Press
JEB DUNNUCK - August 2025
R.H. Drexel: Paso Robles Loses Two Pioneers
Honoring JoAnn Cherry, Owner and Co-Founder of the MAHA estate, Villa Creek Cellars
“There’s still a lot worth fighting for.” – Jane Goodall
JoAnn Cherry was a protectress: of her family and close-knit circle of friends, of her pets and the many living creatures who called the MAHA estate home, and of the wilds of the Peachy Canyon corridor and beyond. Once, while we were standing atop a lookout high above the MAHA estate, she pointed toward a passageway cutting through a heavily forested canyon nearby. Raptors regularly emerged from that dense thicket of oaks and madrones, and she smiled recalling a recent, glorious sighting.
JoAnn and her husband Cris were farming mindfully and responsibly long before it was cool to do so. In this age of greenwashing, of the co-opting of phrases like regenerative, organic, and sustainable by countless marketing teams whose employers would rather talk the talk than walk the walk, JoAnn and Cris were doing the important work of caring for and nurturing the natural environment around their home. They quietly yet ardently pursued certification for organic and biodynamic farming. JoAnn was proud to be named to the board of the CCOF (California Certified Organic Farms) and spoke tirelessly to local farmers about the dangers of glyphosate (Roundup) and other harmful chemicals used too frequently in the growing of wine grapes and countless other crops.
JoAnn was also an observer. She cast a discerning, wry, and often comedic editorial eye toward humanity and found the creative act her most immediate form of self-expression. The wine labels she designed for the MAHA estate and Villa Creek wines reflected her preference for minimalism, clean, intentional lines, and a color palette that mirrored tones found in the natural world. The textile arts spoke to her love of fibers and form, the tactile and malleable.
JoAnn Cherry knew who she was and was comfortable in her own skin. That she wanted others around her to feel equally comfortable in their own skin probably explains why she was such a warm and welcoming hostess. At the frequent gatherings and dinner parties she and Cris held at their home, JoAnn possessed a confident, easy air. Relaxed, poised to listen, engaged. Tall, lean, and elegant of bearing, she cut a sophisticated shape in this life, filling up spaces where she went with a quiet kind of strength and so much style.
She was unabashedly proud of her kids and enjoyed talking about Maddox Meadery, the joint mead-making venture established by Camille and her husband Kenton. And Daft Punch, the natural wine brand established by son Henri, who also performs as a DJ under the moniker Julian Cherry. She was an avid supporter of the Natural Coast Wine Festival in Santa Barbara and was excited about a skin-contact, natural wine she’d been making in the cellar at Villa Creek, a personal project she was excited to see come to fruition.
The wine business is full of big personalities and big egos, but JoAnn found the more competitive social milieu of the business tedious. She preferred to be with a small circle of close friends, many of them artists themselves. “Sometimes we meet a person along our busy ways that stops us in our tracks, and we realize that this one is different, this one is exceptional, this one is gifted in ways that most of us cannot even begin to understand,” said her friend, local artist Tova Celine. “Perhaps they themselves don’t even understand who they are. In JoAnn Cherry, I discovered such a creature.”
On a recent bright, blue Paso morning, the community of Paso Robles gathered at the MAHA estate to honor and remember JoAnn, and to hold up and love her family. Her husband Cris and their children Camille and Henri, surrounded by hundreds of friends and neighbors, dressed in white, memorialized her with a celebration that included white kerchiefs, gifted to each guest and emblazoned with one of JoAnn’s favorite sayings, “Keep your shit together.”
“After her departure, there was a huge weight lifted,” Cris told us. “But after that, there was another weight placed. It was the weight of loss, of missing someone….You bid farewell to someone, and you put them in a ship, and they sail off into the horizon. And we’re waving goodbye, waving goodbye, and then they hit the horizon line, and they’re gone. But on the other side of the horizon line, there’s someone waiting, saying, ‘There they are!!! Come on!’ I choose to – we choose to – look at it this way. This is just a departure. We will reconvene at a later date. Somewhere down this path, who knows when that time will come, but that’s how I prefer to think about it.”
