ARROYO GRANDE, CA (July 20, 2016) – Talley Vineyards welcomes its thirtieth anniversary of winemaking. Specializing in estate grown chardonnay and pinot noir from coastal San Luis Obispo County, Talley Vineyards reflects three generations of family farming history.
“My father’s vision as a farmer was to focus on the best possible quality for our customers,” says Brian Talley, Proprietor of Talley Vineyards. “As he shifted into winemaking, it was his goal to make wines that tasted like the grapes he grew.” Over time, this vision has evolved into one that embraces a more encompassing mission to “make and share wines that capture the special character of our place,” as Talley puts it. “Grapevines in particular lend themselves to transparency in reflecting the unique character of the land, so as our winemaking program has evolved over the past 30 years, we’ve increased our single vineyard selections to reflect the unique personalities of each of our vineyard sites.”
The Talley Family first established their roots in the Arroyo Grande Valley as specialty vegetable farmers in 1948 with the creation of Talley Farms. It wasn’t until 1982 with the planting of the Rincon Vineyard, that the Talley Family transitioned into the wine business and produced their first wines in 1986. Since its inception, 30 years ago, Talley Vineyards continues to partner with Talley Farms. Now a leader in the local farm-to-table movement, Talley Farms has been successfully operating its Fresh Harvest program—bringing local produce to local people—since 2012. And as of June this year, the general public is now able to purchase fresh vegetables adjacent to the Talley Vineyards tasting room at their newest collaboration, the Talley Farms Fresh Harvest Farm Stand.
Talley continues: “I love the idea that we are able to provide people with produce that’s fresher than what they can buy at the grocery store. Our fruits and vegetables are harvested the day before we pack them into boxes for sale or delivery.”
Talley Vineyards, a winery that is committed to the consistent quality of their wine, is equally committed to their community and to the people who help make this reality possible. In 2004, Brian and Johnine Talley established the Fund for Vineyard and Farm Workers, providing grants to non-profit organizations that assist San Luis Obispo County agricultural workers and their families. The endowment is now over $630,000. The key fundraising effort of the Fund for Vineyard and Farm Workers is Mano Tinta, a charity wine with an artist series label created by local artists who compete in an annual label design contest. The Marianne Talley Foundation is another initiative that Talley Vineyards founded in 1993, which funds scholarships for college bound athletes from Arroyo Grande High School. To date, over $260,000 has been awarded.
Brian Talley is an active leader in the local wine industry. Some of his major roles include: cofounding the World of Pinot Noir, serving on the International Chardonnay Symposium Advisory Board, and serving as President of the SLO Wine Country Association, the local Vintner’s Association.
He sums up his overarching philosophy by adding, “sustainability is really important to my family. Three of the owners of Talley Vineyards and Talley Farms live on the property. We are committed to the idea of striving to do our very best with our land, our people and in our community. I recognize that I received a very special opportunity to serve as a steward of our land, and I want to pass it along to the fourth generation of Talleys in even better condition than when I started.”
Being one of the oldest family-owned and operated wineries in San Luis Obispo County, the Talley Family is dedicated to building on the foundation laid by the past and progressing into the future.
Talley Vineyards is located in Arroyo Grande, California, on the coast about halfway between Los Angeles and San Francisco. Family-owned for three generations, they specialize in premium pinot noir and chardonnay. The Talley Vineyards tasting room is open daily from 10:30 AM until 4:30 PM. Please visit https://www.talleyvineyards.com/ for detailed information.
