Tag Archives: chardonnay

Weddings at Talley Vineyards

Your Wedding, Set in the Heart of Wine Country

Looking for a vineyard wedding venue on California’s Central Coast? Talley Vineyards offers a breathtaking setting for weddings and wedding weekend celebrations, from rehearsal dinners and welcome parties to ceremonies and receptions under the open sky. Nestled among rolling hills and estate vineyards, our family-owned winery blends natural beauty, thoughtful hospitality, and acclaimed estate wines to create an unforgettable backdrop for celebrating with the people you love most.

A Vineyard Setting Made for Celebration

Set among rolling hills and estate vineyards, Talley Vineyards offers a serene backdrop that feels both elevated and inviting. Our outdoor Members Lounge is designed for connection — golden hour conversations, clinking glasses, and easygoing moments that feel natural. Located just 20 minutes from San Luis Obispo and Pismo Beach, we offer the charm of wine country with the convenience your guests will appreciate.


Perfect for Wedding Weekend Events

Our space is ideal for:

  • Wedding Ceremonies and Receptions
  • Wedding welcome parties
  • Rehearsal dinners
  • Post-rehearsal celebrations
  • Farewell brunches or casual send-offs
  • Activities for your wedding guests

If it’s part of your love story, we’re happy to help bring it to life.

What We Offer:

  • Customizable Experiences — From casual cocktail-style receptions to seated dinners
  • Flexible Use of Space
  • Exclusive Use of Our Tasting Room
  • Up to 120 Guests
  • Highly Acclaimed Estate Wines at a variety of price points
  • Freedom to Bring Your Favorite Caterer — You’re free to choose your own food vendor, local taco truck, wood-fired pizza, or elegant passed hors d’oeuvres, it’s totally up to you. No required caterers or preset menus.
  • Member Discounts ApplyLearn More about our Wine Club


A Venue with Heart

Talley Vineyards is more than a backdrop. We’re a fourth-generation family farm rooted in stewardship, hospitality, and genuine connection to place. We believe the best wedding moments happen when great wine, beautiful surroundings, and meaningful company come together naturally. Our team works closely with you to create a celebration that feels personal, relaxed, and memorable — the kind of night your guests talk about long after the weekend ends.

Ready to Start Planning?

We can’t wait to help bring your special weekend to life. To get started just send us an email at info@talleyvineyards.com

Looking for something a little different? We still want to hear from you!

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Holiday Gift Guide | 2025

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Holiday Gift Guide | 2025

This season, we invite you to gather around with family and friends and enjoy wines meant for sharing. From crisp whites and festive sparkling wines to comforting reds, each bottle is thoughtfully chosen to make your holiday moments more meaningful.

CORPORATE ORDERS – Why Choose Us?
Show appreciation, celebrate milestones, or thank clients and employees with our personalized wine gift solutions. Get in touch HERE to start planning your corporate wine gifts today! Specialty pricing on volume orders available!

YOUR CUSTOMIZABLE VENUE – Celebrate the Holidays in Wine Country!
Looking for the perfect backdrop for your holiday celebration, corporate gathering, or milestone event? Talley Vineyards offers a one-of-a-kind venue in the heart of San Luis Obispo Coast wine country, ideal for any kind of special occasion. SEE MORE

ONE STOP SHOP – For everyone on your list!
Whether you’re gathering around the table, hosting a cozy family night, or searching for the ideal gift, our curated collection offers something for everyone. Plus, with our personal shopping option HERE, you can work directly with Mariah, Director of Hospitality to find the ideal bottles for everyone on your list, including yourself!

Most Wonderful Wine of the Year

Our highest-acclaimed wines bundled together for a gift that truly impresses. The perfect choice for your boss, clients, or longtime friends you want to treat to something extraordinary.

Pairs well with: Truffle mushroom risotto and roasted rack of lamb.

This tasting pack includes:
– 2022 Rincon Chardonnay, 750ml
– 2023 Rosemary’s Chardonnay, 750ml
– 2023 Rosemary’s Pinot Noir, 750ml
– Optional personalized greeting card
– Free Shipping (Club Members)
– Flat Rate $20 Shipping (Nonmembers)

A California Christmas

A fresh lineup guaranteed to please those looking for a little bit of California at Christmas. Ideal for gatherings, parties, or the family member who loves a variety.

Pairs well with: Soft cheeses, citrus-marinated olives, or smoked salmon.

This tasting pack includes:
– 2024 Sauvignon Blanc, 750ml
– 2024 Chardonnade, 750ml
– 2024 Grüner Veltliner, 750ml
– Optional personalized greeting card
– Free Shipping (Club Members)
– Flat Rate $20 Shipping (Nonmembers)

The Gift of Time

Some gifts can’t be rushed. This exclusive set features hand-selected library wines, aged in our cellar until just the right moment. We’ve done the waiting for you, so all you need to do is uncork and enjoy.