As Cris eulogized his love JoAnn, their two dogs, sisters, began to wrestle, play, and kick up dust, just feet from where he was standing. “Only in West Templeton,” he said, as the crowd issued a gentle laugh. He shared a saying by an Indigenous American friend of his, “We live in the dark, we move to the light,” before raising his glass to the sky. “To JoAnn Cherry and a life well-lived.”
Robert Parker's WINE ADVOCATE scores for MAHA®:
2019 Before Anyone Else - 96 pts
2018 Before Anyone Else - 94 pts
2017 Before Anyone Else - 95 pts
2019 Understory - 96 pts
2018 Understory - 94+ pts
2017 Understory - 95 pts
2016 Understory - 94 pts
2019 Backlit - 95 pts
2018 Backlit - 96 pts
2017 Backlit - 94 pts
2016 Backlit - 95 pts
VINOUS - June 2025
Paso Robles 2022 and 2023: Polar Opposites
"My visit with Cris Cherry at Villa Creek focused on the 2023 vintage and also included a small number of 2024s. As of 2023, the Cherry House portfolio has been folded into Villa Creek to avoid confusion and strengthen the core wines, while the MAHA brand remains an interpretation of Cherry’s single vineyard that surrounds the estate. Moreover, as of 2023, the MAHA vineyard is now fully regenerative certified. The 2023s here are spectacular, but I’m not surprised. Even the 2022s at this address exemplified the spry and lively house style, but when you add 2023’s high water reserves and cool summer to the mix, the results are beautifully detailed, mineral-intense wines that blend grace with power."
WINE ENTHUSIAST - May 2025
Meet the Wine Families of Paso Robles
"A couple oak-shaded miles away, the Cherry family of Villa Creek Cellars and the MAHA Estate are further along into this transition, with daughter Camille and son Henri already filling critical roles.
“We’ve always been in it,” said Henri of growing up around the vineyard under the watch of his father, Director of Winemaking Cris Cherry. He remembers putting in long hours in the cellar, hoeing star thistle when he was still just a high-schooler.
But because so many of their friends were also the children of vintners, it took a while for the Cherry siblings to appreciate their upbringing. “It didn’t occur to me that this is not the average childhood for most people,” said Camille, who today handles customer relations. She worked a 2017 harvest at another Paso operation, Linne Calodo Cellars, before coming onboard full-time the following year. “I was baffled by the realization that there are people who don’t have the opportunity to be out in the rolling hills and running around feral as a kid.”
The passing of the baton is particularly poignant here: JoAnn Cherry—Camille and Henri’s mother and the winery’s creative director—died last year after a fight with cancer. “She was always the one to bring my dad’s way of thinking and my way of thinking back to the customer’s perspective,” said Camille.
Cris gave his children ample space to find their own way. Henri in particular took advantage, dabbling briefly in the film and commercial real estate worlds before finding his way back to wine. He moved back permanently in 2024, and now works both on branding and in production alongside Winemaker Oliver Mikkelsen.
“If you have the ability to let them grow into it, as opposed to forcing them, that’s good,” said Cris."
WHERE WINE TAKES YOU PODCAST - April 2025
Ep 128: Earth Day – Earth First Farming – Featuring MAHA Estate | Villa Creek and Booker Vineyard and Winery
"In this Earth Day-inspired episode, Adam sits down with two leaders shaping the future of Paso from the ground up: Cris Cherry, owner of MAHA Estate | Villa Creek Cellars, and Hilary Graves, vineyard manager at Booker Vineyard and Winery. Together, they explore what it means to farm with integrity—from regenerative practices to the emotional reality of tending vines through seasons of change.
In honor of Earth Day, we sit down with two Central Coast voices who remind us that wine starts long before the glass. Cris Cherry, owner of MAHA Estate | Villa Creek Cellars, reflects on decades of farming and his deepening connection to the land. It’s a conversation about resilience, respect, and the rhythm of nature. Hilary Graves, vineyard manager at Booker Vineyard and Winery, shares her unique path from library stacks to vineyard rows. She breaks down how sustainability isn’t just about what you do, but why you do it—connecting science, soil, and soul."
