Tablas Creek Vineyard | Paso Robles

Tablas Creek Vineyard is a joint project between the Perrin family, owners of the iconic Rhône property Château de Beaucastel, and their long time US importers the Haas family of vineyard brands. During trips to ‘educate’ the US market in the 1960’s Robert (Haas) and Jean-Pierre and Francois Perrin often visited California and the Perrin brothers were struck by the similarities they saw with the Mediterranean climate of their home.

Ten years of saving and a further 4 years of serious investigation brought them to a purchase of a 120 acre site in the limestone rich hills west of Paso Robles (in what is now the new Adeilada AVA). The partners were determined to plant Mediterranean varieties but as none where available in California at the time a huge project was undertaken to import vine cuttings from Beaucastel's home in the Rhône. No small feat when only six cutting's per variety were allowed entry into the USA and each batch then required 3 years of quarantine! Out of this endeavour a nursery business was born that has since gone onto provide vines for many of the other Rhône Rangers in California and finally from 1994 to 1997 most of the property was planted.

All 13 of the permitted Châteauneuf-du-Pape varieties are now planted on the Paso Robles property and it will come as no surprise that they are ‘dedicated to blending’ with a winemaking and vineyard management philosophy drawn from Château de Beaucastel (with some regional quirks like Llama’s!). Since its inception the vineyards have been farmed organically and were certified as far back as 2003.

Historically the estates top wine carried a strong reference to its vinous heritage named as it was Esprit de Beaucastel but since 2011 the partners have been confident that Tablas Creek should stand on its own reputation and the wine is now known as Esprit de Tablas.

TABLAS CREEK