Pairs well with: Milestone celebrations and an aged cheese plate.

This tasting pack includes:
– 2013 Estate Pinot Noir, 750ml
– 2014 Estate Chardonnay, 750ml
– 2015 Stone Corral Pinot Noir, 750ml
– Optional personalized greeting card
– Free Shipping (Club Members)
– Flat Rate $20 Shipping (Nonmembers)

The Life of the Party

For the one who always brings the sparkle. One bottle for Thanksgiving, one for Christmas, and one for New Year’s — the only problem is deciding if three bottles of bubbles will really be enough for the whole season.

Pairs well with: Toasts, turkey, twinkling lights, and midnight countdowns.

This tasting pack includes:
– 3 bottles of 2021 Blanc de Blanc, 750ml
– Talley Engraved Sparkling Wine Stopper
– Optional personalized greeting card
– Free Shipping (Club Members)
– Flat Rate $20 Shipping (Nonmembers)


This season, our holiday shop has something for everyone on your list. We’re offering a special on all magnums (perfect for sharing and large celebrations), along with our brand-new half bottles, just the right size for two glasses or a little stocking stuffer. Whatever size, each bottle has a bit of our table here on the San Luis Obispo Coast to yours.

ALL MAGNUMS 15% OFF!

2023 Estate Chardonnay

2023 Estate Pinot Noir

2022 Oliver’s Chardonnay

2022 Stone Corral Pinot Noir

2022 Rincon Chardonnay

2022 Rincon Pinot Noir

2022 Rosemary’s Chardonnay

2023 Rosemary’s Pinot Noir

The Adobe of 2021

The White Quarter Zip

This Talley Vineyards x Straight Down White Quarter Zip is made for SLO Coast’s cool evenings. With its relaxed, easy fit and Talley Vineyards stitched on the arm, it’s perfect for layering when the fog drifts in or you’re hanging out with friends on the patio. Lightweight, breathable, and just the right amount of cozy, this quarter zip keeps the vibe chill whether you’re at the vineyard or by the coast.

The Black Quarter Zip

The SLO Coast knows how to keep things relaxed, and the Talley Vineyards x Straight Down Black Quarter Zip fits right in. Lightweight but warm, this black pullover is stitched with the Talley logo on the chest. It’s made for those coastal evenings that start with a glass of Chardonnay and as the sun goes down end with chilly air and a glass of Pinot Noir. Easy to layer, easy to wear, and always comfortable.

The Relaxed Fit

Easygoing and effortlessly cool, this cream-colored relaxed fit baseball cap features “Generations in the Making” stitched on the back, a reminder that legacy is built day by day. A favorite of team members Mariah, Vincent, Carrie, Kate, Izzi, Emma, Beth Ann, Rosemary, and Elizabeth.

The Trucker

A nod to the classic green trucker hats worn at Talley Farms for decades, this olive-toned cap echoes the color of the olive trees that line the path to our tasting room. A favorite of team members Eric, Brian, Juls, Brooke, Emily, Peggy, Christina, Franco and Evelyn.

Our California Table Cookbook

I love to cook and I wrote Our California Table to celebrate our unique history as farmers and winegrowers as well as the special character of our region. I hope you enjoy preparing the dishes as much I enjoy sharing the recipes. – Brian Talley

Black Talley Corkscrew

Trust us — we open a lot of wine, and this corkscrew is our absolute favorite. This two-step corkscrew makes opening a bottle seamless and easy, every time. Sleek, durable, and now featuring the Talley logo, it’s the perfect tool for any wine lover’s collection.

Don’t see exactly what you are looking for? Reach out to us! Whether it is a specific vintage of something or a special experience, we are happy to work with you to bring your holiday list to life!


Holiday Shipping Dates:

Thanksgiving:

Ground2-dayOvernight
CaliforniaNov 20Nov 25
West CoastNov 20Nov 23Nov 25
Central/EastNov 18Nov 21Nov 25

Winter Holiday:

Ground2-dayOvernight
CaliforniaDec 19Dec 23
West CoastDec 19Dec 20 Dec 22
Central/EastDec 16Dec 18Dec 22

Join our Wine Club for complimentary holiday shipping!

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2025 Harvest

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Recipe | Grass-fed Burgers and Don’s Legacy Blend

Recipe | Grass-fed Burgers and Don’s Legacy Blend

Recipe from Grant Talley

As the 39th harvest season kicks off at Talley Vineyards, the energy around our farm is electric. Warm SLOcal days stretch into golden evenings, and the trucks and tractors filled with bell peppers and grapes are whizzing about. While harvest has always been at the heart of our story, this year brings something new to the table—literally. Grant Talley, part of the fourth generation of our family business, has expanded the Talley legacy into ranching by raising cattle on the open spaces around Talley Farms.

