Austin Hope

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Austin Hope
Born1973
Bakersfield, CA
OccupationWinemaker

Austin Hope (born 1973) is the president and winemaker of Hope Family Wines, a Paso Robles, California-based wine producer encompassing the Liberty School, Treana, Austin Hope, Troublemaker, and Candor wine labels.

Hope is a third generation farmer,[1] who moved from Bakersfield to Paso Robles with his family in 1978 when his parents Chuck and Marlyn Hope bought a ranch to plant apple orchards and grape vineyards.[2] The Hope family realized that Paso Robles was better suited for grape growing, which became their signature crop.[3] Hope was eight years old when the grapes first became available; growing up, he would often play in the vineyards as his father worked.[4][5]

During the 1980s and 1990s, the Hope family grew grapes for various wine producers. In the 1980s, the Wagner family, owners of Napa Valley’s Caymus Vineyards, turned to the Hope family to source Cabernet Sauvignon grapes for their Liberty School label.[6] This began a long-lasting partnership between the two families. While studying fruit science at California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, Hope worked part-time in Napa Valley under Caymus Winemaker Chuck Wagner, and also spent time at wineries in the Rhone Valley region in France.[7] He later pursued winemaking and created Hope Family Wines.[8]

After graduating from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo in 1996 with a Bachelor of Science, Hope helped oversee his family’s transition from bulk grape producers to winemakers. That year, the Hope's acquired the Liberty School label from the Wagners.[9] In 1996, they launched Treana Winery – Hope helped produce Treana’s debut 1996 vintage as assistant winemaker under Chris Phelps.[10][11] Hope became the head winemaker of Hope Family Wines in 1998 and has held the position ever since.[12] Hope Family Wines now produces over 400,000 cases per year.[13]

In 2000, the Hope family started a limited-production label, Austin Hope, focused exclusively on Rhone varietals grown on the family’s vineyard, located in one of the Templeton Gap area’s microclimates in Paso Robles’ cooler climate west side.[14]

In 2008, the Hope family introduced Candor Wines, a multi-vintage label focusing on Zinfandel and Merlot wines with fruit sourced from family-owned vineyards in Santa Barbara, Paso Robles and Lodi. They introduced their second multi-vintage blend, named Troublemaker, in 2010. Hope believes multi-vintage blending enables enhanced complexity and drinkability.[15][16]

Recognition[edit]

Hope was named “Winemaker of the Year” at the California Mid-State Fair in 2009.[17][18] He formerly served as chairperson for the Paso Robles Wine Country Alliance.

External links[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "The Winemaker for a New Generation, Austin Hope of Paso Robles' Hope Family Wines". LAX Magazine. January 3, 2012. Archived from the original on 2012-11-17. Retrieved 24 July 2013.
  2. ^ Stofflet, Drew (September 12, 2011). "Austin Hope: Growing Paso Robles With Wine, Family and Community". Aspen Daily News. Retrieved 24 July 2013.
  3. ^ Thomas, Hayley (May 2011). "A Hope Family Tradition: 30 years and growing". VINO Magazine. Paso Robles Press. Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 24 July 2013.
  4. ^ Switzer, Janis (May 17, 2012). "Breaking all the right rules". Paso Robles Press. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 24 July 2013.
  5. ^ McInerney, Jay (June 20, 2012). "Discovering the Beautiful Blends of Paso Robles". Wall St. Journal. Retrieved 24 July 2013.
  6. ^ Hoyne, Peter (August 14, 2012). "The intrigue of a white Rhone from California". Chicago Sun Times. Archived from the original on 4 June 2013. Retrieved 24 July 2013.
  7. ^ Greenberg, Scott (March 15, 2012). "Hope for wine lovers". Washington Examiner. Retrieved 24 July 2013.
  8. ^ "Bakersfield native scores best Cabernet in Paso". KERO 23 ABC News Bakersfield. 2018-11-01. Retrieved 2023-02-22.
  9. ^ Morgan, Jeff (February 28, 1997). "Liberty School Control Sold". Wine Spectator. Retrieved 24 July 2013.
  10. ^ Matthews, Thomas (November 30, 1998). "Exciting New Red Blend From Paso Robles". Wine Spectator. Retrieved 24 July 2013.
  11. ^ Anash, Sao (March 29, 2007). "The Future of Paso Robles". Santa Barbara Independent. Retrieved 24 July 2013.
  12. ^ Swan, Fred. "Wine Tasting in Paso Robles". NorCalWine.com.
  13. ^ Stoller, Gary. "Austin Hope's Cabernet Stands Among The World's Best Wines". Forbes. Retrieved 2023-02-22.
  14. ^ Heimoff, Steve (October 2005). "The West Side Story" (PDF). Wine Enthusiast.[permanent dead link]
  15. ^ Moriarty, Tim (October 2010). "Does Vintage Matter?". Wine Enthusiast. Retrieved 24 July 2013.
  16. ^ Yadegaran, Jessica (December 15, 2010). "The magic of multivintage wines". San Jose Mercury News. Retrieved 24 July 2013.
  17. ^ "Alum is Central Coast Winemaker of the Year". Cal Poly Magazine. Fall 2009. Archived from the original on 2014-12-25.
  18. ^ Switzer, Janis (July 31, 2009). "AT AGE 36, A VETERAN OF 28 YEARS IN THE TRADE". San Luis Obispo Tribune. Retrieved 24 July 2013.
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