Winemaker Notes
Critical Acclaim
All Vintages
They embrace traditional methods such as hand punch down and whole-berry uncrushed fermentations, and we enhance these practices with cutting-edge technology in soil exploration and vineyard mapping. Above all, we share a desire to handcraft exceptional wines that reflect and celebrate the distinct character of Edna Valley. Focused on estate and single vineyard releases, and emphasizing Pinot Noir, Tolosa is eager to share what the land can express in the hands of our talented winemakers.
California’s coolest wine growing area, Edna Valley excels in the production of high quality Central Coast wines like Pinot noir, Chardonnay, Rhône Blends and aromatic white wines. It has a cool Mediterranean climate and an incredibly long growing season, giving late-ripening varieties plenty of opportunity to develop great phenolic complexity.
Its northwest to southeast orientation creates a direct path for cool Pacific air and fog to penetrate the valley from the Los Osos and Morro Bay area inwards. Low hillsides of both calcareous and volcanic soils are home to much of the vineyard acreage of the Edna Valley.
Whether it’s playful and fun or savory and serious, most rosé today is not your grandmother’s White Zinfandel, though that category remains strong. Pink wine has recently become quite trendy, and this time around it’s commonly quite dry. Since the pigment in red wines comes from keeping fermenting juice in contact with the grape skins for an extended period, it follows that a pink wine can be made using just a brief period of skin contact—usually just a couple of days. The resulting color depends on grape variety and winemaking style, ranging from pale salmon to deep magenta.