Since 2004, when Victor Abascal and wife Jennifer founded Vines On The Marycrest on the Westside of Paso Robles, they’ve grown zinfandel, tempranillo and Rhône varietals on 26 acres. Victor then blends the varietals to produce wines like Heart of Glass, ‘Round Midnight and My Generation, named for rock and jazz classics.

Joshua Lurie: What’s your first wine memory?

Victor Abascal: How exactly bad my parents Gallo Jug Wine was.

JL: When and why did you make your first wine?

VA: 2000. I just had to, I caught the bug bad!

JL: How much value do you see in rating wines using a 100-point scale?

VA: I don’t see any value if the higher score means only wines with residual sugar, monster alcohol and huge extraction. There are no subtle, interesting and food friendly wines that rate high scores there days. Just monsters.

JL: What’s are some wine trends that you’re excited about?

VA: Screw caps. Low Alcohol.

JL: Why are you excited about screw caps and low alcohol wines?

VA: Screw caps are a great answer to really huge problem in the wine industry. People are just afraid to change. Nothing new about that. We went into this business without any doubt that corks are an outdated, inferior product.

Low alcohol just means lower alcohol. The industry here in California is just a little out of control as far as alcohol levels. We all just need to pump the breaks a little bit.

JL: If you could only drink one more bottle of wine, what would it be, and why?

VA: A great Grenache. I’m on a huge Grenache kick right now. I love that it can be mouth filling, subtle and feminine all at the same time.

JL: What food would you pair with the Grenache and why?

VA: Salmon tartare is nice. How bout a flank steak with sautéed mushrooms?