Moving to Wine Country

After a long and grueling day of unpacking boxes after boxes of plates, pictures, cooking utensils and wine glasses, Devon and Tina were completely exhausted and dreaming of some good grub and adult beverages. They both loved wine, but they were looking for something a little stronger. Whiskey perhaps? After falling in love with bright green, San Luis Obispo Coast wine country, they thought it was finally time to escape the house and cruise the town to see what their new home Arroyo Grande, CA had to offer. They just moved there two weeks ago after visiting SLO County for work a month earlier. Devon found a job opportunity in the wine industry that lead him to farm country. Not something he was expecting, but he intuitively accepted.

After a decade of the Los Angeles, CA lifestyle, Devon and Tina soon realized that the city life had begun to play its toll on the venturesome couple. While getting dressed, they remember hearing about the Village and thought that was a great place to start. They fell in love with the area, but surprisingly didn’t even make it downtown. After scrolling around on their phones for a few minutes, they found a place called Mason Bar. They had a bunch of local awards and even awards from Wine Spectator the last four years in a row. “Impressive,” the wine connoisseur said. They checked their enticing menu and were delighted to see the variety of cuisine, local and beyond wine selection and exhilarating cocktail menu. “What a wine list,” Devon hollered, while Tina was putting on her make up. “Let’s give it a try,” said Tina. They then hopped in their new sparkling SUV they just bought after selling their condo and silver Porshe in Santa Monica. They thought having a more versatile vehicle in wine country would be better than the sports car they drove around LA when working everyday in the city. They were extremely delighted to change homes and begin their new journey on the Central Coast.

After watching a stunning orange and purple sunset from their second story balcony, Devon and Tina started making their way downtown to the Village. They finally found Grand Ave. and noticed there were beautiful white Christmas lights flowing through this quaint and charming downtown. After finding parking, they strolled down the street holding hands, smiling from ear to ear feeling and smelling the fresh air not existing in the city of angels. Devon and Tina were a little worried about being African American in a predominately Caucasian, small wine and farming town. They loved it so much that they looked past the demographics of the city and were happy to call it their new home. As they were getting closer to Mason’s, they saw this enormous man walking with his family.

They were stunned. He looked like he was around 6 foot 10. A giant. The closer Devon got, he soon realized it was world champion Horace Grant. Devon knew it 100% because he was from Chicago and a die-hard Michael Jordan and Bulls fan in the 80s and 90s. Devon was a little hesitant, but decided to just go for it. He walked over and said, “Hi, I’m Devon and this is my wife Tina and we just moved to AG.” “Welcome then,” Horace gently replied. Having an instant connection, he invited them over for dinner and promised to introduce them to some of his friends. They exchanged numbers and away they went, ready for something tasty and strong.

“Two for the bar, please,” Devon said kindly. “Right this way!” As they were being guided to their stylish table, they noticed the lighting was perfect. “This place is impressive,” Devon excitingly stated. There were real mason jars hanging from the bar with this beautiful brick wall with high quality spirits perfectly placed in a pattern for a beautiful aesthetic. He looked to the right and saw this tequila collection that was remarkable. The couple sat down and the smiling hostess said, “Here you go,” handing them their menu. They already new what they wanted. Tina ordered a dirty martini with a recommended Cleo gin made in the Central Coast, with a couple of olives. SLO County has exploded with these crafty, boutique distilleries all around the region, putting out very unique and specialty cocktail drinks that have brought a lot of variety to wine country. “May I have the Eagle Rare 10 Year bourbon?” asked the savvy Devon.

As the timely waitress glided back to the table, she gracefully dropped off the two drinks. They both released a deep sigh simultaneously. They then did a celebratory cheers, “To Arroyo Grande!” They tapped glasses and right after their first sip, Tina lightly let out, “This is all we needed!” They were wine people, so they started talking about the drink characteristics and aromas. “Great caramel and butterscotch notes. So smooth with a perfect balance,” Devon effortlessly voiced his thoughts. After a warm conversation about how everyone had been so kind to them since moving, they were craving some local red wine.

