SEXTANT (SEKS TANT) an old world instrument using the sun, stars and horizon to navigate across open water. Established: 2004 At sextant wines we are devoted to expanding the horizons of the central coast wine region by utilizing the unmatchable terroir with old world varietal selections. This allows us to grow grapes to their optimal maturity, creating unique wines of supreme quality. We know you ll enjoy! Navigate...Explore...Discover Mailing Address: Post Office Box 391, Paso Robles, CA 93447 Toll Free: 866.833.WINE Phone: 805.542.0133 Fax: 805.542.0132
Our Team... we have a great team who are enthusiastic and just as passionate about wine grapes and winemaking as i am, - Craig Stoller. Craig Stoller Proprietor Craig@SextantWines.com Nancy Stoller Proprietor Nancy@SextantWines.com Steven Martell Winemaker Steve@SextantWines.com Amy Griffith Director of Hospitality Amy@SextantWines.com Ashlie Leslie Key Accounts Specialist Ashlie@SextantWines.com Allie Oliveira-Jones Accounting and Shipping Accounting@SextantWines.com Allison Platz Director of Wine Club WineClub@SextantWines.com Megan Holst Administration Coordinator Admin@SextantWines.com Tasting Rooms Contact Sextant Wines Tasting Room and Mercato at Old Enda 1653 Old Price Canyon Road San Luis Obispo, CA 93401 Toll Free: 866.833.WINE Telephone: 805.542.0133 Fax: 805.542.0132 www.sextantwines.com Sextant Wines Estate Winery and Hospitality Center 2324 West Highway 46 Paso Robles, CA 93446 Mailing Address RBZ Vineyards, LLC dba Sextant Wines PO Box 391 Paso Robles, CA 93447
Our Story... Family History Proprietors Nancy and Craig Stoller have a deep-rooted history in the wine industry. Glen Stoller founded the family owned and operated Sunridge Nurseries in 1977, and Craig is a third generation vine grower following in his father s footsteps. What sets Sunridge Nurseries apart is their exclusive relationships with French, Portuguese, and Spanish dignitaries to import certified wine grape selections that can be traced back to the original mother vines in each of those countries. The Proprietors Craig joined the family business upon graduation from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo in 1991. He started out on the road learning about the wine regions, meeting winegrowers, and of course, sampling the finished product the wine. Now as CEO of Sunridge Nurseries, Stoller has enjoyed watching the industry grow while being a part of the front end of supplying vines to many winegrowers across the state. Nancy has focused her creative energy towards public relations and marketing for the winery. The Beginning In 2002 Craig and Nancy planted a certified increase block in Templeton to produce cuttings for the nursery. Two years later they began to utilize the grapes rather than letting the fruit drop on the ground, which is customary for most nursery operations. The Stollers planted most Zinfandel clones available, as well as some newly introduced ENTAV selections; ENTAV is the highest governmental authority in France responsible for the selection and preservation of the best French wine grape clones. The Stollers planted the mother block in this climate so the varieties could be better evaluated for their clonal differences. The purpose of this particular vineyard was to not only use the budwood for propagation in the nursery, but also to show wine growers the potential for good wines from these clones. Sunridge Nurseries slogan has always been Where the vintage begins, and developing wines from these high quality clones was naturally the next step. Today In the fall of 2007, Sextant opened the doors to their first tasting room in San Luis Obispo. Ever growing, in the winter of 2009, Sextant moved its tasting room to the historic town site of Old Edna located in the heart of the Edna Valley. In addition, Sextant secured its own production facility in Paso Robles. In the spring of 2010, with a presence in Paso Robles, the Stoller s were inspired to unveil and open their Paso Robles Barrel and Tasting Room to guests. In the beginning of 2011, they had the opportunity to own a beautiful piece of property on the much-desired 46 West. They decided this was where they would build their Estate Winery and Hospitality Center, and call Paso Robles home. The Stollers story from vines to wines has come full-circle as they have combined their passion for fine wine, gourmet cuisine, and love of the ocean in creating Sextant Wines.
