Allegretto Wines

Allegretto Wines is an estate winery based in Paso Robles, California, on the Central Coast. It produces wines from estate-grown grapes cultivated in its Paso Robles vineyards, offering a range that includes bold reds and crisp whites intended to express the character of the Paso Robles terroir. The brand is closely tied to proprietor Douglas Ayres, a member of the Ayres family whose property-development and hotel legacy dates back to the early twentieth century in Southern California. The winery's origin story is rooted in Ayres' childhood visit to Paso Robles, where he was struck by the beauty of the land, the warmth of the community, and the promise of the wine region. That memory later inspired him to return with a vision of owning and farming vineyards, making world-class wine, and developing a destination wine-country resort — the Allegretto Vineyard Resort. Allegretto Wines thus sits at the intersection of hospitality and winemaking, with the Ayres Hotel Group's boutique-hotel tradition providing the broader family context. In 2023, Douglas Ayres entered a partnership with winemaker Don Burns of Turtle Rock Vineyard, a collaboration grounded in shared values and a commitment to organic and biodynamic farming. Don Burns, a Cal Poly Agriculture Business alumnus, spent over fifteen years as assistant winemaker at Saxum Winery before founding Turtle Rock Vineyards and Tin City Distillery in Paso Robles. His wines have earned scores in the 92–100 point range from critics including Jeb Dunnuck, Vinous, The Wine Advocate, and Wine Spectator. Allegretto Wines emphasizes sustainable and organic practices, describing its commitment to nurturing the land and respecting the environment in which its grapes thrive. The brand presents itself as a destination-oriented wine experience connected to the Allegretto Vineyard Resort, inviting visitors and wine lovers to explore its estate-grown collection. Its digital home serves as a gateway to the vineyards, the winemaking process, and the story of the Ayres family.

Allegretto Wines is a Paso Robles, California winery whose story is intertwined with the Ayres family's broader legacy in Southern California property development and hospitality. According to the winery's account, that legacy dates to Douglas Ayres' great-grandfather, Frank H. Ayres, who traveled to Southern California from Ohio and in 1905 established Frank H. Ayres & Son, a land development company in Los Angeles County. Frank's son, Don Ayres, Sr., joined the family business during the 1920s, and together they laid the foundation for entire communities in the Los Angeles area. Third-generation Don Ayres, Jr., joined after World War II as the housing boom began and became recognized within the decade for creating distinctive homes throughout Southern California. It was Don Ayres, Jr., who developed the concept of European boutique hotels after his travels abroad; these were rebranded as Ayres Hotels in 2001. Today the Ayres Hotel Group continues the tradition, with the fourth and fifth generations of the Ayres family developing and managing a collection of handcrafted boutique hotels throughout Southern California. Douglas Ayres' connection to Paso Robles began in childhood, when a trip to the area left him awed by the beauty of the land, the warmth of the people, and the promise of the wine region. Later travels through celebrated wine and cultural areas of the world brought back the memory of Paso Robles and inspired a vision: to own and farm vineyards there, make world-class wine, and develop a destination-driven wine country resort called the Allegretto Vineyard Resort. The winery describes its approach as rooted in centuries-old winemaking traditions infused with modern innovation, with each step guided by a commitment to excellence. A significant turning point came in 2023, when Doug Ayres partnered with winemaker Don Burns of Turtle Rock Vineyard. The partnership was described as rooted in shared values and a passion for exceptional wine, along with a profound belief in organic and biodynamic farming — principles that resonate deeply with Allegretto Wines. Don Burns is a Cal Poly Agriculture Business alumnus who spent over fifteen years as assistant winemaker at Saxum Winery before founding Turtle Rock Vineyards and Tin City Distillery in Paso Robles. His wines have received scores of 92–100 points from critics including Jeb Dunnuck, Vinous, The Wine Advocate, and Wine Spectator. Allegretto Wines presents itself as an estate winery whose vineyards bask in the warm sun and gentle breezes of Paso Robles, cultivating grapes of high quality and flavor. Its collection spans bold reds and crisp whites, each crafted to capture the essence of the Paso Robles terroir. The brand's commitment to sustainable and organic practices is presented as central to its identity, reflecting an understanding of the importance of nurturing the land and respecting the environment in which the grapes thrive.

• 2023

  Douglas Ayres partners with winemaker Don Burns of Turtle Rock Vineyard, emphasizing organic and biodynamic farming.

• 2001

  The Ayres family's European boutique hotel concept is rebranded as Ayres Hotels.

• 1905

  Frank H. Ayres establishes Frank H. Ayres & Son, a land development company in Los Angeles County, beginning the family's property legacy.

Estate-grown, terroir-driven wines from Paso Robles, connected to a destination vineyard resort and emphasizing sustainable and organic practices.

• Estate-grown red wines

  Bold, complex reds crafted from Paso Robles estate grapes.

• Estate-grown white wines

  Crisp, elegant whites crafted from Paso Robles estate grapes.

1. 1Estate Grown Wines from Paso Robles | Allegretto Winesallegrettowines.com
2. 2Ayres' Family History | Allegretto Winesallegrettowines.com
3. 3Story | Allegretto Winesallegrettowines.com
4. 4Don Burns | Allegretto Winesallegrettowines.com
5. 5Allegretto Wineswikidata.org