Making wine while considering people, place and long-term sustainability

Wine is integrally tied to the location where it is produced. How the vineyards are farmed and how the grapes are grown influence the final product. Niner's wine tells a story of SLO CAL (San Luis Obispo County) – about the place and the people that cultivate the grapes and produce the wine that you can enjoy.

What Goes Into Great Wine?

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Man pouring red wine into a glass from a barrel

“Our ethos is all around finding the best people we possibly can, just really embracing the places where we’re farming, and then always take a long-term view.” 

Niner Wine Estates is crafting great wine from beginning to end, leading them to take on a long-term view and not be tempted by quick fixes. This results in a sustainable ethos and environmentally conscience practices.  

Niner Wine Estates is located in Paso Robles' Willow Creek District AVA. A grape growing region filled with stunning natural beauty and great tasting wine. As an estate, Niner controls all parts of the winemaking process from growing the grapes to bottling and production. The land and how it is cared for directly impacts how the grapes develop and the taste of the wine.

In addition to Heart Hill Vineyard in Paso, Niner also farms Jesperson Ranch – a vineyard in Edna Valley with evident coastal influence. Having two locations to grow their grapes allows for a more diverse selections of grapes and grape varietals to craft great wine from. Both vineyards are cultivated using sustainable techniques that improve the soil over time and don’t deplete it.

Every decision in Niner’s wine making process is cared for and thought throug. And with the goal of creating great wine, taking care of the land and people (the workers as well as the community) is key. When presented with two options Niner ops for the one that will ultimately make the soil and the local area better because it is better for their business: making great wine.

Thoughts on Sustainability

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Owner Andy Niner walking through vineyard at Niner Wine Estates

“You try and maximize your use of the stuff that you have a lot of and minimize your use of the stuff that you don’t.”

Having a sustainability mindset is vital to creating great wine. Some ways that Niner Wine Estates practices sustainability is in conservation, improving efficiency and implementing practices that earn them sustainable certifications.

Harnessing the sun: 
Niner uses solar panels to harness the sun’s energy. They focus on energy efficiency when possible and their buildings are 100% solar powered. You’ll also find EV (electric vehicle) chargers at the tasting room for visitors and staff to utilize.

Recycling rain: 
The area of Paso Robles that Niner resides in is relatively dry and receives rain only part of the year, so Niner is focused on saving and reusing what water does fall. They capture rainwater by collecting runoff which is then stored in their on-site reservoir ponds. This water is used in barreling and then recycled through a built wetland, to clean the wastewater, before it is used again in vineyard irrigation.

Sustainability certifications: 
Niner has earned additional awards and certifications around sustainability too. The winery, tasting room and restaurant earned Silver from LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) by tackling areas such as energy, water, materials, health and more. Niner was also awarded the California Green Medal Sustainable Winegrowing Leadership Award for Business in 2023 based on their advanced suitability practices and innovation.

Niner winery and vineyards are SIP (Sustainable in Practice) certified. They received this endorsement in 2016, making Niner the first winery (in addition to their vineyards) to achieve this certification. Today there are over 50 wineries to discover on SLO CAL’s sustainable wine trail!

The Niner Experience

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Flat lay of charcuterie board on wooden tray on wooden table

“To me, food and wine is something that has to go together…”

Did you know that the Restaurant at Niner Wine Estates was one of the first winery restaurants in Paso Robles? Here, the restaurant and tasting room complement each other to create one incredible experience. Making a dining reservation to accompany your tasting is the perfect way to elevate your time at the estate.

Niner’s restaurant serve up seasonal dishes with ingredients grown on-site and harvested daily at the Chef’s Garden. The garden, like their vineyard, is tended to using sustainable farming practices and is organic and regenerative. Niner’s garden grows over 300 vegetables, fruits, herbs and flowers and it open to winery guests. Take a stroll and see where Niner’s delicious food is grown (just steps from your table).

The Restaurant at Niner Wine Estate’s menu changes often but always feature rustic plates highlighting simple recipes that emphasize natural, fresh ingredients. You won’t want to miss their charcuterie board and homemade sourdough focaccia bread.

A Taste of SLO CAL

When you grow a consumable product, it tells the story of the place and the people that cultivated it. Learn more about Niner Wine Estate and their sustainable initiative on their website or Instagram and book a table, or purchase a bottle, to get a taste of SLO CAL for yourself!

Sustainability is intertwined in the DNA of SLO CAL. Consideration for the area's natural beauty and people can be seen in the artists, owners, wineries, shops and experiences across the region. Other unique sustainability stories in San Luis Obispo County include Couleur de la vie, naturally dying textiles using plant pigment, and Camatta Ranch, conserving local ranching roots. Learn more about SLO CAL sustainability and plan your visit today.