of the SLO (San Luis Obispo) Coast AVA and is a leader in the production of world class, highly rated Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. The region’s proximity to the Pacific Ocean creates a cool, maritime climate with fog, coastal breezes, and a long growing season, ideal for producing wines with vibrant acidity, complex flavors, and ability to age. It’s fair to say that I’m hooked.
Photo Credit: Talley Vineyards
About the SLO Coast AVA
SLO Coast AVA is a narrow strip of 60 miles (96 km) from San Simeon in the north to Nipomo in the south. It is a new designation, becoming official in March 2022 by the US Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau.
The 400,000-acre region is cool with year-round temperatures ranging between 65-80°F (12-26°C). The closest plantings are a mere quarter-mile from the Pacific coast, while the farthest is 15 miles (24 km). Within this cozy area, the vast majority of acreage, 97%, is under 1,800 ft. of elevation.
The AVA, which has 4,000 acres of vines, also includes the long-established Edna Valley AVA and Arroyo Grande Valley AVA, home to Talley Vineyards. Producers who grow in these two areas can choose whichever appellation they feel best represents their wines. If opting for the new SLO Coast designation on labels, the two allowable names are “San Luis Obispo Coast” or “SLO Coast”.
The area is indeed unique. The region’s 78 vineyards extend along the coastal benchlands, hillsides and valleys between the Pacific and the western slope of the Santa Lucia Mountains. “This range stretches from Big Sur down through San Luis Obispo County, trapping the chilly coastal wind and fog against its slopes and channeling them through the AVA,” states an SLO Coast Wine Collective press release from March 2022.
Chardonnay and Pinot Noir represent over 80% of vineyard plantings in the SLO Coast AVA. Syrah follows with approximately 8%. Twenty other varieties, in smaller amounts, make up the remainder.” Excerpt from Coast Meets Vines: The “Cool” San Luis Obispo Coast AVA by Cindy Lowe Rynning in SOMMTV Magazine
Photo Credit: Talley Vineyards
Talley Vineyards is Built on Legacy and Sustainability
Greeting me at the door upon my arrival was Elizabeth Talley, great granddaughter of Oliver Talley who founded Talley Farms in 1948. During our tour and tasting, Elizabeth, who officially joined the team in 2024, explained that in 1982, Oliver’s son Don and his wife Rosemary, planted their first wine grapes on hillside plots of the family ranch. By 1986, Talley Vineyards was officially established. As of 1991, Brian Talley, third generation vegetable farmer, second-generation vintner, and Elizabeth’s father, assumed a position at the helm of the family business. His importance is not overlooked; he played “a pivotal road in elevating the Central Coast as a world-class wine region and was instrumental in establishing the San Luis Obispo Coast AVA.”
Photo Credit: Talley Vineyards
Elizabeth shared that Talley Vineyards is “rooted in a legacy of sustainability” and the family is proud of producing wines showcasing their estate vineyards spanning 129 acres in Arroyo Grande Valley and Edna Valley AVAs. In essence, this is why Talley Vineyards is special – the people, the process, and the place.
Our tasting was a brilliant snapshot of those vineyards. Rincon Vineyard in Arroyo Grande Valley is considered Talley’s home vineyard. Planted in 1982, the wines are balanced and fruit forward. Rosemary’s Vineyard, the coolest of all the estate vineyards, was planted in 1987 in Arroyo Grande Valley. The brand’s flagship site, named after Brian’s mother, is known for elegant, age-worthy Chardonnays and Pinot Noirs. Oliver’s Vineyard in Edna Valley was planted in 1991. The parcel is known for producing wines of Chardonnay, Gruner Veltliner, and Sauvignon Blanc with vibrant acidity and minerality. Lush, Burgundian style Pinot Noir, is cultivated in Stone Corral Vineyard, a collaborative vineyard, located in Edna Valley.
Photo Credit: Talley Vineyards
Talley Vineyards is SIP Certified. There is no use of herbicides, wastewater is recycled, owl boxes and more are in use, and 90% of power is solar. All vineyard employees are full time and are offered health insurance.
Tasting Selected Wines from Talley Vineyards with Elizabeth Talley
In 2010, Eric Johnson was named Talley Vineyards Winemaker and in 2024, he became Director of Viticulture and Winemaking. His goal is to maintain innovation including the use of native yeast fermentations and elevage of each vineyard block in order to produce “elegant, expressive and energetic Chardonnays and Pinot Noirs.” Wines tasted in the well appointed member’s lounge overlooking the property were outstanding. In fact, each can be swirled, sipped, and savored any time and anywhere. With food? Of course! But I can see sipping any of these beauties on the patio with a good book or with friends. Perfect!
Each sip of 2023 Sauvignon Blanc ($34) offered racy acidity, plenty of body, notes of stone fruit and chalk, and minerality reminding me of my summer visiting Sancerre… with a SLO Coast AVA twist. Refreshing 2022 Rincon Chardonnay ($65) boasted not only citrus, florals, lemongrass, stone fruit, and cream, but 96 points from esteemed wine critic Jeb Dunnuck. This wine was barrel fermented then aged 16 months in 40% new French oak barriques and puncheons. 2022 Oliver’s Chardonnay ($65) was just lovely and rife with flavors of crunchy green apple, beeswax, lavender, lime, and stone fruit. It was aged for 14 months in 40% new French oak barriques and puncheons.
2022 Rincon Pinot Noir ($85) was produced with Burgundian style for which Eric Johnson is noted. Elegant with structure, bright acidity, moderate tannins, and spicy fruit notes, this wine is exceptional-Jeb Dunnuck knows it, too. 30% of the grapes were whole cluster and 70% de-stemmed before fermentation. This Pinot Noir was aged 16 months in 32% new French oak barrels. 2022 Rosemary’s Pinot Noir ($95), another Jeb Dunnuck favorite, was easy drinking from the first sip to the last. Notes of red fruit, spice, and minerality were framed with moderate acidity and tannic structure on the palate. Rosemary’s Pinot Noir was aged for 16 months in 39% new French oak barrels. A glass could be served at your next special dinner party or a Friday evening al fresco dinner. In fact, earlier vintages were poured at the White House during the Bush and Clinton administrations.
Elizabeth poured 2015 and 2022 Stone Corral Pinot Noir ($85 each). 2022 was fruit forward and approachable with aromas of plums, tobacco, and beeswax, leading to flavors of black fruits, dark cherries and plenty of texture. It was aged for 14 months in new French oak barrels. Ahh, the 2015 vintage shows why many wines can be aged. This was complex with plenty of body, rich tertiary flavors, vibrant acidity, and satin-like tannins. Wow!
Our final taste was 2023 Talley Vineyards Don’s Legacy Blend ($48), a food friendly wine (think Santa Maria style bbq tri-tip sandwich) of Grenache and Syrah offering notes of black fruit, spice, tobacco and hickory. The blend was aged in neutral French oak barrels for 14 months before bottling.
Visit Talley Vineyards Now
It’s clear that I look forward to returning to Talley Vineyards with a small or perhaps large group of friends or family. Outside seating is cozy with enough room for any number of guests’ privacy and conversation. Inside, tables, chairs and sofas offer comfort and sweeping views of the property including the family vineyards and farmland. Members have access to a private room with displays of family memorabilia and spaces perfect for sipping and sharing. You need some food for nibbling? Two sizes of cheese boards as well as a hummus plate are delicious choices to pair with the variety of wines. A tasting of 5-6 tasting room exclusive wines is $30; the fee is waived with the purchase of two wines.
See you there!
Cheers! ~ Cindy
