The Paso Robles American Viticultural Area (AVA) and Greater San Luis Obispo County wine and wine grape industries have an annual economic impact of 1.9 billion dollars to the regional economy. Compiled using 2015 data, this study shows that the wine industry within San Luis Obispo County, and specifically within the Paso Robles AVA, is a major contributor to the economic prosperity of the area with the equivalent of 11.5 percent of all salary and wage jobs in the county, injects almost $1B in added value to the economy and contributes 28 percent of the total property tax revenue generated in San Luis Obispo County.
The Paso Robles AVA represents 87% of the total county-wide impacts in this study, with 40,000 vineyard acres and 200+ wineries, therefore the portion of the North County economic activity driven by the wine industry is significantly higher.