Paso Robles

Paso Robles Willow Creek District

Tempranillo

A Spanish variety, this wine is typically 100% Tempranillo though every now and then a small percentage of Grenache or Syrah may find a home in this wine.

After completing her B.A. at Dartmouth College in Engineering Sciences with a minor in Italian Language and as many visual arts classes she could fit into her curriculum, Jordan headed west to Napa Valley to have a fun, new experience as a harvest intern in the Fall of 1999.  Winemaking stole Jordan’s heart and in the fall of 2000, she started the Master’s of Science program in Viticulture and Enology at UC Davis. 

Her studies and internships brought her to work for renowned wineries such as Araujo Estate in Calistoga, CA and Antinori in Tuscany, Italy, where she met her husband Manu.  In 2003, the couple moved to Jordan’s home state of Georgia to join Jordan’s family in their newly established vineyard and winery, Frogtown Cellars, to learn all sides of the business.   

After several years in the North Georgia Mountains, Chalk Hill Estate in Healdsburg hired Jordan as the Director of Winemaking in 2007.  At Chalk Hill, Jordan rooted herself in California viticulture and ultra-premium winemaking, making a name for herself in the production of estate grown Sauvignon blanc, Chardonnay, Bordeaux varietals and Syrah.  In 2010, after an extensive international search, Epoch owners, Bill and Liz Armstrong, found their dream partner in Jordan Fiorentini.

Passionate, dedicated, and not afraid to push the envelope, Winemaker, Jordan Fiorentini, brings an enthusiastic and experienced spirit to Epoch and now has amassed a plethora of highly regarded wines as well as 12 collector-worthy vintages at Epoch.  In addition to writing about each wine, Jordan lets her artistic side shine through drawing visual interpretations of her wines’ palates.

Jordan oversees all the wine and vine decisions along with the day-to-day needs of the winery. Alongside her staff of four, she works tirelessly to ensure every bottle of Epoch is always at its best.  She has been fortunate enough to receive many outstanding accolades during her tenure at Epoch.  Most recently, Jordan was peer-nominated 2021 Winemaker of The Year for San Luis Obispo County.

Jordan Fiorentini

Grenache

Syrah

Zinfandel

Mourvèdre

Graciano

United States

California

Epoch Estate Wines

Reserva Tempranillo

Estate Blend

Creativity

Veracity

Block B

Sensibility

White

Rosé

Possibility White

Authenticity

Ingenuity

White Extended Age

York Mountain Viognier

York Mountain Syrah

York Mountain Grenache

Possibility

Founded in 2004 by geologists, Bill and Liz Armstrong, Epoch is an ultra-premium producer of wines from Rhone, Zinfandel, and Tempranillo varieties grown on their three west Paso Robles vineyards – Paderewski, Catapult, and York Mountain.  Winemaker, Jordan Fiorentini, carefully crafts these highly-rated wines utilizing organic and biodynamic practices.  Epoch’s Winery and Tasting Room are located on the storied York Mountain, once home to one of the first bonded wineries on the Central Coast, and their Paderewski Vineyard was once owned, farmed, and cherished by Polish Prime Minister and famed pianist, Ignacy Jan Paderewski in the early 1900s.  As the steward of both of these integral pieces of Paso Robles history, Epoch is committed to the land it cherishes, the quality wines crafted, and the rich legacies now shared with the next generation of Epoch drinkers.  To learn more about Epoch, visit epochwines.com.

Cabernet Sauvignon

Carignan

Cinsault

Counoise

Grenache Blanc

Marsanne

Petite Sirah

Roussanne

Viognier

Geologists, Bill and Liz Armstrong, share a similar spirit, one that is dedicated to the purity of science and endless exploration. Bill, a self-diagnosed “cork dork,” is a huge believer in the fun and “truth” that is wine. One day Bill woke up and realized he wanted to be more than just a wine lover; he wanted to be a wine producer. And thus, he set out on a deliberate (and quite fun) search for the perfect plot of land, land that would produce wine he and Liz would love to make, drink, and share with family and friends. 
 
While studying oenology in his spare time, Bill’s palate quickly took a liking to wines from the Rhône region in France, particularly the Southern Rhône. These wines reflected their unique sense of place, were crazy good, and had a fun/ happy factor that was totally up Bill’s alley. So, with a specific wine style in mind and a Geology degree in his back pocket, Bill embarked on a quest for the ultimate American terroir that would produce world-class wine. 
 
