As Robb Talbott was growing up in Carmel, his parents were building a successful business making designer ties. During buying trips to Europe, the family nurtured an interest in wine and visited the local vineyards. After college and a detour into motorcycle racing and antique car restoration, Talbott returned to Carmel and the family tie business. But both he and his parents, Robert Sr. and Audrey, harbored a dream of producing their own wines.

That dream was realized in 1982, when the family established Robert Talbott Vineyards. Robb starting planting Chardonnay on a rocky piece of land above Carmel Valley that was to become Diamond T Estate. Vines struggle at the site, and yields are typically around a ton an acre.

In the years that followed, vineyard holdings have expanded with the addition of two properties in the Santa Lucia Highlands, Sleepy Hollow Vineyard (which is actually two separate parcels) and River Road Vineyard. Both are planted with Chardonnay and Pinot Noir; Sleepy Hollow also has a little Syrah. The winery produces several Chardonnays and Pinots, some of them named after members of the family. But Chardonnay remains the star at Robert Talbott Vineyards, especially the Diamond T bottling.