With more than 40 years and two generations of experience in winemaking, the Ortman Family is bringing a unique outlook on crafting quality, artisan wines directly to wine lovers in Paso Robles with the opening of its new tasting room, located in the heart of the city’s historic downtown district.

For general manager and wine maker Matt Ortman, making wine is literally in his blood. The son of wine master and Meridian Vineyards founder Chuck Ortman, Matt grew up in a small town in Napa Valley surrounded by acres of vineyards and experts in wine.

That passion for winemaking seems to have rubbed off from father to son and after Chuck’s retirement from Meridian in 1999, Chuck asked Matt and his wife, Lisa, to start a small label together.

“We thought this would be a good opportunity to get back to the Central Coast and do what we wanted to do as opposed to being in big business,” said Lisa, who serves as director of marketing.

The couple moved to back to the region in 2002 from the Bay Area after an extended stay in Tuscany, Italy where Matt apprenticed with the famed Castello di Gabbiano winery to gain a new perspective on winemaking. Italy’s cuisine-friendly approach to wine fits in perfectly with what he calls the “Ortman style” of winemaking, developed and honed by his father during 40 years in the wine industry.

As an artisan family winery, Ortman Family Vineyards uses traditional methods to ensure wine quality and integrity, including hand harvesting of grapes, gentle handling in the cellar and minimal processing, according to a release. Each production lot is guided by hand and aged in premium French oak cooperage.

The Ortmans specialize in crafting Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and other artisan wines, Matt said. The grapes are sourced from select vineyards and appellations that match the Ortman’s stylistic vision for each varietal, according to a release, and include Fiddlestix Vineyards in Santa Rita Hills, Firepeak Vineyard in Edna Valley, and Brave Oaks Vineyard and Algunas Dias Vineyards, both located in Paso Robles.

The family’s approach to making wines focuses around “finesse, elegance and balance,” Matt said. The softer textured wines, rich flavors and aromas are specifically designed to complete a meal.

“Wine has a place on the table,” he said. “We try to make a wine that really comes to life when you put it around food.”

Paso Robles’ fine cuisine scene, which has made strides in recent years to compliment the cutting edge of wine development in the Paso Robles American Viticulture Area, is one of the reasons why the Ortmans sought out a tasting room in they city’s downtown. The tasting room is just a quick jaunt away from leaders in Paso Robles’ burgeoning culinary movement, like Artisan and Villa Creek, Matt said.

“We kind of see it as a lifestyle,” Lisa said. “We see [the Ortman Family Vineyards Tasting Room] as a gathering place for people and our wine club members can come here and then they can go to a restaurant.”

Lisa, who holds a degree in forestry and natural resources from Cal Poly, worked in partnership with Green Goods of San Luis Obispo to incorporate an eco-friendly approach to the design of the tasting room. The tasting bar’s countertops are crafted out of recycled paper, renewable and sustainable woods were utilized throughout the tasting room and recycled glass tile work accents the “green” theme of the space. Marrying the wine and eco-friendly design, cork floors will be installed in the tasting room within the week. A tranquil green garden area is also in development and should be finished by July, she said.

“We really wanted to make it renewable,” Lisa said. “Now that we have kids, it was important to us to just be more green.”

The tasting room opened for the first time to the public during the weekend of the Paso Robles Wine Festival, held May 16 through 18. The Ortmans poured their 2005 Syrah Rosé, 2006 Cuvee Eddy (a Rhone-style blend), 2006 Chardonnay and 2005 Syrah to the 5,200 wine enthusiasts in the park.

“It was great to be open and have that many people to show our wines to,” Matt said

An additional three varietals are available in the tasting room — the 2006 Pinot Noir, 2006 Sangiovese, and 2003 Cabernet Sauvignon.

“The reception was fantastic,” Lisa said of the opening weekend. “People were excited because they know Chuck and they were excited to see Ortman back in Paso.”

The Ortman Family Tasting Room, located at 1317 Park St., is open from Thursday to Monday between the hours of 12 and 7 p.m. For more information, visit their Web site at www.ortmanvineyards.com.