In 2004, this mission led Bill and Liz to a small pocket of land on California’s Central Coast between Paso Robles and the Pacific Ocean. The unique soils, weather, hilliness, and extreme temperature swings found at Paderewski Vineyard were exactly what they were searching for. What they were not expecting was how much the Paso culture totally jived with their personalities; the entrepreneurial spirit and All-American vibe had Bill and Liz feeling at home from day one. With the later purchases of Catapult and York Mountain, Bill and Liz’s Epoch journey expanded, and they look forward to many years of crafting delicious wines, preserving Epoch’s rich history, and enjoying every second of this winemaking adventure. 


Bill & Liz Armstrong

Red Blend

Our Estate Blend provides a snapshot of Epoch vineyards and our specific winemaking practices within every vintage. Though Syrah consistently takes the lead, the exact blend of varieties varies from vintage to vintage. Grenache, Mourvèdre, and Tempranillo regularly play key roles in this wine with occasional cameos from Zinfandel and other varieties. It is totally Epoch!

Embracing the creative nuances that our vineyards give us from vintage to vintage, this wine truly embraces its label and lives outside the box. As a true winemaker’s choice, there is no plan for what Creativity will become from year to year.

Mourvèdre-Grenache Blend

Our nod to Châteauneuf-du-Pape, this Grenache-based blend embraces its status as a GSM (Grenache, Syrah, Mourvèdre) with elegance, panache, and a consistent sunny-ness that reminds Owner, Bill Armstrong, of the wines from the Southern Rhone – wines that inspired him to start this crazy Epoch journey in the first place.

Always 100% Syrah. Always 100% Paderewski. Always 100% Block 13. The fruit for this wine hails from clone 174 vines grown on the east-facing Block 13, known as Block B, within our Paderewski Vineyard.

A varietal Grenache (and usually 100%), Sensibility explores the more feminine side of the grape.  Fermented in concrete and aged in a combination of concrete and neutral barrel, this wine’s pure fruit, freshness and site-driven minerality cannot be denied.  Sensitive indeed!

Grenache Blanc-Viognier Blend

A vibrant blend of Grenache Blanc and Viognier are enhanced with a hint of Roussanne that dances across the palate.

Mourvèdre Blend

There is so much thought and consideration that goes into our lightest and most delicate wine! Made only of red grapes grown with the intent of being made into Rosé, and taking inspiration from the Rosés of southern France, the majority of this wine is Mourvèdre, with a good percentage of Grenache and some Syrah.

Sweet

Authenticity is a very authentic blend with primarily Syrah from one very steep limestone hillside at Paderewski and blended with a neighboring block of Mourvèdre to yield a supple, sultry and seamless wine that is classically Paderewski. Sometimes we co-ferment some Syrah with a neighboring Viognier block to add a little spice and freshness to the mix. This wine is deemed “The Bill Wine” because it has many gears – big and bold yet elegant and refined.

After showcasing Mourvèdre two years in a row as our 2013 and 2014 Creativity, we realized we were madly in love this wine and needed to make it a permanent member of our Epoch family.  2015 was our first bottling of Mourvèdre by its own name, and we hope to release it every year if Mother Nature gives us the fruit to do so.  As one would suspect, this wine will always be Mourvèdre dominant (though it may be assisted by small amounts of other varieties depending on the vintage) and will consistently reflect the pure essence and unique quality that makes Mourvèdre such a distinct and exciting grape.

Petite Sirah Blend

Syrah leads this luscious blend of Grenache and Mourvèdre to play nicely with its signature dash of Petite Sirah. Though the majority of its fruit comes from both Paderewski and Catapult Vineyards, the Petite Sirah hails solely from one west-facing limestone area on our Paderewski Vineyard.

Generally 100% Zinfandel, yet in some vintages there might be a splash of Syrah, Mourvèdre or even Carignan for spice and texture. This wine pays homage to Ignacy Jan Paderewski who was the first to plant Zinfandel in Paso Robles.

The extended age version of our Epoch White is aged a bit longer in French oak foudre, and thus boasts a weightier palate with more umph. 

The York Family, Paso wine pioneers and owners of this historic property for more than eighty years, planted vines on this land in 1882, making it one of the first vineyards on the central coast.

Fortified

If the fruit ripens just right, and the sweet pieces fall into place, there is a Possibility our vineyards will give us a treat. Like the dessert wine it is, sometimes it’s the perfect ending to a meal… or harvest.

Paso Robles

Epoch Estate Wines

California

2019

2018

2017

2016

2015

2014

2013

2012

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2009

2008

2007

Tempranillo

Paso Robles Willow Creek District

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Aging

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