My 50th Birthday Toast with Talley Vineyards
What makes a perfect 50th birthday celebration? For me, it was the chance to deepen a friendship with passionate winemaker Brian Talley and his wonderful mother Rosemary, while sharing exceptional wines with dear friends in the heart of California's Central Coast. This magical evening at Ember Restaurant represented the culmination of a year-long journey that began inside a historic Boeing 747 at the Delta Flight Museum in Atlanta.
The dinner marked not just another milestone birthday, but the perfect intersection of friendship, discovery, and the kind of authentic hospitality that makes this coastal wine region so special. As I sit here reflecting on that February evening, I'm smiling at just how amazing the entire experience was – it truly has to rank among the best birthday celebrations I can recall.
This remarkable weekend would prove to be just the beginning of our Central Coast exploration, with a vineyard tour and tasting at Talley Vineyards awaiting us the following day. But on this Friday night, surrounded by friends old and new, getting to know Brian and Rosemary better over their exceptional wines, everything felt absolutely perfect.
HOW IT ALL BEGAN: MEETING BRIAN TALLEY IN A HISTORIC AIRCRAFT
Our connection with Brian Talley began in the most unique of venues – inside a retired Boeing 747-400 at the Delta Flight Museum on March 23, 2023. My wife Dio and I were attending Atlanta High Museum Wine Auction Winemaker Dinner #5: "Delta Air Lines: Dinner on the 747," one of several exclusive dinners leading up to the main auction weekend.
The historic aircraft, permanently stationed at the museum, had been transformed into an elegant dining space. This particular 747 had logged over 61 million miles during its service life from 1989 to 2015, and now served as a unique venue for special events. The juxtaposition of fine dining within this aviation icon created an atmosphere unlike any other wine dinner.
Brian was representing Talley Vineyards alongside winemakers from Justin, Linne Calodo Cellars, and Top Winery, with Atlanta's Chef Pat Pascarella of Grana creating the culinary pairings.
What struck us immediately about Brian was his genuine passion for the San Luis Obispo Coast AVA, one of California's newest and coolest wine regions. As a third-generation farmer born and raised in Arroyo Grande, his connection to the land was evident in every story he shared about sustainable farming and estate-grown wines.
The evening's wines showcased the unique character of this coastal region, from elegant Chardonnays to complex Pinot Noirs that demonstrated why the area has gained such recognition among wine enthusiasts. For someone primarily focused on Old World wines and Napa Valley, this introduction to Central Coast expressions opened my eyes to a completely different style of California winemaking.
AUCTION SUCCESS: SECURING OUR CENTRAL COAST ADVENTURE
Two days later at the live auction, Dio and I found ourselves bidding on Lot 24: "Explore California's San Luis Obispo Coast." Our winning bid secured an incredible package: two nights for two couples at the Dolphin Bay Spa and Resort in Pismo Beach, dinner hosted by Brian at Ember Restaurant, comprehensive vineyard tours and tastings at all Talley vineyard sites, plus one signed magnum each of 2020 Rosemary's Chardonnay and Rosemary's Pinot Noir.
The excitement was palpable as we posed for photos with Brian immediately after being declared the high bidders. Both Dio and I were beaming with anticipation for what promised to be an extraordinary Central Coast adventure. The 2023 auction was a tremendous success, raising over $2.8 million for the High Museum's exhibitions and educational programs. More importantly for us, it marked the beginning of what would become a genuine friendship with Brian and his family.
PLANNING THE PERFECT BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION
What started as a wine auction purchase evolved into something much more personal. When planning my 50th birthday celebration for February 2024, the idea of combining the Talley experience with a milestone birthday felt perfect. We invited both our Atlanta friends Katie and Taylor, and our friends from Los Angeles, Kendric and Mara, making it a proper celebration with our West Coast and East Coast friends. This would be the second wine adventure in California that Kendric and Mara would join us on after we had so much fun on our first trip in 2022 to Napa, which you can read about here.
As a fun birthday side project, I decided to seek out wines from my birth year – 1974. After researching vintage charts, I discovered that 1974 was actually an excellent vintage in Napa Valley. I purchased three different 1974 Napa Cabernets at auction: 1974 Robert Mondavi Winery Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley, 1974 Sterling Vineyards Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, and 1974 Beaulieu Vineyard Georges de Latour Private Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon.
Understanding that 50-year-old wines are extremely fragile, I arranged to ship them to Talley Vineyards weeks in advance to avoid bottle shock. Brian graciously agreed to store them in his cellar and handle the delicate opening process himself.
FRIDAY NIGHT AT EMBER: THE BIRTHDAY DINNER
After an eventful day that included lunch at our friends' house in LA and the scenic drive up to Pismo Beach, our group gathered at the hotel to kick off the celebration. We opened the 2016 Pierre Péters Champagne Grand Cru l'Esprit that I'd brought from Atlanta – a special bottle acquired during our Bordeaux trip at ETS Martin in Saint-Émilion, which you can read about here. This bottle had quite the journey, traveling with me from France to Atlanta and then from Atlanta to California – and it was worth every mile! This 93-point Champagne provided the perfect celebratory toast with friends overlooking the hotel’s amazing view of the ocean before heading to dinner.