Our Philosophy... At Sextant Wines we are devoted to creating unmatchable, old world varietal wines by taking full advantage of the ideal wine grape terroir of the Central Coast region. This allows us to grow grapes to their optimal maturity, creating unique wines of supreme quality. Our Specialty The highly acclaimed Sextant Wines specializes in powerful Zinfandel and Petite Sirah Blends. The Winemaker Steven Martell joined Sextant in 2010. With a short 14 years of mastering his art in the cellar, Steve s talent has garnered numerous 90+ wine accolades. Steven s passion for winemaking was ignited while gaining hands-on experience alongside world-renowned professors and researchers in the Biology & Agro-ecology programs at The University of California Santa Cruz, where he graduated with his Bachelors of Science in Biology and Environmental Studies in 1999. Steve s refined sensory skill combined with his innate natural winemaking approach was a perfect match for the style of wine I want Sextant to be known for says Proprietor, Craig Stoller. Steve s philosophy is having intimate time with each vine in the vineyard, ensuring the quality from first bud to the fruit it produces. Steve confidently offers. As vintages pass I find it to be an honor to shepherd these personality-filled clones into each bottle. It is with the utmost pleasure that we have Winemaker Steven Martell at the helm of Sextant Wines. From my first day at Sextant Wines, and every day since, I continually revel in the potential for world-class wines. - Steve Martell The Winemaking Process... The Techniques At Sextant Wines we pride ourselves in producing wines using natural, hands-off winemaking techniques. The Estate Winery and Production Facility Sextant Wines has built a state-of-the-art custom crush and winemaking facility complete with tasting room and hospitality center. The new facility is located on the west side of Highway 46 in Paso Robles. We invite you to join us!
Our Vineyards... With 486 acres (approximately 94%) planted, our vineyards stretch across three distinct American Viticultural Areas (AVA) on the Central Coast. Sextant Vineyards, Paso Robles, AVA Templeton, San Luis Obispo County, California Sextant Vineyard is located in the heart of the El Pomar District on the Northwest corner of South El Pomar and Almond Drive. The 114-acres are 75% planted. This vineyard is one of a kind for the area. The property was developed with Sunridge Nurseries, Inc. as the only commercial vineyard in the Paso Robles AVA that is also a State of California registered and certified nursery block. Materials planted includes the highest quality UC Davis clones and many imported selections from the French Entav-Inra program and similar programs in Spain and Portugal. Benefiting from the states largest diurnal temperature swings and linne calado topsoils paired with diablo limestone subsoils (similar to the soils in much of France), grapes planted here fully ripen with balanced sugar and natural acidity. Macgregor Vineyards, Edna Valley, AVA San Luis Obispo, San Luis Obispo County, California One of the oldest Edna Valley AVA vineyards, the historic MacGregor Vineyards consists of 12-acres originally planted in 1975 by Andy MacGregor. At this time there was a very limited selection of wine varieties or rootstock available. Mr. MacGregor purchased certified nursery stock and planted Pinot Noir. By 1978 there was an overwhelming demand for the ever-popular Chardonnay fruit, while Pinot Noir was still a relatively unheard of variety. That same spring, all but 10 rows were budded over to the Wente clone of Chardonnay. This particular selection is a small berry producing clone, rich in fruit forward flavors that thrive in the cool climate of the Edna Valley AVA. The climate is tempered by marine air flowing directly into the valley from the Pacific Ocean. This cooling influence creates an unusually long growing season resulting in greatly intensified varietal flavors. The soils are dominated by marine deposits left millions of years ago when the valleys were under water. Loam and clay topsoil overlay the calcareous marine deposits that help promote complex flavors in our Edna Valley wines. Chalk Knoll Vineyards, San Lucas, AVA San Ardo, Monterey County, California Located in the San Lucas AVA in Southern Monterey County, just north of Paso Robles, Chalk Knoll Vineyards encompasses 320-acres. Unlike other AVAs in Monterey County, San Lucas is less affected by coastal breezes from Monterey Bay. This results in a warmer overall climate during the daytime and temperatures that often fluctuate as much as 40 degrees during the summer, day to night. This temperature swing is one of the contributing factors to the longer growing season, and gives the fruit time to develop a full body and flavor. The vineyard is planted with mostly Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot for contracted production, but also includes Syrah and the Primitivo clone of Zinfandel. Planted on the highest peak in the area, the concentrated chalk and limestone soil produces fruit of intense flavors with elegant mineral qualities unique to the Central Coast of California.