News & Events
Spring 2024 Release Letter
Fall 2023 Release Letter
Summer 2023 Release Letter
Spring 2023 Release Letter
Fall 2022 Release Letter
Summer 2022 Release Letter
June 2022
Dear Friends,
School’s out for summer… Schools out forever! Well, maybe not forever, but Timbre Summer school is in session. The subjects this year are varied from updates on the new winery in SLO 101, 3rd year Dancing Queen, and even orientation for new students! Also, don’t forget the partying so let’s get to it!
The new winery in SLO is coming along nicely. So far, we have started digging up the floor to add some drains, and a few finishes for the bathrooms and warehouse! It is said that winemaking is 50% cleaning, and 50% lifting heavy shit. This is 98% accurate (I guess we are also doing math), which is where the drains come in. We need them so we can clean! We hope to be done with the construction by sometime in July. Once it is and we have our official occupancy (hopefully in August???) we expect you to come with all your SLO friends and make the community there as strong as our home in AG!
Happy Pride month! The Dancing Queen release In May was a smash hit this year, raising money for the Gala Center in SLO which supports the LGBTQIA+ youth of the Central Coast. Additionally, Timbre Winery has been designated a Safe Space by Visit SLO Cal. A big part of the Timbre Winery mission is to support everyone in our community, and this is another way we get to do that! We are so proud of our team and were especially stoked that Dancing Queen visionary Gary Gates came all the way from Ireland to join in the festivities. We also discovered that Chiasa likey drag queens. I mean… who doesn’t? If you did come to our Dancing Queen release you heard the musical taste of our newest team member Joey Rodriguez. Joey comes to us from the restaurant business, has great taste in music, and is an amazing addition to our family!
Did I mention parties? In addition to this summer’s Tunes at Timbre and Game nights come and pick up your wine and party with us the weekend of June 25th/26th! This summer the releases are super tasty and a veritable what’s what of our most popular offerings. For summer chilling you have the 2017 Lead Vocals Chardonnay. The release also includes the 2019 Supergroup, 2015 Headliner, 2019 Hook Syrah, and the 2018 Rare Groove #5 Cab Sauv. This release truly has something for everyone, or if you are like us… lots of what we like all wrapped up in one package.
This summer we would love to have you at our tasting room in Arroyo Grande. Come in to pick up some of our new 2021 rosés or the 2021 Albariño. Please help us spread the word @TimbreWinery on Facebook and Instagram. We love you and appreciate you to the moon and back. Without you, there is no Timbre Winery. Thank you for being such an important part of our lives… Cheers!
– Chiasa & Josh –
Amy, Annette, Bethany, Denise, Gary, Joey, Jorge, Kara, Keira & Val
Spring 2022 Release Letter
February 2022
Dear Friends,
Happy new year! 2022 started out with Chiasa, the kids, and I, as well as most of the Timbre team getting Covid. We feel fortunate that we are mostly recovered, and the biggest issue was conflicts in scheduling and short staffing. I think we were able to pour a tasting or a glass of wine for every guest who wanted one… Hooray for small victories! 2021 was our last harvest in Santa Maria. For the new year we have a new winery in San Luis Obispo! We hope to be able to host all of you soon for a barrel tasting… Also, in April of this year, it will be the five-year anniversary of our Arroyo Grande tasting room. I still remember the day (pre-opening!) when Anette (now a team member at TIMBRE!) strolled in off the street and asked if we had wine. Stay tuned ‘cuz we’re gonna throw a party!
The 2021 harvest was bonkers. After a quick set of picks in late August we waited, and waited, and waited. Ultimately, about 80% of the harvest came into the winery in a three-week span. This year we had no interns. Bethany and Denise stepped up big time and joined Jorge and I to get it done! Also, a major shout out to Gary who handled all our enology for most of harvest while also finding the time to help in the tasting room and cook us some fantastic meals in the process! One of the best parts of making wine is the adrenaline rush that comes with the stress of harvest, and the elation from overcoming the challenges and ultimately making wines we are proud of! The first 2021 wines were bottled on February 4th. Look out for releases of the new Albariño, Sauvignon Blanc, and three different Roses soon!
Without further ado, here is what you really came for. The 2022 Spring releases! For the first time ever, we are releasing three Pinot Noirs all from San Luis Obispo County. It kind of felt right in celebration of the fact that we have moved there! Don’t worry, we are still making your favorites from Santa Barbara County, and Monterey, but we thought a deep dive into the winery’s backyard would be fun. The Rhythm 2019 comes from Chene Vineyard on Corbett Canyon and will age for quite a while. The 2019 Understudy from Spanish Springs is a sultry stunner right now. 2017 Guest Star coming from Squire Canyon is so complex and delicious at this stage. Add to those the 2018 Stereophonic Riesling and the 2018 Rare Groove #4 (Syrah/Grenache Blanc!) and this is a super fun and delicious release.
As always, we hope these wines bring a little something special to your evening, or weekend! See you soon at our tasting room in Arroyo Grande, and as always, please help us spread the word @TimbreWinery on Facebook and Instagram. We love you and appreciate you to the moon and back. Without you, there is no Timbre Winery. Thank you for being such an important part of our lives… Cheers!
