Boutique winery is known for Rhone blends and signature single varietal offerings.
—Seven Angels Cellars is a family business owned and operated by Pamela and Greg Martin, a husband-and-wife duo with a passion for family, food, and wine. The couple married in 2008 and launched the winery venture the following year. The winery is named in honor of their seven children, their “seven angels”, and is a passion project for the couple who have both retired so they can focus on the things they enjoy with wine taking center stage.
Greg grew up in a rural area of California with neighbors who grew wine grapes. He spent a lot of time learning about the entire process from the vine to the bottle from his patient neighbor. He continued his interest in wine when he was stationed with the U.S. Coast Guard in the Bay Area and had easy access to the multitude of wineries in Sonoma and Napa. Pamela comes from a family of foodies and wine enthusiasts. She took courses in college in winemaking and learned the biology aspect of wine. She worked in catering and on TV as a home economist for a cooking show. Pairing food and wine to create an interesting and delightful balance in a meal has become an obsession for her.
The couple had been operating out of a tasting room located on the Paso Back Roads Winery Trail for the past five years and recently decided to make the move to the new tasting room located behind Dark Star’s tasting room on the Paso Robles 46 West Wineries Trail.
“We love the Back Road wineries and have enjoyed helping build that brand and working with so many wonderful people. Although we will miss being part of that group, we are excited to join the 46 West Wineries with our move to the new location where we will have the benefit of higher traffic,” said Pamela Martin.
Greg Martin has been friends with Dark Star’s owner, Mike Emling, for over 40 years. The two men used to sit in their backyard and sip on wine while talking about making wine in the future. All these years later, when Mike approached Greg and Pamela about the tasting room space adjacent to his becoming available, the couple jumped at the opportunity to work with their friend.
“When we first started making wine, it was at Dark Star Cellars when the original owner was there. So many things seem to have come full circle, and we are delighted to be operating from this new location. We are excited about the outdoor space with live music most weekends and the opportunity to launch new events. Working side by side with my friend is a definite perk”, commented Greg Martin.
The first big event at the winery will be the club pick-up party on May 4. The details are still in the works. This will be an opportunity for many of the out-of-town members to visit the new location for the first time.
The Martins plan to keep production small, with approximately 1,000 cases per year. In addition to chardonnay, mourvèdre, and syrah from their estate vineyard, they source fruit from premium vineyards on the Central Coast. The boutique winery is best known for its Rhone blends and signature single varietal offerings such as syrah and merlot. They recently bottled two chardonnays and a viognier that will be released later this year in the new tasting room.
The Seven Angels Cellars tasting room is located at 2985 Anderson Rd., Paso Robles. Open Friday-Monday noon-5 p.m. or by appointment. For more information visit sevenangelscellars.com or call (805) 835-4054
—Lisa Pretty