Grant is deeply rooted in California’s agricultural heritage, with his family farming here since the 1940s. His vision is simple but powerful: provide grass-fed and finished beef along the California coast, raised with respect for both the livestock and the land. By integrating cattle into the open pastures surrounding the farm, Grant is not only stewarding the landscape but also providing high-quality, sustainable beef for families across California.

This Labor Day, we’re pairing one of Grant’s favorite offerings — his grass-fed ground beef — with a recipe that’s as indulgent as it is approachable: Mushroom & Gruyère Burgers with Caramelized Onions. Juicy, earthy, and layered with flavor, it’s a perfect match for a glass of Don’s Legacy Blend or Pinot Noir.

Mushroom & Gruyère Burger with Caramelized Onions

Serves 4 

Ingredients:

  • 1 ½ lbs Grant’s grass-fed ground beef
  • Salt & freshly cracked black pepper
  • 4 brioche buns
  • 1 ½ cups sliced cremini or porcini mushrooms
  • 2 yellow onions, thinly sliced
  • 2 Tbsp butter (or beef tallow)
  • 1 Tbsp olive oil
  • 4 slices Gruyère cheese
  • 1 Tbsp Dijon mustard
  • Fresh arugula

Instructions:

  1. Caramelize onions
    • In a skillet, cook onions low and slow with 1 Tbsp butter and olive oil until golden and sweet (25–30 min).
  2. Sauté mushrooms
    • In the same pan, add butter and mushrooms. Cook until browned, then season with salt and pepper.
  3. Form patties
    • Shape the beef into 4 patties. Season generously with salt and pepper just before cooking.
  4. Cook burgers
    • Grill or pan-sear to medium-rare/medium to preserve juiciness and balance beautifully with Pinot Noir.
    • Top each patty with Gruyère during the last minute of cooking, allowing it to melt luxuriously over the beef.
  5. Assemble
    • Toast brioche buns and spread Dijon mustard on the bottom.
    • Add the patty with melted cheese, pile on caramelized onions, sautéed mushrooms, a handful of arugula, and finish with the top bun. 

Pair with Don’s Legacy Blend

Bottle of Don's Legacy Blend and a glass - Rhône blend with Grenache and Syrah

Host Your Private Event at Talley Vineyards

Your Customizable Venue on California’s Central Coast

Looking for the perfect backdrop for your next celebration, corporate gathering, or milestone event?
Talley Vineyards offers a one-of-a-kind venue nestled in the heart of the San Luis Obispo Coast wine country, ideal for hosting everything from rehearsal dinners and birthday parties to corporate retreats and private wine tastings.

A Scenic Setting for Every Occasion

Surrounded by rolling hills and estate vineyards, Talley Vineyards provides a serene and unforgettable setting for your event. Our outdoor Members Lounge is designed to feel both elevated and relaxed — ideal for sunset dinners, casual receptions, and everything in between.

Located just 20 minutes from San Luis Obispo and Pismo Beach, our venue offers the peaceful charm of wine country with the convenience of easy access. Whether you’re a local planning an intimate gathering or a visitor seeking a memorable destination, we’re here to make your experience seamless.


What We Offer:

  • Customizable Experiences — From casual cocktail-style receptions to seated dinners
  • Flexible Use of Space — Ideal for wedding welcome parties, rehearsal dinners, team-building retreats, milestone birthdays, and more
  • Exclusive Use of Our Members Lounge — Available from 5–7 PM or 6–8 PM
  • Up to 60 Guests
  • Highly Acclaimed Estate Wines at a variety of price points
  • Freedom to Bring Your Favorite Caterer — You’re free to choose your own food vendor, local taco truck, wood-fired pizza, or elegant passed hors d’oeuvres, it’s totally up to you. No required caterers or preset menus.
  • Member Discounts Apply


A Venue with Heart

At Talley Vineyards, we believe that memorable experiences come from a deep connection to the land, great wine, and meaningful hospitality. That’s why we work with you to create an event that reflects your style, needs, and vision.

Ready to Start Planning?

We can’t wait to help bring your private event to life. To get started just send us an email at info@talleyvineyards.com

Looking for something a little different? We still want to hear from you!

Recipe | How to Pair Pizza with Wine

Recipe | How to Pair Pizza with Wine

Recipes from Our California Table by Brian Talley

What Grows Together Goes Together

Each year, just before harvest kicks off, we host a poolside pizza party with our production team to set the tone for the season ahead. This year, for our Staff Kickoff party we had the whole tasting room team come to celebrate our new fall releases and taste through the lineup with our winemaking team and learn about the wines we are going to share with all our members. This was an excellent opportunity to try all the wines and find out which wines pair best with which pizzas.

We tried a lot of combinations (it’s research, we promise), but two pairings quickly became favorites. First up: our Chardonnays paired with a pizza layered in shaved beets, squash blossoms, goat cheese, and a swirl of pesto. All of these ingredients are can be pulled straight from our Talley Farms Box. This pairing is about place. Our Chardonnays are bright, textured, and full of energy, with notes ranging from Lemon and Oyster Shell to yellow apple, jasmine, and mascarpone. That balance of orchard fruit, citrus, and coastal minerality lifts the earthiness of the beets, softens the tang of the goat cheese, and comes together in one juicy, farm-fresh bite.

