Tercero Wines

Went there in July and had a nice long chat with the attendant along with trying different wines. She was attentive and was very patient in explaining about the wines.
Our friend in LA is a lover of wine and strongly recommended us to go here. Since Los Olivos has more than one tasting rooms, we listened to her advice and couldn’t agree more with her. Great service and lovely wine.
We saved our wine till we got back home in Norway, and sadly it’s not for sale here, so we have to go back this July as well!
Follow their instagram account and get thirsty. If you are, like me, unable to go there and buy some fine wine or just want inspiration.

A nice place to step back and enjoy wine the way it was done in the old country.
Incredibly creative flavors with the soul and comfort of an old friend. Big, bold, smooth just like the craftiest prostitute. Yet soft and gentle leaving me relaxed all the way to morning.
Romance, adventure all the canny features and fun of meeting a new mate.
Worth the trip.

My favorite tasting room in Los Olivos… so much so, that I joined their wine club! Whenever my friends and I are in the area, we always make sure to make this spot a priority.
Larry (the winemaker) and Maeapple are wonderful hosts and are really knowledgeable about what they’re pouring… and pretty much anything else that has to do with wine, in general. They’re both so sweet and have really made us feel like family every time we stop in. And if you’re lucky, you’ll come by when Larry brings some of his homemade bread… jalapeño cheese… it’s a show stopper!
Bottom line though… they have really fantastic wines! White, red, rose… all of it. All good! I always have a couple of bottles of Rose and their Albarino on hand at all times because to me, those are his shining stars. Best stuff ever!
Go here… you won’t be disappointed.

We stopped in here as part of a wine tour last weekend and were glad it was included as part of the trip. Since it’s a downtown tasting room I could see how it may get overlooked for estate type wineries which would be a travesty. The wines were all very good, my personal favorite was the Rose but the staff is what stood out to me the most. We had the chance to meet Maeapple and Larry (winemaker), both of whom are very knowledgeable and fun to chat with. I loved one of their signs: «Your mouth, your taste buds, your perceptions, your opinions. You are a wine expert.» To top it off, we got to try some delicious jalapeño cheese bread that Larry had made.
If you want a laid back, non-​pretentious wine tasting experience, don’t miss this gem in Los Olivos.

One of my all time favorite wines! Larry makes some amazing wine and even more amazing breads. Larry’s wines are really well balanced and are very much a food centric wine. The rose of Mouvedre is fantastic. I love that you can roll in here on most days and be one on one with the winemaker. I have to say though I really enjoy spending time with Maeappple, having good conversation over some good wine. She is a sweetheart! You won’t be disappointed with the wines and the tasting room experience.

Went on a Monday so we had the place all to ourselves. We were greeted warmly by a sweet woman with a beautiful unique name, Mae Apple (I’m sure I misspelled it). We tasted only white and red Grenache which my friend and i loved. Everything we tasted was excellent. I can’t wait to go back and try some of their other different wines. Thank you Mae Apple for holding on to our wine on such a hot day. We appreciated your nice customer service.

«Wine comes in at the mouth And love comes in at the eye; That’s all we shall know for truth Before we grow old and die» — Yeats
«Some beautiful paths can’t be discovered without getting lost.»
― Erol Ozan
Part of a road trip should always include wine… whether that also is included during the driving part is determined whether you are drinking or spitting ;-) A recent road trip of mine down HWY 1 to Santa Barbara included a stop over in Los Olivos at Tercero Wines (along with Dream Cote Wines, review to follow). This has been a favorite winery for a few years but my first time here.
Tercero is a great story. After a career in Educational Publishing (Son of Frank Schaffer? I forgot to ask), Larry decided to take his passion for Santa Barbara wines and put his money where is mouth was (Or is. Larry’s FB page can sometimes be a classic case of doing your best not to sell wines by having an opinion on everything). Larry’s focus is «artisan» Rhone wines and in that sense for sure his marketing matches what is in the bottle. I cannot think of a wine from Tercero that I did not like and have bought his wines through retailers such as Wine Exchange or Total wine as well as direct through his Wine Berserkers promotions or the four bottles I bought in his shop (including a lovely Albarino).
His Grenaches and Mouvedre are outstanding as are his Viognier and Grenache Blanc varietals. There is a Unilocal check in discount of 10% which I forgot to ask for so that makes up for buying his excellent wines at even better price points than listed ;-)
A must stop in Los Olivos… Maeapple who poured for us was cool and chill, and even driving Brit’s car from Dreamcote ;-) Lunch is over so I will get to that review later tonight!

