Looking for a small, family owned & operated winery in the Enda Valley of San Luis Obispo, CA? Then be sure to stop in at Claiborne and Churchill! C&C is one of Tap Truck’s favorite local spots to enjoy high quality boutique wines. Founded in 1983 by Claiborne Thompson and Fredericka Churchill; they produce ~8,000 cases annually to serve the wine lovers of the Central Coast. Tap Truck loves to provide and serve their Dry Gewurztraminer; this style is unique to the Central Coast and there is only a handful of wineries that produce this style of wine locally. Their 2018 vintage of the Dry Gewurztraminer was awarded 91 points on Wine Enthusiast! Tap Truck also enjoys serving their Syrah (Spanish Springs Vineyard) and Pinot Noir (Greengate), both awarded 92 and 90 points on Wine Enthusiast.
These alsatian-inspired white wines and exquisite Pinot Noirs can be credited to winemaker Zack Geers. A Cal Poly graduate in Wine & Viticulture, Zack has spent years wine making for Wild Horse Winery and has worked harvests in the Hawkes Bay of New Zealand. His many years of past experiences working with delicate white and red wine varietals has made Zack a perfect fit for Head Winemaker of C&C. Be sure to stop by and say hi to Zack when visiting!
Other than C&C providing an excellent and unique array of wine selections, their tasting room is also unique and one of a kind to the Central Coast. In 1995, their wine building was constructed using rice straw! A sixteen-inch thick straw wall is used to hold and maintain a constant cellar temperature within the building. This facility stores their aging wine barrels and also includes a wine bar to provide tastings for their visiting guests. In addition to choosing to build their winery with the composite material of rice straw, C&C has also chosen to attain their SIP Certification. In 2010, the winery was able to earn their SIP Certification. This choice to participate in the program means they treat the environment, employee staff, and the community with sustainable and progressive care.