WINEMAKING
There’s a quiet revolution unfolding in California winemaking—one that embraces craftsmanship over convention, intuition over instruction, and the pursuit of purity over predictability. At Tolosa, we believe that wine should reflect its origins, allowing the land to speak through every bottle.
Vintner Robin Baggett has long been captivated by the unique terroir of Edna Valley—a region where cool Pacific breezes, ancient seabed soils, and a long growing season create the perfect canvas for world-class Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. In his search for a winemaker who could honor this exceptional place, he found Frederic Delivert, a kindred spirit whose journey from Toulouse, France to California was, perhaps, destined.
With a background spanning prestigious Napa and Sonoma vineyards, Frederic’s expertise is rooted in understanding how soil, climate, and craftsmanship converge to shape a wine's character. Since his arrival at Tolosa in 2017, he has devoted himself to unlocking the intricacies of Edna Ranch and beyond, refining each vintage to express its depth, balance, and elegance.
TOLOSA'S WINEMAKING TEAM
Frederic Delivert
Head Winemaker
Frederic Delivert was raised in Toulouse, France, and received his master’s degree in Agricultural Sciences in 1995 from the École Supérieure d’Agriculture de Purpan (ESAP) in Toulouse. During an internship in Alexander Valley in Sonoma County, California, Frederic discovered the superiority of the California wine growing conditions, and after a second harvest season at NewtonVineyard in 1997 he decided to stay in California. He has winemaking experience at several distinguished wineries in sub-appellations of Napa Valley, including Rutherford, Oakville, Yountville, Howell Mountain, and Mt. Veeder, as well as in the Sonoma Coast and Red Hills Lake County AVAs.
Coincidentally, Tolosa is named after the Mission San Luis Obispo de Tolosa, which is dedicated to Saint Louis, Bishop of Toulouse. Frederic began collaborating with Robin Baggett in 2009, joining Tolosa right before the 2017 harvest. This is truly a match made in heaven, as his mission is to discover the SLO Coast AVA’s best pockets of soil, and through the trifecta of uniting the right sites, farming practices, and rootstocks, create exceptional Pinot Noirs and Chardonnays that are the purest expressions of Edna Valley.
Madison Maestre
Assistant Winemaker
Madison knew that she wanted to be in the wine industry while she was still in high school. After a couple of attempts with at-home winemaking, she was accepted into California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo as an Agriculture and Environmental Plat Science Major with a concentration in Fruit Science. While attending Cal Poly she worked three harvest internships where she really developed an understanding and passion for the wine industry. Post-graduation, Madison started at Tolosa Winery as a Laboratory Intern which quickly turned into a full-time position. From there, Madison became the Enologist for Tolosa where she was able to hone in on wine chemistry and research preparing her for the Assistant Winemaker Role in 2021.
Precision Meets Passion
Winemaking at Tolosa is both an art and a science. While our approach remains deeply intuitive, we embrace cutting-edge technology to amplify nature’s potential. Using infrared vigor mapping and detailed soil analysis, we farm with precision and care, ensuring that each vine receives the attention it needs throughout the growing cycle.
Harvest is a meticulous ritual, conducted in the cool, dark hours of the morning to preserve freshness. Hand-sorted grapes are gently pressed in small-lot basket presses, and fermentation is fine-tuned in a state-of-the-art warm barrel room, allowing each wine to develop its signature complexity and character.
This obsessive attention to detail—from vineyard to bottle—results in wines of nuance, texture, and balance. At Tolosa, each bottle is an invitation to savor the essence of a wines terroir in its purest form.
vineyard sources
We partner with the most saught after vineyards throughout California to create our wines.
APEX VINEYARD
Perched in the Santa Lucia Highlands, Apex Vineyard thrives at high elevation, where coastal breezes and morning fog create ideal conditions for cool-climate varietals. Its well-draining granitic soils and dramatic diurnal shifts produce Pinot Noir and Chardonnay with vibrant acidity, refined structure, and pure site expression.
Vineyard Details:
Location: Santa Lucia Highlands
Elevation: High-elevation site
Soil Type: Granitic, well-draining
Bien Nacido Vineyard
One of California’s most iconic vineyards, Bien Nacido sits in the heart of the Santa Maria Valley, where coastal fog and steady winds shape its distinct cool-climate character. The vineyard’s marine-influenced soils and long growing season produce Pinot Noir and Chardonnay with remarkable elegance, depth, and age-worthy acidity.
Vineyard Details:
Location: Santa Maria Valley, Santa Barbara County
Elevation: ~200–800 feet
Soil Type: Marine sediment, shale, and sandy loam
Drum Canyon Vineyard
Set in the Sta. Rita Hills, Drum Canyon Vineyard benefits from strong Pacific winds and a dramatic diurnal shift, creating ideal conditions for Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. The vineyard’s mix of sandy loam and clay soils, combined with its steep hillside terrain, results in wines with intense concentration, vibrant acidity, and a distinct mineral edge.
Vineyard Details:
Location: Sta. Rita Hills, Santa Barbara County
Elevation: 400–600 feet
Soil Type: Sandy loam and clay
Edna Ranch Vineyard
The home of Tolosa, Edna Ranch is rooted in the heart of Edna Valley, where a rare transverse valley channels cool Pacific breezes. This extended growing season allows for exceptional depth and complexity in the fruit. A patchwork of marine-influenced soils and varying elevations creates distinct microclimates, producing Pinot Noir and Chardonnay with purity, elegance, and vibrant acidity.
Vineyard Details:
Location: Edna Valley, San Luis Obispo Coast
Elevation: 180–750 feet
Soil Type: Marine sediment, shale, clay, and volcanic rock
El Coro Vineyard
Situated in the rolling hills of the Petaluma Gap, El Coro Vineyard experiences persistent coastal winds and cool temperatures, fostering a long growing season. The rocky soils and fog influence create Pinot Noir and Chardonnay with bright acidity, refined structure, and a distinctive saline minerality.
Vineyard Details:
Location: Petaluma Gap, Sonoma County
Elevation: ~500 feet
Soil Type: Rocky, well-draining
Gunsalus Vineyard
Tucked into the heart of the Russian River Valley, Gunsalus Vineyard benefits from cool morning fog and warm afternoon sun, creating the perfect balance for Pinot Noir. The vineyard’s well-draining Goldridge soils and steady coastal influence yield wines with bright red fruit, silky tannins, and elegant complexity.
Vineyard Details:
Location: Russian River Valley, Sonoma County
Elevation: ~200 feet
Soil Type: Goldridge sandy loam
Mindego Ridge Vineyard
Perched on the slopes of the Santa Cruz Mountains, Mindego Ridge is a rugged, coastal-influenced site where fog and ocean breezes shape the fruit’s purity and intensity. The vineyard’s fractured sandstone soils and steep terrain yield Pinot Noir and Chardonnay with vibrant acidity, minerality, and a deep sense of place.
Vineyard Details:
Location: Santa Cruz Mountains
Elevation: ~900 feet
Soil Type: Fractured sandstone
Solomon Hills Vineyard
The westernmost vineyard in the Santa Maria Valley, Solomon Hills is heavily influenced by the nearby Pacific Ocean. Morning fog and strong coastal winds create a long, cool growing season, allowing Pinot Noir and Chardonnay to develop vibrant acidity, delicate aromatics, and a refined mineral character.
Vineyard Details:
Location: Santa Maria Valley, Santa Barbara County
Elevation: ~400 feet
Soil Type: Sandy loam