GIVE ME THE DEETS
Paso Robles is known for its wine and includes more than 170 wineries, 26,000 vineyard acres and 40 varietals of wine. It is also known for its hot springs, olive oil and almonds. All things that I love! The vistas are stunning and the options of where to visit are endless.
Located in the Central Coast Region north of San Luis Obispo, Paso Robles is an easy weekend getaway from both Los Angeles and San Francisco. I visited Paso Robles for the weekend as a stop during a road trip from Los Angeles to San Francisco and loved it. Before visiting I got some recommendations from friends and family who had previously visited and they did not disappoint.
WINERIES
Niner Wine Estates
Niner is a must visit for your trip to Paso Robles! I recommend visiting mid day and having lunch at the restaurant, which is super highly rated (when available). The food is currently offered picnic style, but pre-COVID I did the lunch menu with wine pairings. The wine is delicious and the vineyard itself is stunning. Tastings are $30 per person and include five wines (FYI the price is waived with a two bottle purchase). Additionally, Niner has a wine club which gets you great perks if you join. There are various levels but being a member gets you discount, complimentary tastings and invites to special events. One cool thing you can definitely check out without visiting are the virtual wine classes on their website.
Parrish Family Vineyard
Parrish was actually a winery I happened to stumble upon and it was a great find. They create estate-inspired, Napa-style Cabs and I am here to tell you they are so good! I took a bottle for my dad to try (he is very picky and I would consider him a wine snob)….he LOVED it. They also have other varietals but I am partial to the cab, rose and sauvignon blanc. The tasting room has great views and you can’t beat the outdoor deck space. Parrish also offers food + wine club discounts when you visit.
Turley Wine Cellars
Turley makes 47 different wines from over 50 vineyards with a focus on old vine vineyards. An added bonus is that all of their vineyards are either certified organic by California Certified Organic Farmers or somewhere in the process. Turley is also a family affair and it really shows the care they put into the product. I chose to do the classic flight and the tasting fee was only $10. The Turley recommendation came from a friend in Philadelphia who orders a case at a time of wine so you know it must be good! One thing to call out is that the Turley tasting room isn’t as big as most of the others on my list.
Other Recommendations
I wasn’t able to partake in these that were recommended….guess that’s another reason for me to plan my next trip back 🙂
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Sculpterra – Sculpterra is both a winery and sculpture garden which is awesome. Who wouldn’t want to enjoy art while sipping on some wine? The art comes from local artists to the central coast of California.
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Villa San-Juliette Vineyard and Winery – Villa San-Juliette has a 130-acre estate vineyard, which is home to twelve grape varieties. It is best known for creating exceptional Bordeaux and Rhone-style wines. One of the differentiators here is the jeep tours offered. You will be taken through the 120-acre property with sweeping views of rolling hills and valleys in a Jeep Wrangler and stop for tastings among the vines.
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Rava – At Rava, the family crafts sparkling wines in the traditional méthode champenoise style. Rava Wines is the first winery in Paso Robles to focus on sparkling wines crafted using this method. They do have still wine available as well, but you should check out the sparkling flight!
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Paso Robles Bike Tour with Central Coast Outdoors – Private bike tours are offered for either a half day or full day through Central Coast Outdoors. The tours include a choice of bike, guide, gourmet picnic lunch, wine tasting fees at lunch winery. Wine tasting fees at other wineries not included. On the half day tour the itinerary hits 3 wineries and ends with lunch while the full day continues into more areas in the afternoon.
I recommend reaching out to these locations before visiting due to the fact that there are always changes for COVID precautions. Even if now isn’t the time to visit, be sure to keep Paso Robles in mind for the future. To learn more about Paso Robles check out the Paso Robles Wine Country Alliance website.