Hope Family Wines Named ‘American Winery of the Year’

Hope Family Wines has been named “American Winery of the Year” by Wine Enthusiast magazine’s annual Wine Star Awards, the industry’s premier global awards celebration.

Hope Family Wines is one of the pioneering heritage wineries that helped spark the modern winemaking era in Paso Robles. Today, the winery encompasses a collection of six growing brands, all showcasing diversity and excellence of the greater Paso Robles wine region.

“Paso Robles is at the forefront of all that we do—this award is an honor for all of the dedicated people at Hope Family Wines who have helped make it happen, and for all of the partner growers who have taken this journey with us,” said Owner and Winemaker Austin Hope. “We are all grateful to be recognized for such a prestigious distinction by the editors at Wine Enthusiast.”

This year marks the 23rd anniversary of the Wine Star Awards, “honoring the individuals and companies that make outstanding contributions to the wine and alcohol beverage world.”

“There would be no Paso Robles of today if it weren’t for Hope Family Wines,” said Matt Kettmann, who covers Paso Robles for Wine Enthusiast. “From playing in the vineyards as a kid to inventing boundary-pushing brands to crafting head-turning wines that compete with the best on the planet, Austin Hope’s own life directly mirrors the evolution of Paso from a dusty ranching community into a vibrant epicurean destination.”

Austin Hope’s parents, Chuck and Marlyn Hope, began planting vineyards in Paso Robles in 1978 and later became one of the region’s largest growers of wine grapes. In 1983, the Hopes helped spearhead the creation of the Paso Robles AVA, and 10 years later helped establish the Paso Robles Vintners & Growers Association (today known as the Paso Robles Wine Country Alliance).

In 1986 the family made the leap into winemaking and never looked back. At the forefront of their efforts was an ironclad belief that Paso Robles wines could rival the best in the world.

As a second-generation vintner, Austin Hope learned the business from the ground up, starting as a young boy. “I thrived being in the field with my family,” he recalled.

With Austin Hope at the winemaking helm since 1998, Hope Family Wines has continued to expand its family of brands while dedicating itself to ambassadorship of the Paso Robles region.