IAN D'AGATA WINE REVIEW - Spring 2025
MAHA Winery: A Paso Robles Legacy Etched in Limestone
"In the sun-bleached hills of Paso Robles’ west side, where limestone veins thread the earth and cool nights temper the day’s heat, MAHA Winery stands as a testament to a dream lived fully. This boutique estate, born from the hands of Cris and JoAnn Cherry, isn’t just a vineyard—it’s a family’s soul poured into glass, a story now tinged with both triumph and loss, carried forward by their children, Camille and Henry Cherry, who are actively involved in the winery business."
WINE BUSINESS - March 2025
Paso Robles Wine Community Joins Together to create "Best of Paso" Auction Lot in Memory of JoAnn Cherry of MAHA Estate
"JoAnn Cherry, co-founder with her husband Cris, of MAHA Estate and Villa Creek Wines in Paso Robles, was a force of nature and an early advocate for organic and biodynamic farming along California's Central Coast. With her efforts, MAHA Estate is now certified both Regenerative Organic and Demeter Biodynamic, which not only produces delicious wines free from the use of chemicals and pesticides, but it is also harmonious with nature and helps to heal the Earth.
Before focusing entirely on their winery, Cris and JoAnn operated Villa Creek restaurant on the plaza in downtown Paso, a world class wine region, which became the de facto gathering spot for local vintners. So, when JoAnn passed away last year due to complications from cancer, her absence left a huge hole, not only with her husband Cris and two children, but with the entire Paso Robles wine community."
FOOD & WINE - October 2024
For Outstanding California Wine, Look for Bottles Made With Grapes Grown on These 16 Vineyards
"Situated roughly 10 miles from the Pacific Ocean, the vineyard’s sea breezes, sunny days, and clay-loam topsoil over an ancient seabed rife with marine deposits all work to produce world-class Grenache and Syrah grapes (along with smaller parcels of Roussanne, Grenache Blanc, Counoise, Carignan and Petite Sirah. Winemakers from all over the region hope to get their hands on James Berry fruit, but Smith runs a tight ship and sells to only a handful of producers. The vineyard is farmed organically and is heading toward regenerative practices. —J.C.
Producers to seek out
Carlisle Winery, Kinero, Ledge Vineyards, Saxum, Torrin, Turtle Rock, and Villa Creek.
VINOUS - July 2024
Paso Robles 2021-2023: Far From Typical
"The 2022 Maha estate wines are pure elegance. Cris Cherry leads the Maha project, sourcing from the estate vineyard planted in 2012. As of 2022, it is now officially certified regenerative. The 2022s show more focus on fruit than in previous vintages. The Before Anyone Else, a varietal Clairette Blanche, is an immediate standout, a deeply textural wine yet full of energy. The two Rhône Blends, Backlit and Understory, show this site's potential. Cherry commented that being no-till helped a great deal in 2022, retaining moisture in the soils despite the dry warmth of the season. Any way you slice it, the 2022s are a wonderful success for such a warm season."
CINDY HATTERSLEY DESIGN - December 2023
A Chic Wine Country Couple’s Passion for Farming Sustainably
"Prior to moving to Paso permanently we had a home on Lake Nacimiento for many years. The more time we spent in the area, the more we knew this is where we wanted to end up. It’s a tight-knit community that shares an appreciation for the art of winemaking, farm to table fare, and a slow paced laid back atmosphere. We joined the Villa Creek wine club over 15 years ago. I remember observing JoAnn Cherry many years ago at the former Artisan Restaurant. I thought she epitomized the Paso Young Winemaker look, casual but chic, without trying too hard. We have gotten to know JoAnn and Cris more over the years and have an appreciation for what they are trying to do and how they are going about it. I knew I wanted to interview them for Ageless Style if I could “twist their arms”. I hope you will enjoy A Chic Wine Country Couple’s Passion for Farming Sustainably."
WINE ADVISOR - November 2023
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony Features Paso Robles-Based MAHA Estate and Villa Creek Wines
"For the second year in a row, Cris and JoAnn Cherry of Villa Creek, MAHA, and Cherry House Wines were official wine sponsors of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony. The event aired live on Disney Plus on Friday, Nov. 3. The Cherry’s are leaders in regenerate organic farming and winemaking. “With a line-up of legends that included more than a few environmentalists as inductees and special guests, it was a tremendous honor to provide our wines,” says JoAnn Cherry, who is a board member of the California Certified Organic Farmers organization."
