Marin's Vineyard
Get the Dirt from owner Duane Wolgamott
“We are named the vineyard and wines after our daughter Marin who was 6 years old when we initially planted the vineyard. She worked / played alongside of us as we developed the vineyard and she grew up with it. She recently graduated from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo this summer with a degree in winemaking and has been our winemaker for over a year.”
Marin's Vineyard is owned and operated by the Wolgamott family in the beautiful Lockwood Valley of Southern Monterey County of California. Brenda and Duane met in 1978 only a few miles from where they currently live. They married in 1983 while Brenda was completing her degree in Biology/Entomology at Fresno State. Their only daughter, Marin, recently graduated from Cal Poly SLO with a wine and viticulture degree in June 2014. With the help of consulting winemakers, she took over winemaker operations in 2011. Marin was 6 years old when the vineyard was developed, and has assisted in all areas from the development, maintenance, harvesting and label designs.
What was your first vintage year?
2002
How many cases do you make per vintage?
Between 500 and 1,000
Do you have a Tasting Room?
Yes. We are open Fridays 11am – 7 pm and Sat/Sun 11 am – 6 pm.
Can people make an appointment?
Yes - Via email/Phone? Email – marinsvineyard@gmail.com
If not you, who is your winemaker?
My daughter Marin Wolgamott.
How did you get your start in the winemaking business?
We started by being grape growers, then had custom wines made for us by others, then we got our own winery license.
What wine made you want to become a winemaker/start your own winery?
Syrah.
What varietals do you work with?
Syrah, Viognier, Cabernet Sauvignon and Malbec.
Which varietal/wine is your favorite to make?
Syrah. It is our original. When we started pouring our wine – most people did not know what Syrah was, and it was the only wine we made for years.
What vineyards do you source from? Why?
We grow our own Syrah and Viognier. We source the rest usually from a large vineyard operation close by where Brenda (co-owner of Marin’s Vineyard) is the General Manager – 1,600 acres. We love warm climate grapes – make wonderful mature fruit forward wines.
What type of oak treatment do you use? Why?
We use different combinations of oak and our style is not to over oak the wines – we prefer to present an easy drinking style with a balance of fruit and oak.
What do you love about your winemaking region? What makes it different special?
The San Antonio Valley in Southern Monterey County is a newer wine growing region. We were the second vineyard to be planted in (at the time) future AVA. It is where we live and is rural.
What's the story behind your name/label?
We are named the vineyard and wines after our daughter Marin who was 6 years old when we initially planted the vineyard. She worked / played alongside of us as we developed the vineyard and she grew up with it. She recently graduated from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo this summer with a degree in winemaking and has been our winemaker for over a year.
What's the one thing you wish someone had told you about the wine business before you started your own winery?
We researched well – had no surprises. Started very small – one wine and have grown ever since.
We're curious…do you even get tired of drinking your own wine?
Definitely have not grown tired of our own wines. They are still our favorite. We always try new wines to compare and evaluate – we feel our lineup of wines is without comparison.
Is it considered bad form to dip into your inventory?
I think it is walking the walk!!
Do you still have a day job?
Yes – Brenda is the General Manager of a 1,600 acre winegrape growing operation (ours is only 5.5 acres). I am the Chief Business Official for a Public School District and Marin is working at two wineries while in her last month of school, along with being our winemaker as well.
For more information about Marin's Vineyard and their wines, please visit their website or follow them on FACEBOOK.