Open: Year Round
At ONX, wine is just the beginning of the journey. A developer by trade, ONX founder Steve Olson has created award winning LEED certified residential and commercial communities in urban areas for more than 30 years. These same skills are applied to ONX Estate Vineyards, where he knows every micro-block, every ancient oak, and every storied account of the historic west Templeton land. This convergence between place and person is a common thread that weaves throughout the heart of ONX's story.
"Wine is a bridge between food and social interaction," Olson said. "For years, I've been focused on creating a bridge between living in an urban environment and the social interaction that comes with it. Winegrowing, in a way, is a simple expression of 'lifemaking', as we experience the earth and grapes every year with different flavor profiles and vintages. This 'coming together' of life and land has always been where my roots lie.
At ONX, no detail goes overlooked, no label unadorned. Vineyard tours are transformed into interactive, immersive journeys that bring winemaking down to characteristics of specific blocks in the vineyard. Olson's own self-discovery has connected him to the Templeton terroir in deep and meaningful way. Olson's grandfather was a farmer who traveled from his chilly Swedish homeland to the West Coast in search of warm, sun-dappled days. ONX's cooler Templeton Gap site represents an excellent climate to grow 13 varietals, many with multiple clones. These exceptional grapes are crafted into high quality blends that continually push the envelope.
ONX has already been richly rewarded for its singularity, both in industry accolades as well as buzzing wine club fervor. Visitors are invited to touch, feel, sip, and savor the wild essence of the vineyard itself. No aspect of the winemaking process is off limits; all are invited to interact. This, above all else, is what elevates ONX to new levels of winegrowing/human interaction.
"It's not just a vineyard, it's the team with winemaker Brian Brown, associate winemaker Jeff Strekas and all of the incredible people we work with," Olson said. "If you have a great team and a wonderful vineyard location, ultimately, you are going to prevail. At ONX, our family is committed to make the best wines possible along with building a lifestyle community that meets the needs of our wine club members."
