Terranean Wines
Get the Dirt from owner/winemaker Alex Kemp
“We believe Grenache best represents Paso Robles terroir. The variety thrives in our climate and our calcareous, youthful soils bring an energy to the variety that rivals the greatest Grenache wine regions in the world.”
What was your first vintage year? 2023. We are excited to be sharing our first wines!
How many cases do you make per vintage? About 200 per vintage.
Do you have a Tasting Room? We do not have a tasting room, however, those interested in trying the wines can email us for availability (hello@kempfamilywines.com)
What wine/grape made you want to become a winemaker/start your own winery?
Grenache
What varietals do you work with?
We make three uniquely different 100% Grenache wines. Our focus at Terranean is Grenache. We believe Grenache best represents Paso Robles terroir. The variety thrives in our climate and our calcareous, youthful soils bring an energy to the variety that rivals the greatest Grenache wine regions in the world.
What vineyards do you source from?
The main vineyards we work with are G2, Coakley, Lambooy, and Worth Hill. We feel like these along with select others have the best representation of Grenache on the west side of Paso Robles. Our goal is to source Grenache from wine growers that are just as passionate about Grenache as we are.
What type of oak treatment do you use?
We ferment in neutral and once used larger barrels called puncheons (132 gallons) and we age in neutral puncheons.
What do you love about your winemaking region? What makes it different special?
Our diverse soils and microclimates make Paso Robles a very special place to grow and make wine. Our calcareous soils and warm weather make some of the most intense wines in the world. We are able to make a wine that has a true sense of place. Above all else, our wine community in Paso Robles is full of the most gracious and passionate people.
What’s the story behind your winery name / label?
Terranean means “of the earth”. It’s an ode to our mediterranean climate in Paso Robles and the type of climate Grenache thrives in. Our label reflects a time when winemaking in California began. It’s also meant to look like old Hollywood/Western due to Ryan’s previous occupation in film and Alex’s upbringing in an old gold rush town. The single vineyard wine labels represent the calcareous rock of Paso Robles. Our Terranean Grenache label mixes the colors of sage, gold, and burgundy that represents earth, California, and passion.
What’s the one thing you wish someone had told you about the wine business before you started your own winery?
Start earlier!
What’s so great about being small? What can you do as a small winemaker that wouldn’t be possible for larger wineries?
We have both worked for larger wineries and while there is so much to learn there, they tend to be stuck making wine for others and not for themselves. Or, they get stuck making wine to a recipe and not reflective of a vintage or a unique site. As a small producer you get a little more freedom to be creative and to make something that you are really passionate about in the hopes that others like it too.
How do you view the future of the wine industry for small-lot winemakers?
We believe that small-lot winemakers are the future. People care about what they are drinking and who is making it more than ever before. Small producers give wine drinkers more of a chance to get to know the producers. It’s also more adventurous for wine drinkers to come to wine regions like Paso Robles and find small batch wineries on their own path.
Do you ever get tired of drinking your own wine?
Never! We’re always on the hunt for new wines and terroirs.
If you could choose another wine region to work in what would it be?
Etna, Sicily. Is there a cooler terroir than making wine next to a volcano?
For more information about Terranean Wines, please visit their website or follow them on Instagram.