Paso Robles

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In addition to Tablas Creek Vineyard, there are well over 200 other wineries in the Paso Robles AVA (American Viticultural Area) as well as hundreds of independent vineyards.

These vineyard and wineries include specialists in Zinfandel, Bordeaux varietals such as Cabernet and Merlot, and (of course) Rhône varietals like us.

Where is Paso Robles?

Map of Paso RoblesPaso Robles is located in Calfornia's Central Coast, midway between Santa Barbara and Monterey, about 4 hours south of San Francisco. It is bisected by highway US-101 and the Salinas River, and has excellent (and quite different) growing regions on both east and west sides of town.

Why Paso Robles?

Paso Robles has a unique combination of attributes that make it ideal for growing grapes. These include:

  • The highest diurnal (day/night) temperature variance of any viticultural area in the United States: In the summer months, it is routinely in the mid 90s to low 100s during the day. However, our dry climate and our proximity to the ocean give us exceptionally cool nights, often down in the low 50s.
  • Incredibly diverse microclimates: Paso Robles has wide differences in elevation and proximity to the Pacific Ocean, which gives enormous climatic diversity. Its cooler areas (principally the Templeton Gap area) specialize in Pinot Noir, Syrah and Zinfandel. Its higher-elevation, mid-climate areas (principally the Adelaida Hills area in the north-west quadrant of town) is producing award winning Rhone Varietals, while its warmest areas (east and north of town) specialize in Bordeaux varietals. No other American AVA has as much diversity.
  • A reliable climate: Paso Robles is far enough south that it rarely rains before November, allowing growers and winemakers the opportunity for long hangtime and optimally ripened grapes. At the same time, the hot days are balanced by the cool nights, leading to harvests in late September, October and often November.
  • Tremendous soils: Paso Robles has wonderfully diverse soils, including the largest exposed limestone clay layer in California. Limestone is common in many of the great wine regions in Europe, including Burgundy, Alsace, the Loire, Chablis, and the southern Rhone, but rare in California. It is not found in Napa, Sonoma, Mendocino, the Central Valley, eastern Santa Barbara County, or Southern California. It is, in fact, only found in a narrow irregular band stretching through the Central Coast.

What happens in Paso Robles?

Paso Robles has three large festivals each year, the Zinfandel Festival in March, the Wine Festival in May, and the Harvest Festival in October. These are organized and publicized by the Paso Robles Wine Country Alliance (PRWCA).

There is also a wonderful festival dedicated to Rhone Varietals that draws producers from around the country and around the world to Paso Robles every April or May. The Hospice du Rhône is held at the Mid-State Fairgrounds in Paso Robles each year.

Where can I learn more about Paso Robles?

We'd love to tell you more. You are encouraged to contact us, or learn more about visiting Tablas Creek. Our tasting room is open daily from 10:00AM to 5:00PM, and we hold special events every month. You can also read posts about Paso Robles on the Tablas Creek Blog.

Organizations to help plan your visit:

Groups offering wine tours of Paso Robles (both guided and self-guided):

Upcoming Events

Outstanding in the Field (June 7) and Hearst Castle (July 13) Dinners

We are honored to be participating in two local dinners this summer, on June 7th at Rinconada Dairy with Outstanding in the Field and on July 13th at Hearst Castle with Festival Mozaic. Join us at these unforgettable (though wholly different) venues. Details & More Events »

Tablas Creek News

Featured Wine for May: 2010 Grenache Blanc

Each month, we choose a wine to feature based on the season and the wine's own evolution. For May, we've chosen the expressive, mineral-laced 2010 Grenache Blanc. During the feature, this wine (normally $27) is available at $24.60, and just $18.90 for VINsiders. Details »

On the Blog: Celebrating May 15th, the unofficial end to frost season

May 16, 2012

I've delayed writing this post so as not to jinx us, but in mid-May I think that I can do so safely. So, here goes. We seem to have made it through spring without any damage from frost. What does this mean? Nothing but good »