I am Russell P. From, winemaker, proprietor and coach at Herman Story Wines.

Herman Story Wines are made, schlepped, peddled, and drunk with friends by me. The basic web design books tell me that you’re probably here for the basics: to find release schedules, ordering information and tasting opportunities for the wines I make, which sounds pretty good to me. The less time I spend writing this stuff the more time I spend in the cellar. So here you go, all the facts with none of the filler. An aesthetic I stand by and believe my wines do too.

I release my wines twice a year, in Spring and Fall. The set listed below was mostly set loose in Spring 2013. If you want to get in on the action and try some of my stuff, you can scroll down and join the Wait List for my Wine Club, or come visit me at my tasting room in Downtown Paso Robles at 1227 Paso Robles Street, Paso Robles, CA 93446. It’s open Thursday – Sunday from 11AM – 4PM and I would love to see your shining face there.

Earnestly yours, Russell P. From

__________________________________

CURRENT WINES

__________________________________

2011 Tomboy

55% Viognier, 45% Roussanne

291 Cases Made – $42.00 Retail

Appellation: Santa Barbara County

Vineyards: Larner, Murmur, Camp 4

TASTING NOTES:

I’ve got a buddy that walks dogs in Chicago. When he’s trying to sell me on moving out there he’ll tell me about the first 70 degree day in Spring. Apparently it’s a bonanza. All the impossibly beautiful women who have been bundled up all Winter take the day off work, put on as little as possible and casually parade about town. The air is still crisp and there’s a bit of snow still on the street, and those girls are excited to be out in the sun and are showing a bit of stored up winter fat. It almost makes me want to move. The 2011 Tomboy makes me think of that scene. It’s cool and fresh but still knows how to shimmy. Scents of warm tangerine, White Cherry Icee, pressed wintergreen and creamsicle center. The palate is pure elixir: creme caramel, cinnamon dust and white currant with an almost chilly acidity. (DRINK NOW: 10 Minute Decant, CELLAR: up to 5 years.)

__________________________________

2011 On the Road

100% Grenache

682 Cases Made – $42.00 Retail

Appellation: California

Vineyards: Terra Bella, Vogelzang, Santa Barbara Highlands, Jespersen, Shadow Canyon, Stolpman

TASTING NOTES:

You’d probably never guess, but growing up I was a pretty good kid. I basically stayed out of trouble and kept my nose in my books. That is until I found out about the things that went on behind the gym. There’s something almost illicit in how delicious this wine is, it reminds me of those days sneaking off into the woods between classes. Aromas of Swisher Sweets, cherry cola, wild blueberry, sasparilla, and evergreen. The palate is suave, and will teach you how to smooth talk your way out of trouble: espresso, brandy soaked cherry, purple plum and black pepper, with tannins that hit like cracked leather. (DRINK NOW: 1 hour decant, CELLAR: up to 7 years)

__________________________________

2011 NUTS & BOLTS

100% Syrah

983 cases made – $42.00 Retail

Appellation: California

Vineyards: Bien Nacido, Murmur, Thompson, Les Galets, Stolpman, Terra Bella, Shadow Canyon, Jepsersen

TASTING NOTES:

The other day I passed a mint 1965 Corvette Sting Ray and the hair stood up on my arm. I’m a truck guy, it’s in my blood, but man, if I could have a day with one of those things, I’d make some pretty memorable trouble. I love that combination of class, handling and good old fashioned American made power. The 2011 Nuts & Bolts is a lot like that Sting Ray, sure it’ll jump when you hit the gas, but it’s also got the finesse to handle the tight corners. It hits the road with scents of mountain strawberry, cherry skin, Spanish Chorizo and ground clove. On the palate it burns the light and tears down the highway with flavors of dark chocolate powder, pure maple syrup, fennel and cinnamon stick with tannins that linger like a cloud of smoke. (DRINK NOW: 1 hour decant, CELLAR: till your grandkids graduate college.)

__________________________________

2011 ONE HIT WONDER – SOLD OUT

65% Syrah, 35% Grenache

291 cases made – $42 Retail

Appellation: Edna Valley

Vineyard: 100% Jesperesen

TASTING NOTES:

The second I set foot in Jespersen Vineyard I was in love. It had everything: maritime climate, an impassioned farmer, low yields and teeny-tiny berries. But the love was not to be. I thought I had found a new Larner or White Hawk, and was all geared up to do a new single vineyard wine. But the vineyard changed hands and after a single harvest I was forced out. I spent months trying to convince myself to just blend this wine into Nuts & Bolts and move on. But I couldn’t, this wine is simply too good, and I want you know what could have been. So I made a One Hit Wonder. I’ll never be able to make this wine again, but at least now I’ll be able to remember the good times. It reminds me of shotgun newlyweds tearing off into the night: red rose petals, big fresh blackberries, vanilla bean and desert sage. The lush palate lingers like a familiar song heard from down the road, with flavors of ginger spice cake, fresh baked cherry pie and earl grey tea with tannins that’ll last longer than the marriage. (DRINK NOW: 2hr decant, CELLAR: up to 10 years.)

__________________________________

WINE CLUB CLOSED
JOIN THE WINE CLUB WAITING LIST

Unfortunately, I only have enough wine to accommodate sales to my current, super-sexy, Wine Club Members and the savvy folks who swing by my tasting room… until I completely sell out, that is, at which point I will have to close my tasting room down until I have more wine to sell. In the mean time, consider joining my Wine Club Waiting List, or come visit me at the tasting room conveniently located next to Dan’s Tire in Downtown Paso Robles at 1227 Paso Robles Street, Paso Robles, CA 93446. The tasting room is open Thursday – Sunday from 11AM – 4PM. You can also call me at 805.237.2400 to check further availability. -RPF

__________________________________

MAILING LIST

You can get information on my wine releases and incredibly well-written emails from yours truly by signing up for my mailing list. It’s one of the smartest decisions you’ll ever make.

__________________________________

CONTACT

Tasting Room & Winery: (805)237-2400

Fax: (805)237-2224 Email: thirsty@hermanstorywines.com

Herman Story Wines, P.O. Box 15928, San Luis Obispo, CA 93406

TASTING ROOM

My winery and tasting room is located at:

1227 Paso Robles St, Paso Robles, CA 93446

Open from 11-4 Thursday-Sunday

If you’re passing through at another time, give me a call at the tasting room (805)237-2400 and I’ll do my best to free up some time to taste with you.

FACEBOOK

Click the link below and the internet will give you a piggyback ride to my Facebook page.

facebook