Paso Robles AVA
Wine region
Paso Robles vineyard
TypeAmerican Viticultural Area
Year established1983[1]
Years of wine industry227[2]
CountryUnited States
Part ofCalifornia, Central Coast AVA, San Luis Obispo County
Other regions in California, Central Coast AVA, San Luis Obispo CountySan Luis Obispo (SLO) Coast
Sub-regionsAdelaida District AVA, Creston District AVA, El Pomar District AVA, Paso Robles Estrella District AVA, Paso Robles Geneseo District AVA, Paso Robles Highlands District AVA, Paso Robles Willow Creek District AVA, San Juan Creek AVA, San Miguel District AVA, Santa Margarita Ranch AVA, Templeton Gap District AVA[3]
Climate regionRegion II, III[2]
Precipitation (annual average)10 to 25 inches (254–635 mm)[2]
Soil conditionsPrimarily, bedrock composed of weathered granite, volcanic and marine sedimentary rocks overlayed with sandstone, mudstone or calcareous shales.[4]
Total area614,000 acres (959 sq mi)[2]
1996: 52,618 acres (82 sq mi) added[5]
2009: 2,635 acres (4 sq mi) added[6]
Size of planted vineyards40,000 acres (16,187 ha)[7][8] 1983: 5,000 acres (2,023 ha)[2]
1996: 235 acres (95 ha) added[5]
2009: 1,000 acres (405 ha) added[6]
No. of vineyards172[9]
Grapes producedThere are more than 40 wine grape varieties such as Albarino, Barbera, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Counoise, Grenache, Grenache blanc, Malbec, Marsanne, Merlot, Mourvedre, Nebbiolo, Orange Muscat, Petit Verdot, Petite Sirah, Picpoul, Pinot gris, Pinot noir, Riesling, Roussanne, Sangiovese, Sauvignon blanc, Syrah, Tannat, Tempranillo, Tinta Cao, Viognier, and Zinfandel[7]
Varietals produced60[8]
No. of wineriesover 200[3]

Paso Robles is the third American Viticultural Area (AVA) located in San Luis Obispo (SLO) County, California. It was established by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF), Treasury on November 3, 1983 based on a petition submitted by Martin-Brothers Winery. The area encompasses 609,673 acres (953 sq mi) with approximately 18,500 acres (7,487 ha) cultivated with wine grapes known for their heritage varietal Zinfandel, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Rhône-style wines. [2]

History

The name of the area dates from the late 18th Century, the missionary period of the area. The full Spanish name is "El Paso de Robles" or "the Pass of the Oaks." This name was given by travelers between the San Miguel mission, located within the boundaries of the viticultural area, and Mission San Luis Obispo. A land grant, in this name, was conveyed by Governor Micheltorena to Pedro Narvaez on May 12, 1844. This land grant includes the present areas of Paso Robles, Templeton, and Adelaida. The land grant was patented on July 20, 1866, to Petronillo Rios. In 1857 the Paso Robles land grant was purchased by three men. These men, capitalizing on the hot springs and mud baths of the area, set out to make the Paso Robles Hot Springs one of the finest resort spas in the Country and built the first of the famous hotels. The community serving the hotel and resort visitors was incorporated as the City of El Paso de Robles on February 25, 1889. Since that time, the entire area of the viticultural area has been referred to as the Paso Robles area.[2]

Grapes were first introduced into the Paso Robles area in 1787 by Spanish missionaries at Mission San Miguel Arcangel, founded in 1797, produced wine and it is assumed that the grapes were harvested in nearby areas. The earliest date was 1873 showing that approximately 40 acres (16 ha) were vineyards. One winery established in the last century is still involved in wine production, Rotta Winery, now Tablas Creek Vineyard.[10] In addition to this winery, there are twelve others and one under construction. There were 62 existing vineyards at the establishment of Paso Robles viticultural area comprising approximately 5,000 acres (2,023 ha) with more grape plantings planned, generally adjacent to or in close proximity to the existing vineyards.[2][11] Commercial wine growing, however, was not started until the 1880s with the establishment of Ascension Winery, later known as York Mountain Winery, and today known as Epoch Estate Wines. In 1914, Ignacy Jan Paderewski, the famous Polish pianist, conductor, and statesman, established a vineyard on his ranch. The Zinfandel grape was introduced to the area in this vineyard. Wine produced by York Mountain Winery from this vineyard was awarded a gold medal at the California State Fair.[2] Since 1990, when there were fewer than 20 wineries in Paso Robles, a large expansion of activity has seen the number rise to more than 200 wineries today. Wine critic Robert M. Parker, Jr. commented on the region's promise of quality of wine, emphasizing the wineries L'Aventure, Linne Calodo, Saxum Vineyards, Doce Robles "Twelve Oaks" Winery & Vineyard, Villa Creek Cellars, Castoro Cellars and Tablas Creek Vineyard as the "leading Paso pioneers".[12]

