It’s time folks. Time to talk about what really matters. I’ve told you where to sleep, I’ve told you where to eat, now I’m going to unlock God Mode and tell you the spots we enjoy wine tasting in Paso Robles.
Now let’s set some ground rules:
- My name is Jared, nice to meet you. You and I are different people. I like big bold red wines and I hate cheese. (It’s literally milk that sat around too long and got hard. Gross.) What I like may not be what you like, and that’s OK.
- What I will tell you is WHY I like something and then you can compare and contrast with your own tastes and make an informed decision.
- I am making no claims that I have been to every winery in Central California, but that said, we have done some good work.
- “But Jared, you didn’t talk about _________.” Tough shit.
I’m going to break this down into a few different pieces because different wineries offer different feelings and I want you to have an idea of the vibe in addition to if the wine is good or not.
Great Wine. No Frills.
Fratelli Perata: This is an intimate family owned winery specializing in Italian varietals with a California feel. This is my favorite winery in California. Sorry, not sorry.
As I’ve said in other posts on here Meg and I like personal, intimate wineries. The kind where you can’t buy stupid shit like a tiara that says “Wine Princess.”
When you get off the dirt road at Fratelli Perata you drive up to their house, park on the gravel and then walk into their home’s garage and likely taste with their owner Carol. She’s awesome and so is their wine. Her husband and daughter are the wine makers, and this spot literally changed my mind about Merlot.
No bullshit, I haven’t had a bad bottle from here, but I also follow instructions. Many of the wines here are meant to be aged, but Carol sends out a fantastic tasting notes in black ink on simple white copy paper. There is no hard sale, there is no up-sale, there is just respect for you the consumer. In her tasting notes she will tell you honestly, what wines are ready and which are not, along with a recipe for each wine she sends out.
So if you are the patient type, taste, pick what you like, then buy a case to put away for a bit.
Red Soles: While there are definitely more frills here, I’d still qualify it as a smaller operation that feels fun and personal. The wine is good as well. Try this spot out on your way to or from our next one below.
Cool Factor Engaged.
Shale Oak: I mean just look at it. It’s like what a winery would look like if it were built by Pope Frank Lloyd Wright II. This place is very impressive when you go there. And it is different than anywhere else you could go in Paso.
I’ll be honest, part of me wants to hate it, cuz you know… garage wineries and shit. But I just can’t. It’s just cool.
In addition to the fact that the tasting room, land, water and vineyards are sustainably maintained to reduce the impact on the environment, the wine is damn good as well. I believe we walked with a Sauvignon Blanc and Zinfandel last time we were there.
Oso Libre: Hard to follow up the cool factor visually from the last one, but we like Oso Libre quite a bit because it’s unique in that it is a working cattle ranch that still holds an upscale modern aesthetic.
There was some construction going on last time we were there and it looked like they were adding a bunch of fun features for guests. But more importantly this spot had some of the best reds we enjoyed on our last trip. Try the Zin and the Cab.
Pretty… Pretty… Pretty Expensive.
DAOU Vineyards: The heading above says it all. These spots in this section are freaking gorgeous. But as Joan River’s face would’ve told you, pretty comes at a price.
DAOU is on top of huge hill overlooking the entire valley, and it is stunning. The wine is great as well, but the price will hurt your pocket. It’s definitely the type of place you have to go once, but I don’t think its a place you will want to go back to over and over again. It’s a bit of a drive to get there, but once there you can’t picnic and you get the general feel from the establishment that they are happy to not have your business.
But who can blame them? They have plenty of people willing to pay the premium they are asking. So why put them here? The wine is legit. And that is my goal, to point you to good wine and a fun experience. DAOU does both.
Justin: There is a reason Justin has been synonymous with the upper level of Paso Robles wine for decades. They are that good. Like DAOU they come at a premium price for their top level wines. Their cabs are among California’s best. The entry level Cabernet can be found on menu’s around the country, and for me, they are one of the best value bottles on most menu’s. It is not abnormal to see this bottle for $60-90 in restaurants. And if you can get it in this range it is great quality per dollar.
If you are going I suggest the Obtuse, their dessert wine. It is Cabernet Sauvignon and clocks in at 17% alcohol. So pace yourself.
Just A Taste
OK , lightning round people. These are spots we also enjoy. Just a link and a line. That’s all you get!
Dover Canyon: Go here if you like Zin at a leisurely pace.
Jada: This has been hit or miss for us, but when it hits…
Halter Ranch: Fantastic cab.
That’s it folks. My apologies if your favorite isn’t here. But feel free to comment below with what ones we missed and we will try to make time for them on our next trip to the area. Hope you found this series helpful, and don’t forget to check out Part One and Part Two if you missed them.
