Midnight Cellars Winery

Specialties

Midnight Cellars was established in 1995, before Paso Robles was known around the world by Wine Enthusiasts Magazine readers as the «Wine Region of the year.» Our vines are mature with thick skins and deep roots, making for wines that showcase the soils of this wonderful region. They are BIG, bold and beautiful. We specialize in estate grown Bordeaux varietals, as well as ripe, fully-​extracted Zinfandels and innovative blends. Visit our tasting room and experience a lineup of wines only available in the tasting room… The winemaker might even be there to pour them for you. Cheers!

History

Established in 1995.

The Hartenberger family moved from Chicago and planted 30 acres of vines into the calcareous and limestone hills of westside Paso Robles, California. Instead of naming the winery after their family name, they went for a more romantic feel and named it Midnight Cellars. Richard Hartenberger strives to grow the very best grapes he can and in turn, make premium and age-​worthy wine.

Meet the Business Owner

Richard H.

Business Owner

Richard Hartenberger, son of Mary Jane and Robert, is Midnight Cellars’ winemaker. By controlling every aspect of the winemaking process, from the vineyard to the bottle, he creates wine that optimizes the appellation and Westside Templeton Gap fruit. Rich is the sole determiner of the picks, and is in the winery every day of the harvest season working every aspect of production. In 1996, the family planted 21,000 vines on the hillside and hilltop of their 160 acre ranch. From the bottom of the vineyard to the top there is an elevation change of 800ft. On three-​wire trellises are 8.5 acres of Merlot, 8.5 acres of Zinfandel, 8 acres of Cabernet Sauvignon, 4.5 acres of Chardonnay and .5 acre of Petit Verdot. The harvest of 2012 will mark the 15^th leafing year in the vineyard. «The maturity of the vines adds to the full-​bodied, complex and established flavor profile» says Rich.