A Weekend in Paso Robles Wine Country

August 16, 2020

Paso Robles is a growing wine country in California’s Central Coast, about 30 minutes north of San Luis Obispo. It’s an up and coming region that continues to grow in popularity and with new wineries popping up – now with a total of over 200 wineries.

Paso Robles makes a perfect wine growing region, especially for Rhone and Bordeaux varietals but also grows Zinfandel, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Noir and more. There’s a total of 40,000 acres planted to vineyards in the Paso area – not so little of a wine region as some may think!

I was only in Paso for two days, which was enough time to get some wine tasting and exploring in but I highly suggest going for longer than that if you’d like to fully immerse yourself in this beautiful wine country, enjoy the dining and explore the town.

Must-Visit Paso Robles Wineries

Law Estate

One of my absolute favorite stops of the weekend was Law Estate. Wow – impeccably beautiful tasting room and design, with even more incredible wine. Clean, refined, balanced and structured – their entire lineup blew me away. They focus on Rhone varieties such as Roussanne, Marsanne, Grenache, Syrah, and Mourvedre. They’re a gravity flow winemaking facility (meaning no grapes are ever put through pumping tubes) and they ferment everything in concrete, which is very interesting, given most people use stainless steel tanks nowadays. Fun fact – their winemaker, Philp Pfunder, did a stint at Screaming Eagle in Napa – and it certainly shows in his wines! Oh, and hot tip, make this your first tasting of the day at 10 am, and get a free hummingbird show in the back – we enjoyed watching about 30 hummingbirds twirl around their flower garden – but they tend to hide once it gets too warm.

Adelaida

Let’s talk about stunning views – if you’re looking for an unforgettable, upgraded wine tasting experience – their Hilltop Tasting Experience is just that. Adelaida makes all different styles of wines ranging from Syrah to Cabernet to Pinot Noir – really there’s something here for everyone. When you’re doing the Hillside Tasting, they’ll drive you to the highest peak in Paso Robles which is at the top of their property – you can even smack the placard that’s in the ground 😉 I really enjoyed their 2016 Viking Estate Vineyard Cabernet and their Twenty Three Twenty Adelaida District, a Rhone style red blend.

Tablas Creek

Tablas Creek is a Paso Robles classic – they’re one of the original wineries here, and in fact, pioneers in bringing Rhone varietals to the region. They imported several clones of Mourvedre, Grenache Noir, Roussanne, Viognier, Marsanne, Grenache Blanc, Syrah, Counoise and Picpul Blanc, where it then had to be quarantined at UC Davis for three years before they could even plant. That’s dedication! Wine was not new to them, as the founding partners were a part of the Perrin family of Chateau de Beaucastel and the Hass family of Vineyard Brands. The tasting room is quaint and charming – and if you’re lucky you’ll be able to see their llamas and sheep grazing in the nearby field. Their Rose is one of my absolute favorites and I also really enjoy their 2017 Esprit de Tablas and 2017 Le Complice, both Rhone style red blends.

DAOU Vineyard

What’s a visit to Paso Robles without stopping by DAOU? Yes, they are a large wine company but they are still family owned by the Daou brothers (and many of the children are involved now!) and are creating beautiful estate driven wines for direct to consumer only. And I must say, the views are TO DIE FOR. Incredible hospitality, insanely gorgeous views, hip vibe and the ultimate photo spot. Some of my favorite sips included the 2017 Estate Cabernet and the 2017 Soul of the Lion and Adelaida District Cabernet.

Epoch Wines

Epoch is well, truly epoch – from the property to the wines. The tasting room is set inside the historic York Mountain Winery which was established in 1892. Since then, it’s been renovated and opened as the Epoch tasting room in 2016. The marrying of history and modern elements is beautiful, and if you look up, you’ll see a vintage basket press that was used to crush grapes back in the day – something for the geeky winos to go nuts over. The wines are gorgeous. Clean, structured and built to age. However, they were so good I depleted mine rather quickly once I got home. Was hard to pick a favorite!

Booker

Booker is the definition of aesthetic. You feel cool just being here. Talk about an Instagrammer’s dream. However, it’s more than just a pretty winery, as the wines are something to talk about. Their Rhone style wines pack a punch and are a beautiful example of the Paso terroir. I especially loved the Fracture and Vertigo. If you’re lucky enough to catch a ride on the ATV, they’ve got some pretty incredible vineyard views. If you’re looking for more approachable, everyday wines, check out their sister label right on the same property, My Favorite Neighbor.

Denner

If you’re looking for a casual spot to enjoy a patio sippin’ style wine tasting, come to Denner. Was really surprised by their Zinfandel and their pinaccle, Mother of all Exiles, a Cabernet forward Bordeaux style blend. Denner also has a separate spot where you can sip and picnic – sometimes a rare find!

Clos Solène

Forewarning, you’re going to fall in love with this place and want to join the club. A quaint little tasting space, owned by a husband wife team from France, and in fact, Clos Solène is named after the owner and winemaker Guillaume’s wife. What a love story – can someone name a winery after me please? They focus on Rhone and Bordeaux varieties here – and I can say, their vineyard views are stunning. Some of the best I have seen in Paso! The wines – refined, clean, expressive, delicate yet robust. Truly wonderful wines.

Fulldraw Vineyard

What a small gem of a winery. I am so glad I found this place! It’s right next store to Booker – making it a convenient stop if you plan on going there as well. They started as grape growers but started making their own wine in 2016, then opened up their own tasting room in 2020. They have a 100 acre estate with 45 planted to vine. Beautiful wines – only about 1,500 cases produced. The labels are super fun and represent a story or memory of the owners.

I plan on going back soon so I can do some more tasting and further recommend the best winery stops in Paso Robles. Next time I plan to visit:

If you’ve got time after tasting, visit the cute little downtown area – it’s lively and full of great restaurants and shops. I dined at The Hatch Restaurant and really enjoyed my meal – be sure to order the mushrooms as an appetizer. Best mushrooms I’ve ever had! Then walk down to the square and treat yourself to some gelato from SLO Sweets, a cute little candy and ice cream spot.

Where to Eat in Paso Robles

Where to Stay in Paso Robles

If you’re looking for a unique experience, I highly recommend Geneseo Inn. They’re individual rooms made out of storage containers with vineyard views. Truly such an experience! There’s also a winery on property, Cass Winery, that serves up great wines and food from their tasting room. You could spend an entire weekend here and never leave!