About Us

Our Story

The Wilson family acquired the property in Templeton in 2012, after a lifelong family friend — winemaker Joseph Farley — alerted them to a neglected but beautiful small vineyard that had been taken back by the bank. The Wilsons and Farleys first met on summer vacations in San Diego in the 1970s; Joe’s father Al bought a vineyard property in Paso Robles in the 1980s. This allowed Joe to gain hands on experience cultivating and producing wine at a young age. What began as a friendship on the beach became a partnership in the vines. After an extensive two-year renovation of the main residence, barn, and guest house, the first estate vintage year 2014 was bottled in 2016. The Wilson Family and winemaker Joe Farley continue to run the vineyard together today.

The legacy plantings of Petite Sirah and Syrah were expanded in 2020 with new blocks of Cabernet Sauvignon and Grenache, opening the door to estate Bordeaux bottlings and a Rhône-style GSM blend.

Location, Climate and Soil

The vineyard sits on a westward-facing hillside in the Templeton Gap sub-AVA of Paso Robles — the largest AVA in California — roughly halfway between San Francisco and Los Angeles on the Central Coast. The Templeton Gap is a break in the Santa Lucia Range that funnels cool marine air inland from the Pacific each afternoon, producing the region's signature diurnal shift: summer highs near 105°F can drop roughly 50 degrees overnight. That dramatic swing lets grapes achieve full ripeness and power while holding onto bright, refreshing acidity.

The site's soils are the calcareous, clay-based, high-lime profile for which the Templeton Gap is prized — shallow to moderate rooting depths, modest nutrients, and alkaline pH at depth. These conditions naturally limit yields and concentrate flavor, lending the earthy depth and structure that define Paso Robles reds. Combined with an ample on-site well, the westward slope, and long sunlit afternoons, the terroir is tailor-made for bold Rhône varieties like Petite Sirah, Syrah, Grenache, and Mourvèdre, as well as Bordeaux varieties like Cabernet Sauvignon.

What Makes Us Special

Wilson Family Vineyard is a small fish in a very big pond — roughly 500 to 600 cases per vintage in a region of more than 200 wineries — and that scale is the point. Being small allows for greater quality control and attention to detail than is possible at larger operations: careful vineyard work, a high percentage of new French Oak (primarily 265-liter Saury barrels) in every vintage, and two full years of barrel aging before release. The wines are soft-textured and lush, built around the full-bodied intensity of Petite Sirah and the bright complexity of our GSM. Unlike most wineries in the region, Wilson Family Vineyard does not operate a public tasting room. The estate — main house, two guest apartments, and renovated event barn, all perched on a hilltop with west-facing sunset views — is available as a private vacation rental and event venue, offering guests an experience more personal than any tasting bar: the vineyard itself.

Vineyard Vacation Rentals

Wilson Family Vineyard is a popular destination for vacation rentals. The property rental is on AdvantStay, available at this link El Pomar Full Estate, and is located at 3074 South El Pomar Road, Templeton. The main house consists of 5 bedrooms, large second floor balcony, a pool, patio, outdoor grill, and fire pit.  For larger groups, two guest apartments are available for rent.  In addition, the barn was renovated to accommodate indoor events and gatherings.  Unlike most wineries in the area, Wilson Family Vineyard does not have a tasting room open to the public.  Thus, booking your stay at the property in essence provides you a private vineyard experience.  The house, guest apartments, and barn are situated on the hilltop of the hillside vineyard, with views facing west, making the main house balcony a particularly prized location during sunset.