In my last blog I described some of my favorite places to eat and sleep in Paso Robles. This time I’d like to mention some of the compelling winery tasting rooms I visited when I was there last month. There are many, many other Paso wineries worth a shout-out, but in this instance I am merely paying homage to the handful of estates I managed to get to during an all-too-brief two-day visit.
Paso Robles’ AVA encompasses 26,000 acres of vines distributed over 600,000 acres. Approximately 165 wineries are open to the public for tasting. Among the wineries whose wines I sampled, in no particular order here are some that I especially liked.
Villa San-Juliette-6385 Cross Canyon Road, San Miguel
Created by celebrity icons Nigel Lythgoe and Ken Warwick (of American Idol and So You Think You Can Dance fame) San-Juliette is the region’s brand new premiere estate. Thanks to the talents of winemaker Adam LaZarre, a star in his own right, San-Juliette turns out several excellent wines including Cabernet, Grenache and Malbec. The showplace winery includes dazzling vistas and a handsome garden.
Peachy Canyon-1480 North Bethel Road, Templeton
Sample Peachy Canyon’s iconic Zinfandels in the old Schoolhouse Tasting Room or at a picnic table out on the spacious lawn.
Caliza-2570 Anderson Road, Paso Robles
An all-red house specializing in fine Rhône style wines such as “Azmuth,” a beautiful Mourvedre/Syrah/Grenache blend.
Herman Story-1227 Paso Robles Street, Paso Robles
At this tiny downtown tasting room sample impressive, mostly full throttle wines including the terrific sumptuous and floral “Tomboy” (Roussanne/Viognier blend) and “On the Road,” a big, delicious, juicy 100% Grenache.
Ancient Peaks-22720 El Camino Real, Santa Margarita
Visiting this vast estate is like stepping into an enchanting time warp. With its 14,000 acres of rolling ranch land and 1000 acres of vineyards (situated a mere 14 miles from the Pacific Ocean) this is a peaceful, untrammeled place that seems not much changed since Franciscan missionaries planted vines here in the 1780s. One way to get a great view of the landscape is to sign up for a zip line tour of the estate (contact Margarita Adventures, Tel. 805 438-3120). The excellent wines include a crisp Sauvignon Blanc, an aromatic and fruity Merlot, a dense and layered Cab, and a couple of fine red blends.
To avoid drinking and driving, I used the services of the Wine Wrangler (Tel 866 238-6400). These knowledgeable folks can help set up winery visits and tours. They’ll even take you to Hearst Castle, which also has a winery and is only a 45 minute drive from Paso.
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