I was eager to come into this tiny tasting room because the sign outside said «Weird Staff»… so I put knowledgeable and quirky server Maeapple to the test. I guess she’s only «weird» because she was willing to talk about stuff other than tasting notes, genuinely, surprisingly openly, like what’s the story behind #LarryIsMagic, the décor (she demanded Larry change the art), or her wine tasting pet peeves (show-​offy wine snobs), or her strange family members, or… I don’t want to give away TOO much. [Oh, yeah, the wines are fine to great.]
PS. I can’t guarantee the same sort of candid, fun discussions for everyone who comes in– maybe it was because we were so darn cool.

In wine class they are trying to teach me about «terroir», you know the dirt, the sun, wind, water blah blah blah. Actually I’m starting to understand all of it but the more I go on wine tastings and meet the wine makers the more I taste personality over dirt.
Which brings me to Larry, the wine maker. His personality finds its way into every bottle of his wine. He’s passionate and just a little crazy. Crazy in love with the process on how wine is made and lives. He’ll school you on how air and temperature affects the taste and aromas of his Jesus juice. He will add his own tasting notes during a pour but always asks for yours and then… listens with interest.
Facebook, yeah Larry’s on it a lot. Instagram too. So when you take home a few bottles and then post pictures guess what? Yep, Larry is there offering you a pairing tip or asking how it went down. You’d think he really cares and you’d be right. Now more than ever, every time I twist the cap (Larry doesn’t use corks) I stop looking for terroir and start noticing the nuances of Mr. Schaffer.
What are my favorites? Hmmmm hard to pin one down but the Mourvedre Rose has been a favorite with my friends this summer. I’m writing this review under the influence of the 2010 Verbiage GSM that makes me want to be a Rhone Ranger!
Pricing is straight up simple but BEWARE! If you really like something buy more than you think you’ll need because it might not be there next time. I haven’t noticed price increases on popular or close to selling-​out wines at Tercero but i have been SOL when a favorite runs out.
OK I’m going back to finish this bottle and taking Breakfast at Tiffany’s off pause.
Paul: «Holly, you’re drunk.»
Holly: «True.»

I really enjoyed my visit to Tercero Wines. They don’t pressure you, push their wine club, or brag about winning ribbons at some obscure contest you never heard of. They just pour some nice wines, maybe talk about them a little, and get to know you a little bit in a friendly manner. I highly recommend stopping for a tasting if you’re in the Los Olivos area.

We were a party of 12… the 6 men went across to the bar and we left the 6 wife’s here… they had a blast good education on wine or that’s what we think. MAY APPLE was great. All the wife’s came out happy and they brought a few bottles. they want to return again. This was 4÷18÷15… MAYAPPLE if u remember sowing a sweater those were the 6 wifes

The sign out front says «weird staff, great wine» and they are dead on! The wine club is not like any other, there’s no commitment, you get 20% off, no auto billing and free tastings extended even to your guests (that’s what the lady said) We bought the rose and the Gewürztraminer which were amazing

