About Claiborne & Churchill Winery
Claiborne & Churchill has been making wine in the Edna Valley, just south of San Luis Obispo, since 1983, and it is still family owned and run. Its calling card is dry white wine in the style of Alsace: Riesling, Gewürztraminer and Pinot Gris. Alongside those it makes Pinot Noir and Syrah from Edna Valley vineyards and small lots of Chardonnay, dry rosé, a white Pinot Noir and a port-style wine.
The tasting room on Carpenter Canyon Road is open every day from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., except major holidays. You can sit inside or out in the garden, and there are three flights: a house mix of whites and reds, an aromatic white flight, and a red flight of Pinot Noir and Rhône-style wines. In 2026 a flight costs $28 per person, and the fee is waived when you buy two bottles. Monday through Wednesday the winery also runs a double-blind tasting of the same flights for $28, booked at least 24 hours ahead.
You are welcome to bring a picnic lunch to the garden and buy a glass or bottle to go with it, and cheese and charcuterie plates are sold in the tasting room. Groups of eight or more need to call ahead. The winery also hosts occasional gatherings, such as a Crafternoon on November 8, 2026, where guests bring a project to work on, and it has a guest house on the property.
Central Coast Lavender, an organic lavender estate that distills its own oil, is in Paso Robles about 45 minutes north on Highway 101, so the two fit into one Central Coast day.
What to do
- Taste dry Riesling, Gewürztraminer and Pinot Gris made in the Alsace style
- Choose a house, white or red flight inside or in the garden
- Try the double-blind tasting, Monday through Wednesday (book 24 hours ahead)
- Bring a picnic to the garden and buy a glass or bottle on site
- Order a cheese and charcuterie plate in the tasting room
Season, hours and prices
- Season
- Open year-round, daily except major holidays
- Hours
- 2026: daily 11 a.m.–5 p.m., except major holidays
- Admission
- 2026: tasting flight $28 per person (waived with a two-bottle purchase); double-blind tasting $28
Good to know
- Age
- 21 or older to taste or drink alcohol
- Reservations
- Recommended (walk-ins welcome; required for the double-blind tasting)
Tips for your visit
- Reservations are recommended at busy times, and booking ahead lets you ask for a firepit or a specific seat
- Groups of eight or more must call ahead to schedule
- Bring your own picnic for the garden, since the tasting room sells only cheese and charcuterie plates
- Plan a designated driver before you set out
Pair it with a lavender farm
Central Coast Lavender · about 45 minutes away
Pair a morning at Central Coast Lavender in Paso Robles with an afternoon garden tasting in the Edna Valley, about 45 minutes south on Highway 101.
Getting there
Questions
What is Claiborne & Churchill known for?
Dry Alsace-style white wines, especially Riesling, Gewürztraminer and Pinot Gris, plus Edna Valley Pinot Noir and Syrah.
Can I bring a picnic?
Yes. Picnic lunches are welcome in the garden, and you can buy a glass or bottle there.
How much is a tasting?
In 2026 flights are $28 per person, waived with a two-bottle purchase.
🗺️ Part of the guide Things to Do Near the Lavender Farms of Paso Robles & San Miguel, California
Checked in October 2026 against the business’s own website and local tourism pages. Hours and seasons change, so check with them before you go. How we check listings · Is this your business? Claim it free
