York Mountain AVA

Tucked into the western reaches of Paso Robles, just seven miles from the Pacific Ocean, York Mountain AVA is one of California’s most historic and distinctive wine growing regions. Sitting at 1,500 feet in elevation and cooled by daily coastal winds and a regular fog layer, this rugged site offers a dramatically different growing climate than the surrounding region.

Although it was officially recognized as an American Viticultural Area in 1984, York Mountain’s winemaking roots stretch back more than a century. The story begins with Andrew York, a pioneering spirit, and Illinois native, who in 1882 purchased a 120-acre homestead in Templeton. He quickly expanded the existing vineyard with cuttings from Napa and began shaping what would become a foundational piece of California wine history. In 1895, Andrew and his three sons constructed their first wine cellar using boulders gathered from the countryside and materials purchased for the project. They named the endeavor Ascension Winery, which went on to become one of the first bonded wineries on the Central Coast.  In 1984, Steve York, a descendant of Andrew York, successfully petitioned for the creation of the York Mountain AVA. Recognizing the area’s distinctive combination of elevation, climate, and soils, he secured formal recognition that preserved its identity and set it apart from the neighboring Paso Robles AVA.

Epoch Estate Wines became the steward of this historic property in 2010, acquiring the original York Mountain Winery and vineyard site. Since then, we have lovingly restored the winery and brought new energy to this historic place. York Mountain AVA remains a rarity. It’s cool climate, sandstone soils, steep slopes, and long-standing winemaking tradition make it one of California’s most compelling wine growing regions. As caretakers of the York Mountain property, Epoch is honored to continue the story of York Mountain, crafting wines that reflect its wild beauty and rich history.