Sextant Central Coast Zinfandel 2010
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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 will enjoy!
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Family History
Proprietors Nancy and Craig Stoller have a deep-rooted history in the wine industry. The Stoller family founded Sunridge Nurseries in 1977 and is dedicated to producing the finest grape stock in the world. Craig is a third-generation vine grower following in his father’s footsteps. What sets Sunridge apart is their exclusive relationships with French, Portuguese, and Spanish institutions to import certified wine grape selections that can be traced back to the original mother vines in each of those countries. Today, Sunridge still uses some of the original grape rootstock Craig’s grandfather planted more than four decades ago.
The Proprietors
Craig joined the Stoller 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, learning about wine. Now as CEO of Sunridge Nurseries, Craig has enjoyed watching the industry grow while taking part in supplying vines to many winegrowers across the globe. His passion for high quality wine has led the journey in the vineyard while Nancy has focused her creative energy towards public relations and marketing for Sextant.
The Beginning
Sunridge Nurseries’ slogan has always been “Where the vintage begins,” so developing wines from these high-quality clones was naturally the next step. In 2001, Nancy and Craig planted a certified vineyard increase block in Templeton. “The purpose of this particular vineyard was to show wine growers the potential for good wines from these clones,” says Craig. The Stollers planted the newest selections introduced by ENTAV, the highest governmental authority in France responsible for preserving the best wine grape clones, which they evaluated for their clonal differences. Three years later they began to utilize the grapes and made wines from the different clonal selections.
Today
Visit Sextant at two distinct locations on the Central Coast. The Estate Winery is set among stunning views of the Paso Robles countryside on scenic 46 West and the Tasting Room and Gourmet Deli sit in the heart of the SLO wine trail at the historic Old Edna townsite. Both offer reserve tastings complete with exquisite service and knowledgeable staff. Take your experience a step further and join the wine club to access exclusive benefits including private events and members-only wines. From vines to wines, the Stollers’ story has come full circle as they have combined their passion for fine wine with their love of the ocean in creating Sextant Wines.
Unapologetically bold, spice-driven and jammy, Zinfandel has secured its title as the darling of California vintners by adapting well to the state's diverse microclimates and landscapes. Born in Croatia, it later made its way to southern Italy where it was named Primitivo. Fortunately, the imperial nursery of Vienna catalogued specimens of the vine, and it later made its way to New England in 1829. Parading the true American spirit, Zinfandel found a new home in California during the Gold Rush of 1849. Somm Secret—California's ancient vines of Zinfandel are those that survived the neglect of Prohibition; today these vines produce the most concentrated, ethereal and complex examples.
The largest and perhaps most varied of California’s wine-growing regions, the Central Coast produces a good majority of the state's wine. This vast California wine district stretches from San Francisco all the way to Santa Barbara along the coast, and reaches inland nearly all the way to the Central Valley.
Encompassing an extremely diverse array of climates, soil types and wine styles, it contains many smaller sub-AVAs, including San Francisco Bay, Monterey, the Santa Cruz Mountains, Paso Robles, Edna Valley, Santa Ynez Valley and Santa Maria Valley.
While the Central Coast California wine region could probably support almost any major grape varietiy, it is famous for a few Central Coast reds and whites. Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon and Zinfandel are among the major ones. The Central Coast is home to many of the state's small, artisanal wineries crafting unique, high-quality wines, as well as larger producers also making exceptional wines.