The tall and jovial waitress perfectly timed it, “Can I offer you some wine?” “I’ll have the 18 Timbre Supergroup Pinot.” voiced Tina. “I’ll have the 19 Brochelle Paso Zin,” Devon followed. The gentle waitress was off to the bar. “Do you know that Zinfandel was one of the first wine grapes planted in Paso Robles back in the late 1800s. A lot of the original plantings in Paso were dug up during prohibition in the 1920s through the early 30s. Some vines remained, but many had to be replanted after this crushing time for the local wine industry. Paso clearly bounced back!” Devon laughed. Feeling better than ever, the couple could not stop pinching themselves that they get to live in AG. After a couple of big deep breaths, the wines were delivered.

With a marvelous swirl and a skilled long sniff, “The Pinot appears to be a San Luis Obispo grown, plumb red color with a nose that is flamboyantly rich and dripping with Whole Foods brand brown sugar. Local falling flowers with Blow Pop red cherry aromas. The palate has melting French vanilla ice cream cake with a glamorous caramel drizzle. Wet and mossy forest floor with glossy rock minerals, leading to a long and Rubik’s Cube-like finish,” Shockingly spoke Tina.

During Tina’s fascinating and detailed Pinot Noir description, Devon let his wine open up in the glass for a couple minutes. It was now his turn to smell and taste his 2019 Brochelle Vineyards, Paso Robles Zinfandel. He swirled, smelled and sipped. “Wow, it has a spiritual crystal garnet color with a nose of a mixed berry fruit bowl. On the palate, luscious lips raspberry with Sonoma Valley picked blueberries and dark berries in a wicker basket. Kitchen cupboard cedar with a delicate chocolate kiss. Freshly shaven smooth and soft tannins with pitch dark cherries and a deadline extended finish.” “Nice!” Tina voiced. After savoring their glasses and chatting a little more, they took their last sip, paid the bill and laughed all the way home. They definitely found their new home and favorite local spot.

It’s been around four months now since Devon and Tina’s memorable Mason Bar experience, so they were finally feeling settled in to their recently purchased home in Arroyo Grande, CA. Devon invited his close friend Kelion to stay with him the following week to catch up and trade a case of fine wine for some fresh new gear. It was definitely last minute, but Kelion happened to be traveling from LA to the Bay for a fashion photo shoot, so it worked out perfect for the Central Coast stop. Devon and Kelion became friends from Devon’s days in the fashion and music world when he lived in Santa Monica. He was a sales rep for an international clothing brand and knew the ins and outs of the fashion game like he did a Napa Cab. Kelion was an early member of the clothing company LRP based in Los Angeles that exploded back in the early 90s. He was an innovative force in the industry and could describe a beat, outfit and wine like no other.

After Devon’s invigorating Zinfandel experience at Mason Bar, he ended up catching the Zin bug again and was ready for more. With so much going on with the move and new job, he thought Paso Robles was his only opportunity to locally explore Zinfandel. The SLO Coast is such a cool climate AVA (American Viticulture Area), when Zinfandel grows best in hotter temperatures, so Paso is the ideal place to grow it. Devon sold and drank mostly Pinot Noir now that he lived and worked in the SLO Coast. Certain wine varietals, especially Pinot Noir can create a tunnel vision where one grape becomes an all encompassing obsession. After actually talking on the phone and not texting with Kelion, Devon was surprised to find out that he could taste Zinfandel right down the road on Biddle Ranch in San Luis Obispo. As soon as Devon knew about the Zin in his backyard, he called Saucelito Canyon Vineyard and got a reservation for two for next Wednesday at 1pm.

It was a glorious Wednesday in San Luis Obispo and Devon and Kelion met up in the Saucelito Canyon tasting room parking lot at 12:50pm. When they both got out of their SUVs, they were so close they just gave each other a big hug. After a couple of good laughs, Kelion pulled out of his trunk three big cardboard boxes that were all bulging at the seams. They were filled with stacks of individually wrapped garments that were each hand-selected by Kelion. Devon then handed him the case filled with Pinots, Syrah, Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc all from the SLO Coast. Kelion was new to cool-climate Syrah so he was excited to find out what it was all about. It was a sunny but cool day on the Central Coast so, “The wine should be just fine.” mentioned Devon. They both walked up to the charming and decorated counter and Heather greeted them and gracefully said, “Welcome Devon and Kelion” before they could even speak…

