After nearly 30 years of growing grapes for some of California’s finest wineries—everything from small ultra-premium producers to major international brands—the Merrill family decided it was time to make their own. Pomar Junction represents the culmination of that experience, drawing on decades of knowledge about what it takes to produce quality wine from vineyard to bottle.

The operation pulls fruit from three sources, all under direct Merrill management. There’s the family estate vineyard right here in Templeton, along with select blocks from Santa Barbara and Monterey Counties. A sister company, Mesa Vineyard Management, oversees those additional vineyards, ensuring consistent quality across all the grapes that make it into Pomar Junction’s bottles. This level of control matters to them—they handle everything from initial planting and pruning decisions all the way through harvest, fermentation, and cellaring. That hands-on approach from start to finish is what they believe makes the difference.

That same philosophy extends to how they farm. The Merrills committed to sustainable practices, which earned them SIP (Sustainability in Practice) certification through the Central Coast Vineyard Team. It’s not something they advertise heavily, but it reflects their actual operating values rather than just a marketing angle.

The tasting room sits in the Templeton area, which has become a quieter alternative to some of the more crowded wine regions if you’re looking to explore with your dog. The Central Coast wine country around here is less hectic than Paso Robles proper, though still easy to reach. Templeton itself has a more low-key feel while still offering good wine options in a compact area.

Check their website for current tasting room hours and days of operation, as they adjust seasonally. If you’re in the area exploring San Luis Obispo County wine country with your dog, this is worth a stop to taste what three decades of grape-growing experience tastes like when finally bottled under the family name.