Grey Wolf Cellars was founded in August 1994 by Joe Barton Sr. and his wife Shirlene, who left behind a restaurant in Steamboat Springs, Colorado to pursue a dream of winemaking in Paso Robles. After Joe Sr.'s unexpected death in 1998, his son Joe Barton Jr. took over the winery at just 23 years old while still a student at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, and has run it ever since alongside his wife Jenny. Grey Wolf sources dry-farmed fruit from the Willow Creek, Templeton Gap, and Adelaida District AVAs along Paso Robles' Highway 46 West corridor, crafting small-lot wines from heritage Zinfandel, Bordeaux varieties, and Rhône reds and whites. The winery shares its farmhouse-style estate with sister label Barton Family Wines, along with Barton's Kitchen restaurant and Grain + Vine Craft Distillery.