Tablas Creek Vineyard is a joint project between the Perrin family of Château de Beaucastel and their long time US importers the Haas family of vineyard brands. Having established himself a leading role in the American wine industry, Robert Haas travelled through the cellars of France, establishing a formidable reputation as a wine taster while forging lifelong relationships with premier wine producers.
As the importer of the Perrin wines Haas and the Perrins became friends, and emerged convinced that the Rhône varieties so well suited to the sunny south of France would thrive in California's Mediterranean climate. In 1985, the families began looking for property.
Ten years of saving and a further four years of serious investigation brought them to a purchase of a 120 acre site in the limestone-rich hills west of Paso Robles (in what is now the Adeilada AVA). The partners were determined to plant Mediterranean varieties, importing cuttings from Beaucastel; this was no small feat when only six cutting per variety were allowed entry into the USA before each batch then required 3 years of quarantine. Out of this endeavour, a nursery business was born that, by happy coincidence, provided vines for many of the other Rhône Rangers.