From there, we made our way to Ember Restaurant in Arroyo Grande, where Brian and his mother Rosemary were waiting to greet us. The restaurant's warm, wood-fired atmosphere provided the perfect intimate setting for getting to know them better over an evening of exceptional wines.
Brian had already expertly opened the three 1974 bottles, and I was thrilled to see three perfectly intact corks waiting on the table – a testament to his skill with aged wines and our careful shipping strategy.
THE WINES: DISCOVERING TALLEY'S DIVERSE EXPRESSIONS
Brian had thoughtfully selected a range of wines to showcase Talley's diverse vineyard holdings, starting with their sparkling wine. The 2019 Talley Vineyards Chardonnay Blanc de Blancs, earning 90 points from me, provided lovely bubbles to accompany our initial conversations and getting-to-know-you time.
The Chardonnay flight featured two distinctive expressions: the 2017 Talley Vineyards Chardonnay Oliver's Vineyard from Edna Valley, which I rated 91 points and found to be my favorite of the two, and the 2017 Talley Vineyards Chardonnay Rincon Vineyard from Arroyo Grande Valley, scoring 89 points but proving a bit too tart for my preference.
TASTING THE 1974 VINTAGE WINES
At this point in the meal, we decided it was time to try the '74s. As expected with 50-year-old wines, the results were mixed. Brian mentioned that he didn't think the 1974 Sterling Vineyards Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon was drinkable, and after trying it myself, I completely agreed – we poured it all out. The 1974 Beaulieu Vineyard Georges de Latour Private Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon was similarly compromised and barely drinkable.
I could sense that some folks, including Brian, were worried that I might be disappointed by these results. Quite the opposite – I was just hoping that at least one of the bottles would show well, and thankfully, one did.
The 1974 Robert Mondavi Winery Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley proved to be a wonderful surprise. While past its peak, it was very much alive and drinking beautifully. Starting at 89 points, it actually improved in the glass, earning a final score of 90 points from me. For a wine celebrating its 50th birthday alongside me, it was exactly what I'd hoped for – a living piece of history that we could actually enjoy.
TALLEY'S FINEST: LIBRARY WINES SHINE
Brian then presented several library wines from Talley's collection, each telling the story of different vineyard sites and vintages. The 2014 Talley Vineyards Pinot Noir Rosemary's Vineyard, scoring 89 points, showed the challenging characteristics of a very tannic vintage but would likely have benefited from more air time. What made this wine particularly special was sharing it with Rosemary herself – the vineyard's namesake and Brian's wonderful mother, whose warmth and humor immediately made us all feel like family.
The evening's quote came from our friend Kendric, who was seated right next to Rosemary. After his first sip of the Rosemary's Vineyard wine, he looked directly at her and declared, "Rosemary, you taste delicious!" The entire table erupted in laughter at his perfectly timed and charmingly delivered comment.
The wine of the night proved to be the 2016 Talley Vineyards Pinot Noir Rincon Vineyard, earning 93 points and drinking magnificently. This wine so impressed me that I made sure to acquire some library bottles from the winery the following day.
The 2013 Talley Vineyards Pinot Noir Stone Corral Vineyard from magnum, initially rating 92 points, would later prove even more exceptional. After putting the magnum under argon gas, we finished it several nights later at our hotel in L.A., where additional air time elevated it by two full points – a reminder of how much these wines can benefit from proper breathing.
GENUINE HOSPITALITY: MORE THAN JUST BUSINESS
What made this evening truly special wasn't just the exceptional wines or the milestone birthday – it was the genuine warmth and hospitality that Brian and Rosemary extended to our group. This wasn't just a business transaction fulfilling an auction lot; it felt like sharing dinner with family.
EXTENDING THE CELEBRATION: TAKING THE PARTY BACK
As the evening wound down, Brian and Rosemary made an incredibly generous gesture – they encouraged us to take several unopened and partially consumed bottles back to our hotel to continue the celebration. This level of hospitality and trust spoke volumes about the kind of people they are and the authentic relationships that wine can foster.
PERFECT PRELUDE TO VINEYARD EXPLORATION
This birthday dinner at Ember served as the perfect introduction to what awaited us the following day at Talley Vineyards. We'd tasted their wines in the warm, convivial atmosphere of a restaurant, learned about their farming philosophy directly from Brian, and experienced the genuine hospitality that defines the best of California's Central Coast wine region.
The evening reinforced why I'm so passionate about wine – it's never just about what's in the bottle. It's about the people who make it, the stories behind each vintage, the connections formed over shared glasses, and the memories created when everything comes together perfectly.
As we headed back to the Dolphin Bay Resort with our additional bottles and hearts full of gratitude, I couldn't have asked for a more perfect 50th birthday celebration. The combination of exceptional wines, genuine friendship, and the anticipation of exploring Talley's vineyards the next day created exactly the kind of meaningful experience that makes milestone birthdays truly memorable.
Saturday would bring us deeper into the world of Talley Vineyards, with comprehensive tours of their estate vineyards, insights into their sustainable farming practices, and tastings that would reveal even more about what makes the San Luis Obispo Coast such a special place for growing grapes. But that's a story for my next post – stay tuned for an in-depth look at our vineyard adventure and the wines that truly showcase this remarkable terroir.