Viticulture Expansion

In 2007, a proposal to split the area at the Salinas River and form a new "Paso Robles Westside AVA" was made. The proposal was withdrawn in 2009, and a new proposal was made to sub-divide the AVA into eleven viticultural areas with their separate unique attributes.[13]

Effective on November 10, 2014, Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) issued a final rule in the Federal Register establishing eleven distinct sub-appellations within the existing Paso Robles viticultural area.[14][15]

Viognier grapes

Paso Robles' Viticultural Areas

Wine Industry

The Paso Robles AVA is still acknowledged for its heritage grape, Zinfandel, but has gained recognition from a wider range of grape varietals as well. In the 1950s and 1960s, growers began to plant Bordeaux varieties, particularly Cabernet Sauvignon, in the area. Starting in the 1980s, there have been increased plantings of many Rhône varieties, including the first Syrah planted in California, as well as Viognier and Roussanne to name a few.[11] The emerging popularity of the region's wines led it to become the first site of the bi-annual "Hospice du Rhône" conference on Rhône style wine. Today, Paso Robles Wine Country is receiving attention for its unique Paso blends. These wines are unique to the area, and with varietal make-ups that do not follow traditional rules and expectations of winemaking, as characteristic in other regions of the wine world.[8]

Paso Robles red blend

Wine Festivals

The Paso Robles Zinfandel Festival, now known as Vintage Paso: Zinfandel Weekend,[28] is a festival focused on the Paso Robles area's heritage grape, Zinfandel. This event is held by the Paso Robles Wine Country Alliance, a non-profit cooperative marketing alliance.

The Paso Robles Wine Festival is a festival focused on the wide variety of wines the area produces, held in Paso Robles' downtown city park. Attendees have the opportunity to talk with the Paso Robles vintners and taste their wines.

The Harvest Wine Weekend is a celebration of the harvest season with three days of hands-on Paso Robles Wine Country activities.

In 2015, the Paso Robles Wine Country Alliance started a new festival, BlendFest on the Coast, dedicated to the unique wine blends of Paso Robles, held on the coast in San Simeon and Cambria.[29]

