Talbott Vineyards

Talbott Vineyards, a Chardonnay and Pinot Noir winery in Monterey

Talbott Vineyards is a California winery dedicated to producing Chardonnay and Pinot Noir from its own vineyards, inspired by the traditions of Burgundy. The company operates as a fully estate winery, meaning it works only with grapes from its two vineyards in Monterey County: Sleepy Hollow Vineyard and Diamond T Vineyard. Its tasting room is located in the heart of Carmel-by-the-Sea.

The company presents itself as a sustainably certified winery and states that its wines have earned recognition from critics and enthusiasts over more than three decades.

Two estate vineyards in Monterey County

Sleepy Hollow Vineyard, first planted in 1972, is one of the earliest vineyards in the Santa Lucia Highlands area, and the company credits it with a reputation for wines of great depth and flavor. Diamond T Vineyard was planted in 1982 on a mountaintop in Carmel Valley. The acquisition of Sleepy Hollow in 1994 made Talbott an exclusively estate winery.

The winery's website devotes specific sections to the soils and parcels of Sleepy Hollow, reflecting the importance of that vineyard to the house's identity.

Winemaking methods

According to the winery, all of its Chardonnay undergoes the same gentle pressing process, designed for delicate handling of the grape that allows its natural characteristics to shine. For the Pinot Noir, winemaking combines classic Burgundian techniques with modern methods.

Wine and other product range

The shop's range includes Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, sparkling and rosé wines, as well as olive oil. The winery also sells a selection of cool-climate estate Chardonnay, with ground shipping included on orders of six or more bottles of certain wines in that category, under the conditions stated on the site.

Wine club

Talbott Vineyards has a wine club with three membership options. Members enjoy preferred pricing on the house's most sought-after wines, access to exclusive member-only events, and member-only invitations, and can customize their shipments from a selection of wines.

History and awards

The company's history dates back to 1950, when Robert Talbott Sr., his wife Audrey, and their son Robb moved to Carmel, California, to found a luxury tie company. Their overseas trips buying silk introduced them to French wines and fueled the project of making California wines using Burgundian techniques.

In 1982 Robb Talbott launched Talbott Vineyards with his father and planted his first grapes at Diamond T Vineyard. The family opened a tasting room in Carmel Valley in 1989 and acquired Sleepy Hollow Vineyard in 1994.

Among the awards cited by the winery are the 100 points awarded by Wine Spectator in a retrospective tasting to its 1990 Sleepy Hollow Chardonnay, and the recognition of the 2013 Diamond T Pinot Noir as Wine of the Year at the Sommelier Challenge International Wine & Spirits Competition in 2016.