- A taste of Paso Robles wine country
- Wine with friends — always a good idea
- Luscious wines, artistic vibes, and scenic beauty
- Our Paso Robles wine country getaway selections
- Let’s get started
- Day One in Paso Robles wine country
- Day Two in Paso Robles wine country
- Downtown Paso Robles restaurant recommendations
- More Paso Robles wine country travel inspiration:
- Related posts:
A taste of Paso Robles wine country
Wine with friends — always a good idea
Thinking about a wine country getaway? Are you picturing beautiful rolling hills covered in vineyards? Wineries in tranquil rural settings or on hilltops with vistas to the sea? I often imagine those settings and I have been fortunate to visit many great and diverse wine regions in North America and Europe. You might know that Mr. TWS and I love Northern California wine regions like Sonoma and Napa, but we’ve recently experienced another grape-growing region on the state’s Central Coast. We enjoyed two days in Paso Robles wine country with our very good friends who know the area well.
Wine and art at Sculpterra Winery
Luscious wines, artistic vibes, and scenic beauty
Paso Robles wine country is a perfect place for a getaway. It has scenic landscapes, many wining and dining venues, and that wonderful California vibe. With more than 60 wine grapes grown here, red varieties are the most prominent and include Zinfandel (the area’s heritage wine variety), Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah, Grenache, and Mourvèdre (a new one for me); and whites include Grenache Blanc, Viognier, Roussanne, Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay. (I’ve added winemaker’s tasting notes for a few wines mentioned in the post — just for fun and temptation.)
Paso Robles vineyards — Photo courtesy of Paso Robles Wine Country Alliance
Our Paso Robles wine country getaway selections
We spent two full days, three nights in Paso Robles, visiting seven wineries on a few of the wine routes that branch out from downtown Paso Robles. There are over 200 wineries to choose from and there are also 20 winery tasting rooms in the downtown area.
Much like the wineries in other parts of California (like Sonoma and Napa counties), reservations are either required or recommended and there are tasting fees (minimum of $25/person). Check with the particular wineries to see their tasting room options, reservation booking, fees and fee waivers, hours and directions, and other helpful information. I’ve listed these wineries in order of when we visited, which was based on availability and logistics, but there are many other choices of wineries, wine routes, and itineraries. Give yourself enough time to travel between venues so that you can also enjoy the wine country scenery along the way.
Let’s get started
J. Lohr Vineyards & Wines, 6169 Airport Road
A well-known name in wine production, J. Lohr Vineyards is a family-owned, multi-generational business in operation since 1974. Arriving in Paso Robles in the mid-afternoon, we stopped by J. Lohr’s tasting room without a reservation on the chance we might be able to have a few tastes of their winery-exclusive wines before they closed. Luckily, we were able to do a tasting, but reservations are highly recommended. On a hot summer day, I really enjoyed the Viognier, but couldn’t resist sips of their signature reds (their Cabernet Sauvignon wines, in particular, are very popular). It was a great start to our Paso Robles getaway.
J. Lohr Winery
Day One in Paso Robles wine country
Sculpterra Winery, 5015 Linne Road
Art and wine is a beautiful combination! We started our first full day of wine exploration at Sculpterra Winery, where art plays a key part in the tasting room and on the grounds. The sculpture garden features works of a diverse group of California artists whose works are inspired by the essence of the Central Coast.
Sculpterra Winery
Sculpterra’s wine varieties include Cabernet Sauvignon (which were the first vines grown here by the owners back in the 1990s), Zinfandel, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Mourvèdre, Petite Sirah, and Viognier.
Our tasting host at Sculpterra
Our host was lovely, knowledgeable, friendly, and passionate about Paso Robles wine country. I focused on the white wine options — their sparkling wine (100% French Colombard), Sauvignon Blanc and Viognier. But Mr. TWS and our friends relished the bold reds.
CASS Winery, 7350 Linne Road
CASS Winery Cafe and Tasting Room, Paso Robles, California — Photo courtesy of CASS Winery
CASS Winery was a perfect stop for lunch after a hard morning of wine tasting — just joking, of course! We had a nice tasting of CASS wines while enjoying lunch outside on the patio. Food options include salads, wraps, pizzas, cheese and meat boards, and crab cakes.
CASS Winery Cafe and Tasting Room – Photo courtesy of CASS Winery
White and red wines were served as we ate our lunch. My favorite was the Viognier (you’re not surprised) which was just right on this summer day.
2024 Viognier winemaker’s tasting notes:
NOSE: Spiced Lychee, candied nectarine, and toasted banana puddingPALATE: Apricot, white plum puree, and dried MangoFINISH: Pineapple, mandarin zest, and shortbread cookies
McPrice Myers Wine, 3525 Adelaida Road
McPrice Myers has a laid-back California vibe and rustic décor in a rural setting. All the guests seemed relaxed and happy as our server explained and poured.
McPrice Myers
Our small group particularly liked the Pound for Pound Zinfandel. And, of course, I really liked Beautfiul Earth — a white Rhône blend comprised of Grenache Blanc and Clairette Blanche grapes.
2023 Beautiful Earth White winemaker’s tasting notes:
Lemon-guava, loquat, starfruit, green mango, pomelo, bosc pear, fennel frond, stargazer lily, wet stone, flint. The palate is laden with minerals, staccato, and resonant acidity. Refreshingly taught. Incredibly energetic and lively.
DAOU Vineyards, 2777 Hidden Mountain Road
We ended the first day with a drive up DAOU Mountain in the hills of the Adelaida District to DAOU Vineyards, a brand well known to California wine enthusiasts. The views from the top (at an elevation of 2,200 ft) are spectacular. It’s a perfect setting for enjoying wine and conversation with friends.
