EXPERIENCE
THE FOURTH OF JULY CELEBRATION AT FIRESTONE VINEYARD, PASO ROBLES
July 4, 2008
6:00 pm to 10:00pm
2300 Airport Road Paso Robles, CA 93446
Treat yourself to some All- American Barbeque from JD Boones
Smokehouse and enjoy live music from The Crisptones. Play Horseshoes on our
brand- new pits while sipping Firestone Vineyard wine and Firestone Walker
beer. Please bring blankets and chairs for the 9:00 fireworks show.
$45.00 General, $35.00 Wine Club
For tickets, please call (805) 591- 8050 or email
katy@firestonewine.com
FIRESTONE VINEYARD ACQUIRED BY FOLEY WINE GROUP
August 16, 2007—The Firestone family announced today the acquisition of Firestone Vineyard by the Foley Wine Group, which is owned by William P. Foley, proprietor of Foley Estates Vineyard & Winery and Lincourt Vineyards in Santa Barbara County.
The acquisition includes the Firestone Vineyard and Prosperity Wines brands, along with the Santa Ynez Valley winery and 480 acres of land, inclusive of 300 vineyard acres. The Firestone family retains ownership of Curtis Winery, Firestone Walker Brewing Company and the new family winery in Paso Robles. The family is also retaining the Jarhead Red and Rock Hollow wine brands, as well as 400 acres of land in the Santa Ynez Valley, inclusive of 215 vineyard acres.
“This is a matter of the right person expressing interest at the right time for us,” said Brooks Firestone, founder of Firestone Vineyard. “Bill Foley is a neighbor and friend of ours, and we are confident that he will be a fine steward of the Firestone Vineyard legacy and tradition.”
Firestone added, “While this was a tough and emotional decision for us, we are energized by the opportunity to more closely focus on our other winemaking and brewing enterprises on the Central Coast, including Curtis Winery, Firestone Walker Brewing Company and our new family winery in Paso Robles.”
Firestone Vineyard will be enfolded into Foley’s small portfolio of high-quality estate wineries. No significant changes are anticipated in the operations, staffing or distribution of Firestone Vineyard wines.
“This is the first in a series of brand acquisitions with the goal of developing a multi-brand sales strategy,” Foley said. “Currently, we are also examining opportunities in Sonoma County, Napa County and the states of Oregon and Washington.”
Firestone Vineyard was founded in 1972 as Santa Barbara County’s first estate winery. William Foley established his Lincourt Vineyards in the Santa Ynez Valley in 1996 and opened Foley Estates Winery in the nearby Santa Rita Hills in 2005. The Firestone family’s relationship with Foley dates back 10 years, when Foley acquired the J. Carey Cellars property from the Firestone family in 1997, which became Lincourt Vineyards.
Adam Firestone will continue in his role as co-proprietor of Firestone Walker Brewing Company. Andrew Firestone will continue to manage the family’s Paso Robles winery. He will direct the re-naming and re-branding of the winery in a manner that honors the family’s local winemaking traditions while incorporating new ideas and concepts. Chuck Carlson will continue in his role as winemaker of Curtis Winery, which is being retained by the Firestone family. Brooks Firestone will continue to serve his constituents as third-district supervisor for the County of Santa Barbara.
IN
WINE COUNTRY TV VISITS FIRESTONE VINEYARD
July 20, 2007—Firestone
Vineyard Paso Robles was excited to welcome the crew from
In Wine Country television this week. Host Mary
Babbitt, Executive Producer Mary Orlin and Photographer/Editor
Mark
Oltz toured the winery and vineyard with
Andrew Firestone for an upcoming segment on In Wine
Country, which airs in the San Francisco Bay Area,
San Diego, Los Angeles, New York, Dallas, Washington DC,
Miami, Philadelphia and Hartford, Connecticut. The segment
on Firestone Vineyard Paso Robles will air in early 2008.
For more information, visit www.inwinecountry.com.
2006
SAUVIGNON BLANC STRIKES GOLD AT STATE COMPETITION
July 10, 2007—Firestone Vineyard’s
new release 2006 Sauvignon Blanc earned a Gold Medal and
94 points for Best of Region and Best of Class at the
2007 California State Fair Commercial Wine Competition.
The award marks the third gold medal for the 2006 Sauvignon
Blanc, which was released in June. It is also the 16th
gold medal awarded to Firestone Vineyard’s Sauvignon
Blanc over the past six vintages.
Sauvignon Blanc excels at the Firestone
Vineyard estate in the Santa Ynez Valley, where growing
conditions are optimal for showcasing the varietal’s
bright, expressive character. The 2006 vintage offers
lively aromas of pear, honeysuckle, hay and citrus. The
palate is crisp and refreshing, with mineral flavors of
kiwi, passion fruit and lemongrass that conclude with
a quenching finish.
