Page 97 - SLO Visitors Guide - Spring 2026

slovisitorsguide.com SPRING 2026 97
Wine Tasting
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In hindsight, given the circum-
stances of the Vietnam War, being
unable to enlist was probably a
good thing. But Gary replied, “No,
not really. Because I couldn’t go,
someone had to go in my place.”
Unable to join the Marines, Gary
chose to study cellular genetics at
Louisiana State University, where
he discovered wine, specifically
cabernet sauvignon. He decided
to become a winemaker, which led
him to UC Davis. There, he earned
a Ph.D. in enology and viticulture
and began a friendship with Robert
Mondavi. Mr. Mondavi became
his mentor, friend, and influencer,
teaching him lessons that Gary con-
tinues to live by.
Gary brought those lessons to
Paso Robles in 1973, co-founding
the Paso Robles AVA and pioneer-
ing local viticulture alongside
industry icons, including Justin
Baldwin and Jerry Lohr.
His first release in
1979 marked the
beginning of a
winemaking
legacy that
helped
shape the
region’s
global
reputa-
tion.
Mr.
Mondavi’s
influence
Over time,
Mr. Mondavi
became Gary’s mentor
and friend. Taking another sip of
his wine, Gary said, “I don’t know
why Mr. Mondavi took me under
his wing. He was about 60, and I
was just a kid, but he taught me
everything I know about winemak-
ing.” Gary credits Mr. Mondavi’s
teachings with shaping his success
over the past 50 years. Those teach-
ings include:
• Tastings should be free (and
Gary extends that philosophy
to cave tours).
• Once you have an established,
recognizable label, never
change it.
• You want your visitors to
experience wine and the
suroundings, not just taste.
During our recent visit, Gary
shared a story about the day Mr.
Mondavi
told him
to drop
the “Mr.”
and
call him
Robert.
Even though
they had
known each other
for a long time, Gary
persisted in using “Mr. Mon-
davi” and does so to this day. It’s a
gesture reflecting the deep respect
he holds for the man who taught
him about the industry and helped
shape the California wine scene.
The spirit of Eberle
Gary has been honored many
times, receiving the American Wine
Legend Award from the “Wine
Enthusiast,” the Robert Mondavi
Hospitality Award, the California
State Fair Lifetime Achievement
Award, in addition to the many
awards for Eberle wines.
Eberle Winery was the first to
list Paso Robles AVA on its label,
the first to plant syrah vines on the
Central Coast, and produce 100%
syrah wine in the US. Eberle Win-
ery led the way by being the first