Paso Robles is one of California’s most pastoral domains. Its name roughly translates to “Passageway of Oak,” and indeed, majestic trees mark the landscape. Amongst the rolling hills and native habitat lie manicured vineyards where ideal soil exists for farming Paso Robles Cabernet Sauvignon. Dry, warm conditions are typical, yet evenings are chilled by a breeze from the Pacific coast just 18 miles to the west, allowing fruit to ripen into luxurious richness. At nearly 1,000 feet, soils are elevated sea beds where shell fossils are often found. In 1978, a family of four arrived in Paso Robles to start a new life. At the time, fewer than a thousand acres of grapes had been planted in the region. Chuck Hope left his job in beverage distribution to become a farmer, settling his family, planting apples and grapes, and learning how to farm in Paso. In time, the Hope family became one of the area’s top grape growers.