Familia Hicks
Get the Dirt from owner Donald Hicks
“Small lot wine makers are the backbone of the industry, we innovate, we disrupt, and we make some of the best wine in the world.”
What was your first vintage year? Our first wine was our 2018 The Gathering, Cabernet Sauvignon.
How many cases do you make per vintage? Just under 200 cases per year. About 50 or so cases of Cabernet Sauvignon and 75 cases of Sauvignon Blanc.
Do you have a Tasting Room? Yes, in LA, by appointment only. Please contact us thru our website.
Who is your winemaker? Our wine maker is Jeff Strekas.
What wine made you want to become a winemaker/start your own winery?
It was less about one single wine and more about the love of all wines, especially from the Central Coast/Paso Robles region.
What varietals do you work with?
We will always make a Cabernet Sauvignon and a Sauvignon Blanc, as those are our two favorite wines, but we will add a third wine every couple of years. We currently have a 2019 Syrah and 2021 Malbec in our lineup as well. The Malbec has won several Gold Medals which we are very proud of.
What vineyards do you source from?
We source from a number of vineyards all located in the Templeton Gap District in Paso Robles. The region has some of the best terroir and conditions for the grape profiles that we prefer to make.
What type of oak treatment do you use?
We use a combination of new, medium-toast French oak, used French oak and neutral French oak for our reds, and neutral French oak for our Sauvignon Blanc, this wine is in barrel for 6 months before we bottle.
What do you love about your winemaking region? What makes it different special?
Paso is an amazing community and we have always loved the area and people.
What’s the story behind your winery name / label?
Our brand – Familia Hicks – it comes from the love of family and friends. Who better to share a bottle or two with?
What's the one thing you wish someone had told you about the wine business before you started your own winery?
Making the wine is the fun part. It’s not easy marketing your brand to new consumers – events like Garagiste are so important for small wineries like us.
Most importantly, what's so great about being small? What can you do as a small winemaker, that wouldn't be possible for larger wineries?
Being small, with an incredible winemaker, allows us access to really good grapes and vineyards, but also allows us to make wine with a profiles that WE really want to showcase, not a fad in the marketplace. For example, not many wineries make a barrel aged Sauvignon blanc – we do because we think it makes one hell of a wine!
How do you view the future in the wine industry for small-lot winemakers?
Small lot wine makers are the backbone of the industry, we innovate, we disrupt, and we make some of the best wine in the world.
If you could choose another wine region to work in what would it be?
None. Paso is the place for us!
For more information about Familia Hicks Wines, please visit their website or follow them on Instagram.