The History of Paso Robles Wine
The Paso Robles American Viticultural Appellation (AVA) is home to more than 200 wineries and 40,000 vineyard acres focusing on premium wine production. The distinct microclimates and diverse soils, combined with warm days and cool nights, make growing conditions ideal for producing more than 40 wine varietals from Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, to Syrah, Viognier and Roussanne, to Zinfandel, the area’s heritage wine variety.
EARLY YEARS
- 1790 – Winemaking and wine grape growing introduced by the Franciscan Friars at the Asistencia located on the Santa Margarita Ranch
- 1828 – Name recorded as El Paso de Robles, “The Pass of the Oaks”, but is commonly shortened today to Paso Robles
- 1850 – California receives statehood
- 1886 – City was founded
- 1882 – Indiana rancher Andrew York established Ascension Winery, known today as York Mountain Winery, planting some of the region’s earliest Zinfandel vines
1920S TO 1930S: ZINFANDEL
- Early 1920s – Famous Polish concert pianist Ignace Paderewski planted Petite Sirah and Zinfandel on his Rancho San Ignacio vineyard in the Adelaida area
- 1923 – Frank Pesenti planted Zinfandel on his property; winery not bonded until 1934
- 1924 – The Dusi family purchased a vineyard; these old head-pruned Zinfandel vines are now owned and cultivated by their son, Benito
1960S TO 1980S: CABERNET SAUVIGNON, LARGE PLANTINGS
- Late 1960s/early 1970s – Dr. Stanley Hoffman, under the guidance of U.C. Davis and legendary enologist André Tchelistcheff, planted some of the region’s first Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir and Chardonnay on his 1,200-acre ranch
- 1970s – Hoffman Mountain Ranch Winery was the first large-scale modern facility in the area
- 1973 - 1977 – Gary Eberle and Cliff Giacobine planted 700 acres, including the first modern commercial acreage of Syrah in the state and established Estrella River Winery, the largest winery in the area (purchased in 1988 by Nestle/Beringer)
- 1983 – The 556,765-acre Paso Robles AVA was established
1990S TO PRESENT: INTERNATIONAL INVESTMENT, RHÔNES AND BORDEAUX
- 1994 – Few than 100 acres planted under Rhône varieties
- 1996 – Paso Robles AVA expanded by 52,600 acres to include many plantings in the western hills of the region
- 1997 – JUSTIN Vineyards & Winery’s Bordeaux-style ISOSCELES named one of the top 10 wines in the world by the Wine Spectator
- 2006 – More than 2,200 acres planted under Rhône varieties
- 2007 – AB 87 law passes, requiring wines of Paso Robles AVA origin to list Paso Robles first (prominently) on label
- 2007 – Members of an independent AVA Committee submit the single largest AVA petition to TTB proposing to add 11 districts within the Paso Robles AVA
- 2008 – The Paso Robles AVA expanded by 2,635 to extend its southern border
- 2010 – Saxum Vineyard’s James Berry Vineyard 2010 wine designated number one in the world by Wine Spectator
- 2013 – Paso Robles Wine Country named Wine Enthusiast Magazine's 2013 Wine Region of the Year
- 2014 – More than 32,000 vineyard acres and more than 200 wineries in Paso Robles AVA
Here's a link to learn more: http://www.pasowine.com/