Best Wineries in the Templeton Gap District
The Templeton Gap District channels Pacific breezes through a mountain pass, creating Paso Robles' most reliably cool growing environment for Zinfandel,...
The Templeton Gap District takes its name from the natural break in the Santa Lucia Mountains through which cold Pacific Ocean air flows daily into the Paso Robles appellation. This marine air corridor creates dramatically cooler temperatures in the southern and central portions of the west side, with afternoon winds that can drop temperatures 20-30°F compared to the east side of Highway 101.
The Templeton Gap has been celebrated as some of Paso Robles' finest Zinfandel territory for decades. The cool afternoons and warm mornings create a distinctive growing pattern that produces Zinfandel of uncommon freshness and structure — wines with genuine aging potential rather than the sometimes overripe, high-alcohol style that plagues the variety in warmer California locations.
Featured Wineries
01
AmByth Estate
Philip Hart's certified biodynamic and dry-farmed Templeton Gap estate produces some of Paso Robles' most genuinely natural and terroir-driven wines — Grenache, Syrah, and Tempranillo from ancient vines farmed without irrigation or synthetic inputs.
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Treana Winery
Hope Family Wines' Templeton Gap estate produces the celebrated Treana red and white blends from estate vineyards that capture the distinctive freshness that the Pacific corridor brings to this part of Paso Robles.
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Turley Wine Cellars (Paso Robles)
Turley's Templeton Gap estate produces old-vine Zinfandel and Petite Sirah of exceptional concentration and character from some of the district's most historically significant vineyard sites.
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Jack Creek Cellars
The family-owned Templeton Gap estate produces estate Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Syrah that take full advantage of the Pacific breeze corridor to produce wines of remarkable freshness and food-friendliness for the Paso Robles appellation.
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Clautiere Vineyard
The Rhône-focused Templeton Gap estate produces Grenache, Mourvèdre, and Roussanne from estate vineyards with a French-inspired philosophy and a genuine sense of place that makes their wines among the district's most interesting.
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Donati Family Vineyard
The Italian-heritage Donati family has been farming the Templeton Gap since 1997, producing Nebbiolo, Sangiovese, and other Italian varieties alongside Rhône grapes in a district that proves ideally suited to varieties that need a long, cool growing season.
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Zenaida Cellars
The Templeton Gap estate produces Syrah, Zinfandel, and Merlot from estate vineyards with a focus on expressing the distinctive cooling influence of the Pacific corridor in wines of genuine freshness and character.
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Wild Horse Winery
One of the Templeton Gap District's most historic producers, Wild Horse has been making wine since 1983 and offers one of the most diverse portfolios in Paso Robles — from Pinot Noir to Cabernet to unusual varieties like Malvasia Bianca.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Templeton Gap?
The Templeton Gap is a natural break in the Santa Lucia Mountains near the town of Templeton that allows cold Pacific Ocean air to flow into the Paso Robles wine region daily. This marine air corridor creates significantly cooler afternoon temperatures in the southern and western portions of the appellation.
What wines does the Templeton Gap District produce?
The Templeton Gap's cooling marine influence makes it ideal for varieties that need a long, cool growing season — Zinfandel, Grenache, Syrah, Chardonnay, and Pinot Noir all produce outstanding results. The district is particularly celebrated for Zinfandel of uncommon structure and aging potential.
How far is the Templeton Gap District from downtown Paso Robles?
The Templeton Gap District is in the southern portion of the west side, centering around the town of Templeton about 8 miles south of Paso Robles on Highway 101. The wineries are primarily located on Highway 46 West and the surrounding ranch roads.
Is Templeton a good base for wine tasting?
The town of Templeton is a charming alternative base to downtown Paso Robles — smaller, quieter, and centrally located for accessing both the west side Templeton Gap estates and the broader Paso Robles wine region. Templeton has good restaurants and a genuine small-town California atmosphere.