CONEJO VALLEY LIFESTYLE - Summer 2023
Returning to Paso Robles Wine Country and Beyond to Cambria
A few years ago we took a three-day trip and did a feature on Paso Robles wine country. It was about time to revisit one of our favorite places. So when we received an invitation to attend an event at MAHA/Villa Creek featuring an incredible spread of food prepared by Full of Life Flatbread and excellent wine from MAHA/Villa Creek capped off by a performance by Sam Nelson Harris of X Ambassadors, the answer to the invitation was “WHY the HECK NOT?!” Unlike other AVAs, Paso Robles’ wineries are scattered along windy, narrow roads like MAHA Villa Creek on Peachy Canyon Road, which is actually more of a trail than a road. Cris and JoAnn Cherry hosted the event and a fun time was had by all. Their top-tier biodynamic organic wines are outstanding. I sampled 2018 MAHA Backlit and was blown away by this great example of a Paso Robles Rhone varietal blend of Petite Syrah, Mourvèdre and Grenache. Go to VillaCreek.com."
THE WINE INDEPENDENT - Summer 2023
Doing The Right Thing: The MAHA® Estate
"Cris Cherry is on a mission. He’s offered to cook lunch today, and we’re in his electric truck headed to a couple of different businesses in Paso Robles, where we’ll procure ingredients for lunch. First stop: Etto, an Italian marketplace known for its homemade pastas and broad selection of Italian goods, owned by locals Stephanie and Brian Terrizzi. They’ve got their own Cal-Italian wine brand called Giornata. "She’s such a sharp, holistic viticulturalist," Cris tells me of Stephanie, who’s known on California’s Central Coast as an intelligent grape farmer."
WINE PREDATOR - November 2021
Working with the Earth at Biodynamic MAHA®
"From our filling breakfast at the bustling Cow Girl Cafe in downtown Paso Robles, we weren’t sure which route to take in our VW van to get to Villa Creek and MAHA® Estate on Peachy Canyon, and our trusty GPS didn’t make it all too clear either. We could take Peachy Canyon up west from town for a few less albeit windy miles for 23 minutes, or go around and take Vineyard Drive for a less windy 23 minutes, or take the 22 minute route. With only a passing knowledge of Paso, we decided to take the most expedient, if possibly less scenic route, and leave the others for another day."
FOOD & WINE MAGAZINE - August 2021
For Outstanding California Wine, Look for Bottles Made With Grapes Grown on These 16 Vineyards
"If you want a taste of the best that Paso Robles has to offer, the name "James Berry" on the label is a mark of quality you'll want to look for."
We have been buying grapes from James Berry Vineyard since 2002 and now are one of the few remaining wineries to be allocated this precious fruit. Food & Wine Magazine just named James Berry Vineyard one of the most important California Vineyards. Of course we have known this for 2 decades. Congrats to the Smith family!
JEB DUNNUCK - August 2021
R.H. Drexel: Paso Robles: The Ideal Wine Country Getaway
"Villa Creek, found along the Peachy Canyon Road corridor, is arguably one of the finest Rhône-style wine producers in the United States. Winemaker/owner Cris Cherry consistently produces wines of beauty, balance and character at his organically farmed estate. His high-end MAHA® Estate wines, particularly the Bae (Before Anyone Else), made with 100 % Clairette grapes, is one of the most beautiful white wines I’ve had from California for quite some time. A rare bird, this wine continues to change and evolve in the glass for hours. At $100 a bottle, it still manages to over-perform. Serious lovers of white wines will want to seek out this unforgettable wine."
MOOD OF LIVING - August 2021
Villa Creek Winery – Organic and Biodynamic Wine, CA
"Discovering her love for wine early on in her career, Joann Cherry, co-proprietor of Villa Creek Winery, built up her business on the MAHA® Estate outside of Paso Robles, California. The estate sits on a four-million-year-old seabed. The winery prioritizes the cultivation of organic and biodynamic wine. Villa Creek Wines treats both the wines and the whole farm with careful attention. Cherry acknowledges the importance of caring for the ecosystem within the estate, contributing to the preservation of the energy, life, and beauty that nature holds."