And then there’s Pinot Noir and peppers. As my dad is a lifelong pepper grower, he’s always has a variation of this pizza (during pepper season). The sweetness and gentle spice of roasted bell peppers highlight the layered fruit and foresty notes in our estate-grown Pinot Noirs. Add mushrooms for an earthy edge or pepperoni for a little salt and sizzle. Our Pinots are known for their delicate and floral notes of berry, cherry, blood orange, and forest floor. You’ll find red fruits and spice, violets and pine, a little flint, and a lot of elegance, perfect for a fresh out of the oven pizza.

Pizza night has a bit of everything we value: great ingredients, estate-grown wines, and the people who bring it all together. If you’re looking for the perfect pairing at home, start with what’s in season and luckily our wines never go out of season.

Peppers Pizza with Pinot Noir

Ingredients:

  • 1 cup mixed bell peppers (red, green, yellow) sliced into 1/2 inch strips
  • Olive oil
  • Pinch of kosher salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon pepper flakes
  • 3 ounces mixed cheese: mozzarella, fontina, Parmigiano-Reggiano
  • 1 teaspoon fresh marjoram or oregano
  • 2 sprigs thyme
  • Optional: Sautéd mushrooms or pepperoni

Instructions:

  1. Sauté peppers in 1 teaspoon olive oil with pinch of salt until they just begin to soften.
  2. Drizzle olive oil on the crust, then add pepper flakes. Add mixed cheese and sautéd peppers. Finish with marjoram or oregano and thyme.

Shaved Beets, Squash Blossoms and Chardonnay

Ingredients:

  • 1/2 medium-size red beet
  • 1/4 cup pesto
  • 2-4 squash blossoms
  • 3 ounces goat cheese
  • Pinch of kosher salt
  • Olive oil

Instructions:

  1. Peel beet and boil it for about 10 minutes, until slightly softened. Slice thin with a mandoline.
  2. Spread pesto over pizza dough, leaving about 1/2 inch around the perimeter. Arrange beet slices over pesto, followed by squash blossoms, then goat cheese. Add salt and drizzle with olive oil.

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The Fund for Vineyard and Farm Workers

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Celebrate Mom with Talley

Celebrate Mom with Talley

With a varieties of options we have something she is sure to love!

JAM for MAMA

DATE: SATURDAY, MAY 10

This one’s for the moms, the foodies, the creative souls—or anyone who loves a good jam session (pun intended). Join us for a sweet and savory morning with Christiana from Christiana in the Kitchen as she guides you through a live demo from her Botanical Jam Cookbook, featuring local strawberries and rosemary. You’ll sip on our hand-picked Mother’s Day wine, nibble on scones with fresh jam, and leave with a cookbook, a jar of preserves, and hopefully a new skill. Seats are limited, and this one will sell out!

Only 10 tickets left!

Live Music Returns!

DATE: SUNDAYS, MAY 11 – AUGUST 3

Lounge & Listen is back at the Adobe with a rotating lineup of local musicians (including a musical mama to kick things off on Mother’s Day). It’s open to all—families, pups, and picnickers included.

Bring your favorite snacks, grab a bottle, and find your favorite spot. Music, wine, and good company under the SLO coast sky—what more do you need?

No reservation needed! Complimentary with your bottle of wine.

Give Mom the perfect gift!

On a scale from 1 to 12 how much does she LOVE Rosé (and a good deal)?

All Rosé bundles include shipping. Order by 5/5 to ensure delivery by Mother’s Day or select pick up to come pick up any day.

Just a taste

It’s okay to test the (rosé-tinted) waters.

$34

Good things…

Come in threes. One to gift, one to share, one for you.

$102 $92

Nice Weekend

Stock up for porch sipping, picnics, and pool days.

$204 $184

I LOVE IT

For a GREAT summer, get a whole case

$408 $327

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Spring in SLOCal

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Spring in SLOCal

Highlighting the Rincon Vineyard

East Rincon Block 2 is a very special vineyard block to me.  It’s the oldest block that we farm, planted by my father in 1984, the year I graduated from high school.  It’s also the closest vineyard block to the winery and my office, so I get to see these vines every day.  Finally, it makes some of the very best Pinot Noir that we grow.

Bud break occurred 3 weeks ago, in early March.  I love to see the very uniform shoot growth, a harbinger of excellent quality for the coming harvest.  We’ve made a pass through the vineyard with the flail mower to mow the grass and chop the canes left after pruning, as well as the weed knife to control weeds in the vine row. The next step will be shoot thinning, when our ladies crew will remove suckers and weak shoots to promote vine growth to support the 2025 crop, which will mark 41 years since these vines were planted.  

