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Opolo Strikes Gold at San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition

We are excited to share that Opolo earned two Double Gold medals as well as a Gold medal at the prestigious 2023 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition.

The 2020 Cabernet Sauvignon Paso Robles and 2019 Syrah Reserve Willow Creek District both earned the Double Gold distinction, while the 2021 Summit Creek Cabernet Sauvignon secured a Gold Medal.

Billed as “the largest competition of American wines,” the 2023 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition was completed on January 20. The competition featured more than 50 judges, representing various North American wine regions, evaluating 5,500 wines from more than 1,000 wineries.

A Passion for Cabernet

These results were no doubt a powerful reinforcement of Opolo’s passion for Paso Robles Cabernet Sauvignon.

Indeed, Cabernet Sauvignon has been a mainstay at Opolo for more than a decade. During this time, Paso Robles has risen to global recognition as a world-class region for this iconic Bordeaux variety.

For our main 2020 Cabernet Sauvignon, we sourced fruit from our westside Willow Creek  District estate vineyards as well as select vineyards across the region to create an exemplary expression of Paso Robles Cabernet Sauvignon.

Meanwhile, the 2021 Summit Creek Cabernet Sauvignon is our most approachable and widely distributed Cabernet Sauvignon, also hailing from a selection of coastal and inland vineyards. This is an immensely accessible Cabernet Sauvignon that offers extraordinary value.

Finally, the 2019 Syrah is a limited-production reserve wine that comes exclusively from our estate Dove Pond Vineyard in the Willow Creek District, which is renowned for producing some of our region’s most formidable Rhône-style wines.

Come experience the acclaimed wines of Opolo at our tasting room, set amid our estate vineyards in the Willow Creek District.

The Melodious Wines of Opolo

If you detect a bit of musicality flowing through our portfolio of wines, it’s not your imagination.

Indeed, you could say that five of our red blends hint at the melodious collaboration that is Opolo: Concerto, Rhapsody, Serenade, Maestro and Fusion.

This nomenclature is a nod to the fact that wine blends, like musical compositions, are created from separate elements that come together as a seamless whole.

Additionally, it speaks to the musical roots of Opolo co-founder Rick Quinn, a musician himself who once toured across the country with “The Balkan Strings,” a group that he formed with his cousins to celebrate their Balkan heritage. Rick played the standup bass as well as the Bugarija, which is similar to a rhythm guitar.

Musicianship and instrument making were part of Rick’s family roots while he was growing up. “My uncle was a woodworker who made instruments from walnut wood,” he says. “Music has always been a part of my life.”

While Rick rarely picks up the bass these days—“I don’t have the calluses anymore,” he says—he often lends his instrument to the bands that come play at our annual harvest parties, which feature Balkan ethnic music and dancing.

Needless to say, musical names were a natural choice when it came to creating unique identities for our blends. Rick reveals that it was  Bordeaux-style  Rhapsody that started it all. Concerto, a Merlot-based blend that first came out when the grape’s popularity was at its lowest, thanks to the classic anti-Merlot rant in the hit movie Sideways, was released shortly after.

“We took the word ‘Merlot’ off the label, went with Concerto and it quickly sold out,” Rick recalls. “People loved the wine and the name, and we knew we were onto something. Musical wine names have been a part of Opolo ever since.”

Experience our symphony of red blends for yourself, including the 2019 Concerto—the latest edition of one of the wines that started it all.

 

The Gift of Opolo: Easy, Convenient & Exciting

Wine is a gift you know they’ll love—especially when it’s one of our new 2022 Opolo Holiday Gift Packs delivered to their doorstep.

Best of all, you get $15 flat-rate shipping on any of these three-bottle packs, making it even more convenient for you to enjoy stress-free holiday shopping for the wine lovers in your life.

