Daniel Gehrs Wines

About

Daniel Gehrs has committed nearly 40 years wine making experience to making the highest quality wines at ridiculously reasonable prices!

Location Description

Located in the heart of Los Olivos, California.

Features

  • "The first duty of a wine is to be interesting life is too short for boring wines." - Daniel Gehrs

Additional Information

  • Meeting / Conference Facilities:
  • Caves:
  • Wedding Facilities:
  • Picnic Facilities:
  • Dog Friendly:
  • Winery Tours:
  • Wine Tasting:
  • Art or Architecture:
  • Organic / Biodynamic:
  • Awards:
  • Wine Club:
  • Lodging / Bed & Breakfast:

Winemaker

Daniel Gehrs Wines is the personal expression of winemaker Daniel Gehrs, whose vision of wine is simply this: “The holy grail of my winemaking is the taste of the grape on the day of harvest.” Dan hastens to add: “The first duty of a wine is to be interesting. Life is too short for boring wines”. Closely following this dictum is a second, simply put “A wine must taste good. Not just for ‘tasting’ but for ‘drinking’!” Dan firmly believes in wine as food. He remembers: “When I worked at Paul Masson back in the ‘70’s, I guided tours for awhile, through their vast cellar. One of the signs I always pointed out to visitors said: ‘Wine is food’. That’s stuck with me to this day. My greatest experiences with wine have always been in the company of food. So when I’m making and blending wine I’m really thinking about it in terms of complimenting and enhancing food. That rules out blatantly ‘over the top’ or ‘trophy’ wine styles that the press loves to fawn over. They can be terrible with a meal!” He is quick to add: “I’ve never liked the ‘Hollywood’ celebrity image some wineries and winemakers seem to crave. After all, there are better ways to become rich and famous than to make wine!”

History

Dan, as he is known to his friends, entered the California wine business in 1974 having just graduated from college the year before. He worked for Paul Masson Vineyards in Saratoga, CA for two years in public relations but really craved a career in hands-on winemaking and grape growing. His chance came in 1976 when Dan, his wife Robin and Victor Erickson founded Congress Springs Vineyards on Erickson’s property in the Santa Cruz Mountains which had been a working winery for half a century but was in a state of advanced decay by the early ‘70’s. Congress Springs grew and prospered and in 1980 Dan’s Congress Spring’s 1978 Pinot Noir was awarded Wine Spectator’s “Spectator Selection” honors. This was followed up with the ’85 Chardonnay in which, in 1986, became the most awarded wine in California, surpassing all other varietals, according to the annual California Grapevine survey.

Awards

2013 Dry Riesling

Bronze Medal World Value Wine Challenge

2012 Syrah

Gold Medal Orange County Fair

2012 Cabernet Sauvignon

Gold Medal World Value Wine Challenge
Silver Medal Tasters Guild International

2012 Chardonnay

Gold Medal World Value Wine Challenge

2011 Riesling

Gold Medal Pacific Rim Wine Competition

2011 Merlot

Gold Medal Tasters Guild International

2011 Fireside Port

Silver Medal Tasters Guild International

2011 Petit Verdot

Silver Medal World Value Wine Challenge

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Hours

Hours of Operation: By appointment only.

Address

2939 Grand Ave
Los Olivos, California 93441
United States

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