News & Events:
Wine History Project Featured on Central Coast Voices on KCBX Public Radio: Wine History Project of SLO County Director Libbie Agran and Historian Heather Muran joined host Fred Munroe from Central Coast Voices to talk about San Luis Obispo’s local wine history. The Wine History Project of San Luis Obispo County believes in actively engaging the public to educate and delight them in discovering this distinctive wine and food history.
The podcast is available to listen to by clicking the link below:
winehistoryproject.org/kcbxs-fred-munroe-interviews-the-wine-history-project-on-central-coast-voices/
Eberle Winery 40 Year Legacy Gala: Gary and Marcy Eberle celebrated 40 years of winemaking in Paso Robles at the Eberle Winery Legacy Gala on Saturday, July 13th, 2019. Over 300 guests attended the celebration which also included the release of 2017 Legacy, a one-time bottling of Cabernet Sauvignon, the wine that put Gary on the map made from grapes sourced from Eberle Estate Vineyard and Still Waters Estate Vineyard.
The Wine History Project also debuted a series of short films as part of their San Luis Obispo County Wine Legends Series: The Legacy of Gary Eberle. The films feature in-depth interviews with Gary Eberle and pioneers of the Paso Robles region including Ian McPhee, Howie Steinbeck, Tom Myers, Larry Shupnick and Tobin James.
Food History Events:
Apples, Apples, Apples! Who can eat just one a day?
Monday, August 12, 2019 5:30-7:00PM, SLO Provisions, 1255 Monterey Street, SLO: Mike Cirone, of Cirone Farms, will be joining us for a crisp discussion of the apples grown in See Canyon. You’ll probably recognize Mike if you have ever been to the Farmers’ Market. He is a SLO native and Cal Poly Food Science graduate and has been farming for many years. Mike will share the history of apples, but specifically his method of farming and unique varieties of apples grown at Cirone Farms.
Come early and enjoy a meal and maybe a glass of wine that you purchase at SLO Provisions.
$10/person for the event. RSVP to [email protected] to save your seat and CLICK HERE for more details.
Now That’s Italian!
Monday, September 9, 2019 5:30-7:00PM, Cafe Roma Restaurant, 1020 Railroad Avenue, SLO: Join us for an informal gathering at Cafe Roma. The Rizzo family will be sharing the history of their Italian roots, family food favorites, and how they came to bring their authentic Italian flavors to the Central Coast.
Cost is $15/person (covers tastes and samples) with wine available for purchase. Please RSVP by CLICKING HERE or email [email protected] to reserve your seat.
Featured Wine History Project Legend, In Memoriam: Benito Dusi (January 2, 1933-July 17, 2019): Benito Dusi was born on January 2, 1933 just as Prohibition was ending. His life and career spanned an important era of California Wine History from 1933 to 2019. During his lifetime, California experienced a rebirth and developed into one of the most important winemaking regions in the world. Benito was a legendary figure in the rebirth of the California wine industry. Old vine, dry farmed Zinfandel grapes grown by Benito in San Luis Obispo County were known for their quality. Benito’s old vines were discovered by David Bennion, Founder of Ridge Vineyards. Ridge Vineyards purchased over 95% of Benito’s annual harvest from 1968 to the present. The impact of this relationship on California wine history moved Zinfandel wine from the jug to the elite bottles of Ridge with a label designating Dusi Vineyards in Paso Robles as the source of the grapes. The Zinfandel vines were planted by Benito’s parents in 1926 and 1927 on this property, now located just east of Highway 101 in Paso Robles. Benito grew up in this vineyard, working with his family to care for the vineyards, harvest and sell the grapes. He lived on the property from the time he was 6 until his death on July 17, 2019. Although he worked in other industries, he devoted himself to growing dry farmed, head-pruned Zinfandel grapes.
Benito was a beloved member of the Dusi family, the youngest of the three Dusi brothers, and a member of the second generation of the famous grape growing family. This is the only family of growers in San Luis Obispo County that has five generations raising and harvesting grapes. Only two members of the family have made wine commercially – Benito in the 1950s and his grandniece, Janell in the 21st Century.
Benito was a grower, a winemaker and a mentor to many in the wine industry.
He had a soft spot in his heart for home winemakers, always saving some of his Zinfandel harvest to sell to them. Many of those home winemakers later established their own wineries in San Luis Obispo County. Benito mentored them and enjoyed sharing their stories and their wines.
Benito died on July 17, 2019. He will be remembered as Legend who shaped the history of Zinfandel in California and as the remarkable, kind man who brought happiness and knowledge to so many. The Benito Dusi Vineyards have many more harvests ahead and will remain in the Dusi family.