After the historically small 2024 crop, my expectation is that our crop this year will be a bit more generous, and my ambition, just like every year, is to produce the best wine we’ve ever made from these vines.

– Brian Talley


This April, we’re celebrating the story and significance of the Rincon Vineyard—with a special focus in our tasting room. Our Rincon Collection | Legacy Tasting offers guests a rare chance to experience the full range of wines sourced exclusively from this legendary site, including our newest releases of Rosé, Rincon Chardonnay, Rincon Pinot Noir, Grenache, Syrah, and Don’s Blend.

It’s a lineup that speaks to the depth and diversity of this vineyard—and a glimpse into what makes it truly Grand Cru–worthy.

This limited-time flight is available through the end of April and leads up to the Rincon Vineyard Lunch on May 3, where we’ll celebrate the land, the season, and the wines that began right here. Join us at the table among the vines and experience Rincon where it all began.

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Celebrating 40 Years of Talley

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Celebrating 40 Years of Talley

Talley Vineyards: Generations in the Making

The story of Talley Vineyards began when my grandfather, Oliver Talley, began growing specialty vegetables in the Arroyo Grande Valley in 1948. In 1982, his son and my father, Don Talley, planted wine grapes on a rolling hillside parcel unsuitable for vegetable farming. Four years later, in 1986, he and my mother Rosemary founded Talley Vineyards.

Talley Vineyards is located in the San Luis Obispo Coast American Viticultural Area (AVA) which is recognized as the coolest AVA in the state of California due to its direct proximity to the cold Pacific Ocean.  Within the San Luis Obispo Coast, there are two smaller AVAs, the Arroyo Grande Valley and the Edna Valley, and our family owns vineyards and farms in both valleys.  The cool climate of the area, coupled with calcareous clay and shaly loam soils, makes it ideally suited to grow Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, Talley Vineyards’ specialties.

Since the founding of Talley Vineyards, the goal has always been to produce estate grown wines that capture the unique character of the vineyards we farm.  There are now a total of seven vineyards owned and farmed by my family: West Rincon, East Rincon, Rosemary’s, Monte Sereno and Las Ventanas in the Arroyo Grande Valley as well as Oliver’s and Stone Corral in the Edna Valley. The signature bottlings of Estate Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, which date to the inaugural 1986 vintage, blend these vineyards together to produce wines meant to capture the essence of the larger San Luis Obispo Coast region:  energetic citrus infused Chardonnay and savory, ethereal Pinot Noir.  In addition, single vineyard bottlings are produced from most of our vineyards, and these are meant to reflect the distinctive character of each site.

Optimum quality and long-term sustainability are the two principles that guide our winegrowing decisions.  I work with Eric Johnson, our Director of Viticulture and Winemaking, to continually strive to improve fruit quality while ensuring that vineyard practices work in harmony with the natural conditions of each vineyard site.  Certified sustainable practices are employed in the vineyard: grapes are gently hand harvested at night and no herbicides are used.Classical winemaking techniques are gentle and noninterventionist.  Native yeasts are employed in fermentation, all Chardonnay is barrel fermented and completes malolactic fermentation, while Pinot Noir is fermented in small open top fermenters and punched down by hand.  The wines are gently bottled, generally without fining or filtration.  All Talley Vineyards wines are certified sustainably produced and all are vegan.  

Talley Farms and Talley Vineyards continue to evolve.  There are now four members of the fourth generation of Talleys involved in the family farming and winery operation, which has grown to include more than 30 commodities and 6 wine varieties.  Our fruits, vegetables and wines are shipped all over the United States and exported to more than eight countries.  We are proud to share the bounty of the San Luis Obispo Coast with anyone who appreciates the authenticity and commitment to excellence that is the result of our four-generation family farming legacy in this very special region.

– Brian Talley

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Fall on the San Luis Obispo Coast

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Barre & Barrels

Introducing the ultimate behind the scenes experience that will get your heart rate and taste buds going!

Join us for Barre & Barrels in Talley Vineyard’s exclusive barrel room on Thursday, December 12th at 4pm. CYB Studios will guide you through a 45-minute low-impact barre class focused on small, controlled movements and muscle-toning exercises, all while surrounded by rows of beautiful oak barrels. Whether you’re a barre enthusiast or trying it for the first time, this is the perfect opportunity to experience this fun and effective workout in a stunning setting – all fitness levels welcome! Upon arrival, we will be offering a barrel sample for you to sip and pulse your way through class. After class, get into the spirit at our social hour, featuring a glass of Talley’s finest wine. It’s a wonderful way to move, connect, and celebrate the season.

Don’t miss this special event – space is limited and our first one sold out, so reserve your spot today!


