Touring the region’s tasting rooms
When the conveyor belt went faster than they could handle, Lucy stuck candies in her shirt, in her hat and in her mouth.
That was us, sorting grapes. We ended pretty much every day covered in grape juice and earwigs and ready to drink some wine rather than wear it.
Fortunately in Paso, that’s an easy thing to do.
For tourists, the good thing about all those small wineries is all the tasting rooms that go with them.
One of the best ways to see Paso Robles is to get a wine country road map and meander from one locale to the next.
The average cost of a tasting flight (four to five varieties of wine) is $15 to $20.
In no particular order, here are a few we enjoyed at the end of a working day: Daou: The breathtaking, panoramic view leaves you feeling all is right with the world. Perfection, except for the price of the tasting flight ($45). I opted for a fine glass of Sauvignon Blanc instead and was more than satisfied. Adelaida: At 35 years, Adelaida is one of the oldest vineyards in Paso. We all bought Anna’s Red, a Rhone-style blend. Beautifully bright, with savoury notes. Justin: Everyone orders Isosceles, Cabernet Sauvignon. It is a classic ripe California wine. This is the wine that in 1997 put Paso on the
map in terms of big league awards, when Wine Spectator named Isosceles the sixth best wine in the world.
Calcareous: Perched on one of the highest limestone plateaus in Paso Robles, Calcareous is named for the limestone soil that gives Paso wine its minerality. At Calcareous, I tasted a rose so beautiful I regret not having brought a bottle home. Vin Gris Cuvee is a blend of pinot noir and Grenache noir.
Tablas Creek: This winery is often called the “pioneers” of Paso because they imported and cultivated the Rhone grape varietal on which much of Paso’s reputation was built. Tablas is revered for its red wines, but I bought the 2016 Picpoul Blanc, which is a single varietal white Rhone. Rangeland: Foshay calls himself an “advanced beginner” winemaker, but his 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon suggests otherwise. His vines are maturing well, the wine has a lovely herbal nuance with delicious spice notes and a decidedly long finish. His “tasting room” was his back deck with a gorgeous view of the Paso hills.
A TOAST TO FINE WINE
On our last morning, we “The Canadian Ladies” picked a half ton of grapes.
We were given a new nickname: “The Half Ton Mammas.” I like the label.
When I dare open one of my few Paso Robles wines, it will remind me of the hot sun, sticky grape juice … and the hopes of the people who made the wine, and made a unique vacation possible.