Discover Ciento Cellars: New Hidden Gem in Paso Robles Wine Country

Winery with Small-Lot Wines, Big Personality Re-Opens May 1, 2025

Nestled in the sun-soaked hills of Paso Robles, Ciento Cellars is the vibrant new passion project of husband-and-wife duo Dave and Antonia Carpenter—two wine lovers turned winemakers who decided it was finally time to make some magic of their own. Along with their two kids, the couple has created a boutique winery that’s equal parts serious about craft and seriously fun. At Ciento, it’s all about small-lot wines with big personality, laid-back vibes, and a whole lot of heart. Whether you’re a seasoned sipper or just wine-curious, you’re in for something special.

“CIENTO” was inspired by two words: “Cielo,” meaning heaven in Spanish, and “Viento,” meaning wind, coming together as “Heaven Wind.” Interestingly, “Ciento” is also the Spanish word for one hundred, symbolizing perfection in the wine world. However, the focus at Ciento is not on perfection, but rather on joy, creativity, hard work, and family. If perfection ever arrives, the Ciento team will consider it an extra blessing.

The winery had a soft opening in 2024, and opened their wine club to membership. The word got out, and the folks at Ciento ran out of wine after fulfilling their clubs and tastings! Now, they will re-open on May 1, 2025.

Dave Carpenter’s first career was in investment management at a mutual fund company in Los Angeles, with little knowledge of Paso Robles or the Central Coast. The dream of Dave, Antonia, Sam, and Diego to establish a small family vineyard and winery began nearly 20 years ago during a wedding weekend in Paso Robles Wine Country. A spontaneous Sunday afternoon tour with his wife, Antonia, introduced them to the area, including wine tastings at Tablas Creek and L’Aventure. The Carpenters were living in Los Angeles and were unfamiliar with the Central Coast. They were captivated by Paso Robles, a place that felt untouched and reminiscent of old California. That trip marked the beginning of their journey into winemaking.

Several years later, Dave proposed the idea of starting a new chapter in their lives, focused on farming grapes and making wine. Antonia, an avid gardener, found the idea exciting, and although it was just a dream at the time, the notion of doing something in Paso Robles began to take shape.

In 2012, the Carpenters purchased property on the west side of Paso Robles in Peachy Canyon. The land featured exceptional calcareous limestone soils typical of the area. When preparing the land for planting, they uncovered 20 tons of white boulders, testament to the remarkable quality of the soil. The property had once been a cattle ranch, with a nearly abandoned 75-year-old farmhouse, offering breathtaking views and promising vineyard potential. The site, with its untouched land and multiple vineyard aspects, held great promise.

By the summer of 2018, Dave had left his finance career to take college-level chemistry courses in preparation for enrolling in the U.C. Davis winemaking certificate program. He was committed to learning the craft of winemaking.

The Carpenters enlisted vineyard planner Kevin Wilkinson to help design their vineyard, making key decisions about rootstock, clones, and grape varieties. In 2019, the vineyard was planted.

Dave began his U.C. Davis wine certificate program in 2019, seeking both academic and practical experience. He worked harvests and gained hands-on experience at Denner with Anthony Yount, L’Aventure with Stephan Asseo, and Clos Solène with Guillaume Fabre.

Ciento Cellars now has 14 acres under vine, growing eight grape varieties: Viognier, Grenache, Mourvèdre, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Cinsaut, and Petit Verdot. In 2023, Ciento Cellars bottled its first wines—a white and rosé from the 2023 harvest and two red blends from the 2022 harvest. These red wines aged for 19 months in neutral barrels (for the Rhone varieties) and new oak (for the Cabernet). The thriving vines are producing aromatic, complex wines, and the Ciento team is eager to share their handcrafted, small-batch creations.