For over 30 years, Daniel Gehrs has been a sought-after wine stylist up and down the California coast- making his mark at wineries from Congress Springs Vineyards (Santa Cruz Mountains) to Zaca Mesa, Bridlewood, Lucas & Lewellen, and Sunstone wineries in the Santa Ynez Valley. With a degree in political science and no practical experience in winemaking, after taking a job at Paul Masson Winery in Saratoga he made his first “real wine” in the early 1970’s from one of the Masson vineyards. Dan recalls, “Instead of attending enology school, I decided to learn winemaking from a hands-on standpoint. As a result, I developed an innovative, outside-the-box attitude about wine. I came to my winemaking style very much on my own, not in a vacuum but without the usual oversight or credentials.”
Between 1974 and 1990, Dan and his wife, Robin, made a series of memorable wines at the mountain top Congress Springs Vineyards. He continued his award-winning style at Zaca Mesa Winery from 1993-1997, where his 1993 Syrah was chosen as #6 in Wine Spectator’s Top 100 Wines of the Year. In 1998, Daniel was involved in the development of Bridlewood Winery, while the emerging Lucas & Lewellen brand became a client in 1999. He continues to be a part of the Sunstone Winery winemaking team.
Current total production of the Daniel Gehrs Wines brand is around 7,000 cases, representing about 12 different varietals. “ The number of varietals is a product of my eclectic attitude towards wine… I don’t have strong or exclusive favorites.”
Stop by the tasting room in downtown Los Olivos on “tasting room row” to sample one of the Gehrs Family award-winning wines and enjoy the quaint atmosphere of the tasting room.
