Overview: Four Central Coast wine producers have joined forces to open EdnaSLO, a collaborative tasting room, market, and future restaurant and distillery on a 60-acre property located about 10 minutes southeast of downtown San Luis Obispo. The historic site, formerly home to the Edna Valley Vineyard tasting room, has been reimagined by a professional designer and all four winemakers.
The Full Story
The original winery was built in the early 1980s, with the tasting room structure added in the late 1990s or early 2000s. Now reimagined, the EdnaSLO space has been segmented into distinct areas, including a tasting room, market, and distillery-in-progress, along with a future gourmet restaurant. Dunites winemaker Tyler Eck serves as spokesperson for the property, noting the concept grew from conversations focused on community.
The partnership includes four wine brands: Dunites, Greengate, Stephen Ross, and Vestre. The ownership group maintains a real affinity for the area and wants to highlight it. Each brand brings a distinct focus to the collaboration within the shared facility. The tasting room will operate on a reservations-recommended basis, though walk-ins will be welcomed. The market and outdoor areas offer a more informal experience, with a wine service counter and a deli-style counter where guests can order a glass or bottle of wine, grab a sandwich, and enjoy the property’s outdoor space.
Executive Chef Matthew Shayler leads the market, which features local agriculture throughout. Non-alcoholic provisions are available for those who do not drink alcohol but want to enjoy the property with others. Looking ahead, a gourmet restaurant and a distillery are both planned for the property, with the distillery already in development. The shared EdnaSLO production facility sits beyond the green lawn in the back of the property. The team expects to provide entertainment on the back lawn, including live music and food trucks. While it has been welcoming visitors in recent days as part of a soft-opening, the official grand opening is August 27.
Production & Profile
The four brands share a custom grape crushing and production facility on the property. Dunites centers on SLO Coast wines shaped by marine climate and soils. Greengate draws from estate fruit grown at Green Gate Ranch in the heart of Edna Valley, including Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and varieties from the Jura region of France.
Stephen Ross is considered a pioneer in the area for Burgundian Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, and also produces aromatic whites. Vestre focuses on Bordeaux-style red wines from the Adelaide Hills area of West Paso Robles. Upon entering the property’s tasting room, this direct view of Islay Hill in San Luis Obispo is visible out the window.
Brand & Industry History
The original winery was built in the early 1980s, with the tasting room structure added in the late 1990s or early 2000s. Stephen Ross was founded in 1994 and is considered a pioneer in the area for Burgundian Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Dunites winemaker Tyler Eck started his brand in 2015 with his wife, Rachel. The ownership group has this real kind of affinity for the area and wants to highlight it.
What This Means
The concept grew out of conversations between Tyler Eck and his fellow partner winemakers. That initial concept was always to have this collaborative tasting room very focused on the community. The team aims to build up SLO, build up Edna Valley, and make it known that what is here is world-class. Sometimes it feels like people just a little bit away don’t really quite have that understanding.
Consumer Takeaway
The property includes four winemakers, a market, a joint tasting room, and an upcoming distillery and gourmet restaurant. Visitors can get a good feel for the design and the partnership’s future plans. The tasting room will offer four different winemaker’s creations, with a view of Islay Hill.
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