American Viticultural Area · CA
Paso Robles
Paso Robles is a federally-designated American Viticultural Area in CA, established in 1983. The map below shows its official TTB boundary alongside nearby AVAs.
The Paso Robles boundary is highlighted. Nearby AVAs are rendered in gray — click any of them to view that AVA's page.
At a glance
Established
1983
State
CA
Climate
Mediterranean
Signature varietals
Boundary recorded in 27 CFR Part 9 · Source: TTB
Learn more about Paso Robles
About the Paso Robles AVA
Paso Robles, designated 1983, covers a large stretch of inland San Luis Obispo County between the coastal range and the Central Valley. The climate is hot Mediterranean by day with substantial cooling at night — diurnal swings of 40–50°F are routine, and the AVA's reputation for producing structured wines despite the heat is generally credited to that overnight recovery.
In 2014 the TTB approved eleven sub-AVAs inside Paso Robles to recognize meaningful internal variation in climate and soils. Cabernet Sauvignon and Zinfandel dominate plantings, but Paso Robles is also one of California's most important regions for Rhône varieties — Syrah, Grenache, Mourvèdre, Viognier — and Tablas Creek, a joint venture with Château de Beaucastel of Châteauneuf-du-Pape, built its reputation on Châteauneuf-style blends grown here starting in the late 1980s.
Nearby AVAs
Other American Viticultural Areas closest to Paso Robles — useful when a vineyard sits inside more than one AVA at once.