THE SF CHRONICLE - April 2021
California's droughts sometimes make better wine - but they're bad for the industry overalll. Here's why
"Cris Cherry, owner of Villa Creek Cellars in Paso Robles, says his vineyard has gotten about 14 inches of water so far this year, half his area’s historical average. Like a human who’s uncomfortably thirsty, a grapevine in drought conditions may simply have less energy to spend, resulting in a crop that’s smaller than usual. “If we didn’t have a big rain, we know the vines are not going to set a lot of crop,” Cherry explains. “If a vine normally sets 20 clusters (of grapes), maybe it sets 16 smaller clusters instead.”
THE VITNER PROJECT - December 2020
MAHA Wines: Bridging the Biodynamic Gap in Paso Robles
"...Precious few Paso winemakers appear to appreciate the oaks’ silent but significant role in shaping a balanced ecosystem for their vines. But among those who do are Chris and JoAnn Cherry, owners, winemakers, and organic/biodynamic growers at Villa Creek | MAHA in West Paso.
The Cherrys’ 60-acre MAHA estate is one of just four (out of more than 200 total) Paso wineries that farm biodynamically under Demeter certification, a strict standard for farming in accordance with time-honored regenerative practices. (The other three biodynamic estates are Castoro Cellars, Tablas Creek Vineyard, and AmByth Estate.) Even if these are some important names in Paso wine, four is a small number, too tiny to call a movement or to impact policy or identity. Yet..."
JEB DUNNUCK - September 2020
Paso Robles: Looking at the 2018s
"The argument could be made that Paso Robles is the most dynamic and up and coming region in California today. The number of new and exciting producers is hard to keep up with, they’ve created numerous new AVAs focused on climate and soils, new vineyards are being planted regularly, and they continue to experiment with new varieties. This drive and focus shows in the wines. In addition, Paso Robles’s culture of being open and incredibly supportive of one another is unique in the world of wine and, in my view, unquestionably has helped propel Paso Robles into the list of world-class wine regions."
DANIELLE GIBSON EVENTS - September 2020
Visit Paso Robles Like a Local
"A little while ago we were lucky enough to get introduced to Cris Cherry of Villa Creek Winery. Since meeting him we swear he should run for Mayor of Paso Robles. He has become a friend of ours who always takes the time to point us in the right direction when visiting, and if you catch him in the right mood he might just share a local secret or two for a slab of paté from Fatted Calf. So, with a little help from Cris and a couple trips around the block of our own, we’ve built a short list of what we love.
Let’s start with him….His vineyard estate is located on the westside of Paso, on the cusp of the fabled Willow Creek and Adelaida Districts. Villa Creek has been making wine for nearly two decades. Starting with grapes purchased from west Paso Robles’ most esteemed vineyards and eventually planting what is now their MAHA Estate. The wines and vibes are as good as it gets in the Central Coast so this is a must."
THE SF CHRONICLE - July 2020
Villa Creek is the cowboy chic winery of Paso Robles
"Cris and JoAnn Cherry moved to Paso Robles in 1996 to start a restaurant called Villa Creek on the city’s central square. Five years later, inspired by the wines their neighbors were making, they started to produce their own wines for the restaurant."
CONDE NAST TRAVELER - June 2020
7 Best Weekend Getaways in California
"While Northern California has the state’s best-known wine regions of Napa and Sonoma, Paso Robles, near the Central Coast, has just as much to offer—one part scenic, rolling-hill vineyards, one part laid-back horse country."
FORBES - April 2020
Travel Through Tunes: Energize Your Work-From-Home Routine With These Travel-Inspired Playlists
"In true wine-tasting style, Paso Robles has not just one playlist, but a playlist for each of several different wineries. You can start your listening experience with the smooth sounds of Leon Bridges on the Bushong Vintage Company’s playlist, then pop over to the Villa Creek Cellars and MAHA Estate Wines playlist to sample something a little lighter, like tunes from Mac DeMarco and Ra Ra Riot. In total, Pasa Robles has 23 different playlists available to stream covering Drake, David Bowie, Tool, and everything in between."
