Situated at 2,000 feet (610 m) of elevation and 14 miles (23 km) from the Pacific Ocean, the terrain of the Adelaida, California district is marked by ancient calcareous soils, diurnal temperature variations of nearly 50 °F (10 °C), and warm, dry growing seasons.

Adelaida Vineyards & Winery produces Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot noir, Syrah, Rhône blends, Zinfandel and other wines from the Paso Robles AVA.

[citation needed] Longtime residents of southern California, the Van Steenwyk family purchased Hilltop Ranch along Adelaida Road in the late 1970s as an investment.

[citation needed] Meanwhile, John Munch began making wine under the Adelaida Cellars label in 1981[1] with grapes purchased from local growers.

The planting was named HMR Estate Vineyard to honor its noble beginnings, and is situation 0.5 miles (0.80 km) west of Viking at elevations of 1,600–1,700 feet (490–520 m).

As the oldest Pinot noir vineyard in San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara Counties,[citation needed] HMR also contains 7 acres (2.8 ha) of Chardonnay dating back to 1973.

Situated between 1,800–1,900 feet (550–580 m) of elevation on the ridgeline above HMR, Anna's Estate Vineyard was planted with 18 acres (7.3 ha) of Syrah in 2002-03 and named after Elizabeth Van Steenwyk's grandmother.

Quite rare in California, the underlying limestone of the Adelaida district is part of a narrow coastal strip that extends from San Diego to Monterey.

Sheets of hot air rise above the vast inland valley during summer months, drawing cool ocean breezes through the Templeton gap (southwest of Paso Robles) to mitigate afternoon temperatures in Adelaida vineyards.