Saddle up
Purchase Opolo Vineyards’ inaugural vranac, Slavic for “black stallion,” at its estate tasting room at 7110 Vineyard Drive in Paso Robles or by calling (805) 238-9593. Guests may purchase two bottles per person of the 2021 vintage, priced at $60. The winery is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Reservations are recommended. For more information, visit opolo.com and follow the winery on Instagram and Facebook @opolovineyards.
There’s a new red in town. And it’s all thanks to Rick Quinn and David Nichols, co-founders of Opolo Vineyards in Paso Robles.
Wine producers nationwide now have the official green light from the U.S. government to market vranac—a native Balkan grape pronounced “vrah-nuts” and meaning “black stallion.”
The aptly named ancient grape, which produces a rich, dark ruby wine with roots dating back to the Middle Ages, is the most widely planted variety in Montenegro and is also a staple in North Macedonia, Serbia, and Croatia.
“My grandfather was from Montenegro, and Balkan heritage has been something we’ve celebrated at Opolo since day one,” Quinn said. “But this is the first time we’ve been able to actually grow and produce a Balkan-style wine, which is very exciting. It’s really special to see this part of our heritage brought to the United States and to Paso Robles.”
Opolo planted 1,000 vines of vranac in 2018, followed by another 1,000 vines in 2019. The grapes were sourced from UC Davis’ Foundation Plant Services, which identifies and certifies the authenticity of the selection.
Opolo’s first attempt to label the wine was rejected by the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau, which did not recognize the grape. This prompted the winery to petition for its acceptance in July 2023. Approval was granted in February of this year, setting the stage for the debut of Opolo’s 2021 Reserve Vranac in May.
“Opolo has long had a Balkan theme—from the food we serve daily to the entertainment at our Harvest Festival to our Adriatic wine tours,” Nichols said. “It started with the name Opolo [which references rosé wines from the Dalmatian Coast], and it has just kept growing and evolving.
“Now to have this exclusive Balkan variety grown here at Opolo and introduce it to our guests is pretty amazing.”
The winery’s inaugural vranac, which features grapes from its 2018 estate planting, is priced at $60 and only available via direct order.
“There’s a high level of curiosity and interest,” Nichols said. “We have a two-bottle limit because the production was so small, but people are buying it sight unseen. They’re excited to try it. They think it’s fun to taste new things in the world of wine.
“Our vranac shares a lot of qualities with a Balkan-grown vranac, including deep color, full body, and dark berry flavors. Many grape varieties from Europe thrive in the California climate, and specifically on the Central Coast. Montenegro has a mild Mediterranean climate with limestone soils and warm summers. That said, vranac definitely has its own local profile grown in Paso Robles, just as you might compare a syrah grown here or in the Rhône, or a cabernet here or in Bordeaux. The layers of bright, fresh fruit in the Opolo vranac speak to that.”
He added that although vranac is one of a kind, it has elements of cabernet sauvignon, zinfandel, and petite sirah.
“You have the intense color similar to a petite sirah, but some of the supple tannins and flavors that are reminiscent of cabernet. And it also has elements of the fruit-forward and spice qualities of a classic westside Paso Robles zinfandel,” Nichols said.
Opolo further immerses guests in Balkan culture with its annual Harvest Festival as well as group wine tours to the Adriatic.
“We’re always looking forward to our next Harvest Festival and Grape Stomp, which is happening this year on Oct. 17 to 18,” Quinn said. “It’s held on our event lawn overlooking the estate and the Willow Creek District.
“We have Balkan music and dancing, great food and wine, grape stomping, and a lot of fun. It’s been a tradition at Opolo since the early days, and you don’t want to miss it if you’ve never been.”
Other unique Opolo offerings are organized trips to explore Quinn’s homeland, with the next one set for June 17 to July 2, 2026.
“It’s a fun-filled adventure on the Adriatic Sea and tasting wine at top wineries in Croatia, Slovenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, and Montenegro,” Quinn said. “We enjoy world-renowned Balkan cuisine, unparalleled hospitality, and the beauty of the Adriatic and incredible mountain ranges.
“It’s not something we advertise, but we also visit the White Palace in Belgrade, Serbia, where we are welcomed by the prince. It’s not every day that you get to meet royalty.”
And they always visit Plantaže winery in Montenegro, where they have the largest continuous vranac vineyard in the world.
“They make incredible vranac, and it’s fun to compare,” Quinn said. “Ours shows how exceptional vranac can be when grown in the California sun and Paso Robles soils.”
Opolo’s 2021 Reserve Vranac joins a storied repertoire of wines that regularly nabs 90-plus points from critics. Quinn and Nichols, both of Camarillo, launched their enterprise in 1999 and over the past 25-plus years have earned industry praise for their zinfandel, cabernet sauvignon, and Rhône varieties.
“We’re particularly proud of our Summit Creek wines, which are … available at many local retailers,” added Quinn’s daughter, Ricki Quinn, who serves as the winery’s marking director. “These wines are punching well above their price point with consistently high ratings.” Δ
Flavor Writer Cherish Whyte thinks Opolo’s vranac release is another coup for Paso. She’ll be sipping her new favorite ruby heavyweight at cwhyte@newtimesslo.com.
This article appears in Jun 12-22, 2025.