The Hope family has been growing grapes in Paso Robles and working with other growers on the Central Coast for nearly 30 years. That accumulation of knowledge and experience, and an understanding of what grows well where, and what it takes to grow great wine grapes, guides the selection of vineyard sources for the two Treana wines.

The grapes for Treana Red come from several sites in the Paso Robles area, mainly on the warmer East Side. Cabernet Sauvignon, the backbone of Treana Red, needs warmth to ripen fully and eliminate any traces of green, herbaceous flavors. That daytime heat has to be balanced with cool nights to maintain balance in the fruit, and Paso Robles benefits from evening ocean breezes. Winemaker Austin Hope observes that sandy, well-drained soils seem to foster better Cabernet than soils with higher clay content.

But the quality of the fruit also depends on the quality of the work done by the grower. We work closely with its network of growers, offering advice and helping solve issues of controlling canopy size, timing irrigation, practices, limiting crop load, and keeping spraying and applications of fertilizer to the minimum needed for healthy vines. Tastings are held with growers, allowing them to compare wine made from their grapes with other Treana components.

Some vineyards are always on track for the Treana Red. But, says Hope, there are always some growers who try harder—always some surprises with every vintage.

Treana White comes from vineyards further north, in the Santa Lucia Highlands area of Monterey County. The primary source is the Mer de Soleil vineyard, a stretch of gravelly loam soils at the far northern end of the Santa Lucia Highlands—closest to the cooling influence of Monterey Bay.

Summer temperatures at Mer Soleil rarely stray above the high 70s—plenty of sun, but not much heat.

The moderated climate makes for an extended growing season with gentle, slow ripening. Cool, even temperatures help maintain the balance of fruit, sugar and acid in the grapes as they hang on into the fall season, concentrating flavor. Mer Soleil has proven over the years to be a charmed spot for Rhône grape varieties, like the Viognier and Marsanne that make up the Treana White.