The story of the Niven family is one of the most important stories impacting the wine history of San Luis Obispo County. The Niven family approached grape growing scientifically, and with experience in their own grocery chain business that exposed them to the challenges in farming and agriculture. They established their Paragon Vineyards to grow grapes, but it was the partnership with Chalone Vineyard that catapulted their second harvest into the public eye as the source of premium grapes grown in the Edna Valley. Edna Valley became known for its growing season, stretching from February to November, as the location of the longest growing season in California.