Hope Family Wines this week released the 2023 vintage of Quest, marking the wine’s transition to 100 percent Paso Robles-grown Cabernet Franc. Widely known for its Paso Robles Cabernet Sauvignons under the Austin Hope, Treana, AUSTIN and Liberty School labels, Hope Family Wines is now making its case for the “other” Cabernet.
While Paso Robles continues to gain global recognition, discoveries are yet to be made in this ascendant region on California’s Central Coast. In this spirit, Owner-Winemaker Austin Hope embarked on a decade-long quest to explore the potential of Paso Robles Cabernet Franc. This led to the creation of a singular wine called Quest, which began as a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc. Now, starting with the 2023 vintage, the wine is all in on Cabernet Franc.
“We learned that this grape thrives in only a few select microclimates in Paso Robles, which makes Cabernet Franc a ‘goldilocks’ of wine varieties—soils, elevations and temperatures must be just right, neither too hot nor too cold,” Hope said. “Quest is the culmination of this discovery, made from special sites that show what is possible from Paso Robles Cabernet Franc.”
Quest is distributed nationwide. The 2023 vintage of Quest displays a beautiful herbaceous nose of anise seed, warm chocolate and fresh mint. Flavors of black fruit and dark chocolate reveal earthy leather nuances. On the finish, soft, fine tannins linger and mingle with a delicate touch of acidity.
Cabernet Franc: Conversation Starter
Since launching Quest, Hope Family Wines has found Cabernet Franc to be a powerful differentiator—both in the broad market and within its own portfolio of wines. Cabernet Franc is a conversation starter with trade partners and consumers who are thirsty for a fresh twist on Paso Robles. “As avid champions of Paso Robles, we are constantly talking to people about the region,” Hope said. “It’s clear they’re excited about what’s happening here and interested in discovering new expressions.”
The 2023 Quest reflects how Austin Hope and Director of Vineyards Stasi Seay sought out and invested in new vineyards that captured their vision for Paso Robles Cabernet Franc. Common threads include well-drained gravelly soils and higher elevations with large diurnal temperature swings. “Cabernet Franc needs that big daily cooling-off period paired with ample refractive sunlight, plus good drainage to keep the herbaceous notes in check,” Seay said.
Seay noted that Cabernet Franc plantings have historically been limited in Paso Robles. “When we find a spot where conditions are perfect, we’ll make a commitment and then work with the grower to graft over to Cabernet Franc or even plant new blocks. This guarantees access to high-quality Cabernet Franc on a long-term basis to keep pace with the growing demand for Quest.”
The largest source for the 2023 Quest Cabernet Franc is in the Creston District with loamy calcareous integrated soils at an elevation of 1,100 feet. Another source is in the Geneseo District with sandy-loam calcareous-rich soils at the same elevation. A third is in the eastern San Juan Creek District with alluvial loamy soils at an elevation of 1,200 feet. Future vintages will also draw from the Highlands District and Adelaida District.
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Austin Hope’s Latest Quest Leads to Cabernet Franc - Wine Industry Advisor
