We grew up with the Paso Robles wine country. Larry and Elaine Rasmussen met at Cal Poly in the early 1960’s. Elaine is a native of San Luis Obispo, as were her mother and grandmother, so bringing their children to the Paso Robles area to visit family was a regular occurrence. Larry grew to love and appreciate the local wines and one day (literally, just one day) decided to buy property for a vineyard. The vines were planted in 1995 and since the first harvest the vineyard has supplied fruit to other local wineries. Larry and Elaine with son Niles, his wife Wendy, and their daughter Kristin wanted to showcase the vineyard’s sought-after fruit in their own wines so in 2009 Rasmussen Family Vineyards and Winery was born. Today we continue to be a small family run winery specializing in wines from our vineyard fruit. If you come visit you are highly likely to meet one, or all of us.

Niles Rasmussen has the perfect attributes of a great winemaker. With the detailed mind of an engineer (because he is one), an understanding of the vine’s ability to produce great fruit, a great palate, and unwavering dedication that only a family member could bring to our wines.

Niles graduated from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo where he met his wife Wendy. Together they raised two children.