2006
SAUVIGNON BLANC IS GOLDEN IN SAN FRANCISCO
June 25, 2007—Firestone Vineyard’s
2006 Sauvignon Blanc earned a gold medal at the 2007 San
Francisco International Wine Competition. The wine was
released earlier this month. This is the 14th gold medal
awarded to Firestone Vineyard’s Sauvignon Blanc
over the past six vintages.
Sauvignon
Blanc excels at the Firestone Vineyard estate in the Santa
Ynez Valley, where growing conditions are optimal for showcasing
the varietal’s bright, expressive character. The 2006
vintage offers lively aromas of pear, honeysuckle, hay and
citrus. The palate is crisp and refreshing, with mineral
flavors of kiwi, passion fruit and lemongrass that conclude
with a quenching finish.
2005
CHARDONNAY RESERVE NAMED "BEST NEW WORLD CHARDONNAY"
April 10,
2007—Firestone Vineyard’s 2005 Chardonnay
Reserve from Santa Rita Hills earned a Gold Medal for
Best of Varietal, Best of Class and Best New World Chardonnay
at the 2007 New World International. Wine Competition.
The competition featured wines from across the "New
World", including all of North America, Central America,
and South America, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa.
See www.nwiwc.com for
more information.
FIRESTONE
VINEYARD OPENS NEW PASO ROBLES WINERY
February 23,
2007—Firestone Vineyard today announced the opening
of its new winery in Paso Robles, advancing a family winemaking
tradition that spans more than 30 years on the Central
Coast. The new winery resides at the corner of Highway
46 East and Airport Road. Third-generation vintner Andrew
Firestone is the winery’s general manager. The tasting
room is now open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Click here
for more information.
ORANGE
COUNTY REGISTER SPOTLIGHTS 2003 SYRAH
February 1, 2007—Firestone Vineyard’s 2003
Syrah was today selected as “Wine of The Week”
by Chris Knap of the Orange County Register. Mr. Knap
praised the wine’s “impressive body”
and called it a “bargain” at $18 per bottle.
He also noted Firestone Vineyard’s pioneering role
in the ascent of the Santa Barbara County wine country.
Click here
to read the full review.
FIRESTONE
VINEYARD CABERNET IS GOLDEN IN SAN FRANCISCO
January 16, 2007—Firestone Vineyard’s 2004
Cabernet Sauvignon earned a gold medal at the 2007 San
Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition. Fifty-five professional
wine judges from throughout the United States evaluated
more than 3,800 wines from over 1500 wineries from over
20 states. The judging of the wines took place in Sonoma
County on January 9-12.
2003
SYRAH EARNS 97 POINTS AT CALIFORNIA STATE FAIR
July 15, 2006 —Firestone Vineyard's 2003 Syrah
earned a Double Gold Medal and 97 Points for Best of Class
and Best of Region at the California State Fair Commercial
Wine Competition. The Best of Region award signifies the
top-rated red wine out of all wines entered from the South
Central Coast. The 2003 Syrah finished the competition
season with seven gold medals, five of which came with
special distinctions, including a Platinum Award at the
Critics Challenge, a Best of Class award at Long Beach
Grand Cru, and a Double Gold medal at the San Francisco
Chronicle Wine Competition.
FIRESTONE
RIESLING FEATURED ON MSNBC
April 13, 2006 —Firestone Vineyard's 2005 Riesling
was recommended today by Edward Deitch on MSNBC.com, who
praised the wine for its "nice complexity and notes
of pear, melon, banana," and who concluded, "Firestone
hits the mark again with a very good, affordable wine."
Mr. Deitch also recommends the wine in his weekly wine
video segment for NBC Mobile.
2003
SYRAH EARNS 5TH GOLD MEDAL
April 12, 2006 —Firestone Vineyard's 2003 Syrah
was awarded a gold medal at the New World International
Wine Competitions, its fifth gold medal earned at a major
wine competition. The 2003 Syrah has also earned double
gold medals at the San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition
and the San Francisco International Wine Competition,
a gold medal for Best of Class at the Long Beach Grand
Cru, and a gold medal at the Dallas Morning News Wine
Competition.
FIRESTONE
VINEYARD 2003 SYRAH SELECTED AS "WINE FIND"
March 1, 2006 —Michael Dresser of the Baltimore
Sun today selected Firestone Vineyard's 2003 Syrah as
this week's "Wine Find," praising its "intense
flavors of blackberry, herbs and chocolate" and its
"excellent value and approachability." This
selection continues a strong debut for the new release
2003 Syrah, which has already earned a double gold medal
at the San Francisco International Wine Competition, a
gold medal for best of class at the Long Beach Grand Cru,
and a double gold medal at the San Francisco Chronicle
Wine Competition.
