Heading upto PR with a friend from the UK on September 12th. Looking to do an afternoon of tasting at Tin City (and maybe starting at Turley if we do well time wise), and it looks like wednesdays are pretty much appointment only for most wineries.
I’m not familiar with any of them so before I fire off a load of emails, and given that there are more wineries than there will be time, could I get some advice on who are the “must visits”? I know the forum regards quite a few of the producers very highly but I can’t find any specifics on who. Thank you in advance.
If you get to visit Nicora you need to contact Stanley Barrios at TOP Winery for a tasting. He is making some great juice and is working out of the Nicora facility so you can get 2 visits in one facility.
Try Desperada. Great people. The wine maker/owner is Vailia Esch, the wife of Russel From (Herman Story). Someone mentioned Clos Solene, nice wine but they have moved from Tin City to their own vineyard.
Really nice intimate tasting experience with the winemaker. White wines only served in Zalto glasses with Music playing softly off a turntable in the background.
Your British friend may enjoy meeting Neil Collins, winemaker for Tablas Creek, owner and winemaker for Lone Madrone, and owner and cider maker for Bristol Cider, named for the city he is from . . .
I’ll give a shout out to Brian Benson Wines. I’m pretty sure he’s still in Tin City. Brian does mainly Rhone varietals and they are on the big side. He got some good press from the Spectator a couple years back. He’s the son of Norm Benson, who formerly owned Dark Star Winery and has been around Paso for decades.
Tablas Creek and Turtle Rock are both great. Booker is awesome as well depending on whether or not they have any wine left to pour since they are usually sold out.
Thank you everyone. We’re booked into Nicora and TOP, and will do walk ins for the remainder of Tin City. Tablas Creek and Turley on the friday morning. I’ll try and do a trip report!
+1 on Nicora, TOP, Turtle Rock (their G2 Syrah rocks!). Actually, all the places mentioned are good. Some are just special-er.
If you get to Desperada, you might ask for Riley Hubbard who works there and makes her own Hubba wines.
As you drive out to Tablas Creek, Dilecta is worth a taste, on Vineyard, N of Peachy Canyon.
Clos Solene has moved to their vineyard on Niderer on the West side. Benom is in the prior tasting room, a joint venture between Guillaume and his brother,
Torrin is moving to their vineyard on west Peachy Canyon not far from Villa Creek. Not sure when one closes and the other opens, but soon
Call your target tastings and restaurants as many close Wednesday or mid-week.
You’ll be driving past my vineyards. Let me know if you’d like a field tour, or a glass of just about anybody not open.
Benom is a must. It’s a cooperative venture between the incredibly charming Fabre brothers Arnaud and Guillaume, who is also the owner/winemaker at Clos Solene. And of course Nicora.