Sometimes visiting wineries and tasting rooms during the middle of the week is the way to go. It is usually quiet so you can tap in to the alluring vineyards and really connect with the wines at hand. Heather guided them to the ideal middle table inside and outside the perfectly placed terrace. It was just them and the wine country scenery, so it was a very intimate setting for the two friends. Devon had the wine experience, so he was very dialed in with everything going on and Kelion was just eager to explore the SLO Coast mystique. They sat down and were brought water and a glistening stemless glass. Heather knew Devon from the business, so she brought them an array of wines along with a beautiful platter to compliment them. Before the first pour, she told them some fascinating insider information and the specific vineyards that the grapes came from. After chatting and letting the wine breathe, Kelion took his first sniff and sip.

Kelion’s eyebrows went up fast as the white wine hit his tongue. “Oooh!” He went from serious to a huge grin on his face. “I didn’t know they grew Grenache Blanc in the SLO Coast.” “Yes, it’s from the Edna Valley where we are right now.” calmly voiced Devon. “Nice acid.” Kelion shared as he took another sniff. “Grenache Blanc is widely grown in the Rhône Valley in France and recently has come alive in SLO County. It is a relative to the red wine grape Grenache and is used a lot of the time with blends. This is the 2021 vintage and it is unreleased.” happily shared Devon. Kelion was used to getting hooked up, so he was grateful it was happening again. With descriptors running through his head, “I’m feeling it.” Kelion confidently spoke. The wine and moment hit him like a bolt of lightning. He took a deep breath and asked, “Dev, what red is in your glass?” 

“It’s the 2021 “Native” Estate Zinfandel from the Arroyo Grande Valley.” He swirled again, smelt and tasted. “It has a Lite Brite nose, with a rush of Halcyon Farms blackberries. On the palate it has a blend of Hayashi Fruit Stand strawberries and Santa Barbara County raspberries, mixed with wine tasty Pozo soil and Costco bath tissue soft tannins. The fruit is changing as we speak.” The friends caught up as they tasted through the lineup patiently enjoying the rest of their flight and platter. They eventually took their final sips and finished their entertaining conversation. When the bill came, Heather said, “Devon since you are a friend in the industry, we have it covered.” Kelion was pumped and tipped Heather with cash generously. “Thank you Heather for this amazing and memorable experience. We will never forget it.” honestly voiced Devon. Kelion gratefully followed, “Thank you Heather, we really appreciate everything.” They each bought a case of the 21 Rabble Rouser and 21 Field Blend and walked out in awe, smiling and making jokes about each other like the good ol’ days.

Back up five years when Devon and Tina lived in Los Angeles, Devon had a really good friend named KorDon. He was from LA and met Devon at a KRS-One show in downtown LA. It didn’t look like KRS was going to show up that night, so most of the people ended up leaving the spot. He did end up coming out late-night, so the two were hyped that they stayed and randomly met each other. They were both hip-hop and fashion heads who also loved their wine. KorDon knew quite a bit, but his deep knowledge was in music and hip-hop. He was a renowned DJ who would open up at clubs for big acts, while building a solid following mixing and scratching artists like Curtis Mayfield, J Dilla, Gang Starr, A Tribe Called Quest along with a lot of soul and funk music. He could break down a beat and bar like no one else. Him and Devon would get together over wine and talk about all of KorDon’s close hip-hop friends and stories you wouldn’t believe actually happened. He knew Big L, Tupac, Ice Cube, MF Doom and almost anyone big under and above ground. He was very muscular and had Denzel good looks, always dressed fresh in and outside of the club.

KorDon was always VIP wherever he went, so he got the wines he wanted at the shows he attended and performed at. They treated him like a king so he was always living LRG at the shows. He loved his Pinot Noir and had cases of Oregon, Sonoma and Central Coast Pinot stacked in his music room with his wall full of vinyl and top of the line recording and mixing equipment. He had magnums of Dundee Hills Willamette Valley Pinot Noir sitting pretty around the room watching over all of the music happening when he was not there. Devon soon realized that KorDon was the guy and it was crucial to be on his team. It was like having your own bodyguard with you. He was built like a tank. No one messed with KorDon because if his temper burst, you might get bopped in the eye right quick. He was a No Limit Solider that everyone loved. “Let’s go see the Wu-Tang Clan tomorrow, I have backstage passes that Meth got for me.” KorDon said things like that often and if he did, you went wherever he was going.

