Spring Release 2025 | Levo Vineyard

2025 marks ten years of making wine in Paso Robles. And I’ve emerged with a single nugget of wisdom: I know less now than when I first began. In the early days, I knew everything. I operated with a foolish sense of freedom, exploring the wide world of wine with rebellion and disdain for tradition. Like a defiant teenager, I selected the most eccentric bottle molds, peddled my absurd artwork on innocent eyeballs, and worked with just about every variety and growing region on the Central Coast of California. I made wines driven by ego and cellar movements rather than letting the farming, vineyard, and grapes lead the way. So, while I’d like to open some champagne and celebrate a decade, I’ll hold the fizz until the twentieth-year anniversary, God willing. For now, I’ll enjoy a Miller high life; after all, it is the “Champagne of Beers.” The honest truth is that not much has changed in ten years other than that I’ve learned valuable lessons from many mistakes. I’m proud we paid our rent this month. I am thankful my truck gets me from A to B. I get to work with some of my favorite people on a daily basis. It’s raining at the vineyard, and I have a roof over my head. I have all of you. And the 2023 wines being released today are truly exceptional. To me that is a successful ten years.

As levo moves into the second decade, I’m more inspired than ever to implement changes learned from the success and failures of the first ten years to refine and distill levo into a grown-up 2.0 version, “Levo Vineyard.” You may have noticed we added the word “vineyard.” It is a simple change, but one that expresses a mindset to craft vineyard-driven wines whose personalities are formed by farming movements rather than cellar movements. This 2.0 progression also includes bottles that will surely fit in your cellar racks and labels that won’t induce seizures. Of course, levo will always have a certain sense of playfulness and fun infused into its essence. So, without further ado, let me introduce you to our newest characters, “Two of Kind,” a Grenache and Syrah and El Paso De Robles’ from the Willow Creek District in the 2023 Vintage.

Our 2023 “Two of a Kind” Grenache is femme fatale. Drop dead gorgeous. No new oak or makeup needed for this natural beauty. Its perfume is a musky melange of garrigue, raspberry preserves, mandarin oil, warm mahogany, and blood orange zest. It is an exquisite combo of alluring red fruit and dusty spice. Like a ballet performance on the tongue, this wine is long, elegant, and light on its feet, tiptoeing between power and elegance. The Grenache was lovingly grown at Fulldraw and Levo – two vineyards that are close in proximity but galaxies apart in personality. Fulldraw Grenache showcases loads of bright acidity, verve, and freshness from the limestone-laden soils. Levo Vineyard is much broader on the pallet, with voluptuous dark fruits, savory spice, and sensual bass notes from our deeper clay soils and shale. Both vineyards complement each other, and it’s an absolute mouth-watering tribute to Paso Robles Grenache from a great growing season.

My heroes have always been cowboys. The 2023 “Two of a Kind” Syrah is the liquid embodiment of the Marlboro man. Like riding off into the unknown with all the confidence in the world, Syrah repeatedly proves that it would be entirely at home in no man’s land. This is a wine of rugged beauty. Wafting fragrances and flavors that take me home to the backcountry mountains of Idaho. Freshly picked blackberries, worn leather, forest floor, cigar smoke, pine resin, and aromas of searing game on a cast iron pan. It’s a wine of stoic confidence – Mysterious, deep in color, and unfurling slowly throughout an evening. It doesn’t show all its cards upfront. Give this wine air and time in the glass, and enjoy a ride on the wild side.

The 2023 “El Paso de Robles” Red Blend is composed of throwback Americana varieties that were popular pre-prohibition and, more recently, have put Paso on the world stage. The roots of California winemaking inspire this wine; I’ve always dreamed of crafting a wine that expresses the vibe of our hometown using local varieties. This is my personal homage to where I live, grow vines, and work. For the 2023 edition, Mataro dominates the blend, with supporting varieties Syrah, Grenache, and a dollop of Petite Sirah to round it out. Don’t miss this wine. It’s approachable and tastes delicious out of the gate.