Overlooking the hills of Paso Robles wine country at DAOU
We chose the Discover DAOU Tasting Experience and sampled Reserve and Estate collections while savoring a delicious charcuterie board.
Wine with friends at Daou
The 2022 vintage boasts a deep purple-red hue that sets a tone of depth and concentration. The nose is loaded with multidimensional aromas, blending fruit-forward notes of blackberry, blueberry jam and ripe black cherry with a complement of coffee and vanilla. Seamless flavors of boysenberry, plum and candied strawberry anticipate traces of sage and mocha, all concluding with fresh acidity and balanced tannins.
Day Two in Paso Robles wine country
L’Aventure Winery, 2815 Live Oak Road
L’Aventure Winery in Paso Robles, California
L’Aventure’s winemaker Stephan Asseo came to Paso Robles from the Bordeaux region of France in 1998. Since then, he has been producing wines that blend “French tradition with California terroir”.
It’s a lovely, quiet drive through rural Paso Robles’ Westside district to reach L’Aventure. We were greeted by our “Estate Educator” whose enthusiasm and passion for the winery and its wines showed as she guided us on our wine flight. We chose the Discovery Flight Experience which began with a very nice Provence style rosé. I loved it and purchased a bottle. But the focus at L’Aventure is on their beautiful and bold red vintages and we sampled Côte à Côte, Optimus (which they refer to as their “crazy Paso blend”), Estate Cuvée, and Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve.
Mr. TWS at L’Aventure (a taste of rose in the glasses)
Reservations are required at L’Aventure.
Opolo Vineyards, 7110 Vineyard Drive
Our lunch and wine tasting combination for the second day of our getaway was at Opolo Vineyards. This family winery in the mountains of Paso Robles’ Willow Creek District is a great choice for your itinerary. The name “Opolo” refers a rosé type of wine produced on the Dalmatian Coast, a tribute to the Serbian heritage of one of the owners. As we enjoyed Margherita pizza, our server brought a lovely flight of wines to taste. Their flagship wine is Mountain Zinfandel and we bought several bottles to bring home.
Mountain Zinfandel winemaker’s tasting notes:
The 2022 Mountain Zinfandel is everything that has made this wine a Paso Robles phenomenon for more than 20 years. Deep aromas of blueberry, cherry and fruit leather reveal notes of sweet baking spices. The mouthfeel is plush and expansive with seamless flavors of ripe plum, black cherry, mulberry and vanilla. A velvety smooth finish lingers with a kiss of subtle peppery spices.
Hope Family Wines — Austin Hope and Treana Tasting Cellar, 1585 Live Oak Road
The Hope family has been farming in Paso Robles for more than 30 years. Today, their vineyards produce varieties of Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Merlot, Mourvèdre, and Grenache. The brands of Hope Family Wines include Austin Hope, Treana, Quest, Liberty School, Troublemaker, and Austin. In addition to the Austin Hope and Treana tasting rooms, the winery has a tasting space called Hope on Park in downtown Paso Robles.
Treana Tasting Cellar — Photo credit Celeste Hope
The Austin Hope & Treana Tasting Cellar, where we did our wine tasting, is a very fun and casual setting with eclectic décor. We felt quite at home in very comfortable lounge seating as our exuberant and knowledgeable server introduced us to several Austin Hope and Treana wines.
Interior of Austin Hope/Treana tasting room
My favorite wine of the visit was the Rhône Blend which I purchased for home.
Rhône Blend winemaker’s tasting notes:
The 2021 Rhône Blend delivers warm aromas of lavender, plum and blackberry with suggestions of bacon fat and
Provençale herbs. The mouthfeel is plush and integrated, displaying flavors of blueberry, boysenberry and black
cherry with suggestions of vanilla cream, cocoa, white pepper and savory game. A juicy, supple finish persists with
tannic length, demonstrating excellent aging potential.
Paso Robles wine country – Photo credit Acacia Productions/Paso Robles Wine Country Alliance
Downtown Paso Robles restaurant recommendations
I can’t wait to have more time to try more great Paso Robles restaurants. Here are three that we enjoyed for dinner during our stay.
Our three dinners in downtown Paso Robles
The Patio Kitchen, 710 Pine Street (at the historic train depot) — Spanish-inspired menu with Mediterranean and Latin-American flavors
Fish Gaucho, 1244 Park Street — Modern California/Mexican with many seafood and beef options
Parchetto, 1234 Park Street — California bistro featuring fresh ingredients and seasonal menus
More Paso Robles wine country travel inspiration:
Here’s a further tip from our friends who are frequent Paso Robles visitors — Charles Born, a retired marketing executive currently on the board of the Tortoise Group (Nevada) and Kevin Dincher, an educator with special focus on history, sociology, politics and organizational systems.
No trip to Paso Robles would be complete without a drive over the mountains to the ocean and the pretty village of Cambria. Charming shops, great restaurants, paths to walk along the sea, and a beautiful drive from Paso Robles to Cambria. While on the valley’s West side, check out Ancient Peaks Winery in Santa Margarita. Great wines, nice café and a picturesque town. You can’t pass up Oso Libre Winery, located on the most scenic Vineyard Drive; we highly recommend the wines poured there as among the best in Paso Robles.
On the east side of the Paso Valley, we recommend Pear Valley Winery, located on Union Road. We have enjoyed their wines for almost two decades, and they consistently deliver high quality. They have a beautiful tasting room with expansive views over the vineyards. They produce distinctive wines made from grapes that thrive in the hotter, drier temperatures of the East Valley of Paso Robles.
Enjoy your travels in Paso Robles wine country. Cheers!
