The Rhythm of Wine

Costa de Oro is a Spanish term meaning “gold coast” which pretty much sums up the California Central Coast. But it is also the name of a winery in Santa Maria. Costa de Oro Winery makes wine from their aptly named 30-acre Gold Coast Vineyard but also sources some fruit from places like Paso Robles. The vineyard carries on the Burk family farming tradition, and prior to grapes being planted, they started out growing greenhouse tomatoes and kiwis, broccoli, cauliflower, cilantro, corn, spinach and what the agricultural region is perhaps best known for – strawberries!

Gary Burk is the mind behind the winery, though he came to wine and winemaking later in life and didn’t have his sights set on the family farming business at all. After graduating from Cal Poly-San Luis Obispo with a degree in business, he landed a music industry job in Los Angeles working as a royalty accountant for a major record label. His client list was impressive including Bob Seger, Heart and Ike Turner, but Burk really wanted to be making music, not counting numbers. So he left his job and played folk, blues and rock throughout the early 1990s at a variety of well known venues in Los Angeles including the Palomino and the Whisky-a-Go-Go. But a chance meeting with iconic winemaker Jim Clendenen changed everything and soon Burk found an equal passion in wine and returned to the family roots, so to speak, though this time farming grapes, not strawberries. Burk committed fulltime to winemaking in 2002 and his approach to winemaking shares similarities with his approach to music. “I go with gut feelings with wine as much as I would a guitar solo,” he says. “You’ve got to be able to sense when to play softly and when to rip and really go for it.” Similarly the winery started slowly, building a reputation on small lots and solid wines which reflect the Gold Coast they are grown in.

The wines offered at Costa de Oro include award winners from competitions in San Francisco, Orange County and the Central Coast, not to mention high praise from venerable wine publications like Wine Enthusiast Magazine and Wine Spectator. “In the tasting room, we have added wines that are either exclusive to the wine club or in very small quantities for the bar,” says Burk. Currently you can find two versions of Chardonnay, four iterations of Pinot Noir, Pinot Grigio and Cabernet Sauvignon. He has grown to about 6,500 cases and also private labels a few wines for notable restaurants in Hawaii including Roy’s Restaurants.

The Costa de Oro tasting room, which opened in 2006, sits on the site of the Gold Coast strawberry stand where you can pick up gift items and wine. The views from the glass windows look directly out to the fertile fields of Santa Maria. The tasting room is comfortable and relaxed with its wood-toned colors, wood beams on the ceiling and comfy chairs to relax in, not to mention plenty of sunlight. The staff is known to be friendly and helpful. Tasting fees are $10, or you can purchase individual glasses of wine. Either way make certain you get a cheese plate to go with your wines, which are available from $5 to $12 containing a variety of cheeses. To make matters even better, Costa de Oro offers live music every Friday evening with their Wine Down Fridays. Each Friday night from 5 to 8 p.m. you’re likely to hear folk music, blues, acoustic guitar solos or a little rock from Grammy winning musicians. “My wife and I are musicians as well and music is near and dear to us,” Burk says. “Music and wine are both universal languages, they speak to people on an emotional level – no translation necessary.” And every once in a while, if the vibe is right, Burk and his Stratocaster will join guests on stage to jam.  This is an ideal stop when traveling on Highway 101 as you pass through Santa Maria, halfway between Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo, a chance to sample wines, enjoy live music and soak up the Gold Coast.

Of all the wines Gary makes he has a fondness for Pinot Noirs. “We are very excited about our Pinots,” Gary says. “They are the best line-up of Pinot we have released to date.” So get your groove on and check out the exceptional wines of Costa de Oro. The tasting room is open Saturday to Thursday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Friday 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. They are located at 1331 S. Nicholson Ave. in Santa Maria directly off Highway 101. For additional information, call (805) 922-1468 or www.cdowinery.com.