Presqu'ile Winery - Tour, Lunch and Tasting
For those just joining our Central Coast birthday adventure, make sure to catch up on our incredible experiences with Talley Vineyards: our memorable 50th birthday dinner at Ember Restaurant (which you can read about here) and our comprehensive behind-the-scenes vineyard tour, which you can read about here. As our weekend continued, we discovered that the Central Coast had one more spectacular surprise waiting for us.
With Katie and Taylor already heading back to Los Angeles, my wife Dio, Kendric, Mara, and I checked out of our hotel and made our way to what would prove to be the perfect finale to our Central Coast exploration: Presqu'ile Winery. This remarkable property came highly recommended by friends of Kendric and Mara, and since it was directly on our route and I had never experienced a tasting in the Santa Maria Valley, it seemed like the ideal opportunity to discover a new winery.
Even the folks at Talley were enthusiastic when they heard about our plans, singing the praises of this hidden gem and encouraging our visit. What we found was a property that perfectly capped our Central Coast wine adventure with breathtaking architecture, stunning views, and an unforgettable culinary experience.
A SPECTACULAR ARRIVAL EXPERIENCE
The drive up to Presqu'ile proved to be an experience in itself. From the moment we turned off the main road, we found ourselves winding through grape vines for what seemed like at least half a mile up and down hills.
Upon arrival, our tour host greeted us outside the facility with welcome bubbles – 2018 Presqu'ile Blanc de Blancs, which I scored 91 points. This impressive sparkling wine immediately set the tone for what would prove to be an exceptional tasting experience, and I made sure to grab a bottle for my cellar. We spent time getting to know our host while enjoying the bubbles before he led us into the beautiful tasting room.
LEARNING THE PRESQU'ILE STORY
Inside the modern tasting room, we learned the fascinating backstory behind this family venture. The Murphy family's journey to this Santa Maria Valley property began in the early 2000s when Madison and Suzanne Murphy, along with their children Matt, Jonathan, and Anna, set out to create a winery focused on Burgundian-style wines. Their extensive research led them to this 72-acre farm, which they purchased in 2007 after determining it offered the perfect conditions for cool-climate Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.
The name Presqu'ile itself carries deep emotional significance for the family. In French, it translates to "almost an island" or peninsula, referring to a beloved property the family once owned on the Mississippi Gulf Coast. That special place, filled with wonderful memories and great times, was tragically destroyed by Hurricane Katrina in 2005. By naming their winery Presqu'ile, the Murphys ensured those cherished memories would live on through their new venture in California's wine country.
EXPLORING THE WINERY
Following our introduction, we received a thorough tour of the winery facilities, moving through their impressive barrel room and production areas. During this portion of our visit, our guide poured the 2021 Presqu'ile Chardonnay Bien Nacido Vineyard, which I rated 89 points. While technically sound, this wasn't my preferred style of Chardonnay – I would later discover that their estate vineyard Chardonnay was much more to my taste.
THE ROOFTOP REVEAL: A BIRTHDAY SURPRISE
As we ascended to the property's terrace, we were greeted by a delightful surprise that perfectly captured the spirit of the weekend: a beautiful "Happy 50th Birthday" sign that the staff had thoughtfully prepared for our arrival. This personal touch exemplified the level of hospitality that defines the best wine country experiences.
What awaited us on this elevated terrace was nothing short of breathtaking – 360-degree views of the Santa Maria Valley that seemed to stretch endlessly in every direction. The sweeping ocean and vineyard views created a stunning backdrop for what would become one of the most memorable wine and food experiences of our trip. From this elevated vantage point, our guide was able to point out many of the specific vineyards whose wines we would be tasting, creating an immediate connection between the landscape and what was in our glasses.
The multi-tiered patio area provided an ideal setting for outdoor dining, with comfortable seating that allowed us to fully appreciate the rolling hills and farmland that surrounded us. Standing at this elevated vantage point, it was easy to understand why this location had been chosen for such an ambitious winemaking project.
CHEF JULIE SIMON'S GARDEN-TO-TABLE MASTERY
The food experience that awaited us on the terrace proved to be equally impressive as the views. French-born Chef Julie Simon, who has been running the kitchen since late 2019, works the estate's one-acre organic garden herself, growing up to 90% of the vegetables, fruits, herbs, and flowers that appear on the plates during the summer months. This farm-to-table commitment was evident in our Mezze Picnic, which was several family-style small plates that arrived beautifully arranged on elegant serving dishes.
The presentation was nothing short of stunning – our table was adorned with an artfully composed spread that looked more like an installation at a high-end Mediterranean restaurant than a casual winery lunch. The centerpiece featured a gorgeous mixed green salad brimming with fresh herbs and colorful vegetables, clearly just harvested from Chef Simon's garden. The vibrant greens were adorned with edible flowers and microgreens that added both visual appeal and subtle flavor notes.
