Brecon Estate Gains Historic Recognition
March 13th, 2025 (Paso Robles, CA) - Brecon Estate Vineyard gained some rather prestigious recognition this week: joining a small handful of iconic Central Coast vineyards officially certified as “Historic” by the Historic Vineyard Society (HVS). This exclusive club, dedicated to preserving California's oldest vines, includes internationally famous vineyards such as Chalone, Dusi, HMR, and Pesenti, as well as Macdonald, Ridge, and Monte Bello further North.
Owners Damian and Amanda Grindley knew there was something special about the property that would later become Brecon Estate when they first toured the location. Originally established by the late wine pioneer Art Norman in 1971, it is now considered a visionary planting. Nestled along the iconic Vineyard Drive, it is one of the original vineyards planted in Paso Robles. It's now part of the highly desirable Adelaida District.
In 2012, the Grindley’s acquired the impressive property and Damian subsequently produced Brecon Estate’s first vintage of these historic grapes. When Brecon’s inaugural offering took home Best of Class in Jerry Mead’s “New World International Wine Competition,” he knew his instincts had been correct. Since then, the Brecon Estate ownership and winemaking team have refined their stewardship of the land, planting additional varietals and sparing no expense in nurturing the now 53-year-old vines. Which has resulted in recently being honoured as one of Forbes' top 25 wines of the year. None of this of course would be possible without Brecon's dedicated loyal band of customers.
After crossing the 50-year mark, Brecon’s old-vine Cabernet Sauvignon was eligible to be recognized officially by the HVS. Established in 2011, HVS is a non-profit organization dedicated to the preservation of California’s historic vineyards. They take their vineyard validation process seriously, and all vineyards submitted for recognition undergo a thorough review process. Brecon is proud to be custodians of one of the few historic vineyards in Paso Robles and on the Central Coast.
In celebration, Brecon has just released its most recent vintage from these venerable old vines. A mere 235 cases of the 2022 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon were produced. For a limited time, this sophisticated but complex wine is available to taste at Brecon’s westside Paso Robles tasting room. Brecon Estate’s small batch wines are sold exclusively through their tasting room, wine club, or on their website.