Pinot Noir is the driving passion of Marc Goldberg and Maggie D'Ambrosia, husband and wife owners of Windward Vineyard. Windward Vineyard is dedicated exclusively to producing Burgundian style Pinot Noir. To make the "Great American Pinot Noir," one that rivals those produced in Burgundy, is the couple's passion.
NOW: Stop by our tasting room, open daily, for a fun, unique tasting! All are welcome, from those new-to-wine, to Pinot Aficionados.
THEN: Marc and Maggie were some of the pioneers of the area, planting the vineyard in 1989.They following in the footsteps of two significant figures in California wine history. In the late 1960's, consultant Andre Tchelistcheff supervised the Paso Robles Hoffman Mountain Ranch property of Dr. Stanley Hoffman. In the 1970's, Hoffman's Pinot Noirs gained worldwide recognition, and were drinking well over 20 years later.
While not everyone believed at the time that Pinot Noir could thrive in Paso, Marc and Maggie knew that the Templeton Gap was special. The terroir and microclimate of the Paso Robles Westside features the combination of the cooling Pacific breezes, the calcareous soil and the 50 degree daily drop in temperature is able to produce exemplary Pinot Noir.
Since the 1993 debut, each of Windward's vintages have achieved inspiring acclaim, particularly within the community of wine aficionados who appreciate the layered complexity of Burgundian styled Pinot Noir. Marc explains. "We knew we could count on the vineyard to produce formidable fruit. It is living up to our expectations as it matures and continues to develop layered complexity.