Day Trip

Sometimes the best wines come from taking a different route/​the road less traveled. Day Trip 2024 began with a half ton each of Syrah, Grenache, and Mourvèdre sourced from Rancho Arroyo Grande Vineyard, an historic, dry-farmed vineyard tucked into the southern Arroyo Grande Valley near Lopez Lake. With old, gnarly vines rooted in a completely different soil profile than our estate vineyards in Paso Robles, the vineyard offered an exciting opportunity to explore a new expression of these varieties and bring something unexpected to our lineup.

The 2024 vintage is an almost equal-part blend of 34% Syrah, 33% Grenache, and 33% Mourvèdre. Picked on October 1 at 24° Brix, the fruit arrived with the balance and character Josh was looking for — ripe enough to express generous fruit while retaining the freshness and savory character of this cooler coastal growing region.

In the cellar, each variety was vinified separately before coming together as a final blend for aging. A combination of new and neutral oak allowed the individual lots to develop while giving the wine room to evolve without overpowering the character of the fruit. The result is a wine that balances ripe fruit and floral aromatics with earthy, savory depth and a distinctly mineral finish.

Day Trip opens with aromas of stone fruit, cherry, flowers, and dried fruit, followed by a subtle interplay of earth and spice. On the palate, juicy strawberry and ripe stone fruit meet savory sage and crushed rock. Mild, supple tannins give the wine structure without weighing it down, while its bright acidity keeps the fruit fresh and lively. The wine strikes a balance between generous fruit and refreshing lift.