THE SF CHRONICLE - April 2020
The Coronavirus Wine Diaries, Volume 2
"Cherry House Red Paso Robles 2018 ($25, 14.9%): This brand-new label comes from Cris and JoAnn Cherry, owners of Villa Creek Cellars in Paso Robles. Their wines for Villa Creek are pricey (and excellent), running up to $100. Cherry House Red is a new effort to provide a value label, with about half of the fruit coming from their estate vineyard, Maha. A blend of Grenache, Carignan and Mourvedre, the blend is spicy, with flavors of blueberry candy and — yes — cherry pit. It’s got some pleasant weight and suave tannins. I was very happy drinking it with a sausage pizza."
GRAPE COLLECTIVE - February 2020
Paso Robles: A Wine Community Unlike Any Other
"Each decade since has brought trailblazing pioneers to Paso’s welcoming community. Chris and JoAnn Cherry, owners of Villa Creek and MAHA estates, moved to Paso Robles in 1996 to open a farm-to-table restaurant that became a staple of the community. Swept up in the area’s winemaking scene, they started their own brand, Villa Creek Cellars, and eventually closed the restaurant to focus on winemaking full-time. Their first vintage was in 2001 and today they farm their own certified biodynamic and organic vineyards. “We were looking to stand out and raise the bar in a newish wine region brimming with potential,” says Cherry. “Napa producers had been feathering in quality grapes from Paso Robles for decades and it was time for Paso to stand on its own two feet.”
THE BOSTON HARALD - December 2019
Paso Robles a must-visit for wine lovers
"Villa Creek Cellars on the west side requires a reservation and charges $20 for a flight of five wines. In its certified organic vineyards, the winery plants the most acreage in grenache, and makes only 2,500 cases per year.
Its Rhone-style reds really shine, especially the 2013 High Road, a blend of mourvèdre, syrah and grenache ($105). The more affordable 2016 Willow Creek Cuvee ($60) is a blend of the same grapes, but with the grenache up front rather than the mourvèdre. We were pleased to taste a southern Italian white grape, fiano, as part of our flight."
ARUBA TODAY - December 2019
California's Paso Robles area offers wine-tasters variety
"Villa Creek Cellars on the west side requires a reservation and charges $20 for a flight of five wines. In its certified organic vineyards, the winery plants the most acreage in grenache, and makes only 2,500 cases per year.
Its Rhone-style reds really shine, especially the 2013 High Road, a blend of mourvèdre, syrah and grenache ($105). The more affordable 2016 Willow Creek Cuvee ($60) is a blend of the same grapes, but with the grenache up front rather than the mourvèdre. We were pleased to taste a southern Italian white grape, fiano, as part of our flight."
USA TODAY 10 BEST - November 2019
West Coast Wineries Who Are Making Amazing Sustainable Wines
"Talk to almost any vintner and they say wine's magic begins in the vineyard. While that might infer great care goes into protecting the environment surrounding a vine’s deep roots and thin-skinned fruit, that’s not always the case.
In Paso Robles, Villa Creek Cellars cofounder JoAnn Cherry cautions,"The wine industry is kind of the last frontier in terms of the ability for winegrowers and winemakers to do virtually whatever they want in the vineyard and cellar. Consumers have no idea what actually ends up in their glass and most assume wine is a natural product."
THE WINE ENTHUSIAST - September 2019
Wine Enthusiast Podcast: Rhône Blends Rise in Paso Robles
"MK: That’s great. And this wine clocks in at 15.1% and I actually gave this one a 96. So, one of the better scores I’ve given in all of ’19. And our last kind of bonus wine, I also gave a 96 to. It’s the Villa Creek Avenger, which actually comes in at our highest: 15.5%, and it is 70% Syrah, 20% Mourvèdre and 10% Grenache. And I really just like the you know the kind of impact that this one had on the palate right away on the nose and, you know, it’s a it’s a big-time wine, but I think that Cris Cherry, you know, makes a very balanced style.