Date: Thursday, December 12th
Time: 4pm (45min class, followed by social hour with a glass of wine)
Location: Talley Vineyards Barrel Room


Admission: Tickets to Barre & Barrels can be acquired in two ways:

Bubbles & Barre Class Bundle


Guests that purchase the Barre and Bubbles Bundle will receive a ticket to the class, barrel sample and glass of wine, bottle of our 2019 Blanc de Blanc and an engraved sparkling wine topper to take home!

$120 $90

Barre Class Only


Guests that purchase the class only will receive a single ticket for the 45-min Barre class, a barrel sample and glass of our estate wine during the post-class social hour.

$35


Past Partnerships with CYB – Vino & Vinyasa on November 10th

Our first partnership with CYB Studios was Vino & Vinyasa earlier this month. It was a stunning afternoon featuring a 60-minute yoga flow led by studio owner, Stephanie Moran, in our outdoor courtyard. With a SOLD OUT class, it was an awesome way to connect with nature and each other over a great glass of wine!

Fall on the San Luis Obispo Coast

Autumn Abundance

Autumn is the season of abundance in our farming operation.  Over the past 76 years, since my grandfather started Talley Farms in 1948, that abundance has expanded immensely in both scale and diversity.  This fall we harvested more than a dozen different kinds of vegetables, six varieties of wine grapes, as well as lemons, avocados and three kinds of berries.  It’s fulfilling for everyone who works here to see all of their hard work pay off.

The 2024 wine grape harvest, our 38th since the founding of Talley Vineyards in 1986, was small, and quality appears to be exceptional.  An ideal growing season was capped with perfect weather during the crucial periods of ripening and harvest.  Pinot Noir production was about 30% below average and Chardonnay was down about 20%. Fermentations have filled the cellar with gorgeous aromas of baked brioche and framboise, and, most importantly, have been clean and uneventful.  I have high hopes for the 2024 vintage.  Most of the other crops that we grow have been both high in quality and production, which puts a smile on all of our faces.

Over the next few weeks, we will turn our attention to bottling the majority of wines that we produced in 2023, and I look forward to sharing these charming wines with you in early 2025.

– Brian Talley

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2024 Harvest Update

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Recipe | Grilled Salmon with Leeks and Portobello Mushrooms

Recipe from Our California Table by Brian Talley

Fresh wild salmon is one of the true treasures of the Pacific. When the salmon are running in our coastal waters, I love to get the call from friends who fish and want to trade salmon for wine. The portabello mushrooms come from a mushroom farm I can see from my house. The soy sauce and brown sugar marinade in this dish results in a caramelized sweet and salty char that pairs nicely with Pinot Noir. If you have the time, this dish is even better prepared over an oak- wood fire, so that the components of smoke, earth, and sea combine in a soulful mélange.

Serves 4

Prep time: 60 minutes

Ingredients:

  • 1 1/2 pounds wild salmon fillets, skin on
  • 1 cup soy sauce
  • ¼ cup brown sugar
  • Kosher salt
  • Pepper to taste
  • 4 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
  • 1 cup leeks, white part only, sliced in half lengthwise
  • 12 ounces portobello mushrooms
  • 2 tablespoons fresh herbs—a mix of basil, marjoram, parsley

Instructions:

  1. Place salmon fillets in a flat dish. Prepare a marinade by mixing soy sauce, brown sugar, and 1 tablespoon of the olive oil. Marinate the fish for 45 minutes.
  2. Toss portobello mushrooms and leeks with remaining olive oil and balsamic vinegar, then grill the vegetables, starting the mushrooms grill side down. Turn over and grill until liquid pools in the mushrooms, about 10 minutes total time. Chop mushrooms and leeks into pieces, and season to taste with salt and pepper. Keep warm.
  3. Meanwhile, remove salmon from marinade, and season to taste with salt and pepper. Grill salmon skin side up for about 4 minutes until nice grill marks form. Turn over and grill for another 4-6 minutes skin side down for another 4 to 6 minutes. Check for doneness. The salmon should be juicy and not dry.
  4. Place salmon fillets over the top of the leek-and-mushroom mixture. Sprinkle with fresh herbs, and drizzle with olive oil to taste.

Grilled salmon and Pinot Noir are a perfect match. Enjoy!

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Estate Chardonnay

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Estate Chardonnay

2023 Estate Chardonnay

SAN LUIS OBISPO COAST

About the vineyards and vintage

The Estate Chardonnay is crafted from our iconic vineyards on the San Luis Obispo Coast. The blend includes Rosemary’s Vineyard, overlooking the Pacific and surrounding Rosemary Talley’s home; Rincon Vineyard, recognized as a California Grand Cru by Wine Enthusiast Magazine; and Oliver’s Vineyard, named after Talley Farms founder, Oliver Talley. The 2023 season began with a wet winter and saturated soil conditions due to a series of atmospheric river systems that brought 49 1/2 inches of rain to the Arroyo Grande Valley, more than double the long-term average. Yields were abundant and the wines express charm and approachability.

