Wine History by Decade: 2000s

California Mid-State Fair, Wine Industry Award Recipients: Winemakers – Bill and Nancy Greenough; Winegrowers – Pebble Smith Family; Lifetime Achievement – Pesenti and Nerelli Families.

Robert Haas (Tablas Creek Vineyard) is elected President of the Académie Internationale du Vin. He is the first American to elected to this position.

Justin Vineyards and Winery’s ISOSCELES by winemaker Justin Baldwin is named one of the ten best wines in the world by Wine Spectator. Paso Robles becomes famous and draws international attention to San Luis Obispo County.

Tenth Annual Harvest Celebration is hosted at Biddle Regional Park in Arroyo Grande by Edna Valley Arroyo Grande Valley Vintners’ Association on November 4, 2000. The event included wine and food tasting, a live and silent auction, personalized wine glass etching by Thom and Lori Chamberlain, T-shirt artist Tom di Santo and Harvest artist Gayle Brucher. Participating wineries included: Baileyana, Cerro Caliente Cellars, Claiborne and Churchill, Corbett Canyon Vineyards, Cottonwood Canyon, Domaine Alfred, Edna Valley Vineyard, Hug Cellars, Kynsi Winery, Laetitia Winery and Vineyard, Laverne Vineyards, Martin and Weyrich Winery, Meridian Vineyards, Nichols Winery and Cellars, Perbacco Cellars, Piedra Creek Winery, Saucelito Canyon Vineyard, Seven Peaks, Stephen Ross, Talley Vineyards, Tolosa Winery, Wedell Cellars, Windemere/Cathy MacGregor Wines. Special Guest Wineries included: Alban Vineyards, Au Bon Climat, Brucher, Cal Poly Wine, Carmenet Winery, Chimere Winery, Hart’s Desire Wines, Hunt Cellars, Mount Eden Vineyards, See Canyon Winery, Tantara, and The Wine Guy.

Victor Pesenti dies in Atascadero on September 1.

California Mid-State Fair, Wine Industry Award Recipients: Winemaker – John Niven, Winegrower – Richard Sauret.

Stephen Ross Dooley (Stephen Ross Wine Cellars) plants Pinot Noir, the Dijon clones, in the Edna Valley on land leased from Brian Talley.

John Munch and Mary Fox become partners in Le Cuvier Winery.

Max Goldman sells the historic York Mountain Winery to David Weyrich.

Larry Turley of Turley Wine Cellars purchases Pesenti Winery in Templeton.

Eleventh Anniversary of Harvest Celebration hosted at Biddle Regional Park in Arroyo Grande by Edna Valley Arroyo Grande Valley Vintners’ Association on November 3, 2001. The event included wine and food tasting, a live and silent auction, personalized wine glass etching by Thom and Lori Chamberlain and featuring artist Ingrid Guttmam. Participating wineries included: Baileyana Winery, Cerro Caliente Cellars, Claiborne and Churchill Winery, Corbett Canyon Vineyards, Cottonwood Canyon Vineyards and Winery, Domaine Alfred, Edna Valley Vineyard, Kynsi Winery, Laetitia Vineyard and Winery, Laverne Vineyards, Nichol’s Winery and Cellars, Perbacco Cellars, Piedra Creek Winery, Saucelito Canyon Vineyard, Seven Peaks Winery, Stephen Ross Wine Cellars, Talley Vineyards, Tolosa Winery, Wedell Cellars, Windemere/Cathy MacGregor Wines and Wolff Vineyards. Special Guest Wineries included: Alapay Cellars, Alban Vineyards, Au Bon Climat, Brophy Clark Cellars, Brucher Winery, Cal Poly Wines, Chimere Winery, Harts Desire Wines, Hunt Cellars, Mount Eden Vineyards, Rosenblum Cellars, Tantara, and The Wine Guy. Also hosted in conjunction with Harvest Celebration events was a Winemakers’ Magnum and Central Coast Celebrity Chefs’ dinner, hosted at the Cliffs Resort on Friday, November 2, 2001.

California Mid-State Fair, Wine Industry Award Recipients:  Winemaker – Tom Myers; Winegrower – Howie Steinbeck; Wine, Industry Person – Gary Eberle.

Tablas Creek Vineyard opens a tasting room open on their property on Adelaida Road.

Jason Haas joins Tablas Creek Vineyard.

Wine critic Robert M. Parker, Jr is awarded the title Commendatore in Italy’s National Order of Merit for his contributions to the recognition of Italian wines. He is one of the few foreigners and only wine writer to ever receive this honor.

Justin Smith launches Saxum Vineyards on a family-owned hillside which had to be terraced out of rock that was once the ocean floor. His wines were almost an immediate success.

