2022 Ag Spotlight: Pelletiere Estate Vineyard & Winery
Meet Janis Pelletiere of Pelletiere Estate Vineyard & Winery
Ag is a passion project and second career for Janis Pelletiere, owner of Pelletiere Estate Vineyard and Winery in Paso Robles.
A longtime entrepreneur, Janis sold a 29-year start-up business in San Jose before retiring to the Central Coast.
“After visiting my two children in school in SLO, I was very familiar with the area and loved it. I moved here with the idea of retiring. A few years into retirement, I wanted to use my life's earnings on leaving behind a legacy,” she said.
Janis purchased the winery and estate vineyards in 2014. She manages the tasting room, pours wine for guests, and discusses production with the winemaker and vineyard manager.
“My legacy needed income-producing land, so Pelletiere Estate Winery and Vineyard was the result," she said. "Pelletiere is my family name. Since then I have become obsessed with our vineyard."
Located just off Highway 46 on the westside of Paso Robles, the winery specializes in distinctive Rhône and Italian-style wines. Pelletere is the leader of an all-female team, which includes a female winemaker and vineyard manager.
"I love learning about the cycle, the soils, the impact the weather has, our farming techniques, and of course, the end product, our wine!" she said.
The estate property has a local history dating back to the late 1890s. The original farmhouse has been lovingly updated and sits proudly at the center. Planted in 1993-1996, the vineyard is family owned and operated with a commitment to the traditions of fine winemaking and responsible land stewardship for future generations to savor and uphold.
The winery is dedicated to producing exceptional Italian varietals that honor Janis’s Italian heritage.
When asked what she loves most about being part of the ag industry, Janis said, "The camaraderie!" The biggest challenge is the planet's changing climate.
To address that challenge, 100 percent of Pelletiere Estate wines are sourced from its sustainably farmed, estate-grown Italian varieties, which include: Sangiovese, Nebbiolo, Montepulciano, Lagrein, Aglianico, and Primitivo, as well as, our Syrah and Viognier.