State of the art Niner Wine Estates winery opens its doors in Paso Robles

Niner Wine Estates has just opened their new state of the art winery after nearly ten years of planning, preparing, and preening. This newest addition to Paso Robles’ west side wine community will open its doors for business this Saturday, May 1st.

Niner Wine Estates is the project of Richard Niner who, since the early 2000s, has assembled a team of the highest caliber to bring this cutting-edge winery to the Central Coast. Guests will be welcome to visit the new Hospitality Center on May 1 for complimentary tastings of winemaker Amanda Cramer’s Bordeaux, Rhône, and Italian varietal wines and to preview the wine and food programs that the winery will be offering in the future.

More information about Paso Robles Wine Country

The Hospitality Center houses not only the Niner Wine Estates tasting room, but a generous demonstration kitchen and boutique winery as well. As education is a major tenet of the Niner Wine Estates vision, the winery will begin offering not-to-miss wine and culinary programs as early as this summer. (Schedules, tuition and details are available by visiting the Niner website). These courses will cover a wide range of subjects in varying formats, from hour-long sessions to more extensive multiple-day programs by the end of the year. Classes will be presented by the Niner Wine Estates’ own in-house wine education staff, lead by Rick Toyota, as well as visiting chefs and leading experts.

By design, the rustically elegant stone barn Hospitality Center is as aesthetically conscious as it is eco-conscious. Designer Anne Fortini’s tasteful interiors reflect and accentuate the beauty of the winery’s surroundings, while Mr. Niner, Ms. Cramer and architect Tim Woodle have designed Niner Wine Estates to be the first winery on the Central Coast to meet LEED certification standards through the U.S. Green Building Council, with final certification to be awarded in a matter of months.

Heart Hill (photo courtesy of Niner Wine Estates)

Constructed and positioned to emphasize the pastoral allure of Paso Robles wine country, the Hospitality Center’s expansive windows frame a view of “Heart Hill,” the iconic heart-shaped design of oak trees once owned by brothers Claude and Clyde Booker.

Farming roots, a passion for wine, and an appreciation for the bounty and lifestyle of Paso Robles led Mr. Niner and his wife, Pam Niner, to invest in the winery’s estate vineyards: Heart Hill Vineyard and Bootjack Ranch. The newest of Niner Wine Estates’ estate vineyards, Heart Hill vineyard has already provided fruit for the 2009 vintage, while Bootjack Ranch supplies the balance of fruit for the Niner Wine Estates portfolio, and can be found on the east side of Paso Robles.

To attend the Niner Wine Estates’ Grand Opening and receive complimentary tastings, guests are welcome to visit the Hospitality Center located at 2400 Highway 46 West in Paso Robles, Saturday and Sunday, May 1st and 2nd between 10:00 AM and 5:00 PM. Regular business hours are 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM during high season, seven days a week. The regular tasting fee for a sampling of 5 wines is $10.00 per person. Additional tasting and touring programs may be available on a seasonal schedule.