Hospice du Rhône is set to celebrate its 20th anniversary as wine producers and enthusiasts from around the world descend on Paso Robles to celebrate Rhône varietals.

For three days the festival celebrates the 22 wine grapes traditionally used in the Rhône Valley of France, with the event drawing producers from Europe, Australia and South Africa who all want an insight into how the grape varieties are grown and produced in the region.

Anthony Yount, a winemaker at Denner Vineyards in Paso Robles told San Luis Obispo Tribune: “It’s the event I learn the most from every year.

“It’s like a think tank of worldwide winemakers,” he added, saying that the  sharing of information and opportunity to taste rare and hard-to-find wines is part of the appeal.

High-profile wineries such as Saxum Vineyards in Paso and Alban Vineyards in Edna Valley are rarely tasted outside events such as this, and some even have waiting lists to join the wine clubs. This year, to celebrate the anniversary, a sold-out seminar and dinner featuring producers from Chateauneuf du Pape is on offer, which  will include a dozen of the Rhône Valley estate winery’s vintages dating as far back as 1952.