Paso Robles Chardonnay is the new normal.
Have you explored the world of Chardonnay from Paso Robles? Hope Family Wines has recently launched its version, and it’s a must-try for wine enthusiasts. This winery’s commitment to excellence has earned them the prestigious “American Winery of the Year” award at Wine Enthusiast’s annual Wine Star Awards. Hope Family Wines is a shining example of achieving the American Dream through passion and hard work. Currently, they collaborate with 50 partner growers and a dedicated family of employees.
Hope Family Wines is one of the pioneering heritage wineries that helped spark the modern winemaking era in Paso Robles. Chuck and Marlyn Hope were winegrowers themselves, and they passed on their love and respect for the region to their son Austin Hope. Therefore, Austin, the owner and winemaker of Hope Family Wines, grew up in Paso Robles.
The Hopes were crucial in forming the Paso Robles AVA in 1983. Ten years later, they also helped establish the Paso Robles Wine Country Alliance. (previously known as the Paso Robles Vintners). In 1986, the family ventured into winemaking. Since then, they had a strong belief that their Paso Robles wines could compete with the best in the world.
Hope noted that while Paso Robles is renowned predominantly for Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Grenache, Zinfandel, and other reds, Chardonnay is the most widely planted white grape in the AVA. However, much of the fruit is sold off. Bottlings of Paso Robles appellation Chardonnay still need to be available in the broad market.
Chardonnay from Paso Robles is only for insiders. You might have heard of Chardonnay from other regions of California. Hstorically, Chardonnay in California deliver rich and complex Chardonnay driven by butter notes. However, other regions in California have been cultivating and producing wine with a different hint, a bit more refined.
“Chardonnay is grown globally in a wide variety of conditions and soils, including other relatively warm climates such as Napa Valley and Sicily,” Austin Hope said. “We believe that Paso Robles has a bright future with Chardonnay. We get beautifully ripe flavors from the abundant sunshine, balanced by nice acidity from the cooling marine influence and well-drained soils.”
Hope Family Wines has introduced AUSTIN Chardonnay. This wine proudly embraces Chardonnay grown in Paso Robles on California’s Central Coast, which you may not have on your radar. AUSTIN Chardonnay ($20) is now available nationwide.
“We feel that Chardonnay is a bit of a sleeping giant in Paso Robles,” said Austin Hope, owner, and winemaker at Hope Family Wines. “We would like to bring it more to the forefront and celebrate the unique qualities of Chardonnay grown in our region. That’s what inspired us to create this wine.”
The inaugural non-vintage AUSTIN Chardonnay Paso Robles comes from three select vineyards in the Templeton Gap, Creston, and San Juan Creek districts, all chosen for producing exceptional Chardonnay fruit.
The winemaking is precise. First, the wine is pressed in whole-cluster into stainless steel tanks. Second, is then racked off the heavy lees into stainless steel tanks (20%) and French oak barrels (80%) for fermentation and aging. The barrel lot underwent surlie aging with monthly lees stirring.
AUSTIN Chardonnay is a white wine with a perfect balance of sweet and sour flavors. It has a refreshing taste with notes of lemon zest and brisk acidity. When you take a sip, you will feel the fruity taste of tropical and honeydew flavors. The wine finishes with a crisp and refreshing aftertaste.
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