A Toast to the Coast – Brian Talley on the new San Luis Obispo Coast AVA

A Toast to the Coast – Brian Talley on the new San Luis Obispo Coast AVA
As a third-generation farmer of the San Luis Obispo Coast and a leader of the local wine industry, Brian Talley was the perfect person to help create California’s newest and most coastal AVA.

San Luis Obispo County sits on the California coast just north of Santa Barbara. It is quickly becoming a hot region in the wine world. Known for its great value in grapes (and amazing Avocados, btw), many well-known producers are starting wineries there. However, it took someone whose family has been in the region for three generations to see what the region could slowly, but surely become.

If you are not familiar with him already, allow us to introduce you to Brian Talley, owner of Talley Vineyards and the leader of the movement to create California’s newest winemaking region, the San Luis Obispo Coast AVA or SLO Coast.

We sat down with Brian to discuss why he felt the San Luis Obispo Coast needed its own AVA and what sets this region apart!


WHY DID YOU WANT TO START A NEW AVA ALONG THE CALIFORNIA COAST?  

TELL US ABOUT THE PROCESS OF CREATING A NEW AVA IN CALIFORNIA.  


SO WHY NAME IT THE SAN LUIS OBISPO COAST AVA?  


WHAT SETS SLO COAST APART FROM OTHER AVAS?  


WHAT DOES THE FUTURE LOOK LIKE FOR THIS AVA? 


 

THE WINES

Wine and Spirit Label 1

Chardonnay ‘Arroyo Grande – Estate’, Talley Vineyards

• Practicing Sustainable
• 100% Chardonnay
• Sourced entirely from the Talley Estate Vineyards
• 65% from the Rincon Vineyard (planted in 1984) and 35% from Rosemary’s Vineyard (Planted in 1987)
• Calcareous clay and sandy loam soils
• Aged 14 months in French oak (30% new)
• 13.4% abv

Wine and Spirit Label 2

Chardonnay ‘SLO Coast – Estate’, Talley Vineyards [Summer Release]

• Practicing Sustainable
• 100% Chardonnay
• Sourced entirely from the Talley Estate Vineyards
• Rincon Vineyard and Rosemary Vineyard (Arroyo Grande) & Oliver’s Vineyard (Edna Valley)
• 2020 marks the first vintage as coming from the San Luis Obispo Coast established by Brian Talley
• Various, but mostly Calcareous clay and sandy loam soils
• Aged 11 months in French oak (25% new) & 3 months in tank
• 13.7% abv

Wine and Spirit Label 3

Pinot Noir ‘Arroyo Grande – Estate’, Talley Vineyards

• Practicing Sustainable

• 100% Pinot Noir

• Sourced entirely from the Talley Estate Vineyards

• 65% from the Rincon Vineyard (planted in 1984) and 35% from Rosemary’s Vineyard (planted in 1987)

• Calcareous clay and sandy loam soils

• Aged 14 months in French oak (30% new)

• 13.4% abv

Wine and Spirit Label 4

Chardonnay ‘Rosemary’s Vyd’, Talley Vineyards

• Practicing Sustainable

• 100% Estate Chardonnay

• Rosemary’s Vineyard located in the Arroyo Grande Valley AVA

• Chalky, white Lopez shale loam soil series

• Talley’s coolest, most age-worthy site

• Aged for 14 months in French oak barrels (28% new)

• 13.8% alc.

Wine and Spirit Label 5

Pinot Noir ‘Rosemary’s Vyd’, Talley Vineyards

• Practicing Sustainable

• 100% Pinot Noir

• Rosemary’s Vineyard located in the Arroyo Grande Valley AVA

• Chalky, white Lopez shale loam soil series

• Talley’s coolest, most age-worthy site

• Aged for 54 months in French oak barrels (35% new)

• 13.8% alc.

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