Paso Robles Geneseo District AVA is a designated winegrowing region, established in 2014 in the center of the greater Paso Robles viticultural area in San Luis Obispo County. The district got its name from an influx of German settlers who arrived in the region from Geneseo, Illinois during the 1880s.
The district sits on high rolling terraces formed by old waterways. It looks over newer low-elevation terraces around its border that lead down to valley floors and riverbeds such as the Estrella River to the north, and the Huerhuero Creek which also defines a large part of its southwest border. The district has a narrow westerly region that borders the outer limits of the city of Paso Robles. The hilly landscape of Geneseo has elevations between 740 and 1300 feet (225-395 meters), with the highest slopes providing cold air drainage for the surrounding regions outside of the district's borders. The influence of the Pacific Ocean is moderate, with some cool marine breezes travelling through the Templeton Gap in the Santa Lucia range. Small sections along the Huerhuero Creek are susceptible to cold air pockets and pooling frost, but these aren't significant issues in the wider area.
The soil is defined by alluvial terraces with silt and clay loam soils at higher elevations, and sandy soils at lower elevations such as alongside the Huerhuero Creek. The annual precipitation averages between 13 and 14 inches. The region is well suited to and known for Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah and Zinfandel.
