This post is not going to be one big gargantuan pat on the back—I promise. With so many awards to boast about, Paso Robles Wine Country has every right to be a bit snobbish, but that just isn’t our style. In Paso Robles, we always choose the cowboy boots and jeans over black tie. Always hospitable, Paso Roblans are known to prefer a warm face-to-face hello over Facetime. By now, most folks around the globe know that humble Paso Robles was chosen as Wine Enthusiast’s 2013 Wine Region of the Year—an absolutely massive honor. But did you know that this month Sunset Magazine also named Paso Robles as “Best Wine Country Town?” This is just the latest in a roll of glittering accolades that Paso Roblans are just too down-home to gloat about.
Known for friendly, family owned tasting rooms, sprawling vineyards, and delicious no-nonsense wine that rivals any wine region in the world, we totally get why we’re such a big deal. Does that make us conceited? Well, maybe just a teeny tiny bit! Allow us to revel in a few of our best humble brags as of late:
USA Today Adores LXV’s Loungey Vibe
With its plush, lounge-like feel and sumptuous spice-and-wine pairings, it’s no wonder that LXV’s downtown Paso tasting room is the talk of the nation! USA Today recently nominated the seductive hangout as one of the Ten Best Readers’ Choice tasting rooms, a huge honor in itself. With big, bold red blends that tantalize the senses, there is no better place to reconnect with your inner minx. You can vote for the lounge until Aug. 15, so click here to show your love for this wine lover’s oasis inspired by theart of Kama Sutra. Spice. Wine. Flirty fun. I mean, really. What’s not to love?
Star wine selection: Hate to brag, but some wines deserve a round of applause! A Gold Medal winner at the 2016 Sunset International Wine Competition and 2016 San Francisco Wine Competition, LXV’s 2013 Lover’s Spell is velvety, rich, and brimming with notes of black cherry and cedar. It deserves a place at your kitchen table…or perhaps next to your aromatic bubble bath?
Mapping and Directions: speedfind.com/LXVWine
Classy Cass Gets Lots of Local Love
Being recognized is one thing. Being recognized by your peers—by your local community, the folks you know and respect—is quite another. Nothing brings more pride to a winery, and Cass Vineyard and Winery knows all about this heart-swelling feeling. Named 2015 Winery of the Year by the Central Coast Wine Competition, the backroads winery is enjoying a moment in the sun. With a full kitchen serving up juicy burgers and house-made bacon smoked over Syrah vines; a gorgeous guest house, and wine club events that span classical music concerts to helicopter rides, Cass is a dreamy, well-rounded destination for any wine lover, local or out-of-town. Oh, and then there’s the estate-grown wines! With heavily awarded Rhones that run the gamut from refreshing to alluring, it truly is all about the grapes, after all.
Star Wine Selection: Cass Winery’s 2013 Backbone Syrah could be the poster child for what the region has going for it. Lots of sunshine and dynamic soil come together to create a big, bold flavor bomb bursting with wild blueberry, clove, and tobacco. A Gold Medal winner at the 2016 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition, this is the little black dress of wine and it deserves to shine!
Mapping and Directions: speedfind.com/CassWinery
Peachy Canyon puts Paso Zin on the Map
It just goes to show, you never know what dreams may come. Founded by Doug and Nancy Beckett in 1988, Peachy Canyon Winery has watched as Paso Robles has grown from a sleepy cow town into a world-renowned wine region. And, along the way, the winery has received hundreds of accolades for its signature zinfandel, now a Paso Robles staple. See, Peachy didn’t invent zinfandel in Paso, but it sure has played a hand in making the varietal iconic to the region. Spicy, complex, earthy, fruity, and always a reflection of Paso’s unique sun and soil, Peachy Canyon Zinfandel has risen in ranks as some of the best in the country.
Star wine selection: When Wine Enthusiast called Peachy Canyon’s 2013 Clevenger Zinfandel “a vintage leader in this zin houses’s series,” awarding it a whopping 92 points, no one was surprised. With rose petals, violets and black tobacco on the nose and candied blackberries and red cherries on the palate, it’s about as good as Paso Zin gets!
Mapping and Directions: speedfind.com/PeachyCanyonWinery
Tooth and Nail is a Blogger’s Dream
While the art of making wine hasn’t changed too much over the decades (no amount of tech can mess with a combination of good fruit and thoughtful processing), the way people find out about tasting rooms has changed drastically. Now, it’s all about virtual tours (check our site for some killer ones), Instagram feeds, and the mighty blogger recommendation. No winery has become such an internet buzz as Tooth and Nail. You can credit the winery’s unique castle-like atmosphere, but really—it’s all about the wine! Check out this glowing blog recommendation here, also featuring our very deserving friends at Hammersky). According to millennials in the know, this Paso Robles destination has both style and substance.
Star wine selection: Tooth and Nail wines have a secret weapon: grapes are sourced from across the region, including Paso Robles, Monterey, and Santa Maria. This 2010 Amor Fati Grenache features premium grapes grown in the temperate Santa Maria Valley AVA barrel aged for 16 months in French oak. Essence of incense, dried herbs, damp earth, lavender, and camp fire, it will remain a rockstar for the next decade (although good luck saving it for that long).
Mapping and Directions: speedfind.com/ToothAndNail
This blog was written by Hayley Thomas, food and wine writer for SLO New Times and PasoRoblesWineries.net. You can reach her at [email protected] or follow her on instagram @flavorslo.
If you’re looking for a place to spend the night in Paso Robles, checkout:
The Adelaide Inn is an iconic, locally owned hotel known for its friendly staff and lush landscaping. With spacious rooms and a convenient location close to highway 101 and the event center – home of the California Mid-State Fair – this hotel is a great choice for most travelers.
Directions: speedfind.com/AdelaideInn
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a Bellasera Hotel & Suites is an elegant boutique hotel nestled in the heart of Central Coast Wine Country. Influenced by Mediterranean and Italian architecture, the luxurious accommodations reflect the aged sophistication of the Central Coast region and the relaxed nature of the California countryside.
Directions: speedfind.com/LaBellasera
Hampton Inn & Suites Paso Robles is nestled in the Central Coast wine region, home to over 200 wineries, beautiful beaches, mountains and diverse attractions. Relax and revive in a comfortable guest room with all you need for a successful stay. You can count on Hampton to deliver value, consistency and service with a smile. We love having you here®
Directions: speedfind.com/PRWine.HamptonInn
Experience the pristine countryside of Paso Robles Wine Country at Lekai Ranch. Lounge on the porch of your private suite and lose yourself in the tranquility and stunning views of the vineyards and oak studded hills beyond. This vacation rental is located just minutes from some of the most distinguished wineries and a premier olive oil estate, and only 15 minutes from downtown Paso Robles’ restaurants, wineries and shopping.
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irections: speedfind.com/Lekai | vrbo.com/701796
