Paso Robles AVAs
The Paso Robles American Viticulture Area is situated along California’s Central Coast. Framed by two mountain ranges, the region enjoys a Mediterranean climate with warm days and cool nights. More than 200 wineries dot the landscape, sourcing fruit from 40,000 acres of wine grapes that vary from Albariño to Zinfandel.
Over 60 different varietals are grown in the Paso Robles region. The majority being Cabernet Sauvignon, followed by Merlot, Syrah and other red varieties like Grenache and Mourvèdre. Paso’s exceptional climate, proximity to the Pacific Ocean, varying topography, and diversity of soils make it a great place to produce world class wines.
Paso Robles has a maritime climate becoming more continental to the east, with growing degree-day.
REGION(S)
II, III and IV.
8 – 30
20 – 50
Adelaida District
Topography
Santa Lucia Range high mountain slopes grading to foothills; 900 – 2200 feet.
Soil
Shallow, bedrock residual soils and patchy colluvial hillside soils from middle member of Monterey Formation and older rocks; largely calcareous soils.
REGION(S)
II–III transitional
25
30
Creston District
Topography
Old erosional plateau at the base of the La Panza Range; alluvial terraces and fans of Huerhuero Creek; 1,000 – 2,000 feet.
Soil
Old, well developed terrace and hillside soils; mix of granitic and sedimentary rocks.
REGION(S)
III
11.5
25
El Pomar District
Topography
High, older terraces, fans, and hills; 740 – 1,600 feet
Soil
Quaternary alluvial soils, well developed loams to clay loams, some calcareous, with Monterey Formation sandstone and siltstone at depth in some areas.
REGION(S)
II
15
20-25
Paso Robles Estrella District
Topography
Rolling plains of Estrella River valley and terraces; 745 – 1819 feet.
Soil
Quaternary alluvial soils of diverse ages across younger to older terraces, deep to moderate depth, with remnant patches of older valley fill at highest elevations.
REGION(S)
III
12.5-15.5
35-40
Paso Robles Geneseo District
Topography
Upfaulted hills through old river terraces along Huerhuero–La Panza fault; 740 – 1,300 feet.
Soil
Old alluvial terrace and residual hillside soils of moderate depth with cementation of the gravelly Paso Robles Formation and older granites.
REGION(S)
III-IV
13-14
20-25
Paso Robles Highlands
Topography
Old Pliocene–Pleistocene erosional surface across the Simmler, Monterey and Paso Robles formations below the La Panza Range; 1,160 – 2,086 feet.
Soil
Deep, sometimes cemented alluvial soils; old leached alkaline soils common, with younger sandy soils along active steams.
REGION(S)
IV
12
50+
Paso Robles Willow Creek District
Topography
High elevation mountainous bedrock slopes across a more erodible member of the Monterey Formation; 960 – 1,900 feet.
Soil
Mostly bedrock (residual) soils from the middle and lower members of the Monterey Formation, patches of alluvial soil along streams, largely calcareous, loams to clay loams.
REGION(S)
II
24-30
20
San Juan Creek
Topography
San Juan Creek younger river valleys with alluvial terraces and fans as a tributary to the upper Estrella River; 980 – 1,600 feet.
Soil
Well to moderately drained, deep alluvial soils, sandy loams to loams to clay loams on the highest, oldest terraces.
REGION(S)
III-IV
10.4
35-40
San Miguel District
Topography
Footslope of Santa Lucia Range, with alluvial terraces of the Salinas and Estrella rivers and small recent alluvial fans; 580 – 1,600 feet.
Soil
Deep, alluvial sandy loams to loams to a few clay loams (some with clay pans) from the river bottoms up onto the higher terraces.
REGION(S)
III
11.4
30-35
Santa Margarita Ranch
Topography
High, steep mountain slopes of ancient Salinas River and upper reaches of incised contemporary Salinas River along the Rinconada Fault; 900 – 1,400 feet.
Soil
Deep alluvial soils derived from many lithologies and varying in texture, with patchy residual soils on mountain slopes.
REGION(S)
II
29
25
Templeton Gap District
Topography
Santa Lucia Range mountain slopes and broad alluvial terraces; elevations 700 – 1,800 feet.
Soil
Broad alluvial terraces and fans of Paso Robles Creek and the Salinas River over bedrock; alluvial soils of shallow to moderate depth and sandy to silty to clay loams; calcareous in places.
REGION(S)
II
20
20