There is no better place in California to get a wine education than Los Olivos. The convenience of so many tasting rooms scattered about in a small-​block, pedestrian-​friendly radius makes it seem almost like a college campus, replete with the outdoor spaces, the music, and the above-​21 beverages needed to «study» the subject matter with the right mix of seriousness and fun that makes lifelong learning such an appealing proposition.
Wine is an ideal topic for learning, because it’s fairly easy to get into but exceedingly hard to master. There’s a simple set of principles that you can pick up in minutes and then massive amounts of complexity and nuance that take years to appreciate. And of course it’s very interactive and exciting to travel to the wines themselves rather than simply picking up a bottle for dinner at your local grocery or wine shop. Plus, some wines are so limited in production, you really need to be there to try them.
That’s why Tercero is a great place to continue your wine education — or to enroll here in the basics of Vino 101. What’s nice about their wines and head winemaker (Larry S.) is that you’ll probably like it here equally as much if you’re new to wine or if you’re more in the «advanced learner» category. The wines Tercero makes are mainly Rhone varietals, so you won’t feel lost in a world of too many choices. There is enough range, however, for almost everyone to find at least one white and one red that they’ll like and want to take home for further study.
The no-​nonsense, ground floor tasting room looks almost like a lab or a classroom, with the «teacher» behind an L-​shaped counter and the «subject matter» for the day written neatly in chalk on a wall-​mounted blackboard. There aren’t tasting notes here (too likely to bias the untutored nose and palate). Instead, there are «tech sheets» that tell you the basics of each wine on the flight that day: vineyard, vintage, bottle price, alcohol level, and type of aging.
And then there are the lectures, esp. if Larry is pouring that day. There are lots of simple explanations and loads of interesting details, with no need for rigorous note-​taking. There won’t be a «pop» quiz at the end, since all Tercero wines are sensibly bottled with easy-​off screw tops. And with whites in the $ 20 range and reds in the mid-​$ 30, you won’t want to «cram» by drinking too much all at once. Tercero chooses specific vineyards in Santa Barbara County that are well sited for Rhone grapes, so you can compare horizontally and vertically if you’re so inclined. They also experiment freely with different methods of wine making depending on the year’s harvest conditions (cool summers, dry Septembers, various ripening rates, etc.), so you’ll be able to learn about things like whole cluster pressing, malolactic fermentation, and acidity/​tannins/​aromatics — if you’re interested.
Larry S. is very active in the Rhone Ranger movement and quite good at converting Pinot + Chardonnay drinking diehards to the world of wine tasting possibilities that the Santa Inez and Santa Maria valleys offer. There are various «instructors» in Los Olivos where you can go after Tercero to test out other creative possibilities (Qupé for Marsanne/​Rousanne blends and single-​vineyard Syrah, Refugio Ranch for Rousanne/​Viognier and Syrah/​Petite Sirah, for example). And Larry will gladly recommend other wine-​tasting «courses» in the area for you to take if you’re interested in something specific. That kind of competitive collaboration seems to be the case in Los Olivos and in the nearby Lompoc «wine ghetto,» where multiple wineries and wine-​makers are concentrated.
And, when the tasting and lecturing are over, you can leave with a lot, or a little, depending on how much room, money, and time you have. A pair of Grenache Blanc (white) and Grenache (red) bottles would make a nice option, or a 4-​pack of blend-​friendly reds (Grenache, Syrah, Mourvedre) from different vineyards or vintages. And then there’s the «instructor’s master blend» option: a Verbiage blanc and Verbiage rouge, both of which are made each year by selecting various lots and barrels to mix together, which is a nice way to compare Santa Barbara Rhone grape wines to those produced in France, in Washington state, or in other areas of California like Paso Robles or Sonoma where Rhone blending is expertly practiced.
There’s a fun vibe to wine learning at Larry’s place — just listen for the music in the background when it gets quiet. Not every tasting room in the world will feature Nirvana’s «Smells Like Teen Spirit,» I’d bet. And the cost of tuition isn’t that high, either. Keep it in mind on your next visit!

Often times you find yourself tasting wine at a tasting room with a pourer who is somewhat knowledgeable about the wines (because they’ve memorized the tasting notes… lol). However, it’s not everyday you run into a winemaker and pourer who are as affable, gregarious, and erudite as Maeapple and Larry!
Larry, the owner and perspicacious winemaker, was in the room and was an absolute amazing addition to the normal wine tasting experience! He had baked some chocolate chip banana bread and stout bread that was delicious! Throughout the entire time there he was able to offer his opinions and thoughts on the wines he created, as well as carrying on some great conversation on the side.
If you are in Los Olivos, this is a must try if you are a discerning wine enthusiast!

