Paso Robles Wine Facts

Fun stats, from acreage to Zinfandel.

Acreage

The Paso Robles American Viticultural Area (AVA) was established in 1983 with 17 wineries and 5,000 acres of grapevines. Today nearly 300 wineries do business here, and out of the 600,000-plus acres the AVA encompasses more than 40,000 acres are planted to grapes.

Appellations

The Paso Robles AVA was divided into 11 subappellations in 2014. More than half the area’s wineries are within three of the subappellations, the Adelaida, Paso Robles Willow Creek, and Templeton Gap districts.

Most Planted Varietals

Cabernet Sauvignon is the most planted red-grape varietal within the larger Paso Robles AVA, about 40% of the region’s total, followed by Merlot (14%) and Syrah (9%). At 5%, Chardonnay is the most planted white grape.

Temperature Shift

According to the Paso Robles Wine Country Alliance, the AVA has the greatest diurnal (from day to night) temperature shift during the growing season of any California appellation. In the dead of summer the difference between the highest temperature during the day and the nighttime low is often between 40°F and 50°F.

Zin Heritage

Zinfandel was first planted in the late 1880s and for many years was the wine the region was most known for. The Polish pianist and composer Ignacy Paderewski (1860–1941) moved to Paso Robles after taking to the town’s sulfur baths to cure his rheumatism. He planted Zinfandel at a vineyard now owned by Epoch Estate Wines.


Paso Robles Stories and Reviews

What to Do

8 Reasons to Visit Paso Robles Now
12 Foolproof Paso Robles Wine Tasting Experiences
Tablas Creek Vineyard

Where to Eat, Drink, and Sleep

Allegretto Vineyard Resort Paso Robles
Paso Robles Lodgings Cheat Sheet
Paso Robles Restaurants Cheat Sheet
Thomas Hill Organics

Facts and Info

Paso Robles CAB Collective

This story first appeared online in 2017; it was fact-checked and updated in 2020.

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