If you haven’t been to Paso Robles in a while, you’re in for a surprise. The pace of gentrification is accelerating in this formerly sleepy Central Coast region of cattle ranches and family-owned wineries. Big money and grand ambitions are rapidly transforming many parts of the valley and foothills surrounding a town that, only 20 years ago, looked frozen in time, like a dusty set for a Western movie.
Here’s a peek at what’s new and worthwhile in a wine region that some say deserves the same level of respect as Napa and Sonoma.
Discover other wines
Paso vintners are famous for thinking outside the box. It has paid off with the successful development of varietals not typical for the region. Taste at Bodega de Edgar and you’ll be impressed with this young Latino winemaker’s Spanish wines.
The albariño is fruit-forward, not acidic like its European counterpart, and his flagship Toro de Paso combines tempranillo and syrah for a kind of super Rioja: a gutsy red with a caramelly finish. Stop at Tablas Creek to try its vermentino, a light Italian white, or its gutsy tannat, popular in South America. At Windward, Marc Goldberg makes Monopole, a line of elegant pinot noirs – an amazing feat in this warm climate zone.
Get married
Stage your nuptials at one of the most beautiful wineries on the westside, an early 1900s farmhouse and barn nestled among 50 acres of vines that lead to a creek and a leafy hill. Hammersky Vineyards, owned by Newport dentist Doug Hauck and his wife, Kim, occupies a coveted place – the perfect scene for a Central Coast wedding.
Dinner can be served al fresco or in the barn. The house, meticulously and tastefully restored by Kim, accommodates 12 and has a gourmet kitchen. (There’s also a room in the barn.) It’s a surpassingly photogenic and seductive place that provides a painterly backdrop for your wedding photos. The on-site tasting room pours Bordeaux-centric blends and a fun viognier called Naughty Princess.
For more including gourmet lunch & margaritas, beer tasting, successful ventures, places to stay and more,
Read The Whole Article Here >>
