Press

Touring & Tasting

When Craig and Nancy Stoller founded Sextant Wines nearly 10 years ago, they decided that a sextant—an oldworld instrument using the sun, stars, and horizon to navigate across open water—aptly described Craig’s philosophy on growing and making wine. Read Full Article

A Sneak Peek at ZAP Festival Zinfandels, January 2011

Snooth
Paso Robles has emerged over the past few years as one of the great under-appreciated wine-producing regions in California.  There are multiple expressions of Zinfandel coming from Paso, each blessed with some of the moderating ocean breezes that help this central valley AVA (American Viticultural Area) counter the heat.  The soils here are rocky and lean, with great limestone outcroppings, producing wines that are frequently richly fruited with peppery notes and lovely herbal top notes.

2008 Sextant Paso Robles Zinfandel Holystone, 15.4%
At first, this is showing a slightly over-ripe pruney, gamy note on the nose with plummy undertones and plenty of peppery spice and toasty oak.  With time, this takes on a decidedly Syrah-like element with a violet underlay.  This gains a creamy, cafe au lait top note with air. Nicely balanced with lots of fruit on the palate that shows good complexity.  This is rich and fruity and decidedly ripe, though with plenty of acidity keeping it fresh in the mouth.  The fruit has dried plum elements accenting the black cherry fruit, all underpinned by toasty, chocolaty oak. Lots of boysenberry character emerges on the backend and adds complexity to the moderately long finish.  Big, bold and well balanced, this has more oak than I might like, but is certainly well put together. 90pts ... Read Full Article

Spectacular Wineries of California's Central Coast, October 2010

Coffee Table Book
Much of winemaking is about getting your bearings straight.  Navigating to the right site, of course, will determine your terroir and will ultimately determine the capacity for grape expression.  Once there, you explore for perfect lots.  The rest is a path of discovery, an epic search for potable treasure.  At least this is how the Stollers view the adventure of winemaking.  With Sextant Wines, the winemakers have begun a journey that exemplifies the American spirit of determination.  “It’s very tough work,” says Craig Stoller, Sextant’s proprietor; “You have to love ... Read Full Article

Touring & Tasting Magazine, Spring/Summer 2009

When navigating the Central Coast wine country, savvy tourers set sail for Sextant Wines.  "Navigate... Explore... Discover" perfectly describes owner Craig Stoller's philosophy.  Those who follow are not disappointed.  After graduating from Cal Poly and learning the family business at Sunridge Nurseries, a well-established … Read Full Article

Covers Magazine, 2008

With blueprints and barrel sampples in hand, Craig and Nancy Stoller, owners of Sextant Wines, led Covers Magazine staff to a vista in the foorhills of San Luis Obispo.  We had the privilege or visiting the exact longitude and latitude of Sextant Wines' future location for a new winery and tasting room.  We hiked up a dirt road that will soon ... Read Full Article

New Times Magazine, October, 2007

Sextant is owned by Craig and Nancy Stoller of Bakersfield--aficionados of the sea (hence the name) and great wines.  They named the tasting room for their flagship brand, which features Bordeaux blends and Zinfandels.  But they offer much more for tasting and sales with ... Read Full Article