We don’t normally do stories here on individual wineries because one, we’re not necessarily here to promote one winery over another and two, I’m not exactly a wine expert so my taste are truly my own and don’t reflect an experts more in-depth knowledge. Ah, but with that said, this particular establishment has always had a soft spot with us.
What do we like … it’s a lot
The power of Paso Zin reaches across the Pacific with Peachy Canyon’s 2011 Westside Zinfandel
Why is that? Before moving here permantly, going back well over a decade ago, we use to visit Paso Robles and one of our favorite wines became Peachy Canyon Winery. My parents used to come up here regularly from Los Angeles and Peachy Canyon was usually on the list of revisits.
The company has also been a supplier of a lot of barrels to Paso Wine Barrels this past year and we’ve developed a good relationship with the company thanks in part to their assistant winemaker Brian Pruett. By the way, Brian always seems busy doing quite a variety of things around the winery.
One other reason that Peachy Canyon Winery has been a favorite of ours is that they specialize in Zinfandel. As you may or may not know, we are particular fans of Zin and therefore the quality of wines at Peachy Canyon was a natural for us.
The Becketts
In any regards, the business was originally established by Doug Beckett along with his wife Nancy. Doug was born in West Virginia but went to school and lived the first part of his life in San Diego. The family moved to Paso Robles in the early ’80s and by the end of the decade, the Becketts were in the wine business.
Sitting just west of Paso Robles – their tasting room is off 46 West not far from the 101. They have established quite a set of vineyards with production of nearly 100,000 cases a year. Yes, their Zins are great but don’t take my word for it. Wine Enthusiast recently rated their 2011 Zin a 90 and the California State Wine Competition awarded the 2011 Zinfandel with a 95-point rating and the prestigious Best of Class. Also, that same Zin was chosen over 1,000 other wines as Japan Airlines choice of red wine on their airline business flights. Said Doug Beckett of the partnership:
“With this partnership, Peachy Canyon and Japan Airlines will together bring the finest of the Paso Robles, California AVA to clients both in the sky and around the world.”
World-class winemaker
Though the entire Beckett family has been very hands on with their vineyard, two years ago they hired world-class wine producer Terry Culton, formerly of Adelaida Cellars, to be Peachy Canyon’s winemaker, with son Josh Beckett stepping away from winemaking duties but still staying on as a consultant – and no, this isn’t the same guy who pitches for the L.A. Dodgers.
It’s obvious that Terry and Brian are doing one heck of a job for the Becketts so far. It should be noted that Peachy Canyon also has an excellent Petite Sirah from 2011 and a 2012 Viognier. Peachy Canyon wines are sold in 49 states and internationally as well.
A pioneer in Paso Robles’ infamous Zinfandel, the Becketts, Peachy Canyon with Terry Culton leading the way, are certainly front and center when it comes to being one of the premier wine producers on the California Central Coast … and the world.
Additional source: PeachyCanyon.com
Cheers,
Daryle W. Hier
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Paso Wine Barrels 