Just off the road on the increasingly famous 46 West Highway there stands a clapboard schoolhouse. It has stood there, off what is now a main artery of wine country, since 1886. As a place of Paso Robles history it is perfectly suited to hold its current tenet: the Peachy Canyon Winery tasting room.

With founding vintners Doug and Nancy Beckett at the helm, Peachy Canyon has been steadily making its own brand of history since its beginnings in the early 1980s.

Then, Doug and Nancy were teachers determined to make a life for themselves in rural California. They began with dreams of a walnut farm, but fate took hold, and Doug soon had his mind set on bigger ventures – a winery.

Christened “Peachy Canyon” in honor of the original location off Peachy Canyon Road (and, some say, in homage to the local legend of an oddly named horse thief ), the winery today has come a long way since its humble roots.

Currently, Peachy Canyon has four rolling estate vineyards, equalling 100 acres, dedicated to their cause: Snow Vineyard, Mustang Springs Ranch vineyard, the Old Schoolhouse Vineyard and Mustard Creek Vineyard. Each of these vineyards offers up its own namesake Zinfandel.

It’s only right, as Zinfandel is Peachy Canyon’s forte. Doug and Nancy’s first vintage was Zinfandel, crafted by hand in five-gallon water  bottles and aged in barrels borrowed from a friend. That first load of Zin came from Benito Dusi’s famous vineyard. However, since then, Peachy Canyon has become a dedicated grower of Zins in its own right.

As avid Zinfandel enthusiasts, the Becketts and Peachy Canyon Winery are active members in ZAP (Zinfandel Advocates and Producers), and have set aside an experimental planting on their Mustang Springs estate vineyard for Zinfandel research.

This block is part of the UC Davis Heritage Project, and provides research on Zinfandel origins as well as preservation. And that’s not the only preservation Peachy Canyon takes part in. The winery is also proudly SIP (Sustainability in Practice) certified. The vineyards compost waste accumulated throughout harvest, and reuse that to fertilize the vineyards. This, in addition to cover crops and the use of beneficial insects – like ladybugs – keeps Peachy vineyards healthy, for everyone.

From humble beginnings to devoted winemakers, Peachy Canyon has come full circle.

Owners
Doug and Nancy Beckett

Winemaker
Josh Beckett

Appellation
Paso Robles

Tastings
$5 for 6 wines, refunded with purchase of one bottle or more

Tours
By special arrangement only

Wines
Zinfandel, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Petite Sirah, Malbec, Viognier, Chardonnay, Bordeaux blends and Zinfandel Port

Annual Production
Approximately 60,000 cases.

Nearby Attractions

• Located conveniently close to beautiful downtown Paso Robles with its elegant shopping and artisanal dining, surrounding downtown city park.
• 90 minutes south of Hearst Castle
• 30 minutes inland from Cayucos, Cambria and Morro Bay shorelines

Of Special Note
Ample grounds are provided at the tasting room; bring a picnic and lunch between hills of rolling vineyards. Events include Zin Fest in March, Paso Robles WineFest in May, and Harvest Festival in October.
Many wines are available exclusively through the tasting room.

Peachy Canyon Winery
1480 N. Bethel Road, Templeton
(805) 239-1918  |  1-866-335-1918
www.PeachyCanyon.com
blog: www.TastesPeachy.com
twitter: @PeachyCynWinery