Pomar Junction Vineyard and Winery

A family owned and operated winery and vineyard on the Central Coast in Templeton, California in the Paso Robles AVA. The Merrill family has growing grapes for at least 8 generations on California's Central Coast. Dana and Marsha Merrill and son Matthew farm the vineyards. The name refers to the Merrill family's lineage of railroad engineers as well as bygone days when the Southern Pacific Railroad developed the Central Coast.

Until 2012 there were 91 planted acres before the Merrill family purchased 278 acres (93 acres planted to Rhone, Bordeaux and Italian varieties) in the El Pomar District of the Paso Robles AVA, what was formerly the Weyrich estate. The additional vineyard acreage will increase the ability of the winery to support its wine offerings and the Merrills' Mesa Vineyard Management customers. An additional 60 acres is suitable for planting in the future.

The winemaker is Jim Shumate who learned his trade working at Meridian Vineyards under Chuck Ortman. After graduating from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, he operated the on-campus winery and taught enology at Cal Poly, before becoming the winemaker at Pomar Junction. Matthew Merrill is also intimately involved in the winemaking at Pomar Junction.

The lineup includes SIP-certified, estate-grown Viognier, Syrah, Pinot Noir and a signature Train Wreck blend. In addition to the family estate, the finest blocks of grapes from Santa Barbara and Monterey counties managed by a sister firm, Mesa Vineyard Management, Inc.. All wines produced by the Merrills are from grapes exclusively farmed by them.

A tasting room is open in Templeton at 5036 South El Pomar.