Meet Drew Nenow | Owner & Winemaker of Nenow Family Wines in Paso Robles

We had the good fortune of connecting with Drew Nenow and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Drew, we’d love to hear about how you approach risk and risk-taking
Risk is a necessary evil to me and without it we wouldn’t have Nenow Family Wines to be honest. My sister and brother in law first brought up the idea of starting a wine brand when I was 23 years old. By 2017 we were buying our first grapes and getting ready to launch the brand. It’s a competitive industry, so risk kind of comes with the territory. I wouldn’t trade it for anything though, because turns out taking risk is a great motivator to work hard.

Please tell us more about your work. We’d love to hear what sets you apart from others, what you are most proud of or excited about. How did you get to where you are today professionally. Was it easy? If not, how did you overcome the challenges? What are the lessons you’ve learned along the way. What do you want the world to know about you or your brand and story?
I’m not sure if many people see winemaking as an art, but it certainly is. It wasn’t until I worked in a winery that I had realized there was more than 1 way to do things, and when it comes to making grapes into wine there are many decisions along the way that define your style and thus your art. My art is mine because of my personal experiences and priorities that I’ve picked up along my journey and that is what makes it unique and sets it apart. The way grapes taste to my taste buds during ripening and when they are ready to be picked is a unique experience to me and built more on a feeling based on experience than what any analysis or data could show me. And that feeling based on experience is applied to every single decision that is made along the way. I’m proud of where I started and where I am today and the confidence I have in those decisions, but it is also about understanding that there is never an end-point or hilltop to achieve. Every year is a new opportunity to learn and gain experiences that will allow for further growth and development of style. I look back on how concerned I was about every single decision and “getting it right” in our early years, and that was extremely challenging to work through at the time. But at some point the flip switched, I discovered the magic of trusting your gut and allowing for growth was the real art of winemaking. And at the end of the day, we want our customers to be on that journey with us. Discover and learn with us the new lessons that each vintage presents to us and come along for the ride as we develop our art.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Well, as soon as you first start to research the Paso Robles area, one thing becomes abundantly clear: People come here to drink. Obviously wineries are the anchor of the local economy, but there are a slew of world class restaurants with amazing wine lists, great craft breweries, and even scores of newly established distilleries cooking up some amazing artisanal products. Alas, you cannot drink all day every day for a week (unless you’re permanently attached to a drip line of electrolytes and hydration) and luckily there are some amazing activities for outdoor enthusiasts. I’d begin our day with a hike up Cerro Alto or Cuesta Ridge, or a beach run in Cayucos. After the beach run we’d hit up one of my favorite breakfast places in Cayucos called Hidden Kitchen where they serve vegan plates and gluten free, blue corn waffles of both the savory and sweet persuasion. The middle of the day would of course be filled with drinking: Beer at Barrelhouse and Firestone Walker Brewing, followed by a couple wine tasting appointments (list of places below), and then cocktails and spirits at either Tin City Distillery or Alchemist Garden. Depending on what time of year you’re there, if its between June and August you can hit up the Paso Robles Concerts in the Park on Thursday evenings for some great local music. And then dinner…. So many option so to choose from in downtown Paso, but I would highly suggest Le Petite Canailles, La Cosecha, Il Cortile, and the Frunchroom for a nice sit down experience. Or hit up the Paso Robles Wine Merchant, Lebbers Pizza, or Aliyah’s Kitchen for something more casual. It can never hurt to just walk around downtown Paso Robles on a Summer evening and you’re bound to meet some incredible people and have a great meal.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
It might be obvious to say, but I’d like to dedicate this shoutout to my family and partners in this venture. My wife Andie, sister Tracie, and brother in law Mike. Not only would our business grind to a halt without you, but you have given me the utmost of encouragement since day 1 and built me up into who I am today. And to all of our loyal customers who we consider extended family.

Website: https://nenowfamilywines.com/

Instagram: @nenowfamilywines

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nenowfamilywines/

Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/nenow-family-wines-paso-robles