Carina Cellars

Carina Cellars is the result of an avid wine collector with a dream who meets an accomplished winemaker with a vision. When attorney and businessman David Hardee and winemaker Joey Tensley met in 2002, they were quick to recognize the benefits of combining their passion.

With Hardee's talent for business, Tensley's talent for wine making, and a shared belief in only the best, Carina Cellars was born. Joey and David sought to create wines that exemplify varietal flavors and terroir above all else. Both men knew that Santa Barbara County was the perfect location for growing Rhône wines, but decided to expand their interests further north to Paso Robles.

In the spring of 2007, David purchased Rancho del Cielo, an 83-acre property on Paso Robles Westside. Since then he has been working hard to plant 23-acres with our favorite Rhône grapes: Syrah, Grenache, Mourvedre, and a few other non-Rhône favorites: Zinfandel and Cabernet Sauvignon. Fall 2009 marks our first Carina Cellars Estate harvest.

Joey Tensley was just 12 years old when he visited a winery in the Bordeaux region of France. It was his first exposure to the wine making business, and the bug bit hard.

Joey brings his passion and attention to detail to the fine wines at Carina Cellars. He and partner David predict great things for the future.