From the friendly confines of what was once a Sears catalog kit house, Los Olivos couple Eric and Samantha Coghlan are hoping their unique combination of wine and jewelry is a match made in heaven.
After spending more than a year renovating the circa-1890s house they own, the couple opened their tasting room/jewelry shop on May 19, just in time for the start of summer tourist season.
The Coghlans, both gemologists, are certainly no strangers to jewelry. They met at the Gemological Institute of America in San Diego, from which they both graduated. Samantha has owned her own jewelry business for 12 years, and Eric is a third-generation jeweler who grew up in his family’s jewelry store in Mississippi, which opened in 1958.
After getting married and falling in love with the Santa Ynez Valley, the couple decided to start their own jewelery store on the West Coast, with an added twist befitting the wine-loving region. The quaint surroundings promote a cozy, laid-back atmosphere, and even if jewelry isn’t your thing, you’re welcome to relax in the courtyard or even play a game of bocce ball.
“We want people to feel like they’re walking into a home,” Samantha said. “It was all about bringing people in, even if they’re not buying anything.”
Taking varied approaches to their craft, the Coghlans design and create their one-of-a-kind jewelry themselves. All the repair work, custom designs, and cleaning services are done in-house
as well.
“I love working on the bench,” Eric said. “We get to be creative every day. A lot of jewelers just take things from casting. We’re able to make what we want and enjoy it.”
Most of the jewelry cases are built right into the tasting bar, where the wine comes straight from the Coghlan’s 20-acre vineyard they bought in Santa Ynez in 2008. The following year marked Coughlan Vineyards’ first vintage; sadly, Eric’s grandfather Marvin passed away the same day they harvested the first batch.
“I feel like my granddad is happy with this place,” Eric said of the store. “At first I was a little uncomfortable about incorporating alcohol with the jewelry, but I took it as a sign we’re doing the right thing.”
With no prior background in winemaking, the Coghlans lean on the expertise of renowned Los Olivos winemaker Alan Phillips. The Coghlans are currently pouring their label’s 2009 Pinot Noir—which won a second place prize at the recent Pinot Noir Summit in San Francisco—and two vintage Grenache Blancs. This fall, they’ll release a Cabernet and a blend, and they’re looking to become estate with the exception of their Pinots, currently sourced from the Santa Rita Hills appellation.
It’s been a busy year for the Coghlans; along with the new business and their 3-year-old son Ozzy, the two have their hands full with their newborn son Cash. Next door on their property, they’ll also be presenting a rotating art gallery soon after their invitation-only grand opening on June 25. The gallery is presented by Arts Outreach, a Santa Ynez Valley nonprofit dedicated to bringing art back into public schools.
Coghlan Vineyard and Jewelers is at 2366 Alamo Pintado Road in Los Olivos. For more information, call 686-2395 or visit CoghlanVineyard.com.
Highlights
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Biz Spotlight/Highlights are written and compiled by Staff Writer Jeremy Thomas. Information should be sent to the Sun via fax, e-mail, or mail.
This article appears in Jun 9-16, 2011.