Each pack comes in an elegant Opolo gift box as pictured, with the option of including a note. Here’s our lineup for this holiday season:

Best of Opolo Gift Pack

2021 Chardonnay + 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon + 2020 Mountain Zinfandel

Enjoy a trio of Opolo fan favorites—our luscious Chardonnay, elegant Cabernet Sauvignon and iconic Mountain Zinfandel. A guaranteed crowd pleaser! You might even consider this one for yourself, as these wines are perfect for holiday entertaining and meals.

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Holiday Red Gift Pack

2018 Fusion + 2020 Sangiovese + 2020 Mountain Zinfandel

Here’s a smash hit for any red wine lover, featuring a range of flavor expressions from Opolo. The 2018 Fusion is a sumptuous blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah, while the 2020 Sangiovese is a vibrant, mouthwatering rendition of this classic Italian variety. And the 2020 Mountain Zinfandel is the latest vintage of this Opolo legend: rich, bold and fruit-forward.

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Zinfandel Holiday Gift Pack

2018 Zinfandel Remo Belli Vineyard + 2018 Zinfandel Willow Creek District + 2020 Mountain Zinfandel

Experience three wines that reflect our reputation as a standard bearer of Paso Robles Zinfandel and our longtime passion for this California heritage variety. Each of these Zinfandels comes from leading vineyards and renowned AVAs in the westside coastal mountains of Paso Robles. A slam dunk gift for any Zinfandel lover.

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Bordeaux Gift Pack

2018 Rhapsody + 2018 Serenade + 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon

Cabernet Sauvignon and Bordeaux-style blends have become a centerpiece of the Opolo experience—as revealed in this impressive gift pack. The 2018 Rhapsody and 2018 Serenade each present their own unique expressions of classic Bordeaux varieties, while our signature 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon is smooth, layered and polished—and it’s a double gold “best in class” winner at the Sunset International Wine Competition.

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SHOP OPOLO GIFT PACKS
SHIPPING NOTICE: To receive your order by December 25th, we suggest ordering by 12/14.
To receive by December 31st, we suggest ordering by 12/18. Please note shipping carriers do not guarantee ground shi

Embrace Tranquility: Welcome to The Inn at Opolo

An idyllic stay on a vineyard property isn’t just a fantasy thanks to the open doors at The Inn at Opolo. Our three-suite B&B is nestled amid oak trees, walnut groves and vineyards on our stunning winery estate in the westside Willow Creek District.

“The Inn at Opolo is an extension of our longtime emphasis on family and hospitality,” says Opolo co-owner Rick Quinn. “Our guests have the opportunity to immerse themselves in the Opolo experience, and we like to go out of our way to make them feel at home.”

“Tranquil” sums up the hushed, soothing atmosphere of our expansive property with its breathtaking hilltop views; garden and vineyard walking paths; a bocce ball court; and picnic terraces. And that’s just the outside!

Food, Wine & Comfort

Upon arrival, you are greeted with a bottle of wine, freshly baked cookies, and it just gets better from there.

Each afternoon winds down with your own complimentary appetizer platter and bottle of Opolo wine. Enjoy this mix of handcrafted meats, aged cheeses, fresh seafood and seasonal fruit in your suite, on the patio, or hike it up to our hilltop for a view!

Our three large and immaculate Italianate-style suites offer everything you need for a serious bout of rest and relaxation. We’re talking elegant robes; soaking tubs with jets; remote-controlled fireplaces; free wi-fi; flatscreen televisions; luxurious linens; spacious stone showers; and plush towels.

Made-to-order breakfast selections are also a part of your stay. Choose from eggs benedict, quiches and omelettes to blueberry pancakes and other sides. All dishes include a starter course of seasonal fruit.

Ample Amenities

Your stay at The Inn at Opolo also includes 24-hour access to our Mediterranean Kitchen complete with an espresso machine; coffee, tea, honey and sugar; fresh fruit; a microwave; and a full refrigerator and freezer stocked with flat and sparkling water, sodas and coffee creamer. This is the ideal place to create a perfect cup of coffee before enjoying the sunrise over the oak trees on our wraparound deck. The kitchen also offers indoor bistro seating where you can relax on your own or visit with other guests.

