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Winery of the month - Hope Family Wines

11.01.2025

Welcome to all fans of good wine in the new year. In our Winery of the Month section in January, we will introduce you to Hope Family Wines, a family-owned winery in the Paso Robles area. A winery that set out at its inception to "produce wines that express all that Paso Robles has to offer, with its perfect soil, coastal climate and limitless possibilities."

Hope Family Wines is one of California's traditional wineries. Its history dates back to 1978, when the Hope family moved from Bakersfield to the then little-known Paso Robles wine region of California. Owning their own winery was their dream. At first they grew apples and grapes, but eventually focused exclusively on vines, especially the Cabernet Sauvignon variety. The early days of grape growing were difficult. According to the founders' son, Austin Hope, his parents left blood, sweat and tears in Paso Robles. They co-founded the Paso Robles AVA and later the Paso Robles Wine Country Alliance.

Hope Family Wines is recognized as one of the leading wineries in the Paso Robles area, known for its production of high quality red wines, especially Cabernet Sauvignon. The winery is also committed to sustainable growing practices, as evidenced by its SIP (Sustainability in Practice) certification.

Hope Family Wines has several unique features that set it apart from other wine producers, especially in the Paso Robles region of California:

  1. Leveraging the unique terroir of Paso Robles

Austin Hope focuses on taking advantage of the unique climate and soil composition of Paso Robles. The region is known for its warm days and cool nights, making it ideal for growing Cabernet Sauvignon.

  1. Innovative approach and modern techniques

Hope Family Wines combines traditional winemaking practices with modern techniques, ensuring high consistency and quality wines. It uses careful grape selection, bespoke fermentation and precise aging in French oak barrels.

  1. Family tradition and personal passion

The winery is a family business, and Austin Hope himself is actively involved in every step of the winemaking process. His personal passion and vision are reflected in every bottle. Most of the winery's employees have worked here for decades.

  1. Awards and reputation

Austin Hope Cabernet Sauvignon wine has won numerous prestigious awards, including high ratings from critics such as Wine Enthusiast and Wine Spectator. This has contributed to its international prestige. In 2022, Hope Family Wines was awarded Winery of the Year by Wine Enthusiast.

  1. Approach to sustainability

The winery is committed to an environmentally friendly approach, including sustainable vineyard management and minimizing its ecological impact.

 

SIP Certification (Sustainability in Practice)

At Hope Family Wines, they believe their care for the vineyards extends far beyond the winery's property. The entire ecosystem needs to be cared for so that it thrives, evolves and continues to function as it should. For example, they have created wildlife corridors so that native quail, deer and maybe even a wild boar or two can pass through the vineyards.

SIP certification focuses on sustainability and ensures that the winery meets strict requirements in several key areas:

  • Environmental protection,
  • Responsibility towards employees,
  • Economic sustainability,
  • Transparency and certification process.

Benefits of SIP certification

  • For the consumer, it is a guarantee that the wine is produced with respect for the planet, the workers and the local community.
  • Winemakers build a positive image, gaining a competitive advantage in the marketplace while improving their environmental footprint.
  • Environmentally, it promotes biodiversity, healthier soils and minimizes negative impacts on the landscape.

The difference between SIP and NAPA Green

  • The SIP is universal and addresses a wide range of sustainability aspects, incorporating ecological, economic and social factors, not only in Napa Valley.
  • Napa Green is a certification specific only to the Napa Valley region and places a strong emphasis on protecting the local ecosystem, water and reducing the carbon footprint.

Both certifications are prestigious and focused on promoting sustainability in the wine industry, but each meets different needs and priorities.

 

Paso Robles region

In order to get a closer look at the uniqueness of this terroir, let's briefly introduce the Paso Robles region. It is a wine-growing region in central California, known for its diversity of microclimates, soil conditions and the wide range of varieties grown.

Paso Robles is part of San Luis Obispo County, located about 30 km from the Pacific Ocean, which greatly influences the climate of the region. Paso Robles is an AVA (American Viticultural Area) that was established in 1983 and is located between San Francisco and Los Angeles. The region can be found just 9 kilometres from the Pacific Ocean and extends up to 50 kilometres inland.

