Neil Roberts put down roots on the Central Coast more than 20 years ago and is today recognized as one of the region’s premier viticulturists, growing grapes for some of the region’s finest vineyards under the banner of Roberts Vineyard Services.

As winemaker and proprietor of CLAVO winery, Neil comes full circle, literally making his wines from the ground to the glass. By personally guiding all phases of winegrowing and winemaking, Neil is able to achieve his stated goal of crafting wines that vividly express the character of the vineyard.

Neil is committed to “growing quality the right way,” which includes an emphasis on sustainable vineyard practices that nurture both the vines and the surrounding environment. Similarly, he uses a gentle hand in the cellar, enabling the natural qualities of the fruit to shine in the finished wine. His winemaking approach includes careful hand sorting of the clusters prior to fermentation; sacrificing quantity for quality through light pressing of the grapes; and using judicious amounts of new oak to ensure balance as well as structure.

“I put a tremendous amount of thought and care into making these wines,” Neil says. “But once the cork is pulled, it all comes down to the simple pleasure of experiencing everything that a remarkable vineyard has to offer.”