The next chapter at the historic York Mountain Winery is taking place this summer. The new owners of both York Mountain and next door Stephens Cellars,Epoch Estate Wines,will combine the properties and restore the old York Mountain winery and tasting room.
The winery was SLO County’s first to make the stuff back in 1882.
Epoch, founded in 2004, bought the York holdings through the bankruptcy process in 2010 from Martin and Weyrich. They bought Stephens Winery in December 2012.
Epoch already has two vineyards that supply them east of Paso says Kristen Carrillo, director of marketing.”All of our fruit comes from two specific and unique sites which we bought and planted: Paderewski Vineyard and Catapult Vineyard.”
The company currently produces about 4000 cases a year.
In the process Epoch plans to build a new winery on site.”We hope to open in 2015” she says. Epoch does not have a wine production facility now.
Epoch is seeking a conditional use permit from SLO County to allow for the phased construction and expansion of winery facilities including: expansion of the existing ‘Stephen’s Cellars’ winery facility the rehabilitation of the condemned York Mountain Winery to restore the historic winery and tasting room uses, the construction of a new wine processing building and the conversion of the existing tasting room to administrative uses and commercial kitchen.
The York Mountain winery buildings were heavily damaged in the 2003 San Simeon earthquake says Carrillo. The winery – off Hyw 46 east of Paso Robles – was last operated in 2010.Founded by Andrew Jackson York, the place was run by three generations of York family members until 1970.
Epoch is requesting 25 special events with no more than 200 attendees and modifications of ordinance requirements involving setbacks, signage, and amplified music (noise). Winery build-out (includes existing winery structures) will total 49,351 sf on two parcels. The project will result in the total site disturbance of 6.9 acres on two parcels totaling 165 acres.
Epoch is owned by Bill and Liz Armstrong.Although there is much work to be done you can visit the winery tasting room now at 7505 York Mountain Road Templeton, CA 93465. Phone 805.237.7575.