Paso Robles has hot summers with temperatures in excess of 30°C, but nights are cool due to ocean winds, which helps preserve the acidity of the grapes. The combination of sunny days and cool nights gives the grapes plenty of time to fully ripen and develop complex flavours. Paso Robles boasts a variety of soils: from calcareous and sandy soils to clay and volcanic layers. This diversity allows for the cultivation of many varieties, with each soil giving the wine a specific character. Paso Robles is currently one of the fastest growing wine regions in the USA.

Cabernet Sauvignon, Zinfandel, and Rhône varieties such as Syrah, Grenache, and Mourvèdre are the most common varieties grown here. You can also find Bordeaux varieties such as Merlot, Petit Verdot and Malbec and some white varieties such as Roussane, Viognier, Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc.

The wines of Paso Robles are known for their fullness, rich fruit notes and distinctive aromatics. Producers often experiment with unique blends, combining old world influence with modern techniques. Paso Robles is a popular destination for wine tourists thanks to its more than 200 wineries, picturesque landscape and welcoming atmosphere.

 

Hope Family Wines

Hope Family Wines currently includes the following wineries: Austin Hope, Treana, Quest, Liberty School, Troublemaker and Austin. Each of the wineries is unique and different from the others, but they all have one thing in common: Producing outstanding wines from the Paso Robles region using the latest technology while focusing on sustainability and environmental stewardship.

Austin Hope

Austin Hope Winery was founded by winemaker Austin Hope in 2000, five years after he took over the reins of the family business. Austin Hope's wines were initially dedicated to the Estate Rhône varietals grown at the home vineyard in the Templeton Gap District of Paso Robles. These included Syrah, Grenache, Mourvèdre and Rhône-style blends. These wines, which were first released in 2000, helped expand the region's reputation for premium Rhône varietals and reflect the outstanding characteristics of the Templeton Gap region and the production of Austin Hope and his family's winery.

In 2017, after 17 years, Austin released his first Cabernet Sauvignon, a truly exceptional wine that immediately became the standard bearer for Paso Robles. When Austin Hope Cabernet was first released, the wine scored 97 points, the highest rating ever awarded to a Paso Robles wine by Wine Enthusiast magazine. Subsequently, the 2017 Austin Hope Cabernet was selected by Wine Enthusiast magazine as #10 in the Top 100 Enthusiast Wines of the World, marking the first time a Paso Robles wine has made Wine Enthusiast's Top 10 list.

In 2018, Austin Hope Cabernet was selected for Wine Enthusiasts magazine's Top 100 Wines of the World, this time coming in at #7. Most recently, Wine Enthusiast named Hope Family Wines America's Winery of the Year for 2022, cementing Austin's place as a leader in the Paso Robles winemaking community.

Wines from Austin Hope Winery

We offer two great Cabernets from Austin Hope:

Austin Hope Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2020 comes from a special selection of French oak barrels designed for extended aging, resulting in a wine of immense size and dimension. It features a rich aroma of freshly baked blueberry pie and hints of black pepper. The palate develops notes of fruit, vanilla bean, cocoa and a hint of dried tobacco leaf. On the finish, the wine shows integrated tannins that are soft and supple, highlighting the power and depth of this full-bodied Cabernet Sauvignon.

Austin Hope Cabernet Sauvignon 2021 is a typical Cabernet Sauvignon from Paso Robles that shows the essence, character and diversity of this region. Austin Hope Cabernet Sauvignon has twice been named one of the Top 10 Wines of the Year by Wine Enthusiast magazine. The Austin Hope Cabernet Sauvignon is deep ruby in color and has aromas of freshly picked black currants, ripe blackberries and subtle notes of violets, mocha and dried spices. On the palate, it's a juicy, modern-style wine that's layered with loads of juicy blackberry and cherry, while nuances of cedar, clove, nutmeg and vanilla bean round out the long, smooth finish. Full-bodied and rich, balanced by fresh acidity and integrated, polished tannins.

Treana

Founded in 1996, Treana Winery was one of the first wines Hope Family Wines made from Paso Robles, starting out as a red blend of Cabernet and Syrah.

Treana is the sum of all the elements that influence the quality and flavor of wine: the soil, the warm California sun, and the cool ocean breezes. Their combination creates the perfect growing conditions for the grapes.

