Clesi Wines

Clesi Wines is a charming, family‑run boutique winery nestled within the Templeton Gap AVA just east of Highway 101. The tasting room—surrounded by rolling hills, vegetable gardens, and free‑ranging chickens—opened in May 2017 at 1873 Templeton Road after the founders spent over a decade operating in San Luis Obispo Paso Robles. Winemaker Chris Ferrara, of Sicilian‑American farming heritage, together with partner Adrienne, channels Italian tradition into every bottle. Their inspiration draws deeply on Ferrara’s travels through Italy, and the winery’s signature Sicilian Trinacria label reflects a triad of legacy, curiosity, and culture.

​Clesi specializes in California‑grown Italian varietals, producing small‑batch wines with old‑world character and food‑friendly elegance. Their portfolio includes Aglianico, Dolcetto, Sangiovese, Montepulciano, Barbera, Malvasia Bianca, Nero d’Avola, Greco, Sagrantino, and more, plus a Cabernet Sauvignon blend and rosé selections. Tastings are available Thursday through Sunday from 11 am to 5 pm, with a $20 fee waived with a bottle purchase. Visitors enjoy flights of five wines outdoors or in the rustic tasting room around an ancient redwood slab table, in a warm atmosphere geared toward convivial, shared moments akin to the Italian tradition of Convivio.