This article on Wine Searcher titled, ‘Paso Robles: It’s Hot But Cooler Than You Think’, is the latest article talking about the awesomeness that is Paso Robles.
Well…mostly for the west side.
I love the mentions of Eberle, J. Lohr, Tablas Creek, and Saxum. Jason Haas of Tablas gets quoted a few times in the article which is great as well. The question that arises for me is, does the west side of Paso Robles produce BETTER fruit and BETTER wine than the east side or is it simply DIFFERENT fruit and DIFFERENT wine than the east side?
This is a topic that comes up from time to time and to be truthful I don’t think the question matters. Which side produces better fruit or wine? It sounds like an argument that should be had in the sandbox with kindergarteners.
In my mind there is crappy fruit out there on both sides as well as crappy wine. On the other hand I believe there is high quality fruit (and wine) on both sides. As someone that wants to see all of Paso flourish and not just one part of it, I think we need to move past questions like this and instead explore the differences not which side is better.
This may simply be a topic of interest to the 1%’ers. You know, the elite 1% of wine drinking folks. The wine geeks. I have seen many east side wineries with full parking lots time and again. I also know there are west side wineries that buy east side fruit…and vice versa.
I am open minded though. I’m willing to be proven wrong. Maybe everyone really does care about sides…about territory. You know, like the Bloods and the Crips. Or maybe, as humans, we kind of like the drama. We need to have a numero uno. We need to have something to talk about. We enjoy the us versus them…pitting this man against that man.
Either way, I appreciate any article that promotes Paso in some way. It seems there have been a lot lately. Here’s another recent article that was quite long and mentioned a wheelbarrow full of local joints, it was done by Passport Magazine and simply titled, ‘Paso Robles Wine Country’. There was also a short mention of Paso Robles in this one by Lonely Planet titled, ‘Visiting California’s Wine Country’.
Annie’s thoughts on this whole matter: For me, it still goes back to the point of “drink what you like and like what you drink”. If a bunch of sommeliers came here 4 years ago and didn’t think there were any wines to fit in their programs, then that tells me they’re either too picky or they don’t know the broad spectrum of their clientele. You can’t tell me that they couldn’t sell a bottle of Pear Valley, Eberle, Tobin James or Steinbeck in their restaurants. The beauty of Paso Robles wine country is how diverse it is…in varieties, price range, style, etc. There’s something here for everyone. Let’s celebrate the diversity instead of concentrating on who thinks who is better…Cheers!
Just read the main article you are referring to & I see how the writer may have took the information he had and moved it in a direction that sparked your question. I believe most of our wine industry community is with you in wanting to promote the awesomeness of Paso as a whole! (at least I hope so)
Jason just posted a great response & clarification to his comments that were quoted in the article.
Cheers to Paso !
=)
Dani, thank you…I will go check out Jason’s blog post. I’ve heard a handful of locals and non-locals claim that west side Paso has the best fruit and wine. I’m not a fan of hearing that but I know people have a right to their opinion. Thanks for your thoughts. 🙂
That is a great debate. We have had many tasting room conversations over this same topic. I (Hope) all of Paso is looking to support each other, but I do know there is somewhat of a (friendly) rivalry. It is in some fun, but you wonder if there is true animosity for some behind it. Our fruit is from the west side. With that being said, I understand that the biggest difference is the water. West side has much more difficulty obtaining water. With that the fruit is stressed more which leads to less canopy and smaller berries. The smaller berries lead to more intense flavor (generally). Which leads to a difference in acidity. The east side has more water so tend to harvest more tonnage per acre. Their berries are larger and generally have less intense flavor. When it comes down to it, we personally, and as a winery, believe BOTH sides have fantastic wines. There are differences, but that is what makes wine great because I can love something, that you may not care for. Doesn’t mean the wine I like is bad, it just means my palette is different than yours. And we think that is a great thing!
Lori, well, I have heard a small handful not be friendly about it and that is coming from west side folks. As for water, west side gets far more rain than the east side. As far as well water, I know wells on both sides that have been drying up. I agree with your last points and that’s what I have been trying to get people to understand. The west side is not making producing better fruit. There is good fruit on both sides and bad fruit on both sides. It does come down to a persons own taste preferences at the end of the day.
West side gets more rain, and has heavier soils that will store more water. Because the west gets more rain there is more natural plant growth and therefore more organics in the soil, and the soil is more fertile. East gets much less rain and soils don’t hold water as well. Less natural plant growth so less fertile soils. It would be imposible most years to grow grapes on the east without some suplimental water. Almost all vineyards that I know use deficit irrigation which gives the vines just the minimum water they need for an optimum crop for wine quality. Remember that Paso has only about 2% of Californias vineyards and growers here are after quality not quantity. We cannot compete in quantity with the valley and don’t try. The best growers on both sides of 101 grow spectacular grapes, and wineries on both sides make spectacular wines. East/West controversy is just silly.
Only 2 things to remember about wine:
1 If you like it it’s a good wine.
2 A wines 1st responsibility is to be red.
Gary, great points on the water. And I most certainly do agree that there are amazing grapes and wine being produced on both sides of the 101. It amazes me that it’s even been a conversation. I also agree with your “2 things to remember”, although I do enjoy my white wine. Haha. Hope you are well. We need to get back in there and see you…well, at least Annie does. 🙂
I agree with it being more about a “sandbox argument”, and the seemingly primal need that humans are compelled by argument and competition. However, more attractive is the simplicity of “like what you drink and drink what you like”. But I like to say “drink it don’t think it”. And if wine isn’t your thing, there is a mind-boggling amount of fantastic craft beers out there now. From what I understand, it’s become quite the thing in Paso! So CHEERZ! Sit up and drink!
Well said, Mo. And yes, the beer scene in Paso is surely growing. As humans it definitely seems we have this need to label things, argue about things, bicker, and get into the ever popular pissing contest. I hate it. I’m guilty of it from time to time but really try to avoid it. Cheers to “drink it don’t think it”!!
As a wine geek I’ll admit/agree that it’s a wine geek argument — though I don’t like to think of us as “one-percenters,” I think publications like Enthusiast, Spectator, etc. show that among people who drink wine regularly, many do care about the details.
My take is that of course both excellent and terrible wines are made on both sides. Terroir is very important but so is what was planted, how it’s farmed, and then all the winemaking techniques that come into play. That said, some terroir is better for farming some wines, and I think the many smaller microclimates of the Westside create a better environment for many of the wines that are of consumer interest right now (example: Rhones). It’s also my understanding that the Westside has more calcareous soil, which seems to help make wines that have a more balanced acidity.
Reading some of the comments above… I think what Lori meant, and she can correct me, is that the East side is known to water more (irrigation), not have more water naturally. That’s been my impression as well, and seems to align to Gary’s comment too.
Lindsay, I agree with much of what you’re saying. My thing though, for people to think or assume that the west side has “better” fruit is simply wrong. The west side has different fruit. The east side has different fruit. Different grapes are being grown (for the most part) on both sides of HWY 101 so why do people even compare? It’s simply a silly conversation to have…in my opinion. I know people that grow on both sides and I will be having upcoming blog posts from their perspective. I guess it’s an interesting topic for many, but not for most.