Wayfarer Vineyard & Aaron Wines
Wayfarer Vineyard of the Sonoma Coast AVA
Perched along the rugged ridgelines of the Sonoma Coast, Wayfarer crafts small-lot, estate-grown Pinot Noir and Chardonnay of remarkable depth and character. Each wine reflects the extreme coastal terroir—where cool marine breezes, rocky soils, and meticulous farming converge to produce wines of elegance, complexity, and lasting expression.
Their reputation for uncompromising quality and limited production aligns perfectly with Grapevine’s commitment to representing the world’s most distinctive wineries.
Wayfarer is Cleo Pahlmeyer’s continuation of the Pahlmeyer family’s 40-year legacy in wine. Founded in 2012 by the daughter of legendary Napa vintner Jayson Pahlmeyer, Wayfarer produces estate-grown Pinot Noir and Chardonnay from the family’s organically farmed vineyard in Sonoma’s Fort Ross-Seaview AVA.
Famed winemaker Helen Turley declared it would be ‘The La Tache of California,’ inspiring Jayson Pahlmeyer to acquire the land and recruit David Abreu to plant the vineyard. Perched above the fog at 1,200 feet on a rugged ridgeline just four miles from the Pacific Ocean and surrounded by redwood forests, Wayfarer Vineyard sits on Goldridge soil that was once ancient seabed. Here, generous sunshine and chilly ocean air combine to create a remarkable tension of luscious texture, structure and vibrancy in the wines – a signature that cannot be replicated anywhere else in the world.
- Wayfarer Vineyard
- 1441 Grove Street Healdsburg, CA 95448
- inquire@wayfarervineyard.com
* DISCLAIMER: All Wayfarer Vineyard photography used in this article is property of Wayfarer Vineyard.
Aaron Wines of Paso Robles and the San Luis Obispo Coast AVA
A Central Coast native, Aaron Jackson’s path to winemaking began with a question.“How can we write a new story for Central Coast wine, and how do we unlock its potential?” To answer this, he found himself working in coastal Pinot Noir vineyards near his hometown of Cayucos, and working in cellars producing wines from Paso Robles’ westside, most uniquely Petite Sirah.
While studying wine at Cal Poly in San Luis Obispo, he pooled together the pennies from his weekend jobs and launched his eponymous label with the first vintage of Aaron Petite Sirah in 2002. His career continued to lead him to work with several acclaimed wineries in Paso Robles, along with earning his Master’s degree in Oenology from the University of Adelaide in South Australia.
In 2017, Aaron took charge in leading the effort to create the San Luis Obispo Coast AVA (SLO Coast), which was approved in 2021. Now over 20 years in, Aaron continues to focus on pushing boundaries and bringing pride to his homeland through his wines, all of which are driven by authenticity and devotion to unearthing the potential of Paso Robles and the San Luis Obispo Coast.
- Aaron Wines
- 3050 Limestone Way, Paso Robles, CA 93446
- taste@aaronwines.com
* DISCLAIMER: All Aaron Wines photography used in this article is property of Aaron Wines.