PLACEs OF EXTRAORDINARY POTENTIAL

Edna Valley is nestled amongst the northwest-southeast running volcanic hills of the San Luis Obispo Coast and is the frontier for the most complex cool-climate varietals in California, especially Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.

The transverse valley is an extension of the sea, with a funnel leading past Morro Bay, 3,600 feet below the Pacific. The cold Pacific wind sweeps down the coast and into the valley and vineyards, creating a microclimate ideal for ripening delicate Pinot Noir grapes. Oscillations in warm and cold are further improved by the Pismo Venturi effect that clears the evening fog. Edna Valley, the coolest appellation in California, has all the elements for crafting Pinot Noir and Chardonnay wines to rival any in the world.

Coastal influences are key to stellar California Pinot Noir.  Tolosa continues to seek out cool-climate vineyards with maritime breezes to craft nuanced and balanced wines.  Our Single Vineyard series pinpoints special microclimates and meticulous growers that unite for exceptional fruit.

Edna Ranch

Much of a grape’s distinctive character arises from the soil from which it is grown. Savor a vintage with an authentic sense of place, and you are tasting a wine that may have been 100 million years in the making.

Tolosa sources much of its fruit from Edna Ranch which consists of six distinct sections, with 60 soil types and myriad microclimates encapsulating a remarkable spectrum of terroirs. Remnants of volcanic eruptions, fueled by clashing continental plates, share the landscape with calcium-rich sediments from tiny shells deposited on an ancient sea bed and estuary. Degraded granite meets tufa precipitated in a vanished sea. Heavy clay fills the valley floor while sandstone and clay loam cover the hillsides. Limestone - the Holy Grail for Pinot Noir – blankets the slopes of a knoll.

Combining these challenging, calcium-rich soil conditions and ancient seabed with the valley’s warm days and cool nights, you possess the ingredients for timeless and profound wines of diverse and distinctive character.

Apex

Farmed by the Franscioni family, Apex Vineyard is located 28 miles from the cold water of Monterey Bay. The vineyard is planted above the fog line, receiving ample afternoon sunshine and producing a grape profile with a more prominent tannin structure, while the daily fog and ocean breezes contributes to an acidity hard to miss on the finish.

Bien Nacido

Bien Nacido Vineyard is the most famous grower for California Chardonnay. This site is punctuated by mild sunny days, an afternoon sea breeze, and a marine layer to moderate the temperature of the vines. The specific location of the W block is one of the oldest and windiest parts of the vineyard. The vines are planted on limestone and shale outcroppings. The wine's minerality perfectly accompanies the hallmark tropical notes and bright acidity.

Drum Canyon

Drum Canyon Vineyard thrives in the eminent Sta. Rita Hills AVA. The region is famous for its oblique mountain range which allows the coastal breeze and fog to cool the vines. The vineyard possesses steep hillsides on challenging terrain. As a result, the terroir produces wines with intensity, featuring the signature acidity of the Sta. Rita Hills AVA.

El Coro

This site is farmed by the Keller family and located within the Petaluma Gap AVA, the premier gateway to the Sonoma Coast where the maritime wind and fog roar into the region cooling the vines. The site has a northern exposure and lies a mere 7 miles from the San Pablo Bay, bringing another moderating influence in cooling the vines. The vineyard consists of a 20-acre block planted on the highest point of the Keller estate at 500 feet of elevation. The vines are growing on clay loam soils and a gravelly volcanic subsoil.

Gunsalus

This gem of a vineyard resides in the Green Valley of Russian River Valley in Sonoma County. The vineyard is situated near the town of Graton and is planted with 10 acres of Pinot Noir grapes surrounded by redwood trees. The region experiences mild temperatures throughout the summer months. Gunsalus Vineyard resides in a subregion that is truly special: the maritime fog from the Sonoma Coast lingers the longest in this part of the region, resulting in it being the coolest, foggiest part of the Russian River Valley. The soils consist of Goldridge sandy loam soils and Sebastopol loam.

Mindego Ridge

Mindego Ridge Vineyard is perched at an elevation ranging from 675 to 935 feet on the south facing, shale laced slopes of the Santa Cruz Mountains AVA.  Surrounded by redwoods, the vineyard consists of 40 acres with 10 acres planted to Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.  Only 8 miles from the Pacific Ocean and San Francisco Bay, the grapes experience a cool mesoclimate where altitude and marine influence come together to moderate California's late season heat spikes resulting in a regally impressive Pinot Noir.

Solomon Hills

Solomon Hills Vineyard takes its name from Salomon Pico, a celebrated bandit who traveled along the El Camino Real in the 1850s. This vineyard is located at the westernmost end of the Santa Maria Valley AVA. Not only does the vineyard have a view of the sand dunes, but the wine's expressive aromatics flourish from the sandy soils.