Paso Robles winery founded by former NFL player closes after 20 years: ‘Life’s too short’

A Paso Robles winery founded by a former professional football player and his wife has closed after 20 years in business.

Terry Hoage and his wife, Jennifer, announced Jan. 18 that they were retiring and closing TH Estate Wines, located at 870 Arbor Road.

”It took us a year to get to to the point where we’ve announced (the closure) and sold the rest of the inventory,” Jennifer Hoage said. “It was a conscious decision. It wasn’t not out of failure. We have had the most successful years we’ve ever had.”

A College Football Hall of Famer, Terry Hoage played at the University of Georgia, where he was a two-time All-American. Over the course of his career in the National Football League in the 1980s and ’90s, Hoage played for 13 seasons on a total of six teams: the New Orleans Saints, Philadelphia Eagles, Washington Redskins, San Francisco 49ers, Houston Oilers and Arizona Cardinals.

After Hoage retired from the NFL, he and his wife bought a 26-acre property on the west side of Paso Robles.

They made their first wine in 2002 under the tutelage of Justin Smith from Paso Robles winery Saxum Vineyards, according to the TH Estate Wines website.

According to the site, the two “have been involved in almost every aspect of the winery from day one.”

“We grew the business together, working long days and nights, just the two of us for many years,” the Hoages said in their retirement announcement.

“Over time we had the opportunity to employ many people in the community and help further their careers,” the Hoages said.

“We have also been lucky enough to receive good press from the wine critics, respect from the community, and the great fortune of spectacular customers like you helping us navigate this journey.”

Last year, after there was a death in the family, Jennifer Hoage said she and her husband sat down and discussed how they wanted to proceed with the business.

“We both decided that life’s too short,” Jennifer Hoage said, adding that the loss made them “reevaluate what is important in life.”

“We don’t remember money. We don’t remember riches and stuff,” she said. “We remember experiences. We remember relationships. We remember new adventures,” Jennifer Hoage said. “That’s what’s important to us right now — is creating those things.”

Since the Hoages announced their retirement, Jennifer Hoage said that their phone has been ringing constantly with people thanking them for their work in the community over the years.

“It’s very flattering and it makes us feel like we tried to be the best we can to the employees that we have and had,” she said. “And we’ve always tried to be the best we could to the people who support us which would be our customers.”

Although TH Estate Wine has had seven to eight employees at a time over the years, the winery only employed a few workers in the past year.

“It’s really sad in that respect, because we’re gonna miss seen those faces and we’re going to miss having the conversations,” Jennifer Hoage said. “We will stay in touch with many of them. We will let them know what’s happening in our lives. Because many of them have become ... friends.”

Hodge said she and her husband are currently in a transition period as they sell off remaining items and respond to community feedback.

Four people are helping package orders, including the Hoages.

“I’ve been working every day and into the evening and early in the morning,” Jennifer Hoage said. “I’ve returned emails at three in the morning. I mean, I just it’s been crazy.”

“We’re doing our best right now to get things out as quickly as possible,” Hoage said. “We’ve already informed our customers that it might take several weeks to get the orders out just because of the sheer number of volume.”

According to Hoage, she and her husband not have an exact plan for retirement, except to enjoy other hobbies outside of wine — including traveling.

This story was originally published January 31, 2023 at 5:30 AM.