In the Press: Highlights from Talley Vineyards

At Talley Vineyards, we’ve always let our wines speak for themselves—grounded in place, crafted with care, and inspired by the legacy of four generations of family farming. Over the years, we’ve been honored to receive recognition from some of the most respected voices in the wine world. From being named a Top 100 wineries in the world by Wine & Spirits Magazine, to winning the 30th Anniversary Judgment of Paris with our Rosemary’s Chardonnay, and having our estate vineyards described as “Grand Cru vineyards of California,” by Wine Enthusiast we’re proud to represent the San Luis Obispo Coast on the global stage. Known for producing some of the most age-worthy Chardonnays and Pinot Noirs in California, our wines continue to reflect the depth, balance, and character that make this region so special.

We will continue to update this space with recent mentions, accolades, and stories celebrating the work we do in the vineyard and the cellar and the people who help share it with the world.

2023 Estate Chardonnay

“An unctuous and delicious Chardonnay blended across six of the estate vineyards, but the preponderance of which comes from the top sites, Oliver’s and Rosemary’s. Airy and bright on the nose with ocean air and lemon verbena. The palate shows sweet, intense Meyer lemon pulp, salted lemon wedge and a brilliant finish of lemon verbena and sea salt.”

– Clive Pursehouse, Decanter Magazine

READ THE REVIEW

“A Quintessential Avocado Toast from California’s Central Coast”

The San Luis Obispo Coast is unique in the respect that both avocados and Chardonnay thrive in our cool coastal climate. There is almost no other place on earth where this is the case. Wine Enthusiast Magazine is promoting this wonderful pairing with a feature on Elizabeth’s signature avocado toast to be published in the June/July issue.

– Nils Bernstein, Wine Enthusiast

READ THE ARTICLE

Photography by Tom Arena Styling by Monica Simon

2022 Estate Pinot Noir

“Brian Talley and his family have been growing orchard fruits and vegetables, commercially, on their ranches in coastal California for generations. The minute I learned that, I knew they had farmers’ hearts and minds. They were close to the land they lived on. They wrote a cookbook about the foods they grew. They were the real deal. And their 2022 Pinot Noir is the real deal, too. Juicy and delicious, it should rightfully cost more than it does. The crunchy-cool flavors are pure and vivid, and spliced through with notes of cranberry, cherry, herbs, exotic spices, and a fantastic savory-ness. It’s an elegant, long, satisfying Pinot. Perfect (transformative) for an evening after a long day at work.”

– Karen MacNeil, Wines to Know – WineSpeed

READ THE REVIEW

Brian Talley Named 2024 San Luis Obispo County

Agriculturist of the Year

We are thrilled to announce that Brian Talley, third-generation farmer, second-generation vintner, and owner of Talley Vineyards and Talley Farms, has been honored as the “2024 San Luis Obispo County Agriculturist of the Year.” The award ceremony, held on July 18th at the renowned Cattlemen and Farmers Day event at the California Mid State Fair, brought together leaders and families from the region’s agricultural communities. Presented by a committee of the San Luis Obispo County Farm Bureau, San Luis Obispo County CattleWomen, and San Luis Obispo County Cattlemen’s Association, this prestigious award recognizes individuals who demonstrate outstanding achievement within the agricultural industry and exemplify a dedication to advancing San Luis Obispo County’s rich farming legacy.

“This recognition reflects the collective passion of our farming community, and it is truly humbling and inspiring to receive this award,” says Brian Talley. “Our success is nurtured by the soil of this extraordinary region and by the unwavering passion of the farmers and viticulturists who have dedicated themselves to elevating San Luis Obispo County as a leader in sustainable agriculture and viticulture.”

Having been involved with Talley Vineyards since its inception in the early 1980s, and serving as its leader for over three decades, Brian has played a pivotal role in shaping the Central Coast wine industry. Under his guidance, Talley Vineyards has established itself as an internationally respected producer of expressive and energetic Chardonnay and Pinot Noirs that showcase the unique character of our estate vineyards. Today, Talley Vineyards farms grapes across 129 acres of vines in seven estate vineyards within the San Luis Obispo Coast AVA. A permanent crew of 15 full-time workers tends to the vineyards year-round, allowing for a deep understanding of each site and the ability to react quickly to the vines’ needs. Our estate-grown wines have garnered significant critical acclaim for their vibrant acidity, elegant complexity, and age-worthy structure. Director of Viticulture and Winemaking Eric Johnson oversees production, using native yeasts and individually fermenting and aging each vineyard block for a total of over 100 wine lot components every year. Many of Talley’s single-vineyard wines are primarily sold direct-to-consumer and at our tasting room in Arroyo Grande, while our Estate Chardonnay and Pinot Noir have broader distribution across the United States and abroad.

Beyond Brian’s contributions to viticulture, he has emerged as a passionate advocate for holistic agricultural practices and community development. He played an instrumental role in establishing the San Luis Obispo Coast AVA in 2022, serving as a unifying force for wineries and vineyards stretching from San Simeon to Nipomo. Brian has also championed farm-to-table initiatives and supported numerous community organizations through the Marianne Talley Foundation. Always with an eye to community, in 2004, the Talley family formed the Fund for Vineyard and Farm Workers as a means of providing grants to nonprofit organizations supporting San Luis Obispo County agricultural workers. Additionally, Brian serves as a current director of AgWest Farm Credit, the agricultural representative on the San Luis Obispo County Zone 3 Flood Control District Advisory Committee, former president of the San Luis Obispo Coast Wine Collective, past treasurer of the San Luis Obispo Coast AVA Committee, co-founder and past chairman of World of Pinot Noir, and a former board member of the San Luis Obispo Chamber of Commerce.

“Brian Talley exemplifies the spirit of innovation and stewardship that defines our agricultural community,” said Paul E. Clark, Executive Director of the San Luis Obispo County Farm Bureau. “His visionary approach to winemaking, coupled with an unwavering commitment to sustainable farming practices and community engagement, has not only elevated Talley Vineyards but has significantly contributed to positioning San Luis Obispo County as a beacon of agricultural excellence on the global stage.”

Cheers to supporting local agriculture!

Photos by Brittany App

Raise a glass with us!

Here’s what we are drinking to celebrate this warm summer weather:

It’s time to celebrate…Talley Vineyards has been named one of the Top 100 wineries in the world by Wine & Spirits Magazine. Needless to say, we are thrilled.

Each year the panel and critics of Wine & Spirits blind-taste, review and score more than 15,000 wines from around the world, the most distinguished of which is shared with their readers. The Top 100 Wineries list for the year includes those that achieve the highest scores and consistency of performance across their range of wines for the year. 

The wines that helped us achieve this rare accolade include our soon-to-be-released, 95-point Pinot Noir, The Adobe of 2018 and our 2018 Rosemary’s Pinot Noir (currently sold out but v2019 is releasing in September).

Brian and Eric will join winemakers from some of the world’s greatest vineyards to serve up our top-scoring wines to connoisseurs and consumers at the 18th Top 100 Annual Tasting hosted in San Francisco on 14 October this year and later at a similar tasting, the Top 100 Symposium, held in New York in January 2022.

Let’s raise a glass!