Bob Tillman is the man behind Alta Colina. After 35 years in the high-tech business world, Bob launched Alta Colina in 2003. From the beginning, the enterprise was dedicated to nurturing world-class wines from a magical vineyard site tucked into the Coast Range west of Paso Robles. Bob also pulled together a group of top-notch people that have formed an exceptional team with collective experience stretching over 3 generations.
Alta Colina lies on the hilltops of a 130 acre ranch, with 31 acres planted to Rhône varietals. The vineyard is off Adelaida Road in the Coast Range in an area noted for producing premium wine grapes. The property varies in elevation from 1600 to 1780 feet, with steep North and South facing slopes. Soils are shallow, well drained loam with a high concentration of fractured shale throughout the growth horizon. There are 14 blocks—each carefully matched with the optimum rootstock, variety, spacing, trellis, and orientation for the soil in that particular block.
They grow 4 varieties of white grapes, all from the Rhône Valley in France: Viognier, Roussanne (2 clones), Marsanne, and Grenache Blanc. Each is vinified separately, and the wines blended after several months of aging.
Alta Colina also grows 4 varieties of red grapes, again all Rhônes: Syrah, Grenache, Mourvedre, and Petite Sirah. The situation here is a bit more complex as they have 4 clones of Syrah and 2 of Grenache. All clones are vinified separately and (potentially) blended together after up to a year of aging.
You can taste and purchase Alta Colina wines at Villicana Winery's tasting room at 2725 Adeleida Road.