Rotta Winery reopens with new partners, Mike Giubbini and Steve Pesenti, grandsons of the Rotta family.

Edna Valley Arroyo Grande Valley Vintners and Growers Association is rebranded to San Luis Obispo Vintners and Growers Association under the leadership of Executive Director Archie McLaren.

Twelfth Annual Harvest Celebration event hosted at Biddle Regional Park in Arroyo Grande by Edna Valley Arroyo Grande Valley Vintners’ Association. The event included wine and food tasting, a live and silent auction, personalized wine glass etching by Tom Chamberlain from TLC Glass and featuring artist Carol Smith.  Participating wineries included: Alban Vineyards, Alapay Cellars, Baileyana Winery, Cerro Caliente Cellars, Claiborne and Churchill Winery, Corbett Canyon Vineyards, Domaine Alfred, Edna Valley Vineyard, Kynsi Winery, Kelsey See Canyon Vineyards, Laetitia Vineyard and Winery, Martin and Weyrich Winery, Nichols Winery and Cellars, Perbacco Cellars, Piedra Creek Winery, Ortman Winery, Saucelito Canyon Vineyard, See Canyon Winery, Seven Peaks Winery, Stephen Ross Wine Cellars, Talley Vineyards, Tolosa Winery, Wedell Cellars, Windemere/Cathy MacGregor Wines and Wolff Vineyards.  Special Guest Wineries included: Alapay Cellars, Alban Vineyards, Au Bon Climat, Brucher Winery, Cal Poly Wines, Chimere, Harrow Cellars, Hunt Cellars, Mount Eden Vineyards, Rosenblum Cellars, Tantara.

California Mid-State Fair, Wine Industry Award Recipients: Winemaker – Signe Zoller; Winegrower – Steve Carter; Wine Industry Person – Niels Udsen.

David and Judy Breitstein (Duke of Bourbon – Canoga Park), recognizing the growth of individual wine collections, establish a partnership with wine distributor, Alex Miller to open Terminal 55, a 10,000 square-foot temperature-controlled wine storage facility in Van Nuys, California for the public to store their wine collections.

The San Simeon Earthquake near Hearst Castle severely damages several historic wineries including York Mountain Winery and Rotta Winery. The York Mountain Winery is condemned.

Tablas Creek Vineyard is certified organic.

California Mid-State Fair, Wine Industry Award Recipients: Winemaker- Robert Nadeau; Winegrower- Jim Smoot; Wine Industry Person – Jeanie Eberle.

Bill and Liz Armstrong (EPOCH Estate Wines) purchase one of the vineyards planted in the 1920s which was formerly owned by famous composer and pianist Ignacy Paderewski. Justin Smith of Saxum consults with the Armstrongs on varieties to plant on 65 acres including Syrah, Grenache, Mouvedre and Rousanne.

Stacie Jacob named Executive Director of Paso Robles Wine Country Alliance.

The Fund for Vineyard and Farm Workers is established by Brian and Johnine Talley of Talley Vineyards to provided grants to non-profit organizations that assist local agricultural workers and their families. The Fund is an endowment established at the Community Foundation of San Luis Obispo County with charitable contributions from individuals, organizations, and wine auctions.

Thirteenth Annual Harvest Celebration event hosted at Biddle Regional Park in Arroyo Grande by Edna Valley Arroyo Grande Valley Vintners’ Association on November 1, 2003. The event included wine and food tasting, a live and silent auction and artist Robert Burridge. Participating wineries included: Alapay Cellars, Baileyana Winery, Cerro Caliente Cellars, Claiborne and Churchill Winery, Corbett Canyon Vineyards, Domaine Alfred, Edna Valley Vineyard, Harrow Cellars, Kelsey See Canyon Vineyards, Kynsi Winery, Laetitia Vineyards and Winery, Martin and Weyrich Winery, Meridian Vineyards, Ortman Family Vineyards, Perbacco Cellars, Piedra Creek Winery, Rancho Arroyo Grande Winery and Vineyards, Saucelito Canyon Vineyards, Stephen Ross, Talley Vineyards, Tolosa Winery, Wedell Cellars, Windemere/Cathy MacGregor Wines and Wolff Vineyards. Special Guest Wineries included: Adelaida Cellars, Alban Vineyards, Au Bon Climat, Brophy Clark, Brucher, Cal Poly Wine, Chimere Winery, Hunt Cellars, Mount Eden Vineyards, Nichols Winery, Nielson Cellar, Qupe Wine Cellars, Rosenblum Cellars, See Canyon, and Tantara.

