We had our first visit to the Paso Robles wine country a few weeks ago and it did not disappoint! We were able to visit fifteen wineries in three days, not too shabby.

1. Mitchella Vineyard & Winery

We arrived on Sunday so we were able to make it to Mitchella, which is closed during the week and were very happy to have it as our first stop. The people were very friendly and we were seated outside where they did a table side tasting. We were given a complimentary cheese tasting that paired with the wines and it was great ( I mean who doesn't love cheese, right??) The grounds were very pretty and they had a game of corn hole set up for a little fun.

2. Sculpterra Winery

Sculpterra was our second stop. Sculpterra has gorgeous grounds and gardens. It is known for its unique art throughout the property. They serve pistachios on the counter (versus most places that have crackers) because the owners planted and grow 20 acres of pistachios' on the ranch. They have a variety of whites as well as reds. The Viognier was our favorite white, and the Petite Sirah was our favorite red. The bottles have pictures of one of the large sculptures outside, which make for a unique bottle you will remember. Sculpterra changes their tasting menu monthly, so you are not guaranteed to try the same wines each time you visit.

3. Eberle Winery

Eberle was our third and last stop of our first tasting day in Paso. As soon as we walked in they asked us if we'd like to join the cave tour that was going to start in a few minutes, how could we turn that down? The cave tour definitely made Eberle a memorable stop. The tour guide was entertaining and informative. The cave also had a section where you can call and set up a private tasting or party which we would recommend if you are planning a visit with some friends! The wine tasting was complimentary which was an added bonus. They had a few whites on the menu as well as a few reds, all were pretty good. We especially enjoyed their 2013 Steinbeck Syrah.

Day 2:

For the second day of our trip we headed to the west side of the wine country. We went farthest out first to Justin then made our way back in.

**attention fellow motion sickness people** you WILL be driving out over a bunch of hills and turns so be prepared

4. Justin

Justin is one of the more commercial wineries in Paso (as you can find Justin wines in most grocery or liquor stores) however that doesn't mean it's one to over look. They have a preset tasting list, so they aren't always pouring all of their wines. Their reds are what really stood out to us, that day we only got to try one rose. They had three blends that were all good, we especially liked the Isosceles and Savant. The Isosceles was a blend of mostly Cabernet Sauvignon, some cabernet franc and a little bit of Merlot. Their Savant is a blend of mostly Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon and small amount of Grenache and Petite Sirah. The grounds were very pretty and they also did outside sit down tastings, which is nice if you have a group of people.

5. Tablas Creek Vineyard

Tablas Creek is known for bringing Rhone varietals to the Paso Robles area. The tasting room is nice and has an area where you can see where some of the winemaking is done. The staff is knowledgable and gives a pretty in depth history of the winery and their wine making style. They offer daily tasting menus, generally with around six wines. When we went we were lucky enough to try a couple wines they had open that weren't on the menu that day. One wine being their Tannat, which was excellent. Overall good winery, wine and a knowledgable staff.

7. Opolo Vineyards

Our third stop was Opolo Vineyards. When you walk up the the tasting room they have a nice patio with seating where they serve lunch. I believe it is mostly wood-fired pizza, as you can see the large pizza oven outside on your way in. They have a fairly large tasting room, it was nothing too fancy but welcoming non the same. Our server was very friendly and made great recommendations (not just on the wine, but places to eat in town which was helpful!). As far as the wine they definitely had some good reds here! Our favorite was their 2012 Grand Rouge, which is a blend of Counoise, Grenache, Syrah and Tannat. It was a very smooth, drinkable blend. Another one that stuck out was their 2012 Fusion, a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah.

8. Barton Family Wines and Grey Wolf Cellars

If you are an animal lover you will love this quaint little boutique tasting room! They have a winery dog and a couple of cats hanging around the tasting room that are adorable. The staff was super friendly as soon as we walked in. They offer a whites & reds tasting list or reds only, and it is $10 for a tasting waived with purchases over $30. The wines were good, they are differentiated on the menu by Barton and Grey Wolf wines (the owner and winemaker is Joe Barton who makes them both) one that stuck out to us was the Predator blend made of mostly Syrah, a little Tempranillo and Tannat. They also have a cute outside patio area where they serve food, however it was not open during the week when we were there.

