Gary Eberle welcomes his guests.

The legend of great cabernet and great hospitality continues

—A Gary Eberle quotation on the wall at the Eberle Winery tasting room reads, “The difference between wine and children is you can sit down and reason with a bottle of cabernet.” This quote speaks for all the Eberle wines and is a testament to Gary’s passion for great wine, conversation, and hospitality, the traits that led to his being known as the godfather of Paso Robles wine.

“Have a glass of cabernet with me,” is a sincere invitation from Gary to every visitor. He tries to spend a few hours every day meeting people and their dogs and can usually be found seated at the entry to the dog-friendly tasting room, welcoming all.

After graduating from Penn State with a Bachelor of Science in Biology, Gary studied cellular genetics at Louisiana State University. During this time, he discovered wine and decided to become a winemaker. Gary relocated to California to study enology at UC Davis and received his degree in 1973.

That same year Gary moved to Paso Robles and became a founding partner in Estrella River Winery & Vineyards. In the late 70s, Gary decided to venture out on his own. Taking his share of Estrella River Winery in the form of juice instead of a buyout allowed him to create wine under the Eberle label. He released his first wine, a cabernet sauvignon, in 1979.

In 1984, the Eberle Winery tasting room opened to the public, sporting the Eberle boar that has become the winery’s logo and iconic, ubiquitous symbol. A sculpture and a fountain bearing the boar adorn the grounds.

In German, Eberle means small boar. In Germanic culture, the boar symbolizes a warrior, and Gary Eberle has that warrior instinct. As a pioneer, he was the first to plant syrah on the Central Coast and to produce wine with 100% syrah in the United States. His cabernet sauvignon was the first to have the Paso Robles AVA designation placed on his label. Gary Eberle’s passion for his winery, winemaking, Paso Robles, and the wine industry has earned him many honors, including the 2024 Paso Travel Distinguished Leader award, the 2020 American Legend Wine Star Award from the Wine Enthusiast, the California State Fair Lifetime Achievement Award, the Robert Mondavi Hospitality Award, and the Wine Industry Person of the Year from the Paso Robles Wine Country Alliance (PRWCA).

Eberle Winery is known for its cabernet sauvignon. Gary credits a lot of his inspiration and business model to his friend and mentor Robert Mondavi. A Mondavi influence relating to the Eberle business model is no charge for tastings, which include a complimentary tour of the winery and caves. Eberle is one of the few wineries that are free of charge, and that goes along with Gary’s passion. He wants you to experience his wines whenever you visit Paso Robles.

Eberle Winery is located at 3810 Highway 46 East in Paso Robles. Open daily from 10 a.m.-5 p.m., reservations are preferred. For hours, reservations, and more information, visit www.eberlewinery.com or call (805) 238-9607.