Firestone Vineyard
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A family-owned estate winery specializing in fine wines from California’s Central Coast.
Firestone Vineyard was founded in 1972 as Santa Barbara County’s first estate winery and is now in its third generation of Firestone family stewardship.
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[edit] History
In 2007, a companion winery in Paso Robles was created to focus on red Bordeaux.
Firestone Vineyard belongs to the Firestone family which dates back more than a century to American tire manufacturer Harvey Firestone. In the early 1970s, Harvey’s son Leonard Firestone, a former United States Ambassador to Belgium, established a family ranch in Santa Barbara County’s rugged Santa Ynez Valley. In 1972 Santa Barbara County was not known for it’s winegrowing and it was through Leonard Firestone that this area of California attained prominence for it’s grape growing potential. Leonard planted a vineyard, with the initial intent of selling the grapes to North Coast wineries. Leonard was joined by his son Brooks and Brooks’ wife Kate, and together they established Santa Barbara County’s first estate winery. In 1987, Los Angeles Times Magazine noted: "Brooks Firestone’s importance to the California wine industry is first of all historical: He was a pioneer, an inspirer, and expander of possibilities; he took a chance on an untried wine area, then stuck with it and made it pay..."
In early 2007, Firestone Vineyard opened a companion winery in Paso Robles, with a focus on small lots of Bordeaux varietals from select local vineyards.
William Foley II acquired Firestone Winery and surrounding 400 acres of land (300 acres under vine) in early August 2007 as part of a plan to expand his portfolio of small specialty wineries up and down the western coast (he owns Foley Winery in the Sta. Rita Hills). As part of an evolving brokering of the deal, the Paso Robles facility - initially planned to stay in Firestone hands - was also purchased by Foley.
Firestone Walker Brewing and Curtis Winery, will remain in Firestone hands. Curtis Winery focuses on Rhône wines from Ambassador's and Crossroads vineyards (Firestone family owned, and retained in the deal) and Voglezang vineyard (independently owned).
[edit] Adam Firestone - President
Adam Firestone studied biology and law, served in the Marine Corps and worked as a lawyer before taking the reins of Firestone Vineyard in 1994. Adam led the construction of his family’s new Paso Robles winery, which opened in 2007.
[edit] Andrew Firestone – General Manager
Andrew graduated from the University of San Diego with a degree in business administration and later worked in the field of institutional finance. In 2003, Andrew was selected to star in ABC Television’s “The Bachelor”. Andrew contributed a chapter on wine to The Experts’ Guide to 100 Things Everyone Should Know How To Do (2004), and recently produced and starred in WineWays: An Introduction to The Culture of Wine, a DVD that celebrates and demystifies the world of wine.
[edit] Brooks Firestone - Founder
In 1972, Brooks served as president of the largest wine and food society in the country, the Chaine des Rotisseurs. Additionally, he was appointed a Civilian Aide to the Secretary of the Army. For two terms (1994-1998) he served as a member of the California State Assembly, representing the 35th District. He now serves as third district supervisor for the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors. Brooks is regarded as an innovator and respected leader in the wine industry. Los Angeles Times Magazine said Brooks is "the man who finally put Southern California on the world wine map."
[edit] Kevin Willenborg - Winemaker
Kevin Willenborg, a winemaker originally from Bordeaux, has made wine in many areas of the world including Bordeaux, Napa Valley, Sonoma Valley and British Columbia’s Okanagan Valley. He joined the Firestone winery just prior to the 2001 harvest. Kevin initiated the replanting of 125 estate vineyard acres.
[edit] Santa Ynez Valley Winery
Firestone Vineyard was founded in 1972 as Santa Barbara County’s first estate winery. The winery was designed by Richard Keith & Associates, architects. The winery is located in the heart of the rural Santa Ynez Valley near the town of Los Olivos in Santa Barbara County. It includes a barrel cellar, fermentation cellar, crush pad, tasting room and bottling line for full production from the vine to the bottle. The winery is surrounded by 500 acres (2.0 km²) of estate vineyards.
Vineyards in the Santa Ynez Valley benefit from the unique east-to-west orientation of the surrounding mountain ranges which extends the growing season and encourages the development of balanced and flavorful grapes.
Firestone Vineyards estate vineyards have an alternating climate of warm afternoons followed by cooler coastal evenings. Temperature swings of up to 50 degrees are normal during the summer growing season which results in a long growing season. The estate vineyards soil is composed of gravelly loam with rocky subsoils. Well-draining soils are ideal for winegrowing.
[edit] Paso Robles Winery
The Firestone Paso Robles winery focuses on small lots of Paso Robles-grown Bordeaux, including Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. The winery is located at the corner of Highway 46 East and Airport Road near downtown Paso Robles and features a tasting room, barrel cellar, enclosed patio, estate vineyard and terraced gardens with picnic accommodations. Initial production is 4,000 cases annually.
Firestone Vineyard Paso Robles, was opened in early 2007. Firestone Vineyard purchased Paso Robles fruit for several vintages, and the quality of the resulting wines was enough to make the decision to establish a new winery. Firestone Vineyards affiliated company Firestone Walker Brewing Company relocated its brewing operations to Paso Robles in 2001. The Paso Robles winery is managed by Andrew Firestone.
Paso Robles resides 25 miles (40 km) inland from the coast between Los Angeles and San Francisco in northern San Luis Obispo County. The coastline is bordered by the Santa Lucia Mountains, which trap heat during the daytime. In the evening coastal air moves through the Templeton Gap. This climate pattern is ideal for Bordeaux production.
[edit] Estates
Firestone Vineyard also manages a collection of boutique estates on California’s Central Coast.
- Curtis Winery
- Founded in 1995, Curtis Winery is a small winery which produces Rhône-style wines. Situated in Santa Barbara County’s Santa Ynez Valley, which is today recognized as one of the world’s leading appellations for Rhône varietals.
- Founded in 1996, Firestone Walker Fine Ales is a regional brewery. Firestone Walker Fine Ales was named World Beer Cup Champion Brewery for the category of mid-size brewing company in both 2004 and 2006.
- Prosperity Wines
- Prosperity Wines was founded in 1991 by Brooks Firestone and crafted it’s wines with a priority on quality. Prosperity Wines offers some of the best values in the marketplace
