Traveling to Paso for the first time in May. I have read previous postings but wanted to post wineries that I am thinking of visiting and get peoples thoughts/opinions. Any experiences I should not miss when going to the wineries (for example, seeing the caves at L’aventure).
Wineries on my list
Turtle rock
Torrin
L’aventure
Epoch
Top winery
Booker
Linne Calodo
LAW estate
Nicora
Paix sur terre
Thank You
I am a big fan of the wines Tablas Creek and Clos Selene.
If you can get a reservation, highly recommend checking out Six Test Kitchen. Chef left San Francisco and started doing pop up dinners out of his parent’s garage. Now he has a Michelin star counter tasting menu restaurant in Paso Robles.
Villa Creek & Benom
You should hit up Alex Baer, his project is called ALLBAER. Great Syrah, Grenache, Sangiovese from Paso - and very well priced for the quality. I know many highly regarded Napa proprietors who love Alex’s project - and he has a tremendous pedigree.
Could not recommend his wines enough!
Thank you.
I’ll look it up. Thanks for the recommendation.
Thank You
I have been wanting to try his wine. I didn’t think you could go taste his wine. Maybe I will send him a message. That would be cool.
Second Tablas Creek
I’ve never been (EDIT: to Tablas Creek) but I’m a fan of their wines and really like their blogs (their harvest posts every year are very informative for me) and conversations with other wine personalities that Jason will post. If you (or anyone else) goes there, please post some notes. I really want to visit them one day soon-ish
My wife and I just went for the first time the weekend before Christmas. We visited:
Herman Story
Desparada
Turtle Rock
Denner
Tablas Creek
Adelaida
Turtle Rock had the best wine IMO, but my wife and I enjoyed the combination of experience/wine most at Desparada. Given it was right before a major holiday and raining, everywhere was pretty dead so there was plenty of opportunity to hang out and chat with the wine educators if they expressed an interest to do so and Charlotte at Desparada did just that. I’d go back to all of them except Adelaida and Herman Story.
I hadn’t really had much experience with Paso wines before, outside of Austin Hope cab that my wife loves, but I do not. So honestly expectations were muted, but I came away impressed. My favorite wines were either single varietal Grenache or Grenache was heavily featured in the blend.
This looks like my final list.
Here are our favorites:
Clos Solene
Turtle Rock
Epoch
Law
L’Adventure
Also dined at Hatch, In Bloom and Les Petites Canallies. Would do that exact trip again. Awesome food. You need reservations at the French place.
Make a day of it at Tin City with Turtle, Benom, Aaron and Union Sacre.
Get pizza for lunch at Opolo. Fish Gaucho is a great Mexican spot downtown.
Thanks. That all sounds great!
We will definitely be checking out Tin City!!
When in Tin City don’t miss Giornata. As others have mentioned, Tablas Creek should definitely be on your list. It’s the only spot we visit on every trip to Paso Robles. Of your original list, Paix sur terre is a great choice - nice wine and beautiful, quiet spot to taste at under a big tree at the top of a hill, Torrin has a great space and a really welcoming tasting experience, Linne Calado is ok but expensive and an unnecessarily stuffy tasting experience, and I consider Booker an easy pass - average wines and an LA/Hollywood vibe - staff are servers with no wine knowledge/experience.
Thanks for the tips.
Did you think linne calodo’s wine was expensive or the tasting?
Did you think linne calodo’s wine was expensive or the tasting?
I didn’t find the wines unreasonably expensive but the tasting is one of the more expensive in the area. I got the impression that they had a pretty solid mailing list base so maybe not as interested in tasting new customers and trying to make up for their tasting room expenses that are comp’ed for list members?