Paso Robles Wine Country features February's grower's blog, written about the varietal of the month – Syrah – by Marcy and Gary Eberle of Eberle Winery. 

It begins:

The first documented planting of Syrah in the state of California was in 1975 by winemaker Gary Eberle on the Estrella River Winery vineyards east of Paso Robles. It was the first time Syrah showed up in the California grape acreage report, and it was the origin of the first 100 percent Syrah made in the United States. Eberle planted these Chapoutier clones because he fell in love with the wine while working on his Doctorate at UC Davis.

Read more here.