Wooden Wine Boxes & Wine Crates: October 2011

Sunday, October 16, 2011

Artistic Origins and Design on Turkovich Wines

A Unique Family-Owned Business in Winters, California

Written by Lester Neblett, Owner of Artistic Origins and Design

www.artisticoriginsanddesign.com

What makes Turkovich Wines unique? To start with, Turkovich Wines began as a senior project while Chris Turkovich was attending Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. The plan was to build a winery in Yolo County where his family has been farming for three generations. The story has it that getting the plan OK’d by his father was more rigorous than passing the requirements at Cal Poly. Chris graduated in 2006 with a degree in Wine and Viticulture. The winery started in 2007. Today Turkovich Wines grows 8 varietals on 14 acres about 3 miles west of Winters.

There’s more!

Brother Dan also attended Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, three years behind Chris. Dan graduated in 2009, also with a degree in Wine and Viticulture. However, as a side job, Dan made ice cream and cheese for the creamery on campus. So when Chris had the grand opening for Turkovich Wines, Dan made cheese for the event. The cheese was such a big hit that Dan could start Winters Cheese Company in 2010.

When asked what makes Turkovich Wines and Winters Cheese Company unique, Kristin Pantle, Tasting Room Manager and a member of the Turkovich family, states, “It’s a family owned-business that has pulled together the diverse talent of the family to create something special in Winters.” She shares that the art hanging in the tasting room is done by her Aunt Roseanne and that her father helps out in the bottling room. When asked what products best represent the high standards of the business, Kristin states, “Tempranillo is definitely our most popular varietal. This Spanish varietal grows extremely well in this region. As a result, it is our biggest seller. We also focus on Rhone varietals. They, too, grow well in this area. Our Viognier is our most popular white wine. For our cheeses, people love our spiced cheddars like Sage Cheddar or Tomato-basil cheddar. Caerphilly has been our biggest seller, so much so that we are currently sold out. The taste of this Welch-style cheese is between that of a sharp cheddar and Parmesan. Strong in flavor and packs a big punch!” The tasting room opened January, 2010.