What makes the summer actually feel like—well—summer? For those of us lucky enough to reside in Paso Robles Wine Country, it’s all about ripening wine grapes, sunny days in the vineyard and superb small batch wines enjoyed under a sunny sky! (Add in fruity popsicles, pool parties and fireworks and you’ve got yourself a tried-and-true summer vacation). While adults may not enjoy the same summer break as their kiddos, we still deserve a little fun in the sun, don’t you think? These Paso Robles tasting rooms will do just the trick—no pool floats required. Simply stop by these breezy wine tasting locales for that perfect summer feeling. Enjoy it to the last drop!
Taste the Terrace at Écluse Wines
Endless summer? We can only wish. There’s just something so totally magical about sipping wine on the Terrace at Écluse, surrounded by buzzing bees, soaring birds and stately oaks. Located just off the winery’s crush pad and overlooking the beautiful Lock Vineyard, you’ll sample wine by the glass and bottle while the sun sets behind scenic Paso Robles hills. Enjoy limited production, hand-crafted, award-winning Rhône and Bordeaux style wines, as well as popular zinfandel offerings sure to add a flush of color to your picnic. Ready to experience the best of summer sipping in one of Paso’s most lovely outdoor tasting lounges? Grab some friends, pack a meal and escape to a truly dreamy place where the afternoon seems to roll on forever.
Check it out: Make a tasting reservation online
Fuel up at Riboli Family of San Antonio Winery
Best bistro: All those summer activities have a way of conjuring up a mean hunger! If you’re ready to chow down, head to Paso’s top culinary hangout located along Highway 46 East in Paso Robles: Riboli Family of San Antonio Winery. Open daily for outdoor and indoor dining paired with meal-friendly wines, this top notch foodie experience features four generations of know-how. Enjoy a delicious wine flight paired with fabulous fare: Italian sandwiches, artisan pizza and gourmet salads are all popular among locals and visitors alike. Whether you reserve a table at the Atrium Dining Room or order to-go from the Cafe Bistro, you’re sure to leave feeling like family. Plus, there’s an awesome gift center stocked with wine accessories and upscale gifts, so you can bring those unlucky enough to be left back at home some quality souvenirs!
Check it out: View the Bistro menu and make reservations
Catch a wave at Absolution Cellars
Beach day, yay! The sound of seagulls, the scent of salt and spray: There’s nothing like an afternoon in laid back Morro Bay. Located off scenic byway Highway 1 (just 26 miles west of Paso Robles), this seaside escape gives us all the beachy vibes—for very obvious reasons! When temperatures soar, head for the chill coastal tasting room of Absolution Cellars, located directly on Morro Bay’s bustling Embarcadero. The winery’s popular Waterside Tasting Lounge offers both indoor and outdoor tastings in a casual, sit-down environment—and as if this weren’t luxurious enough—you’ll likely run into winemaker Dirk Neumann himself!
Check it out: Reservations are preferred, walk-ins are welcome (space permitting). Private tastings and group tastings are available by appointment only. Call 805-242-6362 or email [email protected] for more information.
Caelesta Wines, Vineyard + Truffière
More than meets the eye: A magical place where wine, sustainability and family collide, Caelesta Wines, Vineyard + Truffière is not your average tasting room. Soak up summer’s rays in downtown Paso Robles, where there’s always something exciting going on (located smack dab in Paso’s epicenter, you’ll also be privy to the best dining and shopping offerings around). Experience an educational tasting in Caelesta’s casual lounge area—and yes—you’ll also learn about the winery’s ten-acre truffle farming program while sipping stellar single varietals and blends. In fact, the world’s leading truffle scholar, Pierre Sourzat, has taken a keen interest in Caelesta’s bucolic land: The winery has planted over 2,200 oak trees inoculated with spores of Tuber melanosporum, known as the Perigord Black truffle! How’s that for a delicious detour?
Check it out: Make a tasting reservation online
Kick up your heels at Four Lanterns
Swing to summer tunes: When the weather climbs to “peak niceness” and the chilled white wine is flowing, there’s only one thing missing: Live music! Here in Paso Robles Wine Country, we’re all about offering up a fully immersive experience that’ll have you shaking a tail feather under majestic oaks. Located off lush Highway 46 West, Four Lanterns hosts a superb Sunday Summer Concert Series sure to get you moving and grooving. Savor a combination of food and wine plus live tunes provided by bluegrass group The Turkey Buzzards, funk group MoFunk Band, and hot jazz stars the Tipsy Gypsies, just to name a few. Even if dancing isn’t your thing, you’re sure to get a new tune pleasantly stuck in your head.
Check it out: Hosted on select Sundays from 5-7:30 p.m.; seating opening at 4:30 p.m. Learn more and purchase tickets here.
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This blog is written by flavor fiend Hayley Cain. Follow her @flavorslo on Instagram or at astoldbyhayley.com.
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Looking for a place to stay in Paso Robles?
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. TOUR VIRTUALLY
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Majestically set among vineyards, olive groves and fruit baring orchards, the 20-acre Allegretto Vineyard Resort is a world unto itself, offering breathtaking settings that inspire and bring joy to all who choose this memorable wine country haven. Featuring 171 rooms and suites, on-site spa, grand ballroom, wine tasting room, and inspired culinary creations at Cello, the resort’s full-service restaurant.
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