Treana Blanc: Treana Blanc is a stunning example of a New World Rhône blend with aromas and flavours of pineapple, dried apricot, peach and Clementine orange, combined with floral notes of honeysuckle and elderflower. Sweet notes of marzipan, honey and graham crackers along with cinnamon and vanilla complete this complex, full-bodied and savoury wine.

Treana Red: Treana Red is characterized by strength and finesse. This beautifully deep burgundy-coloured wine shows aromas of cassis leading to flavours of vanilla bean, dense blackberry and warm baking spices. Layered tannins frame this full-bodied wine with balanced acidity and a long finish.

Quest

Quest is the newest addition to the family and its production has been extremely exciting. For the first time, American oak barrels were used for only one brand. It is a Cabernet Sauvignon blended with Cabernet Franc and several other Bordeaux varieties.
 
Quest's goal is to express the potential and excitement of Paso Robles. Quest was born out of a love for American oak and the noble Cabernet Franc variety. Cabernet Franc is a very soil and temperature demanding grape. And the Paso Robles AVA has the perfect terroir and microclimate.
 
Producing an exceptional Cabernet Franc is similar to creating an outstanding Pinot Noir; both varieties are dependent on soil, location and temperature. Cabernet Franc thrives on different soils and requires a slightly cooler climate than Cabernet Sauvignon. The journey from vision to bottle has been a long journey of discovering the perfect elements to achieve the best Cabernet Franc.

Liberty School

Liberty School is an affordable brand that tastes great and you can never go wrong with it. Liberty School is the right brand for those who are forging their own path and represents a version of the American Dream. It's motivation to be better not because we have to, but because we want to.

Liberty School Cabernet: This proven Cabernet has been a fixture on the dinner table for more than 40 years. The glass is filled with a rich ruby hue and aromas of fresh vanilla, fresh dark fruit and dense blackcurrant. On the palate, notes of bright cherry mingle with warm toasted caramel and sweet oak. The finish is incredibly smooth with fine, beautiful tannins.

Troublemaker

Troublemaker is a wine that you will enjoy. It is inspired by pushing boundaries, finding your own way in life without being bound by traditional rules. From a winemakers perspective, rules limit the ability to create and innovate. The wine is fun, playful and shows that pushing boundaries is fun. And why Troublemaker? In his youth, Austin Hope was a bit of a troublemaker. If his school performance or behavior didn't meet his family's expectations, he was sent to the vineyard where hard work awaited to teach him a lesson. Little did the Hopes know at the time that this childhood punishment would be the beginning of a lifelong passion and career. It was through his time in the vineyards, with the Paso Robles sun beating down on him and his hands in the dirt, that Austin found inspiration for his life's journey.

Austin

A modern winery that produces affordable wines that can be enjoyed by everyone anytime, anywhere throughout the day. That's the Austin winery philosophy. For Austin felt that in today's world, extreme quality coupled with high prices and the need to keep wines for decades is important. That's certainly not wrong, but why not treat yourself to a quality wine at an affordable price every day?

Austin Chardonnay: Beautiful golden shade with bright tropical notes in the aroma. This wine shows a harmonious balance of melon and tropical flavours of the warm climate and the fresh acidity and lemon zest of the cool climate. The entry is clean and crisp, the mid weight of the palate shows layered tropical and honeyed jelly flavors that finish clean and fresh again, evoking a strong desire for another sip.

Austin Cabernet Sauvignon is focused on the goal of producing wine true to the "Paso Robles" grape variety. On the nose, spiciness mingles with rich notes of dark fruit. On the palate, the flavors develop into layers of juicy blackberry, spicy nutmeg, roasted coffee and fresh vanilla bean. The wine finishes with refined tannins and strong acidity to balance them out.

Paso Robles is home to many dreamers and entrepreneurs who have the spirit and desire to create their own destiny. They create and give of themselves to make the best of what this country offers and produces with their own hands. The wines of this region are fun, original, distinctive and show us what it looks like to live the American dream.

 

11.01.2025

 

Sources:

https://hopefamilywines.com/

https://www.sipcertified.org/

https://pasowine.com/