It’s places like Tercero that keep me coming back to Los Olivos again and again. The wines are pretty darn good (on the whole Larry’s whites are the real stars) but that’s just the start. With a dedication to making wine accessible to all and a deep love of Rhôné varietals, you’ll get a nice education here from whomever is behind the counter.
And here is why Los Olivos trumps any other wine region I’ve visited: Com to Tercero and you’ll walk away with an appreciation and knowledge of the thought, personality and people who created the wine your drinking. There’s a ton of passion in each glass and it shows through not only in how it tastes, but in the time you’re given by the staff.
To be honest, the wines are hit and miss, but that’s part of the fun. Larry is creating wines for himself, based on principles and ideas that interest him. Each glass is an experiment and you’re his guinea pig. It’s great fun if your curious and open. If not, feel free to bypass this gem — it’s not like there’s a ton of room in there!

Popped in here for a quick tasting yesterday. Tasting room was small but comfortable. Jim proceeded to dazzle me with his wit and humor as well as a flight of 5 or so excellent wines.
Good prices, great wine, low key atmosphere («leave your pretentiousness at the door»). Out of the way on the back side of building but worth searching out.
Liked the place so much I joined the wine club and bought a half case of wine.

Our group came to Los Olivos for the garlic festival and wanted to have a bit of wine tasting before we devour garlic.
We had a great time talking to the server. She explained to us how the wines were made and answered all my questions about the grapes that they used since I haven’t heard of a few of them. She was very friendly and she made me want to come back and try more wine. I love the small tasting room. It was definitely a hidden place and I am glad that I got a chance to check it.
I left with a bottle of Mourvedre rose. I really can’t wait to enjoy it on a warm day.

We received a list of local wineries that gave complimentary tastings and decided on Tercero. We were NOT disappointed. We were nicely greeted by Maeapple upon our arriving and she was just exceptional!
We got to have some strawberries and chocolate with our wine samples and she did a great job at answering our 100 questions because we are totally new at this. She was very informative, friendly and professional and we were very pleased the service.
We ended up purchasing a bottle to take back and enjoy at our spa hotel after dinner and I highly recommend this great local gem for the wine.

Larry knows his stuff and very enjoyable atmosphere. He’s quite a character with lots of passion for what he does.
Also bought my first wine bottle — Grenache Blanc 2010 — for $ 20. Just after the first sip, I immediately liked it. Now I know why it’s the Gold Medal Winner. Also the wines don’t have corks which is great. Can twist it open anytime you want without the difficulty. Drink on!
Definitely understands why he doesn’t put wine tasting notes because each person has a different palate and may not be able to taste what is described. Also mad props to the erlenmeyer flask displays. Love the modern/​nerdy-​ness atmosphere. He uses iPads for his transactions.
Overall, I would definitely come back again for a tasting and maybe purchase a bottle or two. It’s not on Grand Street, so it’s not visited often. However, if you get a chance, check this place out! Great service, wine, and company!

Had I written this review a few hours earlier I would have been the first to review!
Saturday I was wine tasting with a couple of friends and one of them had a Groupon for this winery. I think it was two tastings and a bottle for $ 24 or something like that. It was a GREAT deal. The winery is a little off of the beaten path, around the corner from Dragonette across from the little tower where there is a new chocolate shop.
The server was great and my hat is off to her for putting up with one of my friend’s stories! Wine tasting sure brings out the honesty and frankess in some people. She described the wines, was nice about giving revisits of whites to our other friend who isn’t such a fan of reds and told us a lot about the winemaker and where the grapes are sourced. The winemaker is on the team that makes wines for Fess Parker (as is Dave Potter from Municipal in Santa Barbara)
There were a couple of open bottles not on the tasting menu and we were able to taste them as well. The Mourvèdre was SO good.
I would definately go back.