In Paso Robles we LOVE our festivals, our ZinFest, Harvest Fest (coming up!) and Wine Festival. If we combined all of those we would take over the whole county, so we break them up in season sections to spread the good love of wine and food. However there is a mega event that houses all the best that our region has for food and wine in one place, at one time, with amazing offerings…Savor the Central Coast Food and Wine Festival! If you have never attended any parts of this event…and you say you are a wine lover..then you have not lived!! This event takes over the entire Central Coast of California and has seminars, classes, adventures, tasting, eating, learning, shopping, and celebrity chefs! Check out this year’s festivities and get your tickets NOW before more good stuff is sold out!
SEPTEMBER 25th-28th
Thursday through Sunday
Weather Average in Paso Robles during these dates – High 80’s – Record Highs about 100 degrees
Thursday-Friday Adventures on the Central Coast
During these days you can do any number of fun adventures from cooking with local chefs, getting the VIP treatment at Hearst Castle, wine blending and tasting, creating botanical spa products or touring and tasting Ocean Rose Abalone! Here is a taste of one of the Adventure tours in Paso Robles:
Hearst Ranch Vineyard Hike, Cave Tour and Harvest lunch with winemakers!
During this adventure you get to walk through the vineyards while the vines are bursting with grapes, learn about the land and the wine-making process, tour the caves that hold the wine, tour the state-of-the-art wine facility, taste Halter Ranch wines, talk with the winemaker and enjoy a fresh harvest lunch with wine and conversation.
Thursday – Saturday Special Events and Dinners
During these evenings you can enjoy special entertainment while enjoying the Central Coast. You can dress up in cocktail 20’s or 30’s attire and have a lavish dinner at Hearst Castle while listening to live jazz, have a concert picnic with wine at Vina Robles listening to some of the original Beach Boys live at their amphitheater, have a five-star full course meal paired with wines at Ventana Grill right on the water in Pismo Beach, have a blast at the Cliffs eating soul food by celebrity chef Tanya Holland paired with local craft beers and wines, eat amazing desserts and dance to a live Los Angeles DJ, or be inspired at a chef prepared meal paired with Edna Valley wines while being educated by the winemaker himself, all overlooking the ocean at The Dolphin Bay Resort. If you can’t pick one it’s okay since they spread out over the three day weekend! Get your tickets now though before they sell out.
Saturday and Sunday – MAIN EVENT at Santa Margarita Ranch
This is the big tent circus for adults where they get to play, watch and explore all foodie and wino delicious things! Where to start? There is so much to do and see! Let’s give you the breakdown so it isn’t so overwhelming… There are paid seminars such as classes on cooking with local and celebrity chefs, there are free seminars such as food demonstrations and travel seminars and there are tons of exhibits. So depending on what your interests are, you can pack it in like a “food and wine retreat” or just play it by ear and enjoy all the ‘free stuff’ that is inclusive with your ticket. What we highly recommend is getting a COACH PASS. < That’s the link to get it so go there! It is only $5 a day, saves you from driving and parking and it picks up in every city on the Central Coast! Safe rides people!! Also be ready to eat like a rock star because all of the best food will be available! Over 30 chefs are participating in the whole event, restaurants and artisan purveyors. Taste wines such as Halter Ranch, Brecon Estate and Shale Oak varietals to name a few of the 200 wineries that are participating. Taste food from your classes with celebrity chefs such as Fabio Viviani and Tanya Holland or one of the many offerings from places like Roberts, Thomas Hill Organics and Eureka! Stroll through the marketplace and listen to live music from one of the many bands playing, try beers from local breweries such as Firestone and Central Coast Brewery, then finish it off with a refreshing dessert from Leo Leo Gelato! Classes and Seminars consist of such learning experiences like tasting Rose’ and learning about how it is made and why it is so popular, cooking meals from top chef recipes, learning about sustainable practices and farm to table cooking, blending and tasting wines from the area and so much more.
So grab some tickets, book your hotel or B & B (click here for a great list of them!) lock in your safe ride and enjoy our home! Cheers!