Awards

References

  1. ↑ ""§ 9.84 Paso Robles" (Title 27: Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms; Part 9 — American Viticultural Areas; Subpart C — Approved American Viticultural Areas). Code of Federal Regulations (e-CFR). Retrieved January 24, 2008.Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 "Establishment of Paso Robles Viticultural Area" (27 CFR 9 [T.D. TF-143; Ref: Notice No. 451] Final Rule). Federal Register. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF), Treasury. 48 (193): 45239–45242. October 4, 1983.Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  3. 1 2 "Paso Robles Wine Country Viticultural Areas". Paso Robles Wine Country Alliance.
  4. ↑ "Paso Robles Wine". Wine Searcher. 2008.
  5. 1 2 "Extension Of The Paso Robles Viticultural Area (93F-026T)" (Final Rule, 27 CFR Part 9 [T.D. ATF–377; Ref: Notice No. 818, T.D. ATF–148]). Federal Register. Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives Bureau (ATF), Treasury. June 13, 1996. pp. 29952–29954.Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  6. 1 2 "Expansion of the Paso Robles Viticultural Area (2008R-073P)" (Final Rule, 27 CFR Part 9 [Docket No. [TTB-2008-0005-0011]). Federal Register. Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB), Treasury. January 21, 2009. pp. 3425–3429.Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  7. 1 2 "Paso Robles (AVA): Appellation Profile". Appellation America. 2007. Archived from the original on September 20, 2008. Retrieved January 24, 2008.
  8. 1 2 3 "About". Paso Robles Wine Country. Paso Robles Wine Country Alliance.
  9. ↑ "Vineyards". Paso Robles Wine Country. Paso Robles Wine Country Alliance. Retrieved December 13, 2023.
  10. ↑ Agran, Libbie (January 27, 2020). "Rotta Family". Wine History Project. San Luis Obispo County and Wine and the Vines LLC.
  11. 1 2 "Region History". Paso Robles Wine Country. Paso Robles Wine Country Alliance.
  12. ↑ Parker Jr., Robert M. (October 2007). "The Promise of Paso Robles". Food & Wine Magazine. Archived from the original on January 9, 2009.
  13. ↑ "Proposed Establishment of the Paso Robles Westside Viticultural Area (2006R–087P)" (Withdrawal: 27 CFR 9 TTB Docket No. 2007–0060; [Notice No. 94; Re: Notice Nos. 71 and 72]). Federal Register. Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau, Treasury. April 30, 2009. pp. 19917–19920. Retrieved December 12, 2023.
  14. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 "Establishment of the Adelaida District, Creston District, El Pomar District, Paso Robles Estrella District, Paso Robles Geneseo District, Paso Robles Highlands District, Paso Robles Willow Creek District, San Juan Creek, San Miguel District, Santa Margarita Ranch, and Templeton Gap District Viticultural Areas" (27 CFR 9 Docket No. TTB-2013-0009 {T.D.TTB-125 Ref: Notice No. 140]). Federal Register. Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau: 60954–60968. October 19, 2014.Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  15. ↑ "11 new viticultural areas established within Paso Robles". Paso Robles Daily News. October 8, 2014.
  16. ↑ Taranto, Christopher (March 4, 2020). "Adelaida District". Paso Robles Wine Country Alliance. Retrieved April 13, 2021.
  17. ↑ Taranto, Christopher (May 13, 2020). "Creston District". Paso Robles Wine Country Alliance. Retrieved April 13, 2021.
  18. ↑ Taranto, Christopher (July 9, 2020). "El Pomar District". Paso Robles Wine Country Alliance. Retrieved April 13, 2021.
  19. ↑ Taranto, Christopher (August 25, 2020). "Estrella District". Paso Robles Wine Country Alliance.
  20. ↑ Taranto, Christopher (October 5, 2020). "Geneseo District". Paso Robles Wine Country Alliance.
  21. ↑ Taranto, Christopher (December 1, 2020). "Highlands District". Paso Robles Wine Country Alliance. Retrieved April 13, 2021.
  22. ↑ Peterson, Joel (December 12, 2017). "Willow Creek AVA". Paso Robles Wine Country Alliance.
  23. ↑ Taranto, Christopher (January 26, 2021). "San Juan Creek District". Paso Robles Wine Country Alliance. Retrieved April 13, 2021.
  24. ↑ Taranto, Christopher (April 7, 2021). "San Miguel District". Paso Robles Wine Country Alliance. Retrieved April 13, 2021.
  25. ↑ Todd, Cathrine (November 24, 2023). "California Vineyard Sought Out By The 'Royal' Family Of U.S. Wine World". Forbes. Retrieved December 3, 2023.
  26. ↑ Peterson, Joel (October 10, 2017). "Santa Margarita Ranch AVA". Paso Robles Wine Country Alliance. Retrieved June 5, 2021.
  27. ↑ Peterson, Joel (November 14, 2017). "Templeton Gap". Paso Robles Wine Country. Paso Robles Wine Country Alliance. Retrieved June 5, 2021.
  28. ↑ "2018 Paso Robles Wine Country Events Announced, Tickets Now on Sale" (Press Release). Wine Industry Advisor. December 13, 2017. Retrieved March 2, 2018.
  29. ↑ "BlendFest on the Coast". Paso Robles Wine Country. Paso Robles Wine Country Alliance. Retrieved December 12, 2023.
  30. ↑ "2010 Wine Spectator Top 100 Wines" (2007 Saxum Vineyards James Berry Vineyard, Paso Robles Willow Creek District). Wine Searcher.
  31. ↑ Heimoff, Steve (November 20, 2013). "2013 Wine Region of the year: Paso Robles". Uncorked Wine Tours. Archived from the original on October 25, 2020.
  32. ↑ Forgione, Mary (July 22, 2016). "Sunset magazine names Paso Robles best wine country town in the West". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on August 10, 2020.

35°36′26″N 120°36′29″W / 35.6071502°N 120.6081466°W / 35.6071502; -120.6081466

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