Austin Hope Quest Proprietary Red

Austin Hope Quest Proprietary Red is a Cabernet-based proprietary red blend from Paso Robles, California, bottled at 14.5% ABV in a standard 750ml format. The 2020 vintage earned 94 points from Wine Enthusiast and was named among Wine & Spirits Magazine's Top 100 Wines of 2022 — recognition that underscores its standing as one of Paso Robles' more compelling red blends.

Quick Facts: ABV: 14.5%  |  Origin: Paso Robles, California  |  Cabernet-Based Proprietary Red Blend  |  Winery: Austin Hope / Hope Family Wines

Production & Heritage

Quest is produced by Hope Family Wines, a Paso Robles estate with deep roots in the region's winemaking community. The blend has historically been built around Cabernet Sauvignon with supporting lots of Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Petit Verdot, and Petite Sirah, though beginning with the 2023 vintage the wine is transitioning toward 100% Cabernet Franc — the result of over a decade of exploration into that grape's potential in Paso Robles' calcareous soils and wide diurnal temperature swings. Aging takes place in American oak barrels, with the winery working alongside coopers to develop custom barrel profiles tailored specifically to the wine's structure and aromatic goals.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: The nose opens with rich caramel and fudge notes before shifting into dark chocolate, cassis, and a distinctive cool-mint lift. Beneath that primary layer, subtle anise seed and herbaceous tones add complexity.

Taste: On the palate, dark fruit — black cherry and blackcurrant — arrives immediately and expands through the mid-palate alongside milk chocolate and baking spice. The texture is full and generous, with chalky, well-integrated tannins providing structure without austerity. A thread of crisp menthol weaves through the fruit, keeping the wine's richness from becoming heavy.

Finish: The finish is long and layered, with soft, supple tannins carrying dark chocolate, espresso, and a faint leathery earthiness. Evergreen and mint notes linger well past the final sip, giving the wine a signature aromatic persistence.

How to Drink Quest

This wine rewards time in the glass. Pour it into a large-bowled Bordeaux glass and let it breathe for 20–30 minutes before drinking neat, or decant for an hour if serving a younger vintage. While primarily a sipping wine, its bold fruit and structured tannins also make it a strong candidate for red-wine cocktails: a Kalimotxo (red wine and cola) works surprisingly well with Quest's chocolate and spice notes; a classic Sangria benefits from its dark-fruit depth and minty lift; and a New York Sour gains added body and complexity from the wine's rich mid-palate.

Best For

• Dinner parties centered around grilled red meats or braised dishes
• Gifting a Cabernet lover looking to explore Paso Robles beyond the usual suspects
• Building a vertical collection as the blend evolves toward 100% Cabernet Franc
• Saturday night sipping sessions with a charcuterie spread and aged cheeses

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Quest taste like? Quest delivers bold black cherry and cassis fruit layered with dark chocolate, espresso, and a distinctive mint-menthol lift, all carried by chalky, well-integrated tannins that give the wine a rich but structured feel.

How does Quest compare to Caymus Cabernet Sauvignon? Both wines occupy a similar full-bodied, fruit-forward California red niche, and the two estates share a connection through a collaboration between Austin Hope and Charlie Wagner of the Caymus family. Where Caymus leans into plush, ripe Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon character, Quest draws its identity from Paso Robles terroir and a more diverse blend that increasingly features Cabernet Franc's herbaceous aromatics and cool-mint signature.

Is Quest good for sipping neat? Absolutely — its layered dark-fruit complexity, integrated tannins, and long finish make it an ideal wine to drink on its own, particularly after 20–30 minutes of breathing time in a large glass or decanter.

Where is Quest made? Quest is produced by Hope Family Wines in Paso Robles, a major wine-growing region on California's Central Coast known for its limestone-rich soils and significant day-to-night temperature variation. The fruit is estate-sourced and vinified at the winery's Paso Robles facility.

What foods pair well with Quest? Grilled ribeye steak complements the wine's dark-fruit intensity and tannic structure. Braised short ribs match its richness and chocolate undertones. Aged Gouda or Manchego echo the caramel and savory depth in the mid-palate. Dark-chocolate desserts play directly into the wine's cocoa and espresso notes. A classic lamb burger with rosemary picks up the herbaceous and mint threads.

What sizes does Quest come in? Austin Hope Quest Proprietary Red is widely available in the standard 750ml bottle format.

Is Quest worth the price? Quest positions as a mid-premium Paso Robles red, sitting above everyday drinking wines but below the region's most limited single-vineyard bottlings. Its 94-point Wine Enthusiast rating and Top 100 recognition from Wine & Spirits Magazine suggest strong quality relative to its price tier, making it competitive among California proprietary reds in the same range.

Why Quest?

What sets Quest apart is its evolving identity. The wine's decade-long transition toward 100% Cabernet Franc represents a genuine winemaking conviction — a bet that Paso Robles can produce world-class expressions of a grape more commonly associated with the Loire Valley and Bordeaux's Right Bank. Custom-coopered American oak barrels designed specifically for this project reinforce that ambition. Backed by a 94-point score from Wine Enthusiast and a place on Wine & Spirits Magazine's Top 100 list, Quest delivers the kind of distinctive, site-driven character that makes Paso Robles one of California's most exciting regions to watch.