Page 108 - SLO Visitors Guide - Summer 2026

108 SUMMER 2026 slovisitorsguide.com
Wine Tasting
VISIT CASTORCELLARS.COM FOR RESERVATIONS • @CASTOROCELLARS
1315 N. BETHEL ROAD • TEMPLETON, CA 93465 • 888-DAM-FINE
WALK-INS and RESERVATIONS WELCOME • 10AM - 5:30PM DAILY
Let us make your visit an experience!
From Welsh caves to Paso Robles—
Brecon Estate’s rise to award winning wines
When they first toured the lo-
cation, Damian and Amanda
Grindley recognized something
special about the vineyards that
would eventually become Brecon
Estate. Originally established in
1971 by wine pioneer Art Norman,
the vineyard is now regarded as a
visionary planting and was certified
as "Historic" by the Historic Vine-
yard Society (HVS) in 2025. This
exclusive designation for preserving
California's oldest vines includes
Cave-exploring
background
influenced the
owner’s winemaking
Brecon Estates vineyards is one of California’s historic vineyards.
vineyards such as Chalone, Dusi,
HMR, and Pesenti, along with Mac-
donald, Ridge, and Monte Bello in
the northern part of the state.
Established in 2011, HVS works
to preserve California’s historic
vineyards. Brecon Estate is proud
to be the steward of one of the few
historic vineyards in Paso Robles.
Grindley brought over 25 years
of experience from winemaking
regions in Australia, Europe, and
the United States to Brecon Estate.
When it came to naming the win-
ery, he and his wife, Amanda, chose
to venerate the Brecon Beacons in
Grindley’s native Wales. “Before
I got into the wine industry, I
explored, mapped, and discovered
quite a few caves in the wild, wind-
swept Brecon Beacons National
Park, which is underlain by a big
band of limestone.” Caving is how
Damian and Amanda met.
Before settling in the area, the
Grindleys looked long and hard for
their ideal property. “Being a cave
explorer, I couldn’t buy a winery
that wasn’t on calcareous soil,”
Grindley said. “When I return to
the caves of my youth, I literally get
a tingling down my neck from the
limestone. I get the same feeling
here. Plus, I have cool British blood,
so we were trying to get as close
to the ocean as possible for that
cooling influence of the fog with
our roots in a south-facing slope
in calcareous soil. Some of the best
regions in the world are planted on
calcareous soil. If you like wines
from calcareous soil, the minerality,
the great acids, and the aging abil-
ity, Paso is ground zero.”
With the help of friends, Simon
and Anna Hackett of Australia, the
Grindleys started Brecon Estate in
2012.
Brecon wines take top honors
Brecon Estate captured top
honors at the 2025 Pacific Rim
International Wine Competition,
taking home Best of Show, Best
White Wine, and Best Red Wine.
“The trick,” said Grindley, “is
having everything you make be
good across the board, and that’s
harder than making one great wine.
It’s also about not growing too
quickly, and keeping those small,
interesting parcels.”
For that reason, guests will like-
ly find a different lineup of wines
at each tasting room visit. Grindley
makes 12-14 small parcel wines per
year. “We always have new releases,”
he said. “The tasting lineup changes
at least once a month.”
Visit Brecon Estate and experi-
ence Brecon’s exclusive, small-batch
wines, available only from their
website or winery. Enjoy the tasting
experience with the knowledgeable
and friendly staff. Relax on the pa-
tio and enjoy views of the old vines
and oak trees.
The Brecon Estate Wine Club
offers three wine shipments yearly,
discounts on purchases, compli-
mentary tastings, and invitations to
exclusive Brecon Estate events.
The Brecon Estate tasting room
is located at 7450 Vineyard Drive in
Paso Robles. Open daily, 11 a.m. to 5
p.m.; reservations preferred. For more
information, visit breconestate.com
or call (805) 239-2200.