About Us

The Story
The Vineyards
The Team

The STOry

Carl Bowker has followed a long yet steady path towards his goal of producing exceptional estate driven wines. Born and raised in Hawaii, Carl began his farming experience while tagging along with his father, an irrigation specialist to the local farms. This early introduction left a lasting impression and true appreciation for soils and the farming life. Little did he realize that this childhood curiosity would lead him to the special soils of Paso Robles, California.

Upon graduating from the University of Hawaii, Carl left for California to join the corporate world. His entrepreneurial spirit took flight soon after when started his own company and later, other ventures. After several decades he decided that a desk job was not for him and he began the pursuit of his passion for special wines.

Carl’s affection for wine turned into an obsession shortly after September 11, 2001 during a visit to Europe. It was there that he expanded his appreciation for world class wines and for what the land could produce. While there, Carl and his wife Pam got to spend time with many of the regions’ finest wine producing families. He attentively listened to the details of wine production and noticed the special connection the families had with their land. From this experience, Carl vowed that he would make this the way of living life for himself and his family.

Upon returning from Europe, the search to locate a vineyard property to grow superior wine grapes ensued. As with many pioneers before them, they chose Paso Robles, California due to its soils, microclimates, and upside potential for growing world-class grape varietals from the Rhone Valley region of France.

With his desire to become a winemaker and viticulturist Carl attended Napa Valley College’s Viticulture and Enology associate program and completed it in 2004. With all things moving toward the vision of producing special wines, Carl and Pam ventured to the Rhone Valley of France. It was there that the die was cast. It was to be old world wine in the new world that he would make. Deep, opulent and complex Syrah of the Northern Rhone, Grenache-based blends of Chateauneuf-du-Pape and Viognier-based white wines were what would be produced at the family’s Caliza Winery in Paso Robles.

In 2005 the quest ended and the vision began when Carl and Pam planted their 20 acre hillside vineyard. Located on Anderson Road in the famed Templeton Gap on the Westside of Paso Robles, the warm days are met with the cooling evening influences of the coastal marine breezes.

The Bowkers, with their new vineyard, found themselves in the company of cutting edge winemakers and their respective vineyards. A stone’s throw to the Northwest is the highly respected Stephan Asseo’s L’Aventure Winery, to the East is Booker Vineyards whose fruit is used in many fine wines such as Saxum, Villa Creek and Booker Vineyard’s own label.

The name Caliza came from a desire to link the winery to its surroundings. After days of suggestions, a brief search yielded the Spanish word for limestone. Being that Caliza lies on a thin band of limestone running along the Santa Lucia Mountain range, it was a natural choice.

The Vineyards

Caliza is Spanish for “limestone”, which is an important component of Caliza’s vineyard. The 28-acre vineyard is predominantly comprised of hillsides with south-facing slopes and steep terraced blocks. This orientation is preferable due to the maximum sun exposure for the vines. The lower vineyard blocks are at 900 feet above sea level and range to over 1,200 feet at the highest blocks. Located within the Willow Creek District AVA the vineyard faces significant swings in day and night temperatures with as much as 50°F in variation. This allows the fruit to hold onto its acidity and achieve prime phenolic maturity during the long, warm growing season.

SOIL

The two main types of soils found in our vineyard are known as GAZOS and SANTA LUCIA soils. The Gazos consists of moderately deep, well drained soils that formed in material weathered from sandstone and shale. The Santa Lucia consists of moderately deep, well drained soils that formed in material weathered from white shale containing some ash, some siliceous, and some diatomaceous material. The pH in the soils range from a low of 5.1 in the upper elevations to a high of 6.4 in the lower portions of the vineyard and is an optimal range for nutrient uptake by the vines. The lower pH soils have a greater concentration of the fractured shale and require more nutrient additions than the higher pH soils which have a greater concentration of deep clay loam and more nutrient availability for each plant. The greater number of rocks and stones at the soil surface is quite noticeable as you increase in elevation in the vineyard.

LAYOUT

The 28-acre vineyard is predominantly comprised of hillsides with south-facing slopes and steep terraced blocks. This orientation is preferable due to the maximum sun exposure for the vines. The lower vineyard blocks are at 900 feet above sea level and range to over 1,200 feet at the highest blocks. Located within the Willow Creek District AVA the vineyard faces significant swings in day and night temperatures with as much as 50°F in variation. This allows the fruit to hold onto its acidity and achieve prime phenolic maturity during the long, warm growing season.

PRACTICES

We are devoted to the natural surroundings on the 60+ acre property. Surrounded by oak forests teaming with wildlife we take an organic, sustainable approach to farming. No pesticides or herbicides are used and we use a combination of different vineyard “cocktails” to help feed the vines nutrition. Organic composts are spread in the late fall followed by a healthy cover crop being grown from the nourishment of winter rains. These cover crops do well to feed bees, insects, and all the other biodiversity on our property. It is truly a harmonious balance in the environment that leads to great wines. By late spring the cover crops are mowed down to provide much needed mulch to help feed the surface roots of each plant. We minimize our irrigation to allow for the plants to reach deep into the soils in search of water and nutrients and gives just enough for each individual plant directly into its rooting zone. We also avoid tilling to minimize our carbon impact as well as the loss of loose soils down our steep hillsides during the rainy season.

DIVERSITY

The 28-acres of vineyards are planted in 24 unique blocks to the following varieties:

Block 1: Grenache – Clone 362 Block 6T: Mourvedre – Clone 369 Block 9B: Syrah – Clone 470
Block 2: Primitivo – Clone 3 Block 7A: Mourvedre – Clone 369 Block 9C: Syrah – Clone 470
Block 3: Syrah – Clone Estrella Block 7B: Petite Sirah – Clone 3 Block 10: Grenache – Clone 362
Block 4: Syrah – Clone 174 Block 7T: Mataro – Clone 05.1 Block 11: Tannat – Clone 474
Block 5: Syrah – Clone 877 Block 8A: Syrah – Clone 383 Block 12: Petit Verdot – Clone 02
Block 6A: Viognier – Clone 642 Block 8B: Syrah – Clone 383 Block 13A: Syrah – Clone 470
Block 6B: Roussanne – Clone 467 Block 8C: Syrah – Clone 383 Block 13B: Syrah – Clone 877
Block 6C: Syrah – Clone Alban 1 Block 9A: Tempranillo – Clone 770 Block 13C: Syrah – Clones Alban 1, 174, 383, Estrella

 

MICROCLIMATE

Our 28-acre vineyard is located in the Willow Creek AVA of Paso Robles and directly in line with what is called the “Templeton Gap.” This area is distinctly known for its large diurnal swings brought on by the cool ocean breeze that is pulled in through a gap in the ridgeline of the Santa Lucia Mountain range. Daytime temperatures from May to September can range from 75˚F up to 115˚F but in the evening drop by over 50˚F. The hot days allow for full phenolic ripeness while the cool nights allow for the vines to recover and the fruit to hold onto its natural acidity. Although generally still a warm growing region, the cooler temperatures on our property separate us from many of the other regions in the greater Paso Robles AVA. Yearly average rainfall is historically only between 15 to 20 inches per year.

Our Team

Carl Bowker
Founding Winemaker / Owner
Josh Harp
Winemaker
Mandy Bauer
Hospitality & Wine Club Manager
Allie Donegan
Assistant Winemaker
Talia Mata
Talia Mata
Wine Educator & Tasting Room Lead
Maury Froman
Wine Educator – Tasting Room Host