$15.99 at Crush Wine & Spirits in Bryant, Arkansas (AR)
100% Petite Sirah
Cherries, blackberries, and blueberries with firm tannins. Hints of pepper and cigar. Medium to long finish.
Chronic Cellars, a winery in Paso Robles, was created by brothers, Josh and Jake Beckett. Born and raised in Paso Robles wine country, both of them went to work for the family winery Peachy Canyon Winery (owned by their parents Doug and Nancy), after they graduated from college. After ten years at Peachy Canyon, they decided to begin their own project in 2004. After four years of development, they introduced Chronic Cellars with their first wines in 2008.
They came up with the name “Chronic” to describe things they liked and eventually realized it was a suitable descriptor for wine. They were sitting alongside the crush pad one evening in their wine stained clothes and wet boots laughing about the idea of a wine that expressed having fun, a casual attitude toward wine and lifestyle, and not taking themselves too seriously.
Growing up in the area gave them the advantage of knowing all the best grape growers in Paso Robles so they partnered with several of their neighbors and friends to build a network of quality grapes to use for their blends.
Over a decade later, Chronic Cellars continues to add a counter culture twist to the wine industry with intriguing blends and comical and colorful labels. Josh and Jake collaborated with their childhood friend and artist, Joe Kalionzes, whose artistic style and graphic linocuts perfectly capture their double-take vision for the brand.
Chronic Cellars bottles a wide variety of red and white wines, and are known for their red blends. Chronic’s portfolio includes Purple Paradise (a Zinfandel, Syrah and Petite Sirah Blend), Sofa King Bueno (Syrah, Petite Sirah and Grenache blend), and Suite Petite (Petite Sirah and sometimes with Syrah).
In 2014, Winery Exchange acquired Chronic Cellars. The Beckett family has continued to have active roles with Chronic Cellars with Josh as the winemaker and Jake leading Chronic’s marketing and brand development.
This year after 30 years, Peachy Canyon Winery owners Doug and Nancy Beckett pass the torch to their sons, Josh and Jake Beckett. The Peachy Canyon Winery tradition of creating wines that exemplify the Paso Robles appellation through dry farmed Zinfandel and other varietals will continue and progress under the next generation.
“Nancy and I began Peachy Canyon Winery as a family business in 1988, just when the Paso Robles area was beginning,” Doug Beckett. “We are very proud of what we created here at Peachy Canyon and look forward as the next generation of the Becketts take the helm.”
Following a successful 10-year hiatus running their business, Chronic Cellars, the brothers Beckett are excited to return to the family winery to manage the cellar, national sales and marketing, daily operations, as well as oversee the farming of the five westside estate vineyards in Paso Robles. Peachy Canyon Winery is a family owned and operated winery since 1988. Zinfandel has long been Peachy Canyon’s flagship varietal. These red Zinfandels range from elegant and restrained to fruit forward, each an exemplary call to its own terroir. With these exemplary Zins, Peachy Canyon has been instrumental in establishing Paso Robles’ reputation as a key California wine region.
