WINEMAKING

There’s a quiet revolution unfolding in California winemaking—one that embraces craftsmanship over convention, intuition over instruction, and the pursuit of purity over predictability. At Tolosa, we believe that wine should reflect its origins, allowing the land to speak through every bottle.

Vintner Robin Baggett has long been captivated by the unique terroir of Edna Valley—a region where cool Pacific breezes, ancient seabed soils, and a long growing season create the perfect canvas for world-class Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. 

TOLOSA'S WINEMAKER

A native Californian, Tolosa winemaker Blake Kuhn graduated from UC Santa Barbara in 1995 with degrees in biology and environmental sciences. He then spent three years traveling the world as a field biologist, studying insects, parasites, and wolves.

Returning to Santa Barbara in 1997, Blake worked on an abalone farm while also taking a position as a waiter at Citronelle, where his passion for wine first took root.

Blake’s 25-year career in the California wine industry began in 2000, when he moved to Northern California to continue his studies in viticulture and enology at UC Davis while accepting an entry-level position with R.H. Phillips / Toasted Head. During his tenure, he advanced from vineyard sampler and lab technician to assistant winemaker and barrel enologist, ultimately being named winemaker in 2003. In this role, he mentored the next generation of assistant winemakers and enologists. By 2009, he was promoted to senior winemaker and general manager, overseeing all aspects of production while helping to manage R.H. Phillips estate vineyard.

In 2011, Blake relocated to California’s Central Coast to raise his young family, crafting the critically acclaimed Clayhouse wines as resident winemaker at Phase 2 Cellars in San Luis Obispo. In 2019, he was promoted to Regional Director of Winemaking for the Central Coast at Vintage Wine Estates, where he oversaw operations for Laetitia Winery and led winemaking efforts for Qupé, Cherry Pie and Horseplay wines, in addition to Clayhouse.

In 2024, Blake embraced the opportunity to collaborate with a dynamic team of colleagues and friends, returning to Phase 2 Cellars as General Manager and Winemaker. In March 2026, he was appointed Winemaker for Tolosa Winery.

Blake’s depth of experience and longstanding connection to the Central Coast make him exceptionally well suited to guide the Tolosa portfolio of Central Coast, SLO Coast, and Single Vineyard wines.

Precision Meets Passion

Winemaking at Tolosa is both an art and a science. While our approach remains deeply intuitive, we embrace cutting-edge technology to amplify nature’s potential. Using infrared vigor mapping and detailed soil analysis, we farm with precision and care, ensuring that each vine receives the attention it needs throughout the growing cycle.

Harvest is a meticulous ritual, conducted in the cool, dark hours of the morning to preserve freshness. Hand-sorted grapes are gently pressed in small-lot basket presses, and fermentation is fine-tuned in a state-of-the-art warm barrel room, allowing each wine to develop its signature complexity and character.

This obsessive attention to detail—from vineyard to bottle—results in wines of nuance, texture, and balance. At Tolosa, each bottle is an invitation to savor the essence of a wines terroir in its purest form.

Precision Meets Passion

Winemaking at Tolosa is both an art and a science. While our approach remains deeply intuitive, we embrace cutting-edge technology to amplify nature’s potential. Using infrared vigor mapping and detailed soil analysis, we farm with precision and care, ensuring that each vine receives the attention it needs throughout the growing cycle.

Harvest is a meticulous ritual, conducted in the cool, dark hours of the morning to preserve freshness. Hand-sorted grapes are gently pressed in small-lot basket presses, and fermentation is fine-tuned in a state-of-the-art warm barrel room, allowing each wine to develop its signature complexity and character.

This obsessive attention to detail—from vineyard to bottle—results in wines of nuance, texture, and balance. At Tolosa, each bottle is an invitation to savor the essence of a wines terroir in its purest form.

vineyard sources

We partner with the most saught after vineyards throughout California to create our wines.