As for 2024 White and Rose, they are hydrating summer elixirs full of vibrant acidity and chalky textures from fermenting and aging in concrete tanks. I absolutely love both wines. They are gulpable treats. The El Paso De Robles White Wine’s Picpoul was sourced from Truss (formerly Terry Hoage), and the Grenache Blanc and Clairette were from Fulldraw. Both sites are ideally situated for growing world-class white rhones on calcareous and limestone soils. The El Paso De Robles Rose was sourced from Levo and Fulldraw. For the white and rose all grapes were picked early to maintain bright acidity, pressed very gently to concrete tanks where the juice fermented cold for 4 months. Both wines were not fined or filtered before bottling. Bottled with minimal effective sulfur on March 7th, 2025. We continue to craft unadulterated whites and roses that are centered around local varieties, freshness and vibrancy that pair with light fare and warm summers in California.

But, hey—it’s not just about the grapes and wine, it’s about the people, too. It takes a village to craft great wine. A growing season is a growing season, and very few folks actually recognize that the people are as important as the soil and growing season. Our team, Taylor, Casey, Lexi, and Lizz? Our harvest interns? These guys? Might as well be a fantasy wine-making team. They put in tons of hard work, ensuring every cluster, barrel, and bottle receives the love and care it needs. You can taste that passion in the bottle, and it’s what makes the 2023 season a standout. Hard work and a great vintage in Paso Robles is tough to beat.

Grape growing in El Paso de Robles is wild, and lemme tell ya, mother nature really did her thing in 2023, but in the end, it turned out pretty damn tasty.

I cannot sign off without a quick but enormous thank you! You play a large part in the existence of our small winery. I’ve been spending many Saturdays in the tasting room lately, and it feels like a family reunion every time. Together, we have created a special community, and it’s a joy making wines knowing that you are out there enjoying the fruits of our labor.

Happy drinking,

B and the small but mighty team at Levo Vineyard.

2024 | El Paso Del Robles White Wine

Blend: 48% Grenache Blanc, 27% Picpoul Blanc, 24% Clairette Blanche
Vessels: Aged in Concrete for 4 months
Vineyards: Fulldraw, Truss
Adjectives: Mineral, citrus, saline, airy, light, electric
Design: Eschscholzia Californica, the California poppy, AKA cup of gold. Inspired by the essence of sunshine and summer on the central coast of California.
Varietal: White Blend
Appellation: Paso Robles Willow Creek District

Our 2024 El Paso De Robles White Wine is inspired by California poppies and the essence of sunshine and summer on the Central Coast of California. It encapsulates my obsession with fresh and vibrant white wines made from locally specific varieties.. The mindset is all about simplicity: less is always more. Neutral vessels. Hands off winemaking. Born on limestone and raised in concrete this is summer distilled in a glass.

2024 | El Paso Del Robles Rosé

Blend: 75% Grenache, 18% Mourvèdre, Graciano 6%, 1% Syrah
Vessels: Aged in concrete for 4 months
Vineyards: Levo, Fulldraw
Description: Build for speed and crushability.
Adjectives: Playful, delicate, floral, airy, fragile, racy
Design: Inspired by the lavender and native lupine flowers blooming on the Paso Robles coastal hills.
Appellation: Paso Robles Willow Creek District

El Paso de Robles Rose is inspired by native lupine that covers our vineyard’s hillsides and is an homage to the lavender farm that our property once was. This is a vapor of paradise and a thirst quencher. It is specifically crafted for sunshine, ice buckets, and large bodies of water.

2023 | El Paso De Robles Red Wine

Blend: 36% Mourvedre, 33% Syrah, 25% Grenache, 6% Petite Sirah
Vessels:16 months in 225L and 600L vessels. 80% Neutral Oak, 20% New Oak
Vineyards: Levo, Fulldraw
Description: This is an honest expression of where we live, grow vines, and work.
Appellation: Paso Robles Willow Creek District

The 2023 “El Paso de Robles” Red Blend is composed of throwback Americana varieties that were popular pre-prohibition and, more recently, have put Paso on the world stage. Inspired by the roots of California winemaking, I’ve always dreamed of crafting a wine that expresses the vibe of our hometown using local varieties. This is my personal homage to where I live, grow vines, and work. For the 2023 edition, Mataro dominates the blend, with supporting varieties Syrah, Grenache, and a dollop of Petite Sirah to round it out. Don’t miss this wine. It’s approachable and tastes delicious out of the gate.

