Episode Details
Back to EpisodesEp 164: Exploring the Creston District Sub AVA – Featuring Ella’s Vineyard | Defiance Vineyard
Description
🍇 Where Wine Takes You – Episode Highlights 🍷
In this episode of Where Wine Takes You, Adam heads east into one of Paso Robles’ most quietly compelling sub-AVAs, the Creston District. It’s a place that doesn’t shout for attention, but once you find it, it sticks with you.
Adam sits down with Erin Faulkner, co-owner of Defiance Vineyard, and Josh Morris, owner and winemaker of Ella’s Vineyard, two producers carving out their own identities in a part of Paso defined by elevation, wind, and independence.
Erin shares the story behind Defiance, a true family-built operation that started from raw land and evolved into a Bordeaux-focused program rooted in intention and individuality. Josh brings a different lens with Ella’s Vineyard, leaning into Italian varietals, concrete fermentation, and a hospitality-driven experience that reflects both precision and personality.
Together, the conversation dives into what makes Creston different, not just in terroir, but in mindset. A place where winemakers aren’t following a template, they’re building their own.
Later in the show, Adam shifts from quiet vineyard hills to center stage, catching up with Manuel Barba from the Vina Robles Amphitheatre. They talk about the upcoming concert season, evolving guest experiences, and why this venue continues to be one of the most unique places to see a show on the Central Coast.
🍷 FEATURED GUESTS & WINERIES
Defiance Vineyard
• Website: https://www.defiancevineyard.com/
• IG: https://www.instagram.com/defiancevineyard/
Ella’s Vineyard
• Website: https://www.ellasvineyard.com/
• IG: https://www.instagram.com/ellasvineyard
Learn more about the Creston District AVA
• https://pasowine.com/creston-district-2/
• https://paso.guides.winefolly.com/regions/
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