California Mid-State Fair, Wine Industry Award Recipients: Winemaker – Vic Roberts; Winegrower – Dana Merrill; Wine Industry Person – Neil Roberts, Lifetime Achievement – Herman Schwartz.

Archie McLaren steps down as Executive Director of San Luis Obispo Vintners and Growers Association.

The Cass Winery opened its tasting room doors in May.

San Luis Obispo Vintners and Growers Association is rebranded as San Luis Obispo Vintners Association.

Ancient Peaks Winery is established by Karl Wittstrom, Rob Rossi, Doug Filipponi.

California Mid-State Fair, Wine Industry Award Recipients: Winemaker – Don Brady; Winegrower – Hank Ashby; Wine Industry Person – Doug Filipponi.

Becky Gray is hired as Executive Director of San Luis Obispo Vintners and Growers Association.

Jason Haas becomes the General Manager of Tablas Creek Vineyard.

Tablas Creek Vineyard moves the nursery to Sonoma Valley and partners with Novavine Nursery to manage it. Over 5 million cuttings are sold over the next 13 years.

Gary Eberle hires Chris Eberle (no family relationship) to work in the cellar at Eberle Winery.

Janell Dusi establishes her own winery J Dusi Wines. She purchases grapes from the Dante Dusi Vineyard and produces 400 cases. She is the first Dusi to make her career in winemaking. Her Uncle Benito Dusi made wine from 1953 to 1966 but his passion was growing grapes.

Talley Vineyards is awarded best California Chardonnay at the Thirtieth Anniversary Judgement of Paris Tasting for their 2002 Rosemary’s Vineyard Chardonnay.

San Luis Obispo Vintners and Growers open TASTE, a consortium and wine tasting room in downtown San Luis Obispo representing 23 wineries in the Arroyo Grande, Avila Valley and Edna Valley in December. Participating wineries include Baileyana, Claiborne and Churchill, Edna Valley, Kelsey See Canyon, Kynsi, Laetitia, Ortman, Perbacco, Rancho Arroyo Grande, Salisbury, Saucelito Canyon, Tolosa, Wild Wood, and Windemere.

The Paso Robles Wine Country Alliance and the Economic Vitality Corporation of San Luis Obispo County commissioned the wine business consulting firm, MKF Research LLC, to prepare the region’s first-ever study based on 2006 data. The study determined that the Paso Robles AVA and the Greater San Luis Obispo County Wine and Wine Grape Industries have an annual impact of $1.785 billion on the state and local economy. The breakdown for 2006 is as follows:
Full-time equivalent jobs: 8114
Wages paid: $241 million
Retail Value of PR AVA wine: $657 million
Retail Value of Greater SLO Wine:$803 million
Number of Bonded Wineries: 217 wineries
Wine Produced (9-liter cases): 3.2 million
Winegrape bearing acres: 29,000 acres
Value of the Winegrape Crop: $151 million
Allied industry revenues: $ 51 million
Tourism Expenditures: $113 million
Winery Tourist visits: 1.2 million visitors
Charitable Contributions: $1.1 million

California Mid-State Fair, Wine Industry Award Recipients: Winemaker – Stephan Asseo; Winegrower – Richard Sauret; Wine Industry Person – Chuck Hope.

André Tchelistcheff is inducted into the Culinary Institute of America’s Vintners Hall of Fame.

Niels and Bimmer Udsen (Castoro Cellars) begin the transition to organic farming with their San Miguel vineyards and work with Bob Thomas and the Central Coast Vineyard Team.

Pasquale Mastantuono retires and sells Mastantuono Winery to Ron Donati of Donati Family Vineyards.

California Mid-State Fair, Wine Industry Award Recipients: Winemaker- Bill Sheffer; Winegrower – Ric Fuller; Wine Industry Person – Jerry Lohr.

Bill and Liz Armstrong (EPOCH Estate Wines) purchase and plant the Catapult Vineyard in the Willow Creek District west of Paso Robles.

California Mid-State Fair, Wine Industry Award Recipients: Winemaker – Austin Hope; Winegrower – Tony Domingos; Wine Industry Person – Robert Haas.

Justin Winery is producing 50,000 cases of wine annually. Justin Winery’s Cabernet Sauvignon was the ninth most poured wine in the country according to Wine and Spirit’s Magazine.

San Luis Obispo Vintners Association close the consortium and tasting room TASTE on November 9.

David and Judy Breitstein (Duke of Bourbon – Canoga Park) donate 500 bottles of wine from their personal collection to the Culinary Institute of America located at Greystone in the Napa Valley. This collection of wines tells the history of the wine industry in California and will be on permanent display at the CIA. Karen MacNeil, the author of The Wine Bible, curates the collection.