A Journey Along the California Coast is a trip through the great terroir of America.
American Vintage captures the spirit and tradition of California with a dash of rebellion thrown in for good measure. From the North Coast to the Central Coast and all that is in-between, the many incredible vineyard sites along famed Highway 1 bask in the California sun, producing some truly balanced, juicy, and mouthwatering wines. Timeless at its core, we honor the American Dream, the experiences, and the people behind this great American vintage.
A Coastal Escape to the American Dream.
Chasing the American Dream, Winemaker Brian Maloney sought some of the best coastal sites within California to craft the wines of American Vintage. From the diverse Sonoma County to the storied Central Coast, boasting some of the oldest grapes planted in the state, each wine is a true reflection of California viticulture. These appellations come together harmoniously to create a collection of wines that can be enjoyed on a hot summer day by the beach or curled up by the fire on a crisp winter’s night. They are for every day and a complement to every occasion, an escape to the American Dream.
Brian Maloney
Director of Winemaking
Inspired by his grandmother’s stories of her father’s struggles growing grapes and making wine in the Calistoga area before, during, and after Prohibition, Brian Maloney attended the world-famous Viticulture and Enology program at the University of California, Davis. While there, he fell in love with the diverse nature of the discipline and began a series of internships with wineries in Sonoma, Marin, and the Sierra Foothills. Following graduation, he worked the harvest of 2003 at DeLoach Vineyards and has remained there ever since, playing a key role in elevating the winery’s Pinot Noir pedigree, expanding its vineyard designate program, and planting and establishing its Biodynamic estate vineyard.
Brian has always taken to letting the terroir show first. Whether with cool-climate Pinot Noir or Old Vine Zinfandel, his ultimate goal is to let the interaction between the site, the vine, and the grower shine through to set the style of the wines. This has led to amazing accolades and awards for his wines, including an impressive array of 90+ scores for the 2009 vintage from both Wine Spectator and Wine Enthusiast, which was his first vintage as head winemaker.
Today, Brian is the Director of Winemaking for DeLoach Vineyards, Buena Vista Winery, Wattle Creek Winery, and American Vintage, and guides the Pinot Noirs and Chardonnays of the JCB by Jean-Charles Boisset collection.
Sonoma County
Sonoma County has the most diverse growing region in the world with 18 appellations, each with its own unique climate and geography. These varied designations bring together a combination of warm, sunny days mixed with fog-covered valley floors to create wines of distinction.
Central Coast
The Central Coast extends over 300 miles and is home to grapes planted in the late 1700s. While the Central Coast is expansive, each site is carefully selected for its combination of micro-climate and soil profile to ensure the best wines are made. The cooler, fog-influenced vineyards create expressive wines that highlight brilliant fruit flavors and balanced acidity.
Paso Robles
Paso Robles’s signature temperature swings, which are greater than any other appellation in California, mixed with its unique micro-climates and soils and long growing season result in some of the most premium wines within the state. While over 60 wine grape varieties are grown in the region, Cabernet Sauvignon is the predominant grape planted.