– Chiasa & Josh –
Amy, Annette, Bethany, Denise, Gary, Joey, Jorge, Kara, Keira & Val
Fall 2021 Release Letter
October 2021
Dear Friends,
2021 is almost over… This year saw the passing of a great icon in the world of wine. Jim Clendenen was one of my mentors and a dear friend. I learned how to make wine at his famous Au Bon Climat winery and much of my winemaking philosophy is rooted in those daily conversations around the lunch table there with him, Bob Lindquist, and the rest of the team. If you have never had a wine made by Jim, I encourage you to go out and get a bottle of aged Au Bon Climat Pinot Noir or Chardonnay and delight in their elegance and ridiculous longevity. RIP Jim, you will be greatly missed. Your guidance lives on through your amazing children, wines, and those that you helped along the way.
Harvest is upon us and soon the year will be over… Here are some of the things I will indelibly mark 2021 in my mind! 2021 was the beginning of many great gatherings, from Tunes at Timbre to Game Night! Who knew that Denise was secretly a game show host… well really, all of us that know her did but that is beside the point. In 2021 Bethany got married to our handsome, hero firefighter Steven… Best thing to come out of the wedding was a fantastic picture of Mike and I (seen here). I thought the photographer really captured my good side. After a crazy year at home, the kids are finally back at school, which has been a dream come true… thank you teachers because I for one am stoked to have the kids out of the house. Also, 2021 saw the purchase of a new property for wine production in San Luis Obispo. I don’t want to say too much about it yet, but rest assured, we will give you more info as it becomes real!
The new wines we are releasing for fall include the last wines from Bien Nacido which include a 2019 Chardonnay and an old vine Pinot Noir (along with its 2016 counterpart), a 2017 Cab from Santa Ynez, and two new blends that go by Grand Symphonic Melody, and The Classics (both of which you will love)!
As always, we hope these wines bring a little something special to your evening, or weekend! See you soon at our tasting room in Arroyo Grande, and as always, please help us spread the word @TimbreWinery on Facebook and Instagram. We love you and appreciate you to the moon and back. Without you, there is no Timbre Winery. Thank you for being such an important part of our lives… Cheers!
– Chiasa & Josh –
Ally, Amy, Annette, Bethany, Denise, Gary, Joey, Jorge, Kara, Keira & Val
SUMMER 2021 RELEASE LETTER
June 2021
Dear Friends,
This past year you have continued to inspire all of us at Timbre. Your ongoing support of one another and for our Winery as we finally make our way out of this pandemic has us both hopeful and excited about what is to come! If you have not yet visited us at the tasting room, or it’s been a while, please stop by and say hello! As always, your health continues to be our top priority. We are happy to report that our tasting room has been recognized as a Covid-19 Super Star from the city of Arroyo Grande, the AG Chamber of Commerce, SLO County, and even the State Senate of California. We received this recognition for our super safe business practices and our performance over the course of the pandemic. Our back patio, which has grown to accommodate all of you safely outdoors during the past year, is now, officially, off the frickin’ chain. Over the last year we have continued to improve the space and now have multiple seating options. Picnic tables of various sizes and configurations, a lounge area, and our amazing team are waiting to delight you as you listen to tunes & sip on some vino.
And speaking of vino (it’s why you are still reading after all) this release features mostly reds, but don’t fret! As the weather warms, we have plenty of tasty, crisp, and refreshingly chilled options ready to go. You can add them to your shipment or come grab cold in bottle, growler, and even cans for all your summer activities! Available now (among other things) are 2 awesome 2020 Rosés, our crisp 2020 Albariño, and our newest canned beverage, the 2020 Piquette. Clocking in at just above 5% alcohol it is made from rehydrating pressed Pinot Noir and Cabernet Franc. It is a little hazy, and delightfully bubbly… great for a warm summer day by the pool, beach, or lake.
The Summer 2021 Wine Club Release is made up of a 3 Pinot Noirs, a Grenache-Syrah blend, and a fantabulous Cabernet Franc. The first Pinot is none other than the 2019 House Band. It is named The House Band because it’s from vineyards located super close to the tasting room. The 2019 Headliner is coming from a new vineyard, Pali but continues to be the bomb. It’s great to taste beside the 2016 Headliner which is coming out of the library to say “hey, at 5 years old I am still a baby… Drink me!” The 2018 Rare Groove #2 Grenache & Syrah from Edna Valley is de-licious. And finally, there is the 2018 Rare Groove #6 Cabernet Franc from the desert like western highlands of Santa Barbara County, which is all at once spicy, dense, and fruity!
We hope these wines bring a little something special to your evening, or weekend! See you soon at our tasting room in Arroyo Grande, and as always, please help us spread the word @TimbreWinery on Facebook and Instagram. We love you and appreciate you to the moon and back. Without you, there is no Timbre Winery. Thank you for being such an important part of our lives… Cheers!
– Chiasa & Josh –
& Ally, Amy, Annette, Bethany, Denise, Jorge, Kara, Keira & Val