Dramatic changes occurred in the six years between the founding of the Paso Robles Wine Festival in 1983 and the 6th Festival. It became an annual event with food, music, and great wines.
Hospitable Tom Martin, winery owner and hotel developer, was the chairman of the Wine Festival Committee which planned for the event all year. The Festival expanded to a three-day event and included 22 wineries pouring wines in the park in downtown Paso Robles with individual tastings for the public at the participating wineries on Sunday. White wines were extremely popular in 1988, including White Zinfandel, Chenin Blanc, Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Fume Blanc, Johannisberg Riesling, and Grey Riesling.
Nine of the wineries were clustered in Templeton. The first tasting room, Templeton Corner, was founded by Brenda Black to promote wines for winemakers who did not have their own tasting rooms. The Templeton Corner specialized in Central Coast wines, representing over 15 labels and serving sandwiches and light snacks on the corner of Sixth and Main in downtown Templeton.
90 or more growers in the Paso Robles AVA, founded in November 1983, were also celebrated. Shell Creek Vineyards of Shandon, owned by Steve and Jane Sinton, James Sinton, and other family members, was first planted in 1972 to Cabernet Sauvignon, Petite Sirah, and Napa Gamay. The third generation of the Sintons continues to farm the important vineyard.
Vineyard Nepenthe east of San Miguel on Estrella Road was planted in 1971 and 1972 by George and Pamela Jensen, who sold their quality grapes to Robert Mondavi, J. Lohr, Beringer, and other Napa winemakers. The Jensens sold in 1988 to winemakers Hank Donatoni and John Daume, who mentored many local winemakers in the Templeton area. Hank, a pilot for United Airlines, founded his winery right off the runways at LAX and bought his grapes from SLO County. Purchasing his own vineyard and moving his winery to Templeton was the next step. John Daume taught hundreds of home winemakers in Woodland Hills and bought grapes from Benito Dusi. Both men poured their wines at the 6th Annual Wine Festival in Paso Robles.
The California Central Coast Grape Growers (CCCWGA) was founded in 1973, growers from both North County and South County became united under new leadership with President Tom Myers, a highly respected winemaker and knowledgeable grower working at Estrella Winery in Paso Robles. The CCCWGA was concerned with the quality of grapes in the county and conducted an annual wine judging awards. In 1988 the judging was held at the San Luis Bay Inn and attracted serious wine drinkers to the area who later traveled to enjoy the Paso Robles Wine Festival.
Wineries Pouring At The Paso Robles Wine Festival:
- Arciero Winery, winemaker Mike Loykasek
- Adelaida Cellars, winemakers John Munch and Bill Sheffer
- Baron and Kolb, winemakers Tom Baron and Jim Kolb
- Belli & Sauret, winemaker Richard Sauret
- Caparone Winery, winemaker Dave Caparone
- Castoro Cellars, winemaker Neils Udsen
- Creston Manor, winemaker Victor Hugo Roberts
- El Paso de Robles, winemaker unknown
- Estrella River, winemaker Tom Myers
- Eberle Winery, winemaker Gary Eberle
- Fairview Farm Vineyard, winemaker Ray Krause
- Mastantuono Winery, winemaker Pasquale Mastantuono
- Martin Brothers Winery, winemaker Nick Martin
- Pesenti Winery, winemaker Frank Nerelli
- Rolling Ridge Winery, wine consultants John Munch, and Bill Sheffer
- Templeton Corner, retail wine shop with tastings of 15 wines
- Tobias Winery, winemaker Pat Wheeler
- Twin Hills Winery, winemaker Jim Lockshaw
- York Mountain Winery, winemaker Max Goldman
- Watson Winery, winemaker Bryan Watson
- Wild Horse Winery, winemaker Ken Volk
My thanks to Victor Hugo Roberts for saving this program and lending it to the Wine History Project of San Luis Obispo to archive for future generations.
