Barr Estate Winery is a small family owned and operated vineyard, boutique winery and tasting room located at 6950 Union Road on the east side of Paso Robles in the Geneseo District, where the warm days and cool nights are ideal for grape growing. Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec, Petit Verdot, Petite Sirah, Primitivo, Tannat and Albariño are grown on their 57 acre vineyard and crafted into single vineyard estate wines.

Barr Estate Winery tasting room is open Fri-Sun from 11-5 where a family member is usually there to greet you and invite you to taste their handcrafted food friendly limited production wines and estate grown cold pressed 100% extra virgin olive oil.

As native New Orleanians, Tealy and Greg grew up in a culture of great jazz and good food. French wine was the principal accompliment to New Orleans cuisine at the time. Living in Europe during the 70’s and 80’s, enhanced their wine experience and appreciation of European wines. In the 90’s they returned to California and developed a greater appreciation of California wines.

After working for an international company for thirty years, the Barr’s decided to start a second career dedicated to growing grapes and making great wines at affordable prices that enhance the culinary experience. After searching for a vineyard, they settled on the Central Coast of California in Paso Robles in 2007. It is still a place where the vineyard farmer and the winemaker are the same person and winemaking starts in the vineyard.

Greg and Tealy’s son, Geoff, moved to the vineyard in early 2008 to be part of the family vineyard and winery. His love of the outdoors and interest in learning about growing grapes prompted his move to Paso Robles. Much of his first two years have been dedicated to improving the 46-acre vineyard, which was in its 7th leaf when the family bought it. His hard work is showing up in the quality of the wine grapes. Ten acres were grafted over to new varietals in 2008. An additional 1.5 acres of Petite Sirah were planted in 2009. Their daughter, Mathilda, is also involved with the winery’s operations, assisting with sales in Northern California.

The climate and soils are also well suited for olive production. In 2008, 200 Tuscan olive trees were planted. The trees are doing well and the first olive oil bottling of their extra virgin cold pressed olive oil was in 20013.

“Our winemaking learning curve has been as steep as the learning curve for farming,” says Greg, “but we have a great teacher and winemaker consultant, Signe Zoller.” Zoller has over 30 years of wine making experience and her wines have earned multiple gold medals. She has been named winemaker of the year by the California Mid State Fair, served as president of the American Society for Enology and Viticulture and the Paso Robles Vintners and Growers Association (now Paso Robles Wine Country Alliance).

Barr’s handcrafted estate grown single vineyard wines, including the details of their creation, can be found on their website: http://www.barrestatewines.com/wines/. Barr Estate wines can be purchased on their website, in the tasting room, through their wine club, or in select restaurants.