History of Central Coast
Home Vintners’
Association
The Central Coast Home Vintners’ Association (CCHVA) is based in
Southern San Luis Obispo and Northern Santa Barbara Counties in
California where the majority of members reside and activities take
place. However, there are members from as far away as Ventura
and Los Angeles Counties.
The founding members of CCHVA were 13 winemakers and six
wannabe winemakers. They met at the Santa Barbara County Fair,
where Bob Weldon had entered a 1989 Petite Syrah that took Best
of Show, and at the Wine Cellar in the Santa Maria Inn. Bob’s
Petite Syrah came from Joe Carrarri’s vineyard in Los Alamos. Joe,
who was first and foremost a farmer, told Bob the Brix were 23.5,
but Bob measured 18 after crush and brought the Brix up with table
sugar. Bob Weldon started making wine with others in 1980. Don
Dascomb had about four acres of grapes in the Santa Ynez Valley,
and the home winemakers congregated at Dascomb’s place.
The Association formed in January of 1991 when the home
winemakers met at the historic Far Western Tavern in Guadalupe
to discuss formally setting up a group to make wine and to share
information and equipment. Bob Weldon was elected President
and served in that position for the next 10 years. Joe Whalley was
also part of that first group. The following year, the membership
grew to 29 and continued to grow over the next ten years. CCHVA
currently has about 90 paid memberships, with each membership
including up to two people.
Bob Weldon ran the club single-handedly for many years because
he was fearful it would collapse if he stepped down. This probably
stems from the fourth year (1994) when Bob retired (briefly), and
the club just about folded. Thanks to new programs and a growing
membership, Bob was finally able to retire in 2000. Hank Rickett
was elected President in 2001 and 2002, followed by Linda
Thunen. Bob re-joined the Board of Directors in 2003.
Some of the outstanding winemakers in the beginning were Doug
Coleman, Bob Weldon, Phil Vacca and John and Linda Thunen.
Bob had won Best of Show at The Orange County Fair, Indiana
State Fair, and Santa Barbara County Fair. Doug was locally
famous for his great winemaking skills. Phil Vacca developed his
own vineyard and winery. John and Linda Thunen’s 2000 Pinot
Noir was awarded one of the four Gold Medals given to red wines
by the American Wine Society at their national home wine
competition in 2002. It also took Best of Show at the 2002 Santa
Barbara County Fair.
In 1995, CCHVA took over the judging for the homemade wines at
the Santa Barbara County Fair. CCHVA conducts the judging in
June a couple weeks before the fair, which includes a catered lunch
for the judges, stewards, and other helpers.
Dave Renshaw and Hal Kaysen started the grape-purchasing co-op
in 2000. The idea was to enable home winemakers to get top
quality fruit in small lots. Our location in the heart of one of
California’s premier wine grape growing regions allows CCHVA
members to purchase premium grapes from commercial growers at
competitive prices. The co-op takes orders in July and early August
and contracts with growers in bin lots. CCHVA uses a local winery
as a distribution center where the grapes are weighed out and
crushed, if desired. Typically, the co-op distributes approximately
25,000-35,000 pounds of grapes to members, including those from
the southernmost counties.
In 2002, several winemaking groups were formed such that
experienced wine makers could mentor and share their wine
making expertise with those new to making wine. There were also a
number of members who got together to pick grapes at smaller
vineyards and either make wine cooperatively or individually. One
group made wine from zinfandel grapes brought back from Amador
County in Northern California as a result of members having met
the grower while on a trip to Mexico.
CCHVA is governed by a Board of Directors elected annually by the
membership. The majority of the members pay annual dues, but
honorary memberships are awarded to businesses who contribute
to CCHVA by offering discounts or special services, or members
who have contributed above and beyond the call of duty for many
years. CCHVA offers activities for the members about every two
months such as picnics, barbeques, winemaker dinners, seminars,
and field trips. Because the membership is spread over more than
200 miles and several counties, monthly Board meetings are held
instead of regular membership meetings.
CCHVA holds several major events each year that typically include
informal wine competitions. In January, our Annual Membership
Meeting and Election of Board of Directors typically includes a
fruit/dessert wine competition. In May, we meet for a Santa Maria
style pork rib barbeque and hold a red wine competition. In
August, our New York steak barbeque includes a white wine
competition. Of course, sampling other members’ winemaking
efforts is an important part of each event!