Heart Hill was created over 70 years old by Claude and Richard Booker. The Booker brothers, as the were known, were local farmers and community leaders who owned a cattle ranch in Paso Robles. They created the heart in the 1950s, and legend has it they actually called it Valentine Hill and would invite couples to come picnic on the slopes on February 14th each year.
ABOUT THE BOOKER BROTHERS
The property including our tasting room, winery and vineyard was originally part of a large cattle ranch owned by Claude and Dick Booker. It’s estimated to have been between 800-1,200 aces, but is unknown as the brothers continually purchased properties throughout their life. The two brothers were orphans from the Central Valley, adopted by Ms. Booker in the early 19000s. She had owned the land for years but had no family to help manage it before she adopted Claude and Dick.
The Booker’s ranch was surrounded by other farmers and they were known to be quick to help. If a neighbor was injured they would help bale hay without being asked and without expectation of praise. To them, it was just the right thing to do.
But they were reciprocal with their respect, and did not take kindly to newcomers who didn’t respect the legacy of community in the area. A new neighbor once denied them access to a gate they had been using to move cattle for years. They responded by perching on a hill and sniping every watermelon in the neighbor’s patch. To them, it was just the right thing to do.
CREATION OF THE HEART
Sometime in the late 1950s Claude, Dick & their friend Edgar Wiebe hiked up on an adjacent hill (now located behind Four Lanterns Winery) and noticed an oak grove that almost looked like a heart. Brushing aside their hard farmer exteriors they decided to notch out just the top of the grove to make it really resemble a heart. In true Booker fashion, this was accomplished with a pair of binoculars, lots of hiking & a tractor driven by their friend Edgar Weibe.
The brothers were pillars in the community and donated buildings, created scholarships & more to benefit the Templeton schools. Richard passed in 1990 and Claude followed in 1999 (he was in his late 90s and allegedly fixing a well on the property when he died). They left their entire estate to charity. The sale of their land and all their holdings (including the Niner’s purchase of Heart Hill) went into a trust to benefit an orphanage, the Salvation Army & the American Heart Association among others.
For a little more history there is a great SLO County Magazine article written in 2004, after the passing of both Brothers, that includes an interview with Edgar Wiebe. You can read it here.
Heart Hill Fun Facts
- Heart Hill actually predates most of the area’s vineyards. The Paso Robles AVA was created in 1983 and the majority of the area’s vineyards were planted after the 1960s (although a few were planted as early as the 1800s),
- The grove is made entirely of oak trees, a nice homage to “Pass of the Oaks” which is the English translation of Paso Robles translates.
- Oak trees can live for up to 1,000 years and are often found clustered in hillside groves. The slopes provide protection from wind and are well-draining, preferred terroir for oak tree’s drought tolerant nature.
- There is a secret patio located inside the Heart. We’ve used it sparingly over the years for hikes, special events, proposals and more!
a photo of an ‘Valentine Hill’, year and photographer unknown