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Here's a region to watch: Paso it on

Looking for the inside track on a hot “new” wine region that offers top-tier quality at approachable prices? Two words: Paso Robles. Paso has more than 230 years of winemaking history, yet still flies under the mainstream radar. But that won’t last; it’s attracting a lot of attention these days and many big names in the wine world have been taking notice – you should too.

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California's other gem
 

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When it comes to California wine, Napa and Sonoma are rightly top of mind. But in the shadow of these two giants, Paso Robles has been quietly producing stunning wines, notably Cabernet Sauvignon. Paso’s diverse, complex geography of rolling hills, flatlands, river bottoms, valleys and mountains has created a patchwork of growing areas. With vineyards planted in hot, dry areas or sites cooled by Pacific Ocean fogs and breezes, this varied landscape allows Cabernets Sauvignon and Franc, Zinfandel, Merlot, Petite Sirah, Syrah, Viognier, Roussanne and others to thrive.

Paso Robles wines exhibit a bold vitality, intense flavour, and varietal character, but Paso has much more than great wine and natural beauty.“… [the] region has steadily become a serious tourist draw. There are an increasing number of excellent, even world-class restaurants to choose from now, with the most noteworthy being Les Petites Canailles and Six Test Kitchen.” (Josh Raynolds, vinous.com, July 7, 2022)


Meet and greet

Paso is peopled with pioneers and innovators from near and far – further testament that this is a region to watch.

 

The old guard: J. Lohr
 

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Celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2024, the family-owned and -operated J. Lohr is one of the most recognizable and beloved names in California winemaking. Its Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir, Merlot, Petite Sirah, Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc have been instrumental in establishing and raising the reputation of Paso Robles and Arroyo Seco (in Monterey County) as top-tier wine regions.


The old guard: Austin Hope
 

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In 1995, Austin Hope began overseeing operations at the iconic Hope Family Wines, which has been a stalwart of Paso winemaking since 1978. He founded his eponymous winery in 2000, and it was named Wine Enthusiast’s American Winery of the Year in 2022. The Austin Hope project began with a focus on Rhône varieties, but after rigorous site selection and extensive experimentation, he added Cabernet Sauvignon in 2017.


The next wave: DAOU
 

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Brothers Georges and Daniel founded DAOU Vineyards in 2007, but the story of this winery began in 1975 when the Daou family fled civil war in Lebanon, finding themselves first in France and later California. Today, DAOU crafts many of Paso Robles’s most dynamic, terroir-driven Cabernet Sauvignon, Bordeaux-inspired blends, and mouthwatering, lithe, expressive Chardonnay.


New frontiers: Grant Burge
 

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Grant Burge can trace its beginnings to the 1800s, when the Burge family first planted vines in Australia’s Barossa Valley. Though they continued to operate primarily as grape growers, they began making their own wines in 1865. A pioneering spirit has always been integral to Grant Burge, and that attitude has seen it set its sights on the exciting terroir of Paso Robles.


Spotlight on Cabernet Sauvignon
 

Paso’s diverse soils and mesoclimates allow for a range of Cabernet expressions, and many of the region’s finest Cabs are richer and darker than those from Napa. Premium-quality Paso Cabernets showcase overt blueberry, cassis and peppercorn and can be enjoyed much earlier and at a more approachable price than their broad-shouldered Napa counterparts. Napa Cabernet is king for a reason, but if you’re looking for something special without breaking the bank, Paso Robles Cabernet is it.

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Discover more
 

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For more stellar Paso Robles Cabernets, see our Online & Flagship Exclusives collection.


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