How to Maximize Your Visit to Paso Robles Wine Country
- Marla
- Mar 18
- 5 min read
Paso Robles’ wine region, between Los Angeles and San Francisco on California’s central coast, is a world-class wine destination. Originally known for Zinfandel, over the years the area has branched out into Rhone varietals and Bordeaux styles. While the climate lends itself to big, bold reds, like Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah, a number of wineries also produce outstanding white and rosé wine, and a few, such as PasoSecco, specialize in sparkling wine. Many of the wineries are into sustainable farming. With at least 200 wineries (some locals said it was closer to 300) and more than 60 kinds of varietals grown here due to the region’s many microclimates, it's truly an incredible place for a wine drinker to visit.
It’s also one of the more friendly and mellow wine regions we’ve been to. It’s California laid back with a Western flair (Stetsons, boots, cattle motifs). Strangers are quick to say hello; almost every wine guide at the wineries added additional samples not on the tasting menu. The atmosphere was a real breath of fresh air, especially coming from a wine region that by quality alone could get away with being more pretentious.
However, the region doesn’t lend itself to prioritizing how to visit if you only have limited time here, unlike say, Mendoza or Bordeaux. No one part of Paso Robles stands out above the rest. And while there are plenty of resources on the wineries in Paso Robles, they mostly just list the wineries by category, such as which had onsite dining or were family-friendly.
This is what we learned about how to maximize your visit to Paso Robles wine country.
Visit Wineries in Geographic Clusters
There are 11 distinct American Viticultural Areas (AVAs) in Paso Robles, and wineries surround the town in every direction. You’ll benefit from clustering winery visits based on how close they are to each other rather than crisscrossing from, say, Templeton in the Southeast to Adelaida in the Northwest. I’d rather be relaxing at the wineries than spending time in the car. The Paso Robles Wine Country Alliance has maps and other guidance that can help you plan before you leave home.
Create Your Own Priorities Regarding Which Wineries to Visit
Paso Robles wine country is so varied that there’s something for everyone. But whenever I asked locals how best to prioritize a visit, they uniformly said that there is no one way to do so. The advice we received was to start with what you really like or want to sample. For instance, if you’re into French-style reds, start with wineries that specialize in them, like Tablas Creek Vineyard. If you love Zinfandel, seek out a few of those places first, such as Turley Wine Cellars.
Make Reservations
While walk-ins were more common and welcome than in some other wine regions, a few wineries in Paso Robles are by appointment only, so if you want to visit them you should arrange that in advance. We’ve also found that having a reservation enabled the winery to prepare for our arrival, such as Epoch Estate Wines, which greeted us in the parking lot with a welcome glass of wine and personalized our wine menu. Niner Wine Estates set up our table in advance and gave us premier seating with the best view of its heart-shaped forest.
Include a Few Eclectic Samples
Unlike Europe, which is constrained by strict wine production regulations, Paso Robles can grow whatever it likes and blend varietals without limitation. So it’s particularly fun to try some wines that are a little innovative and outside the box. For example, Niner’s “Club 9” is a blend that changes every year; Tablas Creek uses some obscure grapes, such as Chateauneuf-du-Pape’s Counoise. Some wines are blends of six or seven different types of grapes. The winemakers are having fun!
Don’t Limit Yourself to the Big Brands
While there are some very famous wineries in Paso Robles, like J. Lohr, don’t just gravitate to wine that you’ve heard of or can get in your local store. Many of the wineries are family owned and/or small producers. Make sure you go to a few of the Paso Robles “pioneers” such as Eberle Winery, founded by former Penn State football player Gary Eberle, and mix in a few smaller, family-owned places like Peachy Canyon Winery, whose tasting room is in a converted 1860s-era schoolhouse.
Include a Few In-Town Tasting Rooms
While it’s great to visit the wineries, also take the time to explore some of the tasting rooms in downtown Paso Robles. There are more than 25 such tasting rooms, providing a wide variety of wines to sample. These tasting rooms each have their own focus and vibe. For example, LXV Wine Lounge offers wine and spice pairings; Serial Wines specializes in single varietals and has a dramatic décor.
Avoid the Crowds if You Can
Paso Robles can get very busy in the spring, summer, and fall as well as on weekends. Try to go during the low season, from late fall to early spring, and during the week. We received much more personalized attention and learned a lot more about the wines and the region by doing so. The wineries also were better able to customize the wines they poured. For example, our server at Opolo Vineyards created a wine flight for me tailored to my preference for white wines. In some cases, we even had the winery to ourselves. We were the only visitors at stately Robert Hall Winery, and there were only two other people when we were at Tablas Creek.
Take in at Least One Terrific View
It’s always nice to enjoy a wine tasting in a pretty place. Some wineries boast beautiful surroundings. What better way to relax! After all, you are on vacation. Several wineries with Instagram-worthy scenes include DAOU Family Estates, Eberle, and Epoch.
I hope that this information on how to maximize your visit to Paso Robles wine country helps you map out a trip there. I look forward to returning!
Have any other advice about how to maximize your visit to Paso Robles wine country? Let us know! We’re at info@winewithourfamily.com. Always feel free to reach out to us with any questions or feedback.
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