9. Castoro Cellars

Our last stop of day two was Castoro Cellars. Castoro has some beautiful views and entry way on the way into the tasting room. They have a fairly large tasting menu where you can taste 7 wines for $5.00. It was the last stop of the day soo this may not have been the most memorable stop for us ;P but we were able to remember a couple of our favorites. Their 2014 Tango is a white blend of Pinot Grigio, Chardonnay, Viognier and Gewürztraminer, very tasty! As for reds we enjoyed their 2013 Carignane and 2013 Zinfusion. We bought their Viognier as well. Definitely a place to stop on the way back from the west to east side!

Day 3:

10. Le Vigne Winery Cheese lovers this is a stop you MUST make if you're in the Paso area. Le Vigne offers a great wine and cheese pairing for only $15. The tasting room is fairly large and inside they have a cheese room you can see into. They have one of the largest international cheese selections in the Central Coast. The wine and cheese pairing was truly one of the best we have had. Each cheese really enhanced the wine and worked beautifully together. The server pouring our tasting was very friendly and knowledgable. He was also generous with our pours to make sure we had enough to really enjoy with each taste of cheese. Their 2014 Zinfandel was one of our favorites, especially with the peppery cheese served with it was the perfect pairing. Their 2013 Petite Sirah was another exceptional wine. This was one of our favorite stops for sure (probably because we are HUGE cheese lovers!)

11. Villa San Juliette Vineyard & Winery

Villa San Juliette was our second stop of the day. When you pull up the tasting room is in a large building, they have beautiful grounds out front. As soon as you walk in the tasting room is definitely very different than most of the others we went to in Paso. It is more formal and almost feels like the lobby of a hotel. When we walked in there was no one in there besides one lady behind the bar who informed us the tasting room was actually closed that day. We apologized because we thought the map we had said it was open and went to leave when she insisted it was ok and that we could do a tasting since we were there, which was very nice. They have a pretty large tasting list however they only pour a few because they do preset tastings. They had some decent wines, however none really jumped out at us.

12. Bianchi Winery

Bianchi has beautiful grounds including an outside patio with tables that overlook their little pond on the property. When you walk in the tasting room it is very bright from all the windows which is a nice feel paired with their modern style architecture. They have a fairly large tasting menu, a lot of the wines were very light and dry. Their Zinfandel was good, it had a lot of ripe fruit aromas on the nose and a very smooth finish. Overall we would stay Bianchi is worth stop.

13. Cass Vineyard & Winery

Cass was our fourth stop of the day, where we also had lunch. Cass offers table side service out on their patio so you can sit out and relax and they will bring the next taste to you. The food was good and so was the wine. Their Viognier and Cabernet Sauvignon probably stood out the most. Their tasting room is unique and they really do have some pretty views. All and all we would recommend Cass as a winery to put on your list!

14. Tobin James

Tobin James was the last stop on our last day, and we did that partly due to people recommending it that way. Tobin James according to a lot of the other wineries is seen as more of the "party" winery. Which for some people is a good thing and for some (who may be more serious about the wine only) may be more of a turn off. Personally we thought Tobin James was a fun place with a lively and super friendly staff. They do pour everything they have on their tasting list, which is around at least 12 wines (are you catching on why people save it for last?) This could also contribute to the fact that they have one of the largest wine clubs in the country ;) The ambiance is more like a saloon or bar, which is fun and makes it different than some others. The wines are alright, there were some that were pretty good but all in all not some of our favorite in the area. That being said we would still recommend definitely putting Tobin on your list of stops in the Paso area, especially if you're with a group or looking to have some fun!

15. Pear Valley Winery

Pear Valley was our very last stop on our way out of town. Since I (Kati) was driving I figured it doesn't mean Ali shouldn't enjoy herself on the trip back. When we pulled up we weren't expecting it to be so large or so pretty because we hadn't heard of it before Siri directed us there. Let's just say Siri did not disappoint. The tasting room was beautiful and the woman pouring was very friendly and knowledgable. We enjoyed a bunch of the wines, and ended up taking home a Dry Orange Muscat because it was something different and interesting (us being used to a sweet orange muscat that we have at the winery we work at). When you walk outside the tasting room there is a stairway up to a large tree that has amazing views over the vineyards. If you're on your way out or on the west side of Paso Robles make sure to stop here!!

After visiting Paso Robles it is not even a question that we need to make another trip back! There are plenty of wineries to visit in the area, and all have a certain uniqueness to them that makes them different than other wine areas in California. If you are looking for a welcoming and not snooty wine country area with quality wines put Paso on your list! You won't be disappointed!!

CHEERS!

-K & A