McClean Vineyards Descriptions

Description 1 of 1

Our dream began many years ago at a wine tasting class at Cal Poly Pomona in 1978 where we discovered not only did we share our love for each other but also our appreciation for wine, especially the red varietals. As we grew in our life together, it wasn't until 1993 that we were able to move to the Paso Robles area to this magical parcel of land. The property had an old almond orchard on it, and the vegetation and undergrowth was so thick and lush we realized the property must have great potential. We decided to plant a rare registered root stalk of Syrah which took off with great vigor. Ken Volk, the owner of Wild Horse Winery in Templeton at that time, drove by and noticed our first year's crop. He walked the vineyard for hours and was so impressed he offered us our first contract. After the harvest he wanted to make our vineyard the backbone of his Syrah program. We knew then that we were able to produce special Syrah grapes. Since we had such an abundance of premium-quality fruit, we realized it was only a matter of time until we came out with our own label. The idea for McClean Vineyards was formed. Our vineyard in the South El Pomar corridor takes advantage of some of the best growing conditions in California for ultra-premium Syrah. The long exposure to the sun, combined with the wind and cool temperatures that float inland from the coast, give our vineyard a longer growing season, increasing complexity of the fruit. The vineyard rises in elevation from 1,100 to 1,300 feet above sea level facing in a southwesterly direction. This location protects us from frost that can damage lower-elevation vineyards. Our prime growing season temperatures rarely dip below 55F at night, and we are blessed with a 2 p.m. ocean breeze that allows the berries to slowly and evenly ripen. Our clay and limestone soil makes the vineyard ideal for growing full, rich Syrahs. The grapes are gently hand-harvested to assure full berry juice and preserve their distinctive flavor.

Back to top