The WineYard at Steinbeck Vineyards:
wine education via the vineyards in Paso Robles, CA
Vineyard Tour $50.00 per person, $20.00 per child (12-17):

Wine starts in the vineyards where grapevines are grown and tended all year long then the fruit is harvested at just the right time for beautifully complex wines. The WineYard at Steinbeck Vineyards is wine education via the vineyards. When you experience Paso’s leading vineyard education tour at The WineYard you’re appreciation for wine will grow!

Your 1.5 hour tour starts at The WineYard, our rustic little “school house.” Cindy’s fast paced overview of the uniqueness of Paso Robles as a wine region, the process of planting and growing a vineyard will have your mind racing with questions about the intricacies of the vineyards. You’ll board one of our vintage Jeeps for an exhilarating, often bumpy ride through our expansive vineyard acreage to experience the roots of the wine.

Your tour concludes at The WineYard with a few stories about our family’s six-generation roots in Paso Robles. If you’re really interested in the history of Paso Robles, Cindy would be happy to share stories from the unique, museum-like photo wall through photos dating back to the 1840’s.

Our passion and love for the land and life will inspire you and enrich your life. You’ll discover what we know: the heart and soul is moved by the soil and nature. Cindy’s passion runs deep and it shows through her skill in articulating the complex concepts of grape growing for premium wine. Cindy has fast become Paso’s foremost educator and you’ll be entertained by her stories. She’s been leading tours in the vintage Jeep since she was a child. Cindy has been dubbed “kinetic energy in blue jeans” by a prominent writer.

COMING SOON:
Steinbeck Vineyards & Winery tasting room! Steinbeck Wines are a new adventure for our family. Our wines are available on line or by contacting us in person. Our family is remodeling an old shop, built in 1923 by Howie’s grandfather, into an elegant, but rustic tasting room.

Sample Questions from guests at The WineYard:
• How do you know when grapes are ripe?
Bite the seeds to see if they taste nutty – the flavor of the seeds adds to the complexity of wine. We don’t just tell you, we let you taste the grapes and bite the seeds (August – September)

• How does a mechanical harvester pick grapes?
It shakes the trunks of the vines and the ripe fruit falls on to conveyer belts. We show you these magnificent machines.

• How much water do grapevines use in a year?
Two acre feet per year, but rainfall counts toward that. We show your our natural gas pump engines and discuss conservation on a family farm.

• How is Paso different from other growing regions in California?
Our climate has the highest temperature swings – the difference between day time highs and night time lows anywhere in California. You’ll experience this first hand when you visit Paso Robles.

• Why and how are grapevines grafted?
Rootstock provides a host home for the type of grape grown, i.e. Cabernet Sauvignon grown on 1103p rootstock. We take you to grafted vines and show you.

• Does Paso Robles have an extensive history in grape and wine production?
Yes, dating back to the 1700’s with the California missions. My family history in wine dates back to the 1880’s – we’ll show you photos, newspaper articles and tell you stories about their accomplishments if you’re interested!

Cindy Steinbeck-Newkirk

805-238-1854 or
Cindy's cell 805-674-1909

"Great wine starts in the vineyard"
is echoed by every winemaker!
Wine bottles hanging from a grapevine conveys our story.