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San Luis Obispo » Claiborne & Churchill

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Claiborne & Churchill

2649 Carpenter Canyon Road
San Luis Obispo, CA 93401
(805) 544-4066

Tasting:   Open 11-5 daily
Tasting fee is $5, credited to purchase
5% discount on 6-11 bottles, 10% on case purchase
Tours:
  Tours by Appointment
Amenities:
  Straw-Bale winery building
Price Range:   $12 to $20 per bottle
Established:   1983
Vineyards:   3 acres
Production:
  10,000 cases

Claiborne & Churchill Description

Just off rural Highway 227 near the miniscule township of Edna is a straw-bale winery building that houses the unique Alsatian wines of Claiborne & Churchill.

The 16-inch-thick walls, made of rice straw encased with plaster, help maintain a constant cellar temperature for their dry-style Rieslings and Gewürztraminers. Winemaker Clay (Claiborne) Thompson and his wife Fredericka Churchill left academic life in 1981 and switched from being “old Norse and German language scholars” to becoming Edna Valley winemakers.

Entering the property, you notice a large oval 2,000-gallon oak wine barrel that shades a few picnic tables, as well as the vines of their small demonstration vineyard. A newly planted vineyard flourishes behind the winery. Once inside the building you discover that you are in the very midst of the wine-making, with stainless steel fermenting tanks and oak barrels all within arms’ reach of the tasting bar. A few wine accessory items are for sale, including attractive bottle bags, biscotti and dipping oils. A couple of European “throne” chairs along with large brass rubbings of sinister-looking Nordic knights complete the eclectic nature of the place.

Claiborne and Churchill’s grapes are sourced from the local area; the wines are made using traditional European methods, including barrel-aging and fermentation of even the Rieslings and Gewürztraminers. The winery also produces small lots of Pinot Gris, Dry and Sweet Muscat, and an Edelzwicker. A Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, dry rosé and a sparkling wine round out the offerings of this unusual and interesting winery.

Claiborne & Churchill Features

Ambiance Types of Wine Amenities
Family Run
Country Charm
Casual & Relaxed
Bordeaux
Burgundy
Rhone
Tours Available
Picnic Sites
Event Space
Catering
Gift Shop

Claiborne & Churchill Reviews

Staff Knowledge & Friendliness
Amenities, Comfort & Cleanliness
Value
Wine Quality
Overall Impressions
Great Orange Muscat
aSLOgal, San Luis Obispo
August, 2007

Very knowledgeable pourer -- he made some great recommendations for the rest of our day of tasting as this was our first tasting stop for the day. We were tasting in the cellar, I think which of course, is pretty neat. It's a small tasting bar but the wines are pretty good. I purchased the Orange Muscat which was a nice treat for me. I'd never tasted anything like that before -- a not-too-sweet dessert wine that will pair nicely with lots of potential desserts.

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Review Disclaimer

The above reviews are the subjective opinion of Winery Advisor members and not of Winery Advisor LLC.

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