Tasting Note: Scents of cherry compote, warm oak, fresh tobacco, anise, brown sugar, and clove tea. Medium-plus-bodied and ultraviolet in the glass. The palate is generous and dense, carried by vibrant acidity and verve.

2023 | WCD Grenache – Two of a Kind

Blend: 93% Grenache, 4% Petite Sirah, 2% Syrah, 1% Clairette Blanche
Vessels: Aged 16 months in 600L Demi-muid
Vineyards: Fulldraw, Levo
Description: This is a natural beauty, pure and fresh.
Adjectives: Muse, high tone, fine, lifted, fresh, vivid, pure, ultraviolet.
Artwork: “Two of a Kind.” The artwork is a 7-layer spray paint stencil on mixed media paper. Created by winemaker/owner Bret Urness.
Appellation: Paso Robles Willow Creek District

Tasting Notes: Raspberry preserves, garrigue, warm mahogany, blood orange zest, mandarin oil. Long and elegant, this wine floats effortlessly on the pallet, balancing density with elegance.

2023 | WCD Syrah – Two of a Kind

Blend: 94% Syrah, 4% Petite Sirah, 2% Grenache
Vessels: Aged 16 months in 225L barrique
Vineyards: G2, Caliza, Fulldraw, Levo
Description: This is a liquid embodiment of the Marlboro man
Adjectives: Noble, Mysterious, Stoic, Muscle
Artwork: “Two of a Kind.” The artwork is a 7-layer spray paint stencil on mixed media paper. Created by winemaker/owner Bret Urness.
Appellation: Paso Robles Willow Creek District

My heroes have always been cowboys. The 2023 “Two of a Kind” Syrah is the liquid embodiment of the Marlboro man. Like riding off into the unknown with all the confidence in the world, Syrah repeatedly proves that it’s entirely at home in no man’s land. This is a wine of rugged beauty. Wafting fragrances and flavors that bring me home to the backcountry mountains of Idaho. Freshly picked blackberries, saddle leather, black powder, forest floor, cigar smoke, pine resin, and aromas of searing game on a cast iron pan. It’s a wine of stoic confidence – It doesn’t show all its cards upfront. Mysterious, deep in color, and unfurling slowly throughout an eventing. Give this wine air, time in the glass, and enjoy the ride.

Tasting Notes: Freshly picked blackberries, saddle leather, black powder, forest floor, cigar smoke, pine resin, and aromas of searing game on a cast iron pan. Sappy and suave. This is classic Syrah.

IMPORTANT DATES:

February 25, 2025: Allocation Period Begins **Please note that this is when all order and account changes should be made. This includes shipping preferences, credit card updates, and customization.
March 9, 2025: The allocation period ends **Any account/order changes after this date cannot be guaranteed.
March 10, 2025: Default credit card on file charged for Spring Allocation.
April 1, 2025: Pick-up is available, and shipments leave Levo.

Standard Allocations:

3 Bottle

1 – 2023 El Paso De Robles Red Wine
1 – 2023 “Two of a Kind” Grenache
1 – 2023 “Two of a Kind” Syrah

6 Bottle

2 – 2023 El Paso De Robles Red Wine
2 – 2023 “Two of a Kind” Grenache
2 – 2023 “Two of a Kind” Syrah

12 Bottle

3 – 2023 El Paso De Robles Red Wine
3 – 2023 “Two of a Kind” Grenache
3 – 2023 “Two of a Kind” Syrah
2 – 2024 El Paso De Robles White Wine
1 – 2024 El Paso De Robles Rosé

Levo Vineyard – Spring Release 2025