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Exploring Paso Robles: Rhone Varietals, Innovation, and Community with Jason Haas of Tablas Creek

Wine Talks with Paul K.

Release Date: 07/31/2025

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Legacy in the wine trade is not guaranteed. Not every child wants to take on the wine trade. I have many stories of famed children of iconic brands setting out to carve their own path to only lnad back in this passionate business. Jason Haas of Tablas Creek came around a bit quicker. He saw what an honest glass of wine represents and is now the second generation owner of Tablas Creek.

Jason Haas may be the only guest who can increase the world’s acreage of a grape by 40% simply by planting half an acre. If that got your attention, prepare for a conversation filled with surprising truths about winemaking in Paso Robles, the deep roots of Tablas Creek, and the evolving landscape of California’s wine industry. You’ll learn how a partnership between the American Haas family and the French Perrins of Château de Beaucastel launched an early French “transplant” with a vision for Mediterranean grapes in California—long before it was fashionable. Jason offers an insider’s perspective on why Paso Robles’ sub-appellations are more expressive than those in Napa and how scientific mapping by UC Davis and Cal Poly replaced politics with terroir. You’ll get an engrossing look at how this once rural, cowboy town is still shaped more by local families than by corporate interests, and why that matters for the wines—and the people—who make them. Jason also reveals how trends, from big brand Cabs chasing the Napa style to small-batch Rhône blends with true regional character, shape what’s in your glass. If you’ve ever wondered what innovation actually means in wine—outside of quirky bottles and cans—Jason gives you a primer on farming organically and regeneratively, introducing grapes the world has nearly forgotten, and packaging that shrinks the industry’s carbon footprint. You’ll hear the untold story of California’s Roan Ranger movement that started in a little Berkeley restaurant, and why camaraderie and shared purpose make Paso’s wine community unique. Along the way, you’ll discover why the best part of a Paso wine club might be the opportunity to bowl against your neighboring vintners’ Little League teams—no cowboy hat required.

  1. Tablas Creek (the main winery discussed, Jason Haas is proprietor)

  2. Château de Beaucastel (French winery, partners with Tablas Creek founders)

  3. Opus One (Napa Valley winery referenced)

  4. Dominus Estate (another Napa Valley winery referenced)

  5. Paso Robles Wine Country Alliance (regional wine association mentioned)

  6. Edmunds St. John (Steve Edmunds mentioned as an original Rhone Ranger)

  7. Brooks Winery (Janie Hook referenced as part of a wine collective)

  8. Vineyard Brands (Import company founded by Robert Haas, Jason’s father)

  9. Ancient Peaks Winery (mentioned as owned by a former well digger)

  10. Austin Hope (Paso Robles winery/brand discussed)

  11. DAOU Vineyards (Paso Robles producer mentioned)

  12. JUSTIN Vineyards & Winery (Paso producer mentioned)

  13. J. Lohr Vineyards & Wines (Paso Robles winery mentioned)

  14. Wine of the Month Club (Paul Kalemkiarian’s business)

  15. Lalime’s Restaurant (Berkeley restaurant referenced as a meeting point; may now be closed but for history: )

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