Talley Vineyards, located in the Arroyo Grande Valley, celebrates 25 years of passion, persistence, and of course, wine.  Oliver Talley started Talley Farms in 1948, exclusively growing vegetables.  He made a commitment to excellence that would be carried out through generations. The first Talley vines were planted in 1982 by Oliver’s son, Don, with a vision to grow grapes that were one of the best in California.

“I have to hand it to my Dad’s persistence,” said Brian Talley, president of Talley Vineyards and son of Don and Rosemary Talley. “I think he knew that we could grow some of the best grapes in California—he just wasn’t sure which varieties.  Over time, with careful experimentation, he learned that the cool, coastal influence of the Arroyo Grande Valley could produce world class chardonnay and pinot noir, so that became our focus.”

Talley Vineyards was established by Don and Rosemary Talley in 1986. Now, 25 years later, the Talleys have been recognized locally, nationally and internationally. A few of their accolades include being the first Arroyo Grande Valley winery to be featured in the New York Times, as well as having their wines served in the White House during the Clinton and Bush Administrations.  In 2002 to 2003, Talley Vineyards Estate Chardonnay was recognized in Wine Spectator’s “Top 100 Wines of the Year.”

“The first time we were featured in Wine Spectator, it really felt like we had arrived,” said Brian Talley. “[This publication] really enjoys very tremendous influence in the wine trade and it made me and my parents proud, and it really reflected 15 years of hard work that paid off.”

Most recently, the Talleys’ tasting room was judged by Sunset Magazine as one of the best three tasting rooms in the Western United States.

But the Talleys’ national and international acclaim has never pulled them away from the local community.  In 1993, they established the Marianne Talley Foundation to provide scholarships for Arroyo Grande High School graduates. To date, the foundation has granted more than $160,000 in scholarships.

Then in 2005, Brian Talley and his wife Johnine established the Fund for Vineyard and Farm Workers, providing grants to organizations that assist agricultural workers throughout San Luis Obispo County. One of the major fundraising efforts for this fund is the annual release of Mano Tinta wines. Mano Tinta ("red hand" in Spanish) was chosen to signify the pride and commitment of farm workers. All of the grapes, materials and services used to make Mano Tinta wines are donated and all of the sales benefit the Fund for Vineyard and Farm Workers. To date, the fund has raised close to $450,000.

“I’m really proud of our reputation in the industry and I’m proud of our team,” said Talley. “I love my job, I work in what I think is one of the most beautiful places in the world, and I’m very honored to work every day with such a talented group of people.”

The Talleys have been celebrating this landmark anniversary throughout the year and will host two special events at the winery this fall.  On October 13, they will release the 2008 Mano Tinta.  All winetasting will be complimentary that day and feature a selection of wines from their 25 year history.  In addition, the Talleys are inviting former employees to attend and reconnect.  The winery’s annual open house will occur November 6, in conjunction with the San Luis Obispo Vintners Harvest Celebration weekend, and focus on the 25th anniversary theme.