While staying with us, don’t forget to take a short stroll to our winery tasting room for some complimentary tasting; award-winning wines; and inspiring company.

Come live the life of Opolo!

Harvest 2022 Update: Hello Carbonic

Final Picks

As of this writing, we are wrapping up our last week of the 2022 harvest at Opolo Vineyards.

That said, the “crush” is still on as we process and ferment the final picks. We expect to wrap up all of our fermentations by the end of the month, which will be about two weeks earlier than normal.

Passion Project

It is always fun to poke around the cellar at this time of year to see some of the innovative projects that our winemakers have up their sleeves.

On that note, our “carbonic” Grenache just went through fermentation and pressing, adding a unique twist to our upcoming Rhône blends from 2022.

This wine is a passion project of Enologist Skye Bruce, who first introduced carbonic Grenache to our winemaking mix last year, tapping into the magic of what is known as “carbonic maceration.”

Whereas most red wines are made by destemming, crushing and fermenting the grapes on the skins, carbonic wines are made by placing whole clusters and berries into a sealed tank saturated with CO2 gas. In this airless environment, the berries begin to ferment from within until they burst open when they reach an alcohol level of around three percent. After around 10 days in this environment, the wine is drained and pressed, and the remainder of the fruit sugars are fermented the traditional way.

The resulting wines are light, fresh and vibrant in character—qualities unique to carbonic maceration. “The biggest difference is that everything is happening inside the berry, so you limit your color and tannin extraction but enhance the pure fruit flavors and aromatics,” Skye says. “That’s why you end up with this highly aromatic bright young wine.”

Last year’s carbonic Grenache became a critical component of our upcoming 2021 Grand Rouge blend, adding a layer of buoyant fruit flavors to the wine. We can expect a similar role from the 2022 edition. “It’s been really fun,” Skye says. “It was nice to get a chance to play with it last year, and it’s even better the second time around.”

Opolo 2022 Harvest Update: The Halfway Mark

Some Like It Hot

September got off to a very hot start in Paso Robles and across California, kicking the harvest season into high gear. “We probably put 500 miles on the truck here in Paso just going to and from our various vineyards, making sure everything was okay and on track,” says Winemaker Chris Rougeot.

While the heat wave definitely accelerated picking timelines in many vineyards, about half of our fruit remains on the vine as of this writing. Meanwhile, our fermenters are full and the winery is bursting with aromas of frothy new wine. In the end, this is going to go down as one of the earliest harvests on record in our 23 years of making wine at Opolo.

“We’ve seen some really nice flavor development at lower sugar levels this year,” says Winemaker James Schreiner. “That’s the saving grace. All of the ingredients of great wines were already there when hot weather landed, and we’re very happy with what we’re tasting in the new wines. The flavors are there, and we’ve got nice acidities.”

Artisans at Work

One of the best parts of the crush is discovering all of the artisanal techniques that James and Chris are employing to create our Opolo Reserve and other limited-production wines.

For example, there are several small open-top bins of Willow Creek District Syrah that are fermenting with a base of whole clusters underneath, representing about 30 percent of the wine. This method of “stem inclusion” is very labor intensive, but it is prized for bringing added body and hints of savory spice to the wine.

Wine maker James and Chris with pinot barrels.

The winemaking team also just popped off the heads of 12 new 300-liter French oak barrels in preparation for the barrel fermentation of incoming Pinot Noir. This is another labor-intensive and expensive effort that will account for approximately 30 percent of the finished wine. Barrel fermentation for red wines is rare, but James and Chris believe in going the extra mile to create a world-class Pinot Noir. The photo here shows Enologist Skye Bruce, Chris and James with the freshly prepped barrels, and the photo at top shows one of the barrels immediately after fruit delivery.