IA: Yeah, I mean I pour this at the restaurant now, and a couple of things happen when I pour it. One, those who went to Villa Creek or know Cris, they say how great of a guy he is, and I definitely agree with that. But his wine, right? He’s really, really good at what I was talking about, just sort of showcasing these fruit aromas. And to me this is quintessential Syrah-based Central Coast, right? It’s just, you know, big black fruit, but his is super clean still and there’s also still a little bit of the savory aromas at the end of it—it’s not just fruit, which is kind of fun, because now you have the fruit from Paso Robles but you also have some of the cool secondary aromas. And then he finishes it, because it’s super well-balanced and high acid. So, it’s refreshing. It’s big but it’s not intrusive."
DU JOUR - Summer 2019
The Weekender: Paso Robles, California
"Villa Creek (and MAHA Estate) is an absolute must-visit. Not only is it also a vanguard of Paso Robles (since 1996), but the wines are truly stunning. The MAHA Estate label, which is their new label starting in 2019 for their all estate wine, will be for a select number of consumers, so make sure to ask about it. Their tasting room is available to visit by appointment."
WINE SPECTATOR - June 2019
The Grit and Grace of Paso Robles
"For nearly 20 years, Cris and JoAnn Cherry ran both a winery and a downtown restaurant by the same name, but they closed the beloved Villa Creek eatery in 2017 to focus on wine. Th ey recently added a biodynamic estate vineyard, Maha, to their strong portfolio of Rhône-style off eings. Th e tasting room features interior walls made from the property’s fallen walnut trees."
AFAR - January 2019
6 of the Best Wineries in Paso Robles
"Villa Creek started as a restaurant, opened by Cris and JoAnn Cherry in 1998. Three years later, eager to have a house label to serve their diners, the Cherrys purchased fruit to make their own wine. For nearly two decades, they operated both enterprises, before shutting the restaurant’s doors in 2017 to focus entirely on the winery and their 60-acre, organic- and biodynamic-certified Maha Estate.
Next year, Cris and JoAnn plan to release their first vintages of a second Maha Estate label, cultivated exclusively from this property. Visitors to Villa Creek’s sleek, modern, and light-filled tasting room can sample current releases, or opt in for a vertical tasting of library wines.
What to Drink
Look out for Villa Creek’s Avenger, a syrah-based blend whose jammy, concentrated flavors lend themselves to a high-impact wine redolent of blackberry compote, sweet herbs, and ink."
THE SF CHRONICLE - January 2019
The 52 Wineries You Need to Visit in 2019
"Villa Creek Villa Creek was a restaurant before it was a winery. Only recently, nearly 15 years after purchasing a striking 60-acre estate in Paso’s Peachy Canyon, did restaurateurs Cris and JoAnn Cherry abandon their longtime restaurant to focus solely on the wine business. A visit here, by appointment only, is a chance to taste through a range of single-vineyard expressions of some of western Paso’s most famous sites, though it will still be a while before you can taste the wines from the Cherrys’ own estate, called Maha."
WINE ENTHUSIAST - January 2019
2015 Willow Creek Cuvée, #27 Wine in the World
"Cris Cherry is on the leading edge of Paso Robles vintners who push the ripe boundaries while remaining in compelling balance, and this blend of 70% Grenache, 20% Syrah and 10% Mourvèdre is an excellent example. Aromas of blackberry paste, fresh lilacs and hoisin sauce drop into a palate where blueberry and baked black-plum flavors are decorated with cola, sarsaparilla and black-pepper spices."
THE PRESS - January 2019
Big Red Wines From Paso Robles' West Side
"A quick jaunt through Peachy Canyon brings you to Villa Creek, which started in 2001 when Cris and JoAnn Cherry decided to make wine to serve at their downtown restaurant of the same name. They bought their own estate in 2003, and the wine brand took off so much that they closed down Villa Creek restaurant in 2017. Now the Cherrys’ focus is on their powerful yet elegant Rhone reds served in a small tasting room where vinyl is usually spinning."
JEB DUNNUCK - November 2018
The Brilliant 2016s from Paso Robles
"Paso Robles remains the heart of the Rhône movement in California and is a magical region for Syrah, Grenache, and Mourvèdre. The top wines tend to be blends, and there’s an incredible diversity in wine styles, from ripe, powerful GSM blends to Cabernet Sauvignons that compete with the best of California, both warm- and cool-climate-like Syrahs, and Pinot-Noir like Grenache and Zinfandel releases. And while Paso Robles is a warm region, the limestone soils, as well as the cooling effect of the Pacific Ocean and Templeton Gap, help retain freshness and acidity in the wines. If you’re unfamiliar with Paso Robles, now is a great time to give these wines a try."
