The Hartenberger family began Midnight Cellars in May of 1995. The idea sprung from a family vacation to Northern California wine country in 1993. While sipping wine and overlooking a beautiful valley, the comment was made: “You know Dad, why don’t you buy a winery when you retire, and we’ll run it for you.” After a good laugh, the idea was forgotten. In 1994, when retirement became a reality, the winery idea resurfaced and became a reality. The family members sold their homes and converged on Paso Robles, where they bought a beautiful 160 acre ranch in the western hills of Paso, planted 30 acres of grapes, and started the dream.
The Midnight estate vineyard was planted by the Hartenbergers in 1996 on 30 acres of hillside and hilltop terrain nestled near the Santa Lucia mountain range of Westside Paso Robles. This area, known as the Templeton Gap, is a prime growing location characterized by cool maritime influences and calcareous soils. The vineyard is a hillside and hilltop planting with clay, shale and limestone-rich soil. The vineyard is currently planted to Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Zinfandel, Malbec and Petit Verdot.