2011 Alta Colina Toasted Slope Syrah

Alta Colina, as the name suggests, is an estate located high in the hills. Alta Colina’s 31 acres of organically-farmed vineyards are at 1,800 feet above sea level in the Adelaida District of Paso Robles. The estate was founded in 2003, when Bob Tillman founded the 130-acre property and decided to turn his winemaking hobby into a commercial venture. Having spent 35 years working as an engineer by day and making wine at night, Tillman and his family acquired the property and planted vineyards. They started selling wine in 2009 and built an estate winery in 2014. Tillman runs the estate with his daughter Maggie and makes the wine with help from his cellar master Paul Lopez. All wines are estate grown and produced. Alta Colina focuses on red and white Rhone style wines. The wines have won ratings in the mid-90s and reviewer Jeb Dunnuck describes Alta Colina as a “terrific estate.”

Paso Robles AVA is midway between San Francisco and Los Angeles, and it is considered one of the West Coast’s most exciting winemaking regions. With its hot, sometimes searingly dry and sunny weather, it is especially good country for growing warm climate grapes such as Syrah, Grenache and Mourvedre. Because many Paso Robles wineries have been successful with blending these grapes into Rhone Valley-style wines, it is known as the Rhone zone of California. The AVA was created in 1983 and there are 32,000 vineyard acres. In late 2014 the AVA was divided into 11 smaller sub-appellations, so starting with 2015 vintages labeling will become more specific on Paso Robles wines, which will now also list sub-appellations. Located in San Luis Obispo County, Paso Robles, the town and its surrounding area, was traditionally a farming and ranching region. But from a few dozen wineries in the early 1990s to more than 200 today, the area is quickly becoming known for wine and risk-taking winemakers.

This grape is grown in milder climates and produces a medium-to full-bodied wine. It is also known as Shiraz, but should not be confused with Petit Sirah, which was developed by crossing Syrah with Peloursin.