A Winery with a Mission

Sustainable Practices at Tolosa

• All winery waste is recycled, composted, or otherwise recovered   
• We use vineyard tools  with tractors specially designed to do multiple tasks at the same time that reduce the number of passes required through the vineyard, saving fuel and reducing compaction and erosion .   
• We utilize cover crops that reduce erosion & compaction, build soil fertility, and provide habitat for beneficial insects. 
• We have integrated pest management practices  in place  that carefully monitor the balance of insects, soil fertility, soil moisture, and vine health to minimize the waste of energy and chemical inputs. These practices make use of natural predators to control insect pests, and even weed species in some cases (we actually release a specific beetle which eats the seeds of star thistle.)  We also utilize non-pesticide management methods, like using the Vine Mealybug’s own pheromones in small playing-card size clips hung on the vines, to confuse them during mating and thus lower their populations.
• Every drop of water that we use in the winery is recovered and biologically processed until all the water is utilized a second time through the drip systems to water the vineyards.   
• All the vineyards are irrigated with low volume, low pressure drip irrigation placed at each individual vine to minimize the waste of water and maximize uniformity of vine growth.
• Root stocks are chosen for the vines to resist insect and disease issues while minimizing any chemical or energy inputs. 
• We use low-risk fungicides in protecting our crop from fungal diseases.  These are things like paraffin-based stylet oil  (organic)  and safe chemicals with very specific action against powdery mildew and botrytis.  We use leaf pulling and shoot positioning to minimize disease pressure, and increase effectiveness of the  spray materials above.
• We leave wildlife corridors and erosion offsets along creeks, with native plants remaining in place.
• Our winery is completely insulated with some of the most efficient compressors and refrigeration equipment produced today.  Our night time sensors monitor the temperatures inside and out, utilizing nature's cool night air with a series of automatically opening vents in the ceiling and low maintenance fans in the walls. 

Central Coast Vineyard Team

Tolosa is a proud member of the Central Coast Vineyard team, a local non-profit group that promotes and supports sustainable wine growing.
Mission Statement:
The Central Coast Vineyard Team will identify and promote the most environmentally safe, viticulturally and economically sustainable farming methods, while maintaining or improving quality and flavor of wine grapes. The Team will be a model for wine grape growers and will promote the public trust of stewardship for natural resources.

History of Tolosa Vineyards

The first vineyard plantings in early California came with the establishment of the missions.  The vineyard at the Mission San Luis Obispo de Tolosa was the first planted in San Luis Obispo County and was situated in what is now the Edna Valley appellation.  Original documents show the quality of wine produced from this mission was highly valued and often traded to other missions.

In the 1870’s, Pierre Hyppolte Dallidet grafted French cuttings onto the rootstock still surviving from the mission era.  Some of the original rootstocks survived prohibition and are part of the Edna Valley appellation today.

San Luis Obispo’s Edna Valley is considered, “The Burgundy of the Pacific”.  Like the Burgundy region of France, the valley has balanced hot days with cool nights, and challenging soil.  Being situated on the Central Coast, north of Santa Barbara and south of Paso Robles, the weather conditions prove ideal for producing grape clusters that are fewer in number, but linger longer on the vine to yield flavor of exquisite intensity. 

The tradition at Tolosa is the commitment to evoke the natural sophistication inherent in the grapes in the Edna Valley.  We focus on Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Syrah varietals that yield the most intense results under our growing conditions.  We follow a slow handcrafting process that nurtures the wine through periodic gentle racking and minimal filtration.  And we allow nature to determine the character of each vintage.  This is the way California’s winemaking heritage first began, and this is the way it will always be at Tolosa.

Climate of Edna Valley

The Edna Valley is a natural, elongated valley encompassing 35 square miles on the Central Coast of California, approximately half-way between San Francisco and Los Angeles. Running east to west, the valley is defined by mountains and merges into the Los Osos Valley just below the city of San Luis Obispo. The Los Osos Valley acts as a natural cooling system as it funnels cool, coastal air from the Pacific Ocean into the Edna Valley.  Frequent fog in the summer, coupled with year-round maritime breezes, maintains a mild climate. The growing season is very long, resulting in fully realized and mature fruit.