Winemaker Gary Eberle honored by California State Fair

Gary Eberle, the founder of Eberle Winery, has been honored with the 2015 Wine Lifetime Achievement Award by the California State Fair.

The award recognizes individuals and families who are pioneers in the wine industry, according to a news release.

Eberle, often referred to as the “godfather” of the Paso Robles wine region, established Estrella River Winery & Vineyards with the help of his two brothers-in-law before branching out on his own in the late 1970s.

In 1979, he released the first Eberle wine with the well-known boar logo. The winery, production facility and tasting room opened in the early 1980s, according to historical information on the Eberle website.

The State Fair awards will be given during a gala on June 25 at Cal Expo in Sacramento.

This story was originally published March 6, 2015 at 4:50 PM with the headline "Winemaker Gary Eberle honored by California State Fair."