Alongside the salad, we discovered an impressive array of Mediterranean-inspired dishes: perfectly seasoned roasted vegetables glistening with olive oil, house-made hummus with warm pita bread, an assortment of olives and pickled vegetables, artisanal cheeses, and a grain salad dotted with fresh herbs. A creamy soup was served in individual bowls with elegant presentation.
The combination of farm-fresh ingredients and tapas-style dishes created what could only be described as a picnic you'd normally find along the Mediterranean. Each dish was healthy, remarkably tasty, and perfectly crafted to complement the wines we'd be sampling throughout the afternoon. To conclude our meal, we were served individual cups of panna cotta – a simple yet elegant finish to our garden-fresh feast.
THE WINE FLIGHTS: DISCOVERING PRESQU'ILE'S RANGE
Our tasting flight showcased both new and current release estate wines, each carefully paired with elements of the Mezze Picnic. The progression allowed us to explore the different expressions that this unique terroir produces.
The 2020 Presqu'ile Chardonnay Presqu'ile Vineyard earned 91 points from me and proved to be much more to my taste than the Bien Nacido vineyard bottling we'd tried earlier. This estate wine demonstrated the distinctive character that comes from their own carefully farmed fruit, with a profile that aligned much better with my preferences for Chardonnay.
Moving into the red wines, the 2021 Presqu'ile Pinot Noir Bien Nacido Vineyard scored 91 points and showed impressive quality that matched my appreciation for the estate Pinot that would follow. Both of these Pinot Noirs demonstrated the potential of this terroir for producing elegant, food-friendly wines.
The 2021 Presqu'ile Pinot Noir Presqu'ile Vineyard also earned 91 points and represented my second favorite of the three Pinots we sampled. This estate wine showcased the distinctive characteristics that come from their own vineyard sites, with a complexity that reflected careful vineyard management and thoughtful winemaking.
One of the more intriguing wines in our flight was the 2019 Presqu'ile Nebbiolo Presqu'ile Vineyard, scoring 89 points. As someone who's a huge fan of Barolo and Italian Nebbiolo, I was curious to taste this California interpretation. While it was well-made and enjoyable, it tasted nothing like the traditional Italian expressions I love. This was good wine, but it was also my least favorite of the reds poured that day – not because of any flaw, but simply because it didn't deliver the characteristics I associate with this noble grape.
The standout wine of our entire tasting proved to be the 2015 Presqu'ile Pinot Noir Presqu'ile Vineyard, which earned an impressive 93 points. This library wine demonstrated the aging potential of Presqu'ile's estate fruit, showing lovely development and complexity that made it my favorite red and overall favorite of the tasting. The excellent quality-to-price ratio for this library purchase made it an easy decision to add some bottles to my cellar.
Our tasting concluded with the 2020 Presqu'ile Syrah Presqu'ile Vineyard, scoring 90 points. This final wine provided a nice conclusion to our flight, demonstrating the winery's ability to work successfully with varietals beyond their Burgundian focus.
SAVORING THE MOMENT
As we settled into our meal on the terrace, surrounded by those incredible 360-degree views and enjoying Chef Simon's garden-fresh creations, it was impossible not to feel grateful for the entire weekend we'd experienced. The combination of exceptional hospitality, stunning natural beauty, thoughtfully crafted wines, and innovative cuisine created exactly the kind of memorable experience that defines the best of California's Central Coast.
The relaxed atmosphere encouraged lingering conversation as we reflected on our journey through this remarkable wine region. From our intimate dinner with Brian and Rosemary Talley to our comprehensive vineyard tour and now this spectacular finale at Presqu'ile, each experience had revealed different facets of what makes the Central Coast such a special place for both winemaking and wine lovers.
CONTINUING THE ADVENTURE
As our Presqu'ile experience concluded, we prepared for the next phase of our California adventure. The Los Angeles portion of our trip would continue my birthday week celebration with additional dinners, food tours, and a planned visit to Arrow&Branch's office in Laguna Beach, which you can read about here.
The seamless transition from the intimate, family-focused experience at Talley Vineyards to the architecturally stunning and culinarily innovative Presqu'ile demonstrated the remarkable diversity that defines the Central Coast wine region. Each property offered its own interpretation of what it means to create exceptional wine in this unique terroir, giving us a comprehensive understanding of why this area has gained such recognition among serious wine enthusiasts.
Our weekend had perfectly showcased the Central Coast's ability to surprise and delight, combining world-class winemaking with genuine hospitality and stunning natural beauty. As we departed Presqu'ile with our carefully selected bottles and hearts full of gratitude for such an incredible weekend, we knew we'd discovered something truly special – a region that would undoubtedly draw us back for future adventures.
