2023 Peachy Canyon Winery Zinfandel Westside Paso Robles 750 ml

Four decades ago, Paso was the epitome of an undiscovered jewel. 

Well, not completely undiscovered. Savvy winemaking pioneers like Doug and Nancy Beckett were already there, making wines for a rabid local market. They founded Peachy Canyon in 1988—it was just the 10th winery in Paso Robles—and from the very beginning, they distinguished themselves with outstanding Zinfandel. They were even a founding member of ZAP (Zinfandel Advocates and Producers), a California group whose mission is to preserve and advocate for Zin. 

Paso insiders know that every inch of vineyard land in the area is not created equal—and the most prized parcels are on the west side of town (with US 101 as the border). “West of 101,” winemaker Drew Phillips told us, “you’ve got the foothills of the Santa Lucia Mountains. You get a lot more coastal influence and distinct microclimates. There's great air drainage and intense cooling, with a 50-degree diurnal swing.” 

Peachy Canyon’s estate vineyards are all on that side of the highway—and though they sit in close proximity to one another, they boast an impressive range of terroir and climatic diversity. 

“There are nooks and crannies of splintering limestone throughout the area—it used to be ocean floor,” Drew said. “West of 101, you'll find people like Justin Smith (of Saxum) discovering whale fossils in their vineyards. All that kind of stuff contributes to how the grapes taste. Having these limestone-rich soils allows us to hold on to acidity despite the warmer days.”

In the 2023 vintage, Peachy Canyon—which had built up its growing operation to around 100 acres—changed their sourcing strategy, making the Westside bottling almost entirely from estate fruit (with a bit from longtime neighbor Bailey Ranch).

The 2023 Westside Zin is sourced largely (40%) from the 13-acre Schoolhouse Vineyard in Paso’s Templeton Gap, where the coastal influence results in a long growing season. This fruit gives the Westside bottling a supremely balanced foundation, which is supplemented by fruit from Mustang Springs—Peachy Canyon’s home vineyard—as well as the steep Thibido Vineyard, rocky Mustard Creek, and the roasting Snow Vineyard.