Paso Robles

The Paso Robles appellation is now emerging from the shadows of Napa and Sonoma as competitive in quality, especially on the Rhone, Zinfandel and Bordeaux varietals. Wine enthusiasts are now talking about the Paso Robles region becoming the next Napa.

To the west of Paso Robles, located high in the chalky Santa Lucia coastal hills and directly inland from Hearst Castle is the West Side, or Adelaida region, named for an old 1800s farming community. The West Side enjoys unique soils and climate, and has one of the largest diurnal swing in California. The result is an unusually wide range of microclimates in perfect vineyard sites.

The calcareous, chalky, rock soils of the West Side are unusual to California, quite reminiscent of the Chateauneuf-du-Pape area of France. High pH chalk soils are highly prized the world over for premium vineyards because of the reduced vigor of vines grown on chalk. As in all world class vineyards, the result on the West Side is low grape yield, with most vineyards harvesting two tons of grapes or less per acre. Rainfall on the West Side is heavy during the winter, with yearly totals ranging between 25 to 50 inches. Historically, and despite the difficulty of the steep, rocky terrain, the early farms in the Paso Robles area were located on the West Side to take advantage of the rainfall. Many of the West Side vineyards also take advantage of the good rains by "dry farming," using no irrigation, after the young plants have a firmly established root system.

It is this unique combination of unusual chalky soils, abundant rainfall, and rough and rocky high elevation vineyard sites that challenges the vines into producing small berry clusters of marvelously concentrated grapes. Coupled with the wide spectrum of micro-climates, the flavors and character from vineyard site to vineyard site vary remarkably, and provide the winemaker with a broad palate of wine components from which to blend deep complexity. It takes many years to really prove a new vineyard location, but there is now enough history to make an accurate prediction about quality, on specific vineyard sites. West Side wines are superb and improving at a rapid rate as the viticultural practices are tailored to the locale, and as the processing styles of the winemakers bring out the full expression of the grape.

Francois and Jean-Pierre Perrin, owners of world-renowned Chateau du Beaucastel from the Chateauneuf-du-Pape area near Orange, France gave a significant vote of confidence to the West Side a few years ago. Together with Robert Haas, internationally known importer and marketer of fine wines, they purchased land in the Adelaida area on the West Side. Their acquisition came after years of an extensive soil and climate evaluation search, which took them throughout the grape growing regions of the world. With full confidence that they would produce superior wines from West Side grapes, they invested heavily in a specialized nursery for their imported pedigreed varieties of French root stock and selected quality clones of fruiting wood, continuing to specialize in their native Rhone varietals.

Ignacio Paderewski, a famous turn-of-the-century concert pianist, founding member of the League of Nations, and later the Premier of Poland was an early West Side enthusiast. He came to the Paso Robles area for the curative thermal baths and was so pleased by the beauty of the area that he ended up purchasing a large West Side ranch within a mile of Rancho Del Cielo on which he planted a highly praised vineyard. His most famous wine was a Zinfandel, and the clone he used is so associated with great Paso Zin that is now called the Paderewski Zinfandel Clone.

View Carina Cellars in Paso in a larger map.

Halter Ranch The vines occupy the steepest, most south-facing slopes on the property, reaching an elevation of 1,800 feet with excellent water drainage and sun exposure. These slopes are also rich in limestone. The vineyard is committed to environmentally responsible grape-growing practices. Farming sustainably means relying whenever possible on organic methods of fertilization, weed removal, pest control and mildew protection. Sustainable farming not only respects and protect the land and the people who work it, it also results in wines that more eloquently express their provenance.
Hearthstone Located in the heart of historic Adelaida, just west of Paso Robles in a unique Central Coast appellation, the Hearthstone site was chosen for its dynamic weather conditions and hilly topography with a solid limestone bedrock, clay soil and hard water. Hearthstone Vineyard’s carefully chosen clones and rootstocks were planted in 1999 into hilly, south-facing, shallow soils for eventual penetration into layered limestone bedrock. Minimal deep irrigation and organic fertilizers are modestly applied to keep vines healthy, yet mildly stressed during fruit ripening. Only the basic necessities for balanced growth are supplied as vines adjust gradually to the natural elements.
Sunset Ridge Planted entirely to Petite Sirah, this family-owned vineyard has a strong commitment to sustainable agricultural practices.

For more information about the Paso Robles winegrowing region, please visit the Paso Robles Vintners' Association website.