Steinbecks honored by Fellow Vintners Saturday
The Paso Robles Wine Country Alliance honored Howie and Bev Steinbeck, owners of Steinbeck Vineyards on Friday, Jan. 19 as the 2006 Wine Industry Persons of the Year.

The couple were presented with the award in front of more than 180 industry leaders and local and regional dignitaries at the Paso Robles Park Ballroom during the Wine Country Alliance’s 15th Annual Gala.
“Howie and Bev Steinbeck are true pioneers of the Paso Robles wine industry and have contributed heart and soul to an industry that is bearing the fruits of their labor,” said Dana Merrill, president of Mesa Vineyard Management and vice-chair of the Paso Robles Wine Country Alliance. “I am proud to present this award to two deserving people who are always ready to lend a hand to this industry. It’s appropriate that they are well recognized for their contributions.”
Howie Steinbeck began farming barley in 1959 on land east of Paso Robles that had been farmed by his grandfather Frank Ernst. In 1972 he purchased this acreage with his wife Beverly Jesperson Steinbeck. In 1982, he planted grapes. The original 50 acres produces an old vine Cabernet, which is featured at Castoro Winery, Eagle Castle Winery and Eberle Winery.
Today Steinbeck Vineyards is comprised of 500 acres of premium wine grapes, which are sold to wineries throughout California. Howie farms or manages 1,000 acres of premium wine grapes in Paso Robles where many local wineries feature fruit grown by the Howie Steinbeck Family.
In addition, the Steinbecks have been active and giving members of the community. Howie and Bev have served on the Paso Robles Ag Tour committee for 20 years, bringing an awareness of grape farming to the tour; were influential in the original Paso Robles Wine University (now Studies In Place—SIP) and are well involved with vineyard research at California Polytechnic University in San Luis Obispo.
Howie and Bev’s strong sense of community can also be seen in their dedication to the congregation at Trinity Lutheran Church and their hosting of the annual Paso Robles Wine Country Alliance member barbeque, sparing no expense and welcoming all like family. Through their strong faith and closely tied family, they are always willing to lend a helping hand and support those in need.
“Howie and Bev Steinbeck are visionaries, who aided in establishing the Paso Robles Vintners and Growers Association (Board Member 1997—98)—now the Paso Robles Wine Country Alliance—which gave impetus to a unified wine industry,” said Christopher Taranto, communications manager of the PRWCA.
Their contributions continue through their support of The Wine Yard at Steinbeck Vineyards, a venture launched with their daughter Cindy Newkirk and her husband Tim. It has brought an AgTourism asset to Paso Robles, a new trend in travel that is gaining popularity nationwide.
The Newkirks now live in the historic family ranch house, built by Howie Steinbeck’s grandparents in 1923. There they are raising their children, Ryan and Stacy, the fifth generation to enjoy the ranch house. Howie and Bev built their dream home nearby, overlooking the vineyards in 1999.
The Steinbeck family is well interwoven into the fabric that makes up Paso Robles Wine Country, Taranto said. The Steinbecks’ involvement helped two area wineries, Eberle Winery and Eagle Castle Winery, get their start.
Bev Steinbeck said later that she suspected something when their daughter arrived from Oregon to attend the Paso Robles Wine Country Alliance banquet. She expected that Howie Steinbeck would be honored for his many contributions to Paso Robles wine industry.
“I was rubbing his back thinking, ‘Oh, poor thing, you’ll have to go up there and speak and that is so hard to do,’” Bev Steinbeck said.
The true surprise came when both of their names were announced. Howie turned to her and said “Ha, ha, ha, you’ll have to go up there with me.’”
“In fifteen years the PRWCA has only honored one other couple,” Bev Steinbeck said. “The best thing was that so many people came up and hugged us. We’d always cared about them but we didn’t know how much they cared about us.”
Howie Steinbeck described himself as a “bit humbled.”
In addition to the awarding the Steinbecks with Wine Industry Persons of the Year on Jan. 19, the evening program recognized Wine Country Alliance outgoing board members. Each was presented with a plaque thanking them for their leadership. A special award was presented to Stacie Jacob for her leadership.
The outgoing board members are:
Jon Cagliero—Cagliero Vineyards—who served as secretary/treasurer
Christopher Vix—EOS Estate Winery—who served on the Marketing Committee
The 2006 board members representing grower and winery members and executive team were announced with the gavel being handed to the new Chairman of the Board.
Steve Lohr—J.Lohr Vineyards and Wines—chairman
Dana Merrill—Pomar Junction Vineyards—vice chairman
Jerry Reaugh—Sereno Vista Vineyards—secretary/treasurer
Don Brady—Robert Hall Winery—nominating committee and past chairman
Justin Baldwin—Justin Vineyards and Winery
Tony Domingos—Brave Oak Vineyard
Gary Eberle—Eberle Winery
Ric Fuller—Continental Vineyards
Cindy Newkirk—Steinbeck Vineyards