Technical Information

Alcohol: 13.7%

Acid: 0.64g/100ml

pH: 3.43

Soil Type: Calcareous clays and shaly loam

Production: 5351 cases

Suggested Retail Price: $38

Vineyard Breakdown: 41% Rincon, 32% Rosemary’s, 24% Oliver’s, 3% Monte Sereno

Winemaking

Certified sustainably grown grapes were whole cluster pressed and fermented with native yeasts in French Oak barrels, 23% of which were new. The wine aged for 11 months in barrel and 3 months in tank, completed malolactic fermentation and was bottled in December 2024. This wine is vegan.

Tasting Notes & Food Pairings

Aromas of Honeycrisp apple, white peach, melon and pine lead to flavors of Granny Smith apple and wet slate that are fresh and bright. The finish is refreshingly juicy. Pair this wine with lemony risotto with asparagus or Elizabeth’s avocado toast.

The History of the Estate Chardonnay from Brian Talley- this wine dates back to our very first vintage in 1986. Up until that time, my family had focused on growing vegetables, an enterprise started by my grandfather in the Arroyo Grande Valley in 1948. Up until the late 1960s, every piece of land that we farmed we was leased. The first parcel that we purchased in 1966 included a beautiful gently sloping hillside that would later turn out to be a great vineyard site called Rosemary’s Vineyard.

My father was a visionary who aside from running a successful vegetable farm was an accomplished pilot, as well as voracious reader who enjoyed cigars and loved wine. By the late 1970s, he was thinking more carefully about what might grow on some of the hillsides immediately adjacent to our vegetable fields. He began planting the vines in 1982, tried his hand at winemaking in 1984 and 1985 and determined that he needed to hire a winemaker. Steve Rasmussen joined Talley Vineyards in 1986 and would serve as winemaker until 2004. My dad’s vision was to make wines that tasted like the grapes he grew, and he believed that estate grown wines were the ultimate expression of quality as a winegrower. The Chardonnay we made in 1986 was the first produced exclusively from the Arroyo Grande Valley, even though this AVA didn’t exist yet.

I joined the business in 1991, after graduating from UC Berkeley and working in a couple of wineshops along the way. I was given the very special opportunity to lead and develop our wine business from the ground up. I was immediately convinced that our way forward was to produce a more classical style that reflected terroir, or the all-encompassing reflection of place. One of the first things I did was to change the style of our Chardonnay to be made in the classic style of Burgundy, where Chardonnay originated. This means that the wines are whole cluster pressed and fermented in French Oak barrels with native yeast where they complete malolactic fermention and age on the lees for 9 months.

Since Eric Johnson became winemaker in 2010, the Estate Chardonnay has continued to evolve and improve as he has refined our winemaking, and now our viticulture. A notable step forward occurred with the introduction of fruit from Oliver’s Vineyard starting in 2020 after the approval of the San Luis Obispo Coast AVA.

Our Estate Chardonnay is truly the signature of Talley Vineyards. This is a great introduction to what we do and I think is a special reflection of the San Luis Obispo Coast, recognized as the coolest AVA in California due to its proximity to the ocean. The defining characteristics of the wine are fresh citrus aromas and flavors with refreshing energy. It pairs especially well with one of our signature crops, avocados, as well as with local seafood like petrale sole.

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Recipe | Crab Cakes

Enjoy a nice dinner with this Crab Cakes recipe, perfectly paired with our 2022 Oliver’s Vineyard Chardonnay. Named after Oliver Talley, the founder of Talley Farms and father to Don and Kenneth Talley, this beautiful vineyard is in the heart of the Edna Valley. The bright acidity and elegant structure of the Chardonnay beautifully complement the delicate flavors of the crab cakes.

Ingredients:

  • 1 lb lump crabmeat, picked over for shells
  • 1/2 cup breadcrumbs
  • 1/4 cup mayonnaise
  • 1 egg, beaten
  • 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
  • 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice
  • 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 1/2 teaspoon Old Bay seasoning
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil (for brushing)

Instructions:

  1. Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or
    lightly grease it.
  2. In a large mixing bowl, combine the lump crabmeat, breadcrumbs, mayonnaise, beaten egg, Dijon mustard, chopped parsley, lemon juice, Worcestershire sauce, Old Bay seasoning, salt, and pepper. Gently mix until well combined, being careful not to break up the crabmeat too much.
  3. Divide the mixture into equal portions and shape each portion into a round cake about 1 inch thick.
  4. Place the crab cakes on the prepared baking sheet. Brush the tops of the crab cakes with olive oil to help them brown.
  5. Bake in the preheated oven for about 15-20 minutes, or until the crab cakes are golden brown and firm to the touch.
  6. Once baked, remove the crab cakes from the oven and let them cool slightly before serving.

Serve the baked crab cakes warm with your favorite dipping sauce or alongside a fresh
salad. Enjoy!

