The Wine History Project of SLO County preserves and presents two centuries of local viticulture through research, interviews, exhibitions, publications, talks and tastings. We work with local museums, galleries, archives, and wineries to organize events and exhibitions in venues throughout the county.
Together We Can Preserve the Story of Central Coast Winemaking
3592 Broad Street,
Suite 104,
San Luis Obispo,
CA 93401
(805) 439-4647
libbie@winehistoryproject.org
By Appointment
This article focuses on the history of the Kentucky Ranch from 1850 when San Luis Obispo County was established to the year 2004 when Sherman Thacher purchased a portion of the old Kentucky Ranch with the KY historic barn and founded Thacher Winery. Sherman built the first winery on the property and planted grape varieties to produce wines that reflect the terroir and sense of place.
Blake Printery, founded in the city of San Luis Obispo, established the business of producing and printing wine labels for the wine industry with a graphic design team and cutting-edge technology that has become one of the most famous and dynamic in the world.
Frank Pesenti founded the first winery that was bonded after Prohibition in 1934, Pesenti Winery famous for Zinfandel and generic red table wines sold in gallon jugs.
First-generation winemaker Lorenzo and his wife, Cesarina Nonini planted a vineyard and built their winery in 1917, naming it Templeton Winery. Templeton Winery was the second winery in San Luis Obispo County bonded after Prohibition was repealed in 1934.
Aldo Nerelli and Victor Pesenti, the second generation of winemakers (1946–1969) at Pesenti Winery.
Third-generation Italian grower and winemaker at the famous Pesenti Winery and his own ZinAlley in Templeton. Frank is proud of his heritage and continues to strengthen the Legacy of both the Nerelli and Pesenti families.
A third-generation winemaker and the only one of Frank Pesenti’s twenty grandchildren who continued to work at the Pesenti Winery until it was sold to Larry Turley in 2001, Frank Nerelli is the founder of ZinAlley Winery.
Stephen Ross Dooley is a mentor and wine consultant that has helped local winemakers and wineries produce award-winning wines in both the Edna and Arroyo Grande Valleys. He founded Stephen Ross Wine Cellars after being the winemaker at Edna Valley Vineyard and Moro Bay Vineyards. He is a co-founder of the Edna Valley Vintners Association and worked with Brian Talley to establish World of Pinot and in developing the Stone Corral Vineyard.
Catharine Niven was the first woman in San Luis Obispo County to plant her own vineyard and to make wine under her own label, Tiffany Hill, in the Edna Valley. She is also the first winemaker in the Niven family, owners of the Paragon Vineyard Co., who planted extensive vineyards in the Edna Valley in 1973 and became famous for the quality of their Chardonnay grapes.
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