The Domenico Estate Vineyard is comprised of nearly 88 acres planted in five blocks, situated around the winery to the north, west, and south. The otherwise flat basin of the Salinas valley is crossed by meandering dry river beds with clay loam soil deposited by the course of the Estrella River. The cool, damp air from the Pacific Ocean that rushes through the Templeton Gap dissipates just as it approaches the broadly rolling plains at the western border of the Estrella district, resulting in rainfall at the low end of the range for Paso Robles. The open exposure as the sun tracks wide over the valley creates a vast diurnal swing in temperature—up to 50 degrees during the growing season. Our moderate winters and rainless, though often foggy, summers are features of a Mediterranean climate shared by wine regions of Southern Italy, Greece, and the Southern Rhone Valley.

The Acquarello Vineyard is northeast of the winery, just below the coastal range foot lands. Acquarello translates from Italian to “watercolor”, named for the influence of the river across the landscape as it paints itself into the terrain. With 33 acres planted, this vineyard is home to our youngest plantings of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Sangiovese, and Petit Verdot. Located on the south bank of the Estrella river, vines are treated to a northward slope and morning sun with cool air temperatures for most of the year. As the growing season progresses, the intense sunlight warms the vines rapidly and brings the fruit to maturity well before cool weather returns to the vineyard.

Opening notes of roasted coconut lead to aromas of chocolate, cocoa, and currents. On the palate opulent tannins frame notes of cherry, leather, and cassis. We combined fruit from our two estate vineyards to create a bolder, more complex Cabernet Sauvignon. French oak barrels were selected to impart the distinctive flavors and fully round out the mouthfeel.