As they walked in the club, it was loud and smoky. Good smoke. KorDon was in the VIP section, so they got to watch the show with a perfect view of the stage. As the C.R.E.A.M. went off, the security guard came up to KorDon and said, “Kelion is here.” As the security guard let him in, both Devon and KorDon smiled, jumped up and powerfully dapped with Kelion. Kelion was dressed fresher than anyone there. Devon and KorDon were magnetized by his outfit. Devon reached behind him and grabbed the 2016 El Lugar Rincon Pinot Noir and a glass and said, “Get into this.” Right as Kelion swiftly grabbed the glass and Devon poured the wine in, Gza and Method Man came out and did a Shawdowboxin’. The place went nuts and the three of them looked at each other and started rapping along. After a nice swirl, Kelion reached in his jacket pocket and pulled out a perfectly rolled bleezee. Devon pulled out a lighter and sparked up the bat.

Back in Arroyo Grande, Devon and Tina sipped a 2018 Paso Robles Merlot while sitting in their living room overlooking the Pacific Ocean. “I’m excited to start tomorrow.” Devon said when discussing his first day of work in the wine industry. He was meeting up with his new partner Ben from a new brand named Electros. He was going to start with California and move outward as things progressed. Ben wasn’t a salesman so he needed help distributing his wine and Devon was the perfect fit for the job. Ben was on a tight budget so they agreed that Devon would work as a 1099, selling for commission only to start. Devon and Tina made great money in Los Angeles so they could afford the risk and were happy to take it. “It’s going to be great, I believe in you.” Tina confidently said reassuring her husband that they made the right decision when moving to the Central Coast. “I’m just a little nervous because it’s a new brand that no one knows about and it’s only Syrah.” Devon went from the fashion and music industry to selling wine because he randomly met Ben at a Herbie Hancock show in LA when Ben offered him the job on the spot. Devon was very passionate and savvy around wine so when they struck up a conversation, they both had an instant connection to wine, music and each other.

“Wow, I get Blackberry phone, Blueberry Hill, Jamaican herbs, pepper doctor and red oak smoke.” said Devon shocked when tasting Ben’s Syrah for the first time. During the show Ben invited him to come check out his setup in Paso and without hesitation, Devon took him up on his offer and was there two weeks later. Two weeks after that, Devon and Tina moved into their new home in Arroyo Grande. Ben’s first vintage was so good that Devon and Tina sold, bought and moved at an exceptional rate ready to get started asap. Tina ended up getting a job through a friend at Cal Poly, so they were on a roll and had things really opening up for them. “I can sell this!” Devon eagerly said after the wine opened up and really started showing itself. “We can start out in SLO County and see how it goes.” Ben voiced. “I don’t know anyone around there, but I know I can make it happen. This wine is gold.” Devon said confidently but still in shock by the new product he had to sell. “This wine is spectacular, we just need to get it in front of people.” Devon calmly replied. Devon knew great wine and obviously was aware that Ben was on to something with this first vintage.

When Devon and Tina were settled in and both of them were rolling along with their new jobs, Electros was not going as planned. All three of them started questioning the pursuit and if it had any viability. No one knew Devon, Ben or Electros and even though the wine was legitimate, trying to compete in Paso Robles is at the least a challenge. Retailers liked the wine and would buy a case, but they would not buy a second. The other wines had big names and many vintages under their belt, so the new brand was overlooked everywhere. Restaurants would give it a try, but would not push it due to the other hot brands that were so popular and also just more likable. Both Devon and Ben were surprised because everyone that tasted it appreciated it and thought it was of great quality, but it just wasn’t selling like they wanted it to. Ben was sitting on 94 cases and things were not looking too bright. Tina’s job was steady with good pay and great benefits, but she could not carry the load while Electros was trying to get off the ground. Devon and Ben had to put their heads together constantly to get these cases sold. They both started realizing how hard it was going to be to move the product in an area with incredible wines all throughout the county. “Let’s move up to Monterey and down to Santa Barbara and we may have better luck.” Ben nervously said hoping for a better outcome. Even when you have something great, things take time and the two of them were starting to realize just that…