Robert Hall Winery Marks One Year of Regenerative Viticulture Initiative in Paso Robles

Robert Hall Winery in Paso Robles, California, is marking the first anniversary of the Regenerative Viticulture Foundation’s One Block Challenge. The initiative, which began in early 2025, encourages grape growers to dedicate at least one vineyard block for a year to regenerative farming practices. The goal is to allow growers to test and observe the effects of these methods on their land and crops.

The One Block Challenge was launched through a partnership between the Regenerative Viticulture Foundation and Robert Hall Winery. Over the past year, it has gained traction among several leading wineries in the Paso Robles American Viticultural Area (AVA), including Tablas Creek, MAHA Estate, Booker, and Halter Ranch. These wineries are working together to promote sustainable and climate-resilient agriculture in the region.

Robert Hall Winery, owned by O’Neill Vintners & Distillers, has played a central role in this movement. The winery is Regenerative Organic Certified® and has conducted what it describes as the region’s only living case study comparing regenerative organic and conventional viticulture. The study covers 40 acres of estate vineyards and tracks a range of metrics such as soil carbon content, microbiology, biodiversity, grape yield, chemistry, phenolics, and sensory qualities of the resulting wines.

The data collected from this side-by-side comparison aims to provide clear evidence about the impact of regenerative practices on soil health, carbon sequestration, and wine quality. According to Robert Hall Winery representatives, these findings are shared with other growers participating in the One Block Challenge. This collaborative approach is intended to accelerate the adoption of regenerative methods across Paso Robles and beyond.

Paso Robles has become known as a center for regenerative viticulture due to these efforts. The region’s growers are increasingly interested in practices that improve soil health and resilience against climate change while maintaining or enhancing wine quality.

To further promote understanding of regenerative organic farming’s effects on wine, Robert Hall Winery has developed ROC Tasting Kits for media and trade professionals. Each kit contains wines made from both conventionally farmed grapes and Regenerative Organic Certified® grapes across three vintages. This allows tasters to directly compare differences in aroma, flavor, and structure between wines produced under different farming regimes.

The One Block Challenge continues to serve as a platform for knowledge-sharing among growers. Organizers say that by providing real-world data and tasting experiences, they hope more vineyards will consider transitioning at least part of their acreage to regenerative practices. As interest grows within Paso Robles AVA and other wine regions, advocates believe that regenerative viticulture could become a new standard for sustainable wine production in California and beyond.