A documentary celebrating Benito Dusi’s life will be released by the Wine History Project of San Luis Obispo County in the fall of 2019. Please visit our website at winehistoryproject.org/benito-dusi-1933-2019 for more information about Benito and the Dusi Family.
CURRENT EXHIBITS:
Dusi Family Zinfandel Grape Growers Exhibit
The Wine History Project has posted two educational panels featuring the Dusi family’s five generations of grape growing and farming in Paso Robles. The exhibit also features the history of the Dusi family, which began with Sylvester and Caterina Dusi emigrating to the United States from their villages, Ono Degno and Casto, in northern Italy in the early 20th Century.
The exhibit is available to view at the J Dusi Tasting Room, open daily from 11am-5pm and located at 1401 California 46 West in Paso Robles. CLICK HERE to learn more about the Dusi Family.
Mysteries of Zinfandel & Wine Legend Bill Greenough: New Exhibit at Saucelito Canyon Winery
The Wine History Project has posted two new educational panels at the Saucelito Canyon Tasting Room in Edna Valley. Mysteries of Zinfandel uncovers the origins of Zinfandel, which have remained a mystery for more than 100 years. The exhibit also shows the journey of the Zinfandel Grape to San Luis Obispo County, and how it has become the Heritage Grape of the golden state. The second panel features vintner and owner Bill Greenough, who discovered 100-year-old vines on an old stagecoach route in a remote part of the Upper Arroyo Grande Valley.
These are the first two panels of a series of new exhibits coming later this summer to Saucelito Canyon Tasting Room. We invite you to visit the Saucelito Canyon Tasting Room, located at 3080 Biddle Ranch Road in San Luis Obispo. They are open daily from 10am-5pm.
40 Years of Winemaking: Eberle Firsts Exhibit at Eberle Winery in Paso Robles
The Wine History Project has launched a new exhibit featuring Gary Eberle and 40 years of winemaking at Eberle Winery in Paso Robles. Gary Eberle has played a major role in helping shape the history of the Paso Robles winegrowing region, and is considered a visionary within the industry.
The exhibit is now open at Eberle Tasting room, located at 3810 California 46 East in Paso Robles. For more information, please visit: winehistoryproject.org/calendar/exhibit-eberle-firsts-at-eberle-winery.
Hank Donatoni Celebrates 40 years of Winemaking: Hank Donatoni and the Art of Zinfandel
The Wine History Project is proud to feature a new celebration panel installment at Donatoni Winery in Paso Robles. The new panel features Hank’s achievements and quotes about his life and experiences in the wine industry. Hank is one of the last living SLO County winemakers to share memories of hand harvesting. His partnership with other winemakers in SLO County, including his thirty-six year friendship with Zinfandel grower Richard Sauret, led to a collaboration producing award-winning Donatoni vintages and verticals from 2009 to 2017. You can view Hank Donatoni’s celebration panel at the Donatoni Winery and tasting room by appointment only. Please call 805-226-0620 or email [email protected].
Seeking Gold, Finding Grapes Exhibit in Paso Robles
The Wine History Project’s new exhibit, Seeking Gold, Finding Grapes, is on display at the El Paso de Robles Area Historical Society in Paso Robles now through September 2019. The display features a collection of rare bottles and tools from the California Gold Rush Era.
The El Paso de Robles Area Historical Society is located in the Carnegie Library, City Park, downtown Paso Robles, California. Open Tuesday & Thursday through Saturday 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Sunday 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Closed Monday & Wednesday and major holidays.
Corkscrew Development Exhibit at the Wine History Project
The quest to find the easiest way of drawing corks from bottles without jolting or disturbing their contents led to the development of a variety of tools by both skilled craftsmen and industrial production companies. There are over 30 corkscrews on display at the Wine History Project, including corkscrews from William Rockwell Clough (1844–1920), Edwin Walker (1847–1917) and William Alexander Williamson (1854–1932). The exhibit is available to review by appointment only. Please call the Wine History Project Offices at (805) 439-4647 or via email at [email protected].
About the Wine History Project
The Wine History Project was established in 2015 to study the land, microclimates, grape varietals, growers and winemakers who have shaped the wine history of San Luis Obispo County. Today the Wine History Project is staffed by historians and museum professionals who collaborate with a diverse group of advisers and founders. We continue to document and preserve the unique wine and food history of San Luis Obispo County.
Central to our research is the process of interviewing growers and winemakers who have shaped the wine history of SLO County. It is through these relationships that we build upon the story of wine in our county while collecting and archiving historical photographs, documents, videography and recordings to preserve their history.