Taste handcrafted, small-batch varietals in a historic old schoolhouse

As one of the first established wineries in Paso Robles, Peachy Canyon Winery remains a favorite of locals and visitors. Family-owned and operated, the winery is known for producing award-winning zinfandel and handcrafted small batch Rhône and Bordeaux varietals.

Established in 1988 by Doug and Nancy Beckett, Peachy Canyon Winery has been under the full-time care of their sons, Josh and Jake Beckett, for the past several years.

“We consistently hear from our guests how much they appreciate visiting our family-owned business,” Jake said. “I rely heavily on our team members, and I couldn’t do it without all of them. From the vineyards to production to the tasting room, we have a great team.”

Doug points to the family involvement as making Peachy Canyon Winery the success it is today. He shared that through good times and bad, together they have always been able to ride it out. The Becketts are especially appreciative of the local community support over the years.

“Nancy and I are more of a resource now at the winery than active participants,” Doug shared. “We try to get to the tasting room as often as possible, and we enjoy meeting our customers and club members.”

Peachy Canyon winemaker Drew Phillips

Head winemaker Drew Phillips earned his degree from Fresno State University and has been with Peachy Canyon Winery for nearly a decade. Alongside his winemaking team, Phillips enjoys trying new approaches, including using different barrels, doing native yeast ferments, and inoculating the estate grapes to formulate more interesting flavors and wines.

“Drew’s style of winemaking is the perfect marriage with our tasting room style,” Jake said. “He’s unassuming, full of knowledge, and has a gentle hand when it comes to making wine. Our wines are balanced and approachable, just like Drew’s personality. He’s easygoing, yet super technical, and loves to experiment.”

Peachy Canyon wines change depending on the harvest. The last several vintages produced an even more balanced, food-friendly, and approachable selection, according to Jake. Reflecting the longstanding commitment to quality, their wines have garnered awards and honors such as Winery of the Year; double golds from the Central Coast Wine Competition, Vinous, and Wine Enthusiast; listing in Wine Spectator’s Top 100 Wines in the World, and more.

Discover crowd-pleasing wines at Peachy Canyon

One of the most requested wines is Peachy Canyon Especial Zinfandel, a wine the family has been making since 1989. With scents of berry brambles and baking spices on the nose, and supple flavors of berry cobbler and toffee, it’s a crowd pleaser. Be sure to try the Concrete Blanc, a crisp white Rhône blend of grenache blanc, viognier, roussanne, and picpoul blanc.

The GSM, a year-round favorite, is highly recommended by Phillips and his winemaking team. This juicy and balanced Rhône-style blend of grenache, syrah, and mourvedre features aromas of ripe Bing cherries and rose petals with flavors of strawberries, cassis, and white pepper. Peachy Canyon’s Petite Sirah is ideal for those with a preference for a bigger wine.

“Our entire lineup of wines is awesome, and that’s due to Drew’s skills,” Jake said. “They’re rich and yummy, with controlled, balanced alcohol without overwhelming the wine style. Even with some of our bigger wines, such as our cabernets and petite sirahs, Drew and his team have a way of keeping them smooth and velvety.”

Old World-style tasting room

Step up to the long, meandering bar inside the Peachy Canyon Old Schoolhouse tasting room and sample a wide variety of estate-grown varietals. White walls and wood accents lend a classic, old-world feel to the interior. The vibe is classic and comfortable in this historic landmark. Outside, enjoy lush landscaping, vineyard views, a picnic area, a gazebo, and oak trees.

Tasting room manager Bryce Seguin works alongside Tajin “T” Flores, the wine club manager, and their friendly, knowledgeable, and welcoming tasting room team. Along with the award-winning estate zinfandels, visitors find handcrafted small-batch Rhône and Bordeaux varietals that are only available for purchase in the tasting room.

The gift shop includes t-shirts, sweatshirts, local honey and olives, gourmet chocolates, and more. Charcuterie boxes and cheese plates are available. Larger groups are encouraged to call ahead to request larger plates. The tasting room offers juice tastings for children, and there’s a designated outdoor area for visitors with on-leash dogs.

A labor of love

Peachy Canyon’s production has been reduced over the past six or so years, focusing on their three estate vineyards – Mustang Springs, Snow, and Old Schoolhouse. Each Westside Paso Robles vineyard ranges widely in terroir and is farmed using sustainable practices.

Under the direction of Rodolfo Martinez and Javier Herrera, the vineyard team keeps the fields and 80 acres of estate vineyards healthy and happy. Water conservation is important, and the fruit is harvested by hand.

“We have a choreography we all dance to at harvest time, and it’s pretty cool,” Jake said. “Communication is essential, so we make sure we’re picking the fruit Drew is expecting us to pick. Sustainable farming takes a lot of time and a lot more tractor driving, but it’s what we focus on.”

Reflecting on nearly 40 years in the industry, Doug said he and Nancy didn’t establish Peachy Canyon Winery as an investment, but as a second career after they both retired from teaching. “Even more importantly,” he said, “it’s been a way to demonstrate how family can work together and make a difference. Family has always been a priority for us. It’s been our hope from the start that future generations would carry Peachy Canyon forward.”

Jake agreed, saying, “It’s been a labor of love for our family from the beginning. We love farming, we love the industry, and we feel grateful and blessed to be part of it. Day after day, we work as a team here and have a good time while we’re doing it. We hope that comes across to everyone who visits – we want everyone to feel welcome at our family winery and enjoy our wines!”

Peachy Canyon Winery tasting room is located at 1480 N. Bethel Road, Templeton. Open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., last guided tasting at 4 p.m., wines by the glass available until 4:30 p.m. Walk-ins are welcome, reservations are highly recommended on weekends and holidays. For more information, visit peachycanyon.com, call (805) 239-1918, or follow them on social media.

—Meagan Friberg