John S. Alban

Winemaker, Owner, and Head Groundskeeper of Alban Vineyards

In 1986, John started Alban Vineyards- the first American winery and vineyard established exclusively for Rhone varieties.  Widely recognized as the leading patriarch of the American ‘rhone renaissance’, Robert Parker dubbed John “…the spiritual and qualitative leader of the movement.”  Alban Vineyards is also one of only 170 wineries worldwide and one of only 22 in the U.S. to be featured in Robert Parker’s book, “The World’s Greatest Wine Estates”.  Jim Laube wrote in the Wine Spectator, “Leading the pack is John Alban…His [Syrahs] are stunning, among the most distinct and compelling I’ve had in more than 30 years of drinking wine.”

Besides introducing Roussanne, and Grenache Noir to California, John Alban is the Founding Director of Hospice du Rhone- the world’s largest international celebration of Rhone varieties.  In 2021 Alban Vineyards became generational with the Alban’s eldest son- Jared, joining his father full time in the winery and vineyard.

• 1985 — May 14, 1985 was my first blind taste of Viognier in the guise of Condrieu
• 1986 — May 1986 I headed to Condrieu for a crush job and apprenticed up and down the Rhone
• 1987 — 1987 Grafted two seminal vineyards in Paso to Rhones including two blocks of the James Berry Vineyard: these would be the 'seeds' of both Alban Vineyards and the subsequent proliferation of Rhones in Paso and S.L.O.
• 1989 — 1989 we purchased the Edna Valley ranch that is home to Alban Vineyards—the first American winery and vineyard established exclusively for Rhone varieties.
• 1991 — 1991 Our first commercial release and the first American bottling of Roussanne
• 1993 — 1993 Hosted the first Raisin' Rhones in California. This event evolved into Hospice du Rhone: the world's largest international celebration of Rhone variety based wines.
• 1999 — 1999 Jim Laube of the Wine Spectator put us on the map: a map of the most renowned wineries in Santa Barbara County. Yep, we're in SLO County but we were, and remain, truly happy to be put on ANY map!
• 2001 — 2001 Robert Parker wrote:
  “California is awash in interesting wines made from Rhone Valley Varietals, but John Alban is the spiritual and qualitative leader of the movement, turning out sumptuous, majestic, potentially long-lived offerings.”
• 2003 — 2003 Jim Laube wrote,* “…Syrah is the most exciting new wine going. Leading the pack is John Alban, who was the first vintner in California to devote his vineyard exclusively to Rhone-style grapes. His 2000s are stunning, among the most distinct and compelling I’ve had in more than 30 years of drinking wine.”*
• 2005 — 2005 Alban Vineyards was named one of only 22 U.S. wineries in Robert Parker's "The World's Greatest Wine Estates".
• 2005 — 2005 John Alban was made the first American Winemaker recognized as a Decurion of the Cote Rotie and Condrieu
• 2017 — 2017 Alban named Wine Spectator's California Wine Star
• 2026 — 2026 Alban named Winemaker of the Year for the 49th annual Guardsmen of San Francisco
• 2026 — 2026 Alban is the first inductee into the Learnaboutwine HALL OF FAME!