Paso Robles winemaker Terry Culton

Culton Wine Company opens tasting room in Avila Beach

– Longtime Paso Robles winemaker, Terry Culton, formerly of Adelaida Cellars and Peachy Canyon Winery, announced the opening of his new Culton Wine Company tasting room on 1st Street in Avila Beach.

“I’ve been making wine under my own label since 2011 and selling through our wine club, but having a tasting room at the beach has always been a dream of mine,” said Culton, who is a lifetime surfer. “Avila has a great little wine trail. Mike Sinor of Sinor-LaVallee and I are the new kids on the block, but it’s a good block, which is part of our decision to open there. It’s worth taking a day to hang at the beach and taste through Avila.”

Culton produces mainly Rhône varietals and blends in small lots from ultra-premium local grapes. His 2011 Mercenary, a mourvedre, syrah, grenache blend, was recently given 92 points in Connoisseur’s Guide.

The March 2015 Connoisseur’s Guide said, “It is uncommon to find so much deep and defined fruit at the heart of a mourvedre-based blend as this complex and captivating wine so very confidently conveys, and it is juxtaposed here with teasing touches of sweet spice, cocoa and lots of complementary oak. Weighty but well-balanced and never a slave to ripeness, despite no lack of the same, this one goes beyond simple richness and achieves a degree of layering and structured seriousness that sets it apart from the crowd.”

Culton Wine Company, located at 435 1st St, Avila Beach, CA opens its doors Thursday through Sunday from 12 p.m. to 7 p.m. Learn more at http://www.cultonwine.com or call (805) 439-3038.

Also see: Paso Robles Wine Tasting Map