These wines are made by Cris (and JoAnn) Cherry and come from (their) newly planted estate high up off Peachy Canyon road, just above their Villa Creek cellar. This is a beautiful, south-facing, hillside terroir, and the wines are impressive."
2016 MAHA 1 (an early version of Backlit)
A blend of 50% Grenache, 25% Petite Sirah, and 25% Graciano, the 2016 MAHA 1 sports a deep ruby color as well as a gorgeous bouquet of blackberries, blueberries, ground pepper, violets, and blood orange. It's deep, rich, full-bodied, and ethereal, with a seamless texture. This was completely destemmed, native fermentation, and spent 50% new oak. It’s one of the gems in this lineup and is seriously good. Don’t miss it!
93-95 pts. Jeb Dunnuck
2016 MAHA 2 (an early version of Understory)
A blend of 70% Grenache, 25% Mourvèdre, and 5% Carignan that was mostly destemmed (30% stems), the 2017 MAHA 2 is more perfumed and elegant, with a smoking bouquet of sweet cherries, hints of blueberries, dusty earth, and dried flowers. More medium-bodied, with a silky, elegant texture, it has fine tannin, beautiful balance, and a great finish.
92-94 pts Jeb Dunnuck
THE SF CHRONICLE - August 2018
Mislabeled Vines Cause Stir Among Wineries
“"Where Mourvedre is always moderate sugar and moderate acid, this came in high sugar, high acid, high tannin,” says Cris Cherry, owner of Villa Creek Cellars, who planted the Monastrell grapes after learning about them from Smith."
THE WINE ENTHUSIAST - March 2018
How California's Central Coast Winemakers are Making Grenache Their Own
"Restaurateur-turned-winemaker Cris Cherry of Villa Creek Cellars has made what he calls a “Garnacha” since 2002. “I thought [the Spanish name] would give us the opportunity to change the angle a little bit,” he says, though he doesn’t try to emulate Spain.
“One of the biggest factors in West Paso [Robles] Grenache is that it holds its acid, probably better than most sites on an international level,” says Cherry, and that’s prompted him to play around with lots of stem inclusion. “I just find that Grenache has some great transparency, so I like to show that.”
VINOUS - November 2017
Paso Robles Copes, Adapts and Evolves
"I’d confidently place this winery among the upper tier of the Central Coast. Of particular interest to Cherry these days is working with his new, estate-grown Clairette, the southern Rhône variety that’s the backbone of many of the best examples of Châteauneuf-du-Pape blanc. Look for interesting things to happen here soon as his vines come further into maturity."
JEB DUNNUCK - August 2017
Latest Releases from Paso Robles and San Luis Obispo County
"Cris Cherry has made some terrific 2015s which are certainly up with the crème de la crème of the vintage. As in the past few years, these wines see plenty of stems, yet they’re nicely integrated and balance by ample fruit."
THE TRIBUNE - July 2017
Villa Creek restaurant in Paso Robles closes after 19 years
“Our Villa Creek estate vineyard and winery are becoming more and more demanding of our time and energy,” JoAnn Cherry said in an email to The Tribune. “To successfully run an ingredient-focused restaurant in our community it is of the utmost importance that ownership provide undivided attention, which we just can’t do at this point."
FOOD & WINE - June 2017
The Promise of Paso Robles
“Villa Creek's proprietors, Cris and JoAnn Cherry, consistently produce lovely wines filled with character and personality.”
THE NEW YORK TIMES - September 2016
In California, Grenache Packs More Than Power
" ...the 2013 Villa Creek Garnacha from Paso Robles made our Top 10."
THE WINE SPECTATOR - June 2016
Oak Tree Removal for Vines Triggers Controversy in Paso Robles Wine Country
"If Justin Baldwin and Justin Vineyards had any sense, they would have contacted the neighbors for some insight on growing and farming practices in the neighborhood before raping the land as they did," said JoAnn Cherry of Villa Creek Winery. "Clearly being a good neighbor is the least of their concerns."