Halter Ranch dates to the 1880s, when it was part of a 3,000-acre property owned by Paso Robles pioneer Edwin Smith. The beautiful Victorian farmhouse Smith built on the ranch in 1885 remains a Westside Paso Robles landmark.

In the early 1900s, Smith's estate was broken up, but, in 1943, 1200 acres were purchased by the MacGillivray family, who farmed it for the next 57 years, introducing the first grapevines in 1996.

In 2000, Hansjorg Wyss, a Swiss-born businessman, purchased 900 acres of the ranch, convinced Paso Robles has the potential to produce wines rivaling the finest from California and the world.

Fervently committed to quality, the last five years have been spent developing Halter Ranch's now 250-acre vineyard, renovating the historic farmhouse, and laying the groundwork for a new, state-of-the-art winery.

Halter Ranch Vineyard boasts 15 different grape varieties - 60% Bordeaux and 40% Rhone, plus Zinfandel. The vines are planted on steep, south-facing slopes reaching 1800 feet in elevation and boasting soils rich in limestone, a feature of many of the world's finest vineyards. High-density plantings, multiple clones and rootstocks, and low yields enable vineyard manager Mitch Wyss to produce fruit of superb quality. And because he and owner Hansjorg Wyss are committed to environmentally responsible grape growing, the vineyard is farmed sustainably, with the goal of organic certification.

Halter Ranch grows Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Cinsault, Counoise, Grenache, Malbec, Merlot, Mourvedre, Petite Verdot, Roussanne, Sauvignon Blanc, Syrah, Viognier and Zinfandel. Although the percentage of grapes used for Halter Ranch wines will increase - initial releases are two 2002 Syrahs and a 2003 blend called Ranch Red - fruit will continue to be sold to other ultra-premium Paso Robles wineries, some of which in the past have used a Halter Ranch Vineyard designation on their labels.

Halter Ranch winemaker Steve Glossner, who previously made wine at nearby Justin Winery and Adelaida Cellars, believes the estate vineyard's diverse soils, steep, limestone-rich slopes, and southerly exposures are ideal for producing world-class wines. Though he is waiting for the vineyard to mature and more clearly indicate which varieties will produce the finest wines, Glossner expects to continue producing varietal Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon as well as proprietary Bordeaux and Rhone blends.

With a rich history, inspired leadership and abundant natural resources, it's just a matter of time before Halter Ranch joins the ranks of Paso Robles' elite wineries.