Marin’s Vineyard is a true family passion project, named for the daughter who grew up in the rows. Brenda, Duane, and Marin Wolgamott farm a small vineyard in the rolling country of southern Monterey County and make just a few hundred cases a year, now poured in a welcoming tasting room in downtown Atascadero.

The Wolgamott family

Marin’s Vineyard is family owned and operated by Brenda, Duane, and Marin Wolgamott, with roots that reach back to 1999 when the vineyard was established. The wines reflect both grass roots effort and a ranching heritage, made thoughtfully and by hand in small quantities.

It has stayed deliberately small, a passion project producing only five to eight hundred cases a year. In 2024 the family opened a tasting room in downtown Atascadero, bringing the wines to a walkable, friendly setting just south of Paso Robles.

Marin’s Vineyard is named for the Wolgamott daughter who grew up among the vines, planted back in 1999.

Southern Monterey County fruit

The vineyard sits in Lockwood, in the rolling hills of southern Monterey County just north of the Paso Robles area, part of the broad Central Coast that links the two regions. It is warm enough to ripen serious reds, with the ocean influence and cool nights of the coast keeping the fruit fresh.

That setting suits the grapes the family favors, especially Viognier, a perfumed white Rhone variety, alongside Cabernet Sauvignon and Malbec. The combination of warm days and cool nights is exactly what gives these wines both ripeness and lift.

The wines

The focus is a small, thoughtful lineup: an aromatic Viognier, structured Cabernet Sauvignon, and a plush Malbec, all hand crafted in tiny quantities. Viognier is the standout, a rare, floral white that is hard to find done well, full of stone fruit and honeysuckle.

Because production is so small and the farming so hands on, the wines carry a real personal signature. This is the kind of place where the family behind the label is likely the one pouring your glass.

What to pour it with

Viognier is a rich, aromatic white that pairs beautifully with food of similar weight. Try it with roast chicken, pork, or mildly spiced dishes, where its stone fruit and floral notes lift the plate and its body stands up to richer sauces. It is also lovely with soft cheeses on a warm afternoon.

The Cabernet Sauvignon and Malbec are red meat wines. Their tannins meet the fat in a grilled steak, lamb, or the local tri-tip, softening the wine and cleaning up the meat, while Malbec dark fruit is a natural with anything off the grill. Keep some salt and char on the plate and these reds settle right in.

Marin’s Vineyard: common questions