“When you ferment the Pinot Noir in the barrel, you gain this perfect tannin integration with the new oak,” James says. Adds Chris, “It adds body and complexity without imparting heavy wood flavors. You get the best of the oak while preserving the purity of the fruit and varietal character, which is very important with Pinot Noir.”

Opolo 2022 Harvest Update: Early Returns

The 2022 summer growing season has been marked by dry conditions and warm, steady temperatures across the Opolo estates. An early September hot spell promises to kick ripening into a higher gear heading into fall. Here’s the latest from the vineyards and cellar at Opolo:

Strong and Steady

While many wineries in Paso Robles are reporting lower yields and early pick dates, our vineyards are enjoying strong yields and a more normal picking timeline. 

According to winemakers James Schreiner and Chris Rougeot, this is attributable to our annual regimen of sustainable soil inputs that improve nutrient uptake and moisture retention. Inputs include natural cover crops (legumes, barley, etc.) planted between the vine rows before spring and natural composts applied after harvest. This creates a healthier soil environment that helps sustain vine vigor throughout the growing season.

Pushing the Envelope

One early rarity seen in the winery toward the end of August was a batch of “skin contact” Viognier destined for the 2022 Willow Blanc white blend, which will come wholly from our Willow Creek District estates—including our new To The Moon Vineyard. This particular Viognier fruit was destemmed and lightly crushed, then transferred to small bins for extended skin contact spanning up to eight hours before pressing and fermentation. 

While skin contact is routine with red wines, it is rarely employed with whites. However, James and Chris plan for up to 80 percent of the 2022 Willow Blanc to be composed of skin-contact Viognier and Roussanne. They love how this method brings exotic textures and elevated mouthfeel to this signature Opolo Reserve wine.

Crushing Viognier at Opolo's Production Facility
Skin Contact Viognier
Skin Contact Viognier in the Opolo Cellar

Old World Roots, New World Wines

If you haven’t already noticed, Opolo features a little “Balkan” flair as evidenced in our bold wines, welcoming hospitality and flavorful cuisine.

Indeed, winery owners Rick Quinn and David Nichols choose to emphasize the hearty, festive spirit of the Balkans as a nod to Rick’s family heritage and deep roots in that region.

“I grew up in an Italian, Serbian and Croatian neighborhood in Duluth, Minnesota where English was not my first language,” Rick says. “Just about everyone loved making ‘backyard’ wine, and our families would order grapes that were delivered from California in a boxcar. By the time we got the fruit, it was already fermenting!”

After moving to California as an adult, Rick continued his love of wine and winemaking as a hobby, eventually buying a Westside Paso Robles vineyard property so that he could source all of the grape varieties he loved.

A Taste of Balkan Spirit

Rick later partnered with his friend and neighbor David Nichols, and they acquired more Westside and Eastside vineyard acreage. They conducted their first commercial crush under the Opolo label in 1999.

“Back then, when hardly any wineries were offering food, we started with free samples of our Cevapcici made using the Old World family recipes,” Rick says. Our daily bistro menu today features Balkan-inspired Charcuterie plates. That vibe has also expanded into full-blown heritage-themed parties at the winery complete with dishes like whole barbecued lamb and Balkan-style orchestras, ethnic dancers in authentic native costumes and more.

If you’re an Opolo Wine Club member seeking even more cultural immersion, there’s also a chance to sign on to Rick’s annual Adriatic tour. The next excursion is the “Adriatic Coast” event happening June 14 through June 28 in 2023. Rick will escort 45 fellow wine lovers as they imbibe in the history, culture and flavors of Croatia, Montenegro, Serbia and Slovenia.

Our winery continues to evolve, producing Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah, Sangiovese, Chardonnay and other wines, not to mention our storied Zinfandels. Meanwhile, our genuine passion for wine and life, borne of our Balkan roots, remains very much alive.

