Alta Colina opens new winery and tasting room
The new winery and tasting room at Alta Colina.
After more than a decade of dreaming, Tillman family creates eco-friendly home to make and showcase their wines
More than ten years after Alta Colina owners Bob and Lynn Tillman founded their dream vineyard off Adelaida Road in Westside Paso Robles, the award-winning winery is opening its state-of-the-art production facility and tasting room late November, 2014. With an emphasis on crafting world class estate-grown Rhône wines, the family has incorporated green technology into the new building that houses both the winery, tasting room and offices at 2825 Adelaida Road in Paso Robles.
“We are over the moon,” said Maggie Tillman, who runs the winery alongside her father, Bob. “This new facility marks the culmination of a ten-year plan, and we are absolutely thrilled to step into the next phase of Alta Colina.”
Not only will the boutique winery boast the only Tesla charging station in Paso Robles Wine Country, but also a nighttime cooling system, native and drought tolerant landscaping, LED lighting throughout and a grey water system for sustainable irrigation. The 8,600 square-foot facility, which includes an additional 1,600-square-foot crush pad, was designed by Rebecca McKay of Real Architects in San Luis Obispo and built by NK Builders of San Luis Obispo.
“Because this is a family operation, a lot of what we do is about legacy,” Bob said. “Before we poured 9,000 square-feet of concrete, we knew we needed to be mindful and cognizant about doing that as thoughtfully as possible. Bringing in the Tesla charging station is a huge first for the wine region and we feel it reflects the needs of emerging clientele as well as our family’s stewardship of the land.”
Until this point, Alta Colina shared production space and a small tasting room at nearby Villicana Winery. The new winery and tasting room is located just a quarter mile west, where the Alta Colina property meets Adelaida Road. Their vineyard, set in mountainous terrain of the newly-created Adelaida District, is planted on several hillsides to 31 acres of Viognier, Marsanne, Roussanne, Grenache, Grenache Blanc, Syrah, Mourvèdre and Petite Sirah. The Tillman family is excited to finally add their own signature building to the 130-acre property, where they work tirelessly to produce the highest-quality grapes while maintaining minimal impact on the land. For the past two years, the family has farmed with an emphasis on organic practices.
“Our commitment is not only to our family, but to the land and the grapes,” Maggie said. “Every Alta Colina wine is estate grown and produced. That means we personally grow every grape and craft every wine. The wine never leaves our premises until you purchase a bottle and take it home.”
Currently, the winery produces about 1,500 cases per year. They plan to slowly increase production as they grow into the larger facility. The public is invited to taste Alta Colina’s wide selection of Rhône wines as well as take a tour of the new facility and vineyard, which will be provided on Saturday and Sunday mornings. A special Alta Colina Appreciation Celebration for wine club members only is slated for Saturday, Nov. 22, with doors officially opening to the public the following week.
“The new facility represents an amazing opportunity for us to spread out and really grow into the vineyard, bringing the entire estate vision together,” Maggie said. “We pour all of our energy into the vineyard and making these special wines. We can’t wait to share them with the community in our new home.”
About Alta Colina
Alta Colina produces world-class Rhône varieties from its vibrant estate vineyard in the Adelaida District of west Paso Robles. With a dedication to sustainable farming practices, Alta Colina crafts critically acclaimed wines that reflect and honor the land. For more information, please visit www.altacolinawine.com or visit the tasting room at 2725 Adelaida Road* in Paso Robles.
