Paso Robles winery gains historic recognition
Owners Damian and Amanda Grindley.
Vineyard celebrates recognition with limited-edition release
– Brecon Estate Vineyard earned prestigious recognition this week, joining a select group of iconic Central Coast vineyards officially certified as “Historic” by the Historic Vineyard Society (HVS). This exclusive designation, which aims to preserve California’s oldest vines, includes renowned vineyards such as Chalone, Dusi, HMR, and Pesenti, along with Macdonald, Ridge, and Monte Bello in the northern part of the state.
Owners Damian and Amanda Grindley said they recognized something special about the property that would eventually become Brecon Estate when they first toured the location. Originally established in 1971 by wine pioneer Art Norman, the vineyard is now regarded as a visionary planting. Located along the renowned Vineyard Drive, it was one of the original vineyards planted in Paso Robles and is now part of the sought-after Adelaida District.
In 2012, the Grindleys acquired the property, and Damian produced Brecon Estate’s first vintage of the historic grapes. When Brecon’s inaugural wine earned Best of Class in Jerry Mead’s “New World International Wine Competition,” Damian knew his instincts were correct. Since then, Brecon Estate’s ownership and winemaking team have refined their approach, planting additional varietals and carefully nurturing the now 53-year-old vines. The estate was recently recognized as one of Forbes’ top 25 wines of the year.
Brecon’s old-vine Cabernet Sauvignon, after crossing the 50-year mark, became eligible for recognition by the Historic Vineyard Society. Established in 2011, the non-profit organization works to preserve California’s historic vineyards and has a thorough validation process for each vineyard submitted for recognition. Brecon Estate is proud to be the steward of one of the few historic vineyards in Paso Robles and on the Central Coast.
In celebration of the designation, Brecon Estate has released its most recent vintage from these historic vines. Only 235 cases of the 2022 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon were produced, and this limited-edition wine is available to taste at Brecon’s Paso Robles tasting room. The estate’s small-batch wines are sold exclusively through their tasting room, wine club, or website. To secure a bottle, visit breconestate.com, call (805) 239-2200, or email info@breconestate.com.
