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PASO ROBLES
Owner and winemaker Damian Grindley's passion for wine and wanderlust has
taken him from England and South Wales to Australia and now Paso Robles.
Paying homage to his Gaelic heritage, Grindley founded Brecon Estate (it's
both a cathedral town and a National Park in South Wales) in 2012 with his
wife Amanda and partners Simon and Anna Hackett.
Looking back it all makes sense to the proud Welshman. He had a vegetable
patch as a teenager and sold organic produce on the pavement. This led
to his first degree in horticulture-viticulture while a casual job at a liquor
wholesaler honed his palate and led to a successful career in the UK wine
industry. Grindley later pursued his postgraduate qualification in Enology at
Australia's prestigious University of Adelaide.
Located in Paso Robles' westside Adelaida District, Brecon produces a range
of varietals from Albariño to Zinfandel with Rhône and Bordeaux blends in
between. The ranch was once owned by Mennonites and by Jesse James'
Uncle, providing a hangout for the young outlaw. The property, noted for
calcareous soils, is recognized for one of the earliest plantings of Bordeaux
varietals, most of which survive to this day and are the backbone of Brecon
wines.
Enjoy a more formal tasting in the contemporary indoor lounge or relax on
the alfresco terrace shaded by heritage oaks where you can mosey up to the
tasting bar with your muddy boots and friendly hounds and savor Brecon's
hand-crafted wines. Brecon is open daily and tours are by appointment.
FACING PAGE: The patio at Brecon Estate offers an informal
and restful tasting experience of our signature wines.
TOP: Damian, Amanda and Merran Grindley tend to the
Brecon Estate Old Vine Cabernet Sauvignon Vineyard.
Photograph by Chris Leshinsky
Brecon Estate
SAN LUIS OBSIPO COUNTY
