In the final story in our series “In the Vines,” KCBX’s Benjamin Purper profiles a winemaker who's helping the Paso Robles wine industry reach sustainability — not just for the vines, but for the community as a whole.

The American West is facing a water crisis made worse every year by climate change and drought. That’s posing an existential threat to agricultural economies across the region, especially in smaller cities and towns like Paso Robles.

The explosive growth of Paso Robles’ wine industry since the 1990’s is often touted as a major economic success story on the Central Coast. But some benefit from this more than others, as lower-income families struggle making enough to live in Paso Robles — if they can afford it at all.

Paso Robles is now one of the major hubs in the Central Coast’s rapidly-growing wine industry. Much of Highway 101 through this area is now flanked by vineyards spanning hundreds of acres.

Paso Robles' unique coastal climate makes it one of the best grape-growing areas in the state — and with that comes a rich history of winemaking.