Mac Myers had no formal training and no famous mentor when he made his first wine in 2002, a Syrah from Larner Vineyard fruit in Santa Barbara County. He taught himself the craft, fell hard for Paso Robles, and made his first Paso wine in 2005, the Beautiful Earth Syrah from Terra Bella Vineyard. Two decades later he is called a guru of Grenache and a sultan of Syrah, still low-key, still chasing the same bold, generous style. In 2025 he and his wife Venus opened a new tasting room on their Adelaida District estate.

The self-taught maker who became Paso’s quiet star

Mac Myers learned winemaking by doing it. He crafted his first McPrice Myers wine in 2002, a Syrah from the legendary Larner Vineyard in Santa Barbara County’s Ballard Canyon, and followed it with a Grenache the next year. He was largely self-taught, working without the pedigree that usually opens doors in fine wine, and he simply kept getting better.

Paso Robles pulled him in. The region’s prime Rhone terroir, tight-knit wine community, and vanguard spirit resonated with him, and he stayed. In 2005 he made his first Paso wine, launching the Beautiful Earth series with a Terra Bella Vineyard Syrah. Critics took notice. He has been described as one of California’s gurus of Grenache and a sultan of Syrah, the region’s undiscovered genius, even as he kept a famously low-key profile. The wines did the talking.

Mac Myers built one of Paso’s most lauded labels from scratch, with no formal training, starting from a single Syrah in 2002.

Bold reds from cool, high limestone

McPrice Myers built an estate in the Adelaida District, the high western reach of Paso Robles where the Santa Lucia slopes rise over shallow calcareous bedrock. The marine limestone here is the secret behind the region’s structure and lift. Pacific air flows inland through the Templeton Gap each afternoon, and nights drop sharply, a wide diurnal swing that lets the fruit build flavor and ripeness while holding its acidity.

That balance is what keeps Mac’s wines from tipping over. His house style is unabashedly bold and generous, full-bodied Rhone reds with serious ripeness, yet the cold Adelaida nights and limestone-driven acidity keep them fresh rather than flabby. The flagship Beautiful Earth blend draws the best lots from favorite westside vineyards, a Syrah-led Rhone blend rounded out with Grenache, Mourvedre, and a handful of supporting grapes.

What the wines actually taste like

Pour a McPrice Myers red and the first impression is plush. The Syrahs, like the Right Hand Man, come dark and brooding, full of blackberry, smoked meat, pepper, and violet, with the dense, mouth-coating texture that made his reputation. The Grenache-driven wines lean brighter, with red cherry, raspberry, and warm spice, generous but lifted. The Beautiful Earth blend pulls all of it together into something rich and layered.

These are not shy wines. They are full-bodied and ripe by design, with ample fruit and supple tannin, made for people who want their reds to deliver. What keeps them honest is the acidity baked in by those cold high-elevation nights, plus tannins that arrive smooth rather than aggressive. There is also a Bordeaux side to the cellar and special bottlings like The Brightest Star, an elegant Zinfandel made to honor Venus.

What to pour McPrice Myers with

Bold Rhone reds want bold food, and the chemistry rewards you. A full-bodied Syrah or Beautiful Earth blend carries plenty of tannin, and tannin binds to protein and fat, so the wine softens and turns silkier against a fatty, charred cut. Red-oak-grilled tri-tip, the Paso standard, is almost made for these wines, as are lamb, smoked brisket, and a hard aged cheese. The richer and more charred the meat, the rounder the wine reads.

The acidity from those cold Adelaida nights then cuts the richness and keeps the pairing from feeling heavy. One caution, because these reds run ripe and full-bodied, keep an eye on spice, since heat amplifies the perception of alcohol and can make a big wine feel hot. Save the Grenache for spice-forward dishes where its brighter fruit can keep up. To dial in a match for a specific bottle and meal, try the wine pairing generator.

Visiting McPrice Myers

In June 2025 Mac and Venus Myers opened a new hospitality and tasting venue on their Adelaida District estate, a long-awaited home base for a label that spent years without a dedicated room of its own. The setting puts you among the high western hills and limestone soils that give the wines their backbone, and the tasting spotlights the bold reds that built the name. Visits are best arranged by reservation, and since a new venue’s hours and offerings can change, confirm current details with the winery before you go. To fold the stop into a broader west-side itinerary, our Paso Robles guide can help you map the day.

McPrice Myers Wines: common questions