Wines with a European flair at Claiborne and Churchill Winery
May 14, 2015
Jim Hicks
It was a warm and sunny afternoon in Paso Robles and with the successful conclusion of the CAB’s of Distinction Media Event, we decided to accept a luncheon invitation from Claiborne and Churchill Winery in the Edna Valley. As most know, Edna Valley is unique in the coastal foothills since it is one of the few which runs perpendicular to the coast and has a very unique micro-climate as compared to most to the other Central Coast valleys. Claiborne and Churchill’s beautiful winery is located directly off Edna Valley’s Carpenter Canyon Road, only 10 minutes from downtown San Luis Obispo.
Our charming luncheon was hosted by Claiborne and Churchill’s owner Clay Thompson and Winemaker Coby Parker-Garcia. Sitting at the patio tables directly outside the busy Tasting Room, we were delighted to have a wonderful lunch and be introduced to the Claiborne and Churchill wines. From the first moments of meeting Clay and Coby, we were impressed by the passion and the pride they put into their wines.
Claiborne and Churchill create wines using a more Germanic than American approach in their wine production. And in the flagship wines, they specialize in a Dry Gewurztraminer and a Dry Riesling. I emphasize the word Dry since they are not at all similar to many other American variations of the Germanic wines. These wines are not sweet; rather they are clean and crisp on the palate and can stand alone or be paired with a variety of foods. Don’t be fooled here, they pair well with the traditional fowl dinners as well as matching favorably with spicier foods. And, yes, they really are equivalent to a Pinot Grigio when you are looking for afternoon cool refreshment.
Winemaker Coby learned his craft by working at Claiborne and Churchill as a College intern, and then spent time mucking about in the fields and during the harvest. Between his college education (Cal Poly and UC Davis) and his practical training under the guidance of owners Clay and Fredericka, he has both the formal and the practical experience to create these fine wines.
The owners, Clay and Fredericka started the winery in 1983, with a desire to create wines equivalent to the best Germany had to offer. By traveling in Europe and visiting a large number of fine European wineries, they intensified their desire to build a California winery which truly could compete with the best of the German whites. When you taste their wines, you will agree that they have accomplished their goal. By the way, the Pinot Noir is great to try also!
Visiting Claiborne and Churchill makes for a delightful afternoon. The staff is warm and friendly, always willing to give you as much information as you want about both the wines, the harvest, the fermentation and the bottling. This is a place which, even when very busy, allows you to feel like part of the family.
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