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Get Ready Arizona


Arizona Tasting Room Takeover

April 5 & April 6


Dear Friends and Members in the Scottsdale/Phoenix area:

We are so happy to announce, considering the amazing number of members and lifetime supporters in your area, Scottsdale was the clear choice of where to hold our first ever Talley Tasting Room Takeover! With that being said, we are coming April 5th and 6th to host a series of exclusive, private tastings of our new Spring Release wines… and maybe a surprise or two from our suitcase!

Brian and Elizabeth Talley (owners) and Mariah McNulty (Director of Hospitality) are headed your way with our always anticipated Spring Release wines! Since we realize the distance may keep you from coming to our Spring Preview experience here at the winery, we have decided to make the trip and bring the wine to you! We hope you can join us! 

Brian, Elizabeth and Mariah


Where & When

Join us at our AirBNB, for a special flight-format tasting of our Spring Release wines. At this tasting, you will be able to sample and hand-select your Spring wine club order.

First Date:

April 5th | 3pm or 5pm

Second Date:

April 6th | 1pm, 3pm or 5pm

Place:

Private home in North Phoenix (address emailed upon RSVP)

Thinking of Joining Us?

PLEASE DO!

Our 2024 Spring Release lineup is an emergence of freshness and complexity too good for us not to share.

If you have friends who constantly drink your personal supply of Talley wines, make sure to bring them with you!

We look forward to sharing these ultra-premium wines with you in your neck of the woods!

2024 Spring Preview

Join us for an exclusive tasting experience featuring wines included in the 2024 Spring Release.

During this seated tasting members of our 12 and 6-bottle clubs will have the opportunity to taste our newly released Spring wines and customize their upcoming shipment.

This seasonal members’ experience, from March 7 – March 30, includes a tasting flight and light bites.

Reservations are highly recommended. 21+


FAQs

How much is a tasting fee for the Spring Preview?

Spring Preview tastings are complimentary. As a benefit of membership, you may reserve tastings for a party of 4 to enjoy this experience.

Can I bring a guest to the Spring Preview?

Guests are welcome at the Spring Preview when accompanied by members. As a benefit of membership, you may reserve tastings for a party of 4 to enjoy this complimentary experience with you. Be sure to include all guests in your reservation so we can make sure everyone has a spot in the lounge.

Do I need a reservation for the Spring Preview?

Reservations are highly recommended for this tasting experience. While we will do our best to accommodate walk-ins, on many days our members’ tastings are fully booked.

You can make a reservation online or by calling or emailing our concierge at (805) 489-0446, hospitality@talleyvineyards.com.

What are the dates and times available for the Spring Preview?

The Spring Preview is available for a limited time while the Spring Release customization window is open, March 7 – March 30. Spring Preview tastings are available daily during this time, beginning at 11am, with the last tasting starting at 3:30pm.

I’m in the 4-bottle club, can I attend the Spring Preview?

The Spring Preview is limited to members of our customizable, 12 and 6 bottle clubs to assist in the selection of their release. Members of the 4-bottle club interested in attending the experience can upgrade their membership by contacting our Wine Club Manager, Mariah at (805) 489-0446 x20, mariah@talleyvineyards.com.

Recipe | Brian’s Guacamole

Brian’s Guacamole

From Our California Table

The San Luis Obispo Coast is unique as a place that grows both world-class Chardonnay and avocados—truly a match made in heaven. Avocados are just about my favorite thing that we grow on the farm, and I consider guacamole to be the best possible expression of the avocado.

There are many variations of the basic guacamole recipe. Mine focuses on five critical ingredients: ripe avocados, cilantro, garlic, jalapeño, and lemon juice in place of more commonly used lime juice. In the summer and fall, when we have heirloom tomatoes, I add tomato. Many cooks add onion as well, but I prefer to keep my guacamole simple. It should be served on traditional Mexican corn tortilla chips.

Ingredients:

  • 3 medium-size ripe Hass avocados
  • 1/2 cup cilantro leaves, chopped
  • 1 lemon, juiced
  • 1/2 medium jalapeno pepper, finely diced
  • 1 clove garlic, finely diced
  • 1 small ripe tomato, chopped (optional)
  • Kosher salt

Directions:

Combine garlic, cilantro, half the jalapeño, and tomato, if desired, in a bowl large enough to accommodate finished guacamole. Add avocados, leaving the mixture as chunky as possible. Add half the lemon juice and salt to taste. Depending on how spicy you like it, add more jalapeño. Add more lemon juice if needed.

To serve – Place guacamole on a platter with traditional Mexican tortilla chips. Enjoy!

What to drink – What grows together goes together and our Estate Chardonnay pairs PERFECTLY with this creamy, delicious guacamole made from Talley Farms avocados, cilantro and lemons.

Estate Chardonnay

Our Estate Chardonnay is the quintessential expression of Talley Vineyards, representing the cool climate and hillside topography of our home on the San Luis Obispo Coast.

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