 

Sausage sandwich and a glass of Opolo Vineyards white wine
A board of grilled meat and vegetables and a glass of Opolo Vineyards wine
Adriatic Tour
Adriatic Tour

OPOLO CAB SHINES AT SUNSET WINE COMPETITION

We are excited to share that the Opolo 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon earned top honors in its class at the 7th Annual Sunset Magazine International Wine Competition held in Sonoma County.

More than 35 judges composed of a prestigious mix of winemakers, journalists and wine trade professionals awarded our 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon with 98 points and a Double Gold medal for the “Best of Class” distinction in the category of “Cabernet Sauvignon $20 to $40.” Judges described the wine as having “deep, complex and integrated tannins.”

“Cabernet Sauvignon has long been a part of our portfolio, and it is now coming on strong for us as recognition for Paso Cabs continues to grow,” says Opolo co-owner David Nichols.

Adds co-owner Rick Quinn, “We have some new vineyards coming on line that will continue to take our Cabernet program to the next level.”

The Winning Wine

Opolo’s 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon is a blend of fruit from select vineyards located in three distinct AVAs of Paso Robles, enabling winemakers James Schreiner and Chris Rougeot to create a wine of natural depth and complexity.

The blend includes fruit from our Quinn West estate vineyard in the Willow Creek District, a coveted calcareous-rich terroir in the westside coastal mountains. A selection also comes from a site in the El Pomar District, which benefits from cooling marine breezes that flow inland through the Templeton Gap. Finally, a small contribution of fruit from our estate vineyard in the warmer Estrella District layers in a touch of ripe, fruity dimension.

The 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon opens with aromas of black cherry, blackberry foam and smoke. A deep, sleek texture reveals black fruit flavors with hints of black olive, toasted marshmallow, caramel cream and roast coffee. Notes of toasted nuttiness and slight tar join lush tannins on a full, juicy finish.

Visit the Opolo estate to experience our Cabernets, Zinfandels and other artisan Paso Robles wines amid a sanctuary setting—and come hungry to enjoy some of our many food offerings.

 

Our Three Wine Collections

Whether you are a longtime winery member or a newcomer to the world of Opolo, you have likely noticed that we make a wide variety of wines.

On that note, we have created the following primer on our three distinct collections, to help you understand where all of these wines fit into the larger scheme of Opolo.

Mountain Collection

For more than 20 consecutive vintages, our Opolo Mountain Zinfandel has been a standard bearer of Paso Robles. Today, our Mountain Collection continues to showcase the essence of Opolo wines: bold, fruit-forward and inspired by our westside mountain vineyards.

Our Mountain Collection wines bear the classic black Opolo label for reds, and a matching white label for whites. These wines include, of course, our Mountain Zinfandel as well as many other varieties such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Albariño and others. They also include signature blends such as Concerto, Maestro and Grand Rouge.

Reserve Collection

Opolo Reserve wines come from our Willow Creek District estate vineyards as well as standout vineyards in nearby AVAs such as the Adelaida District and Templeton Gap. These small-lot wines are crafted to represent the very best from Opolo.

Our Reserve wines include five Zinfandels, a Cabernet and select blends. These wines are visually distinguished by a crimson reserve band below the main label, and a white band on our Willow Blanc white blend.

Summit Creek Collection

Our Summit Creek line is dedicated to flagship Opolo varieties made in a highly approachable style, all from Paso Robles vineyards. These wines are renowned as perennial ‘best buys’ and provide a perfect welcome point into the world of Opolo.

The Summit Creek line includes Zinfandel, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. While our Summit Creek wines are not available at the winery, you will find them at many popular retailers. Look for them with black labels and a bold Opolo mark in gold across the top center.

Lineup of the Opolo Vineyards Reserve Collection
Bottle of Opolo Vineyards Mountain Zinfandel laying down with a plate of peaches and blueberries
Close up of the Opolo Vineyards Summit Creek Zinfandel bottle