Talley Vineyards produced its first wine in 1986 with the production of 450 cases. The winery's first five vintages were produced in a small winery adjacent to one of Talley Farms’ vegetable coolers. In the fall of 1991, a winery was completed at the foot of the Rincon Vineyard. A 12,000 square foot barrel and case goods storage building was added in 2000, followed by a new tasting room in 2002. Talley Vineyards currently produces about 36,000 cases annually. Brian and Johnine Talley own and operate Talley Vineyards, while Brian, Todd, Ryan and Rosemary Talley manage Talley Farms.
OUR CALIFORNIA TABLE: CELEBRATING THE SEASONS WITH THE TALLEY FAMILY
The inspiring story, written by Brian Talley, president of Talley Vineyards and Talley Farms, features more than 50 of the family’s most beloved recipes accompanied by stunning images from photographer Jeremy Ball. The collectible book tells how the family business grew from humble, Depression-era origins to become one of California’s leading producers of fresh vegetables and the maker of acclaimed estate bottled wines. The recipes are grouped season-to-season to showcase the best bounty of each Talley harvest offering the family’s take on such regional classics as Grilled Chicken with Lemon and Wilted Greens, Rock Cod Veracruz, Honey-Glazed Quail with Grilled Radicchio and Red Onions and Dungeness Crab with Pink Sauce.
Focusing on a wide range of produce, including bell peppers, spinach, Napa cabbage, lemons, avocados and Brussels sprouts, Our California Table emphasizes true farm to table cuisine and wine pairing.
Talley Vineyards established its first plantings in 1982, one of the only wineries in the Arroyo Grande Valley viticultural area, which has some of the coolest temperatures for grape growing in the state. Since its first vintage was released in 1986, Talley Vineyards has won wide acclaim for its estate grown Chardonnay and Pinot Noir and is recognized as a benchmark producer of these varietals.
Profits from the sale of Our California Table benefit the Fund for Vineyard and Farm Workers. Established in 2004 by Talley and his wife, Johnine, the fund provides grants to non-profit organizations that assist San Luis Obispo County agricultural workers and their families. It has raised more than $600,000 since its inception, with a goal to establish a $1 million endowment so the fund can continue in perpetuity.
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PHILLIP CORALLO-TITUS - WINEMAKER, CHAPPELLET
The Chappellet family’s romance with Pritchard Hill started more than four decades ago when Donn and Molly Chappellet first glimpsed its magnificent vista of forests and wildflower-filled meadows. Inspired by the notion that Bacchus loves the hills, the Chappellets followed the advice of renowned winemaker André Tchelistcheff and settled on Pritchard Hill’s rocky slopes, becoming the first winery to plant vineyards exclusively on high-elevation hillsides. From these Pritchard Hill vineyards, the Chappellets have been crafting extraordinary, age-worthy wines since 1967. Pritchard Hill’s rugged terroir has become legendary for producing wines with great intensity and depth—qualities that define the world's finest Cabernet Sauvignons. As a result, Chappellet wines have consistently received the highest praise from critics, and are sought after by the world's premier collectors. Today, a second generation of the family has joined their parents in embracing the romance of Pritchard Hill. They are passionate about preserving the land and continuing what Donn and Molly began—making extraordinary wines.
WINEMAKER:
Chappellet wines are crafted to embody the terroir and the intensity of fruit that have made Pritchard Hill famous.Recognized for their signature mix of grandeur, power and purity, these coveted bottlings are the result of a winemaking process that begins in the vineyard, and champions its diversity. In the winery, renowned winemaker Phillip Corallo-Titus—who has been guiding Chappellet’s winemaking program since 1990—individually ferments and ages lots from numerous vineyard blocks to maintain their distinctive character. These lots benefit from an array of maceration and fermentation practices. Adding even more depth and complexity, Phillip has established a barrel program utilizing the finest barrels from elite coopers and forests. With roots deep in the land, and a belief in constantly working to enhance the quality and character of Pritchard Hill’s fruit, Chappellet has earned acclaim for making California’s finest hillside Cabernet Sauvignons. The Chappellet portfolio also includes exceptional Chardonnay, Chenin Blanc, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and the highly regarded Mountain Cuvée blend.
ABOUT PHILLIP CORALLO-TITUS, WINEMAKER
As Chappellet’s winemaker for more than two decades, Phillip Corallo-Titus has guided the winery’s storied winemaking program, building on Chappellet’s legacy as one of California’s preeminent producers of Cabernet Sauvignon. A gifted winemaker with a passion for experimentation, Phillip has embraced the diversity of Pritchard Hill to craft benchmark wines that authentically express the terroir-inspired complexity and character of their mountain origins.
Phillip discovered his passion for viticulture and wine at the age of 12 when he began helping his father in the family vineyard. This early exposure to working the vines was complemented at the dinner table, where Phillip’s father would pour French wines from his cellar. Building on this foundation, Phillip studied agronomy, viticulture and enology at the University of California, Davis. A dedicated student of wine, Phillip also traveled to France to learn about the great wines of Bordeaux and Burgundy.
In 1981, Phillip joined the Chappellet team as assistant winemaker, where he spent four years honing his craft and learning about the estate vineyards before pursuing winemaking opportunities at Stratford and Cartlidge & Brown wineries. In 1990, Donn Chappellet invited Phillip to return to the winery as Chappellet’s winemaker, a position he has held ever since.
Working side-by-side with Jon-Mark Chappellet and longtime vineyard manager Dave Pirio, Phillip’s approach to winemaking begins in the vineyard. From his focus on harvesting at ideal ripeness to his emphasis on maintaining the integrity of Chappellet’s numerous vineyard blocks throughout the fermentation and aging process, Phillip strives to make wines that reflect both the vineyard and the vintage.In the winery, he handles the grapes very gently and uses an array of fermentation, maceration and cellaring techniques to accentuate and preserve the distinctiveness of each varietal.
In addition to his role as winemaker for Chappellet, Phillip also makes wine for Titus, his family's label. Phillip lives in Napa with his wife, Laura, and their two sons.