There are over 200 wineries in Paso Robles and they come in many sizes and shapes but one winery that is uniquely different is Poalillo Vineyards. Charlie Poalillo is the owner, the winemaker, and the storyteller. Charlie first came to Paso Robles in 1969 as an amateur winemaker to buy grapes and bring them back to his Southern California home. He and his wife Joyce fell in love with Paso Robles and made the move in 1978 and purchased vineyards and their home. Read the rest of this entry »

This trip to Paso Robles marks our tenth year in a row of traveling to this wine country. Much has changed since 1999, some good and some bad. The earthquake of December 2003 and the onslaught of many new wineries have brought about many changes to this old California farming town. In many ways it still is a town in transition. There is still a lot of the old; cowboys strolling the streets, McClintock’s Saloon, Corrigan’s barber shop and others. But for sure, Paso Robles is trying to go upscale. Each year we visit, there are always a few more tasting rooms in town and new wineries to visit. Last year two new fancy hotels opened catering to the wine crowd and the affluent. This year, on Highway 46 West just before Vineyard Drive, a huge winery is under construction. It looks quite out of place in the Paso landscape of rolling hills, oak trees, and beautiful vineyards. Read the rest of this entry »

Among things I enjoy so much about the Dry Creek Valley are the numerous backroads and side roads throughout this amazing wine area. On Wine Creek Road, just off West Dry Creek Road, there are two hidden wineries, one of which is Mounts Family Vineyards. Rich Mount and his son David are the owners of this small-production winery.

The family has owned vineyards here since 1945 and has been farming 85 acres of vineyards. Rich and David decided a few years back to begin testing the waters for making their own label. 2005 marks the first vintage for Mounts Family Vineyards. The family keeps only a small portion of their crop to produce 2000 cases of wine and the rest is sold to several different wineries. On the list of clients are Michael Mondavi (Folio), Blackstone, St. Francis, and Sattui.

Read the rest of this entry »

Norman Vineyards is one of the wineries on a wine trail called “The Far Out Wineries of Paso Robles.” These wineries were so hidden off Highway 46 West that wine visitors were few and far between. With a great PR move, the wineries banded together to form this association complete with a great little brochure guide that you can pick up at the visitor center in town. We highly recommend following this trail, the roads are beautiful and each winery on the trail offers something a little different to the wine traveler. Read the rest of this entry »

Harmony Cellars is in the Paso Robles wine region but it is so far west you need to travel to end of Highway 46 West to Highway 1. The winery is located in the tiny town of Harmony, population 18.

The best thing about Harmony Cellars is its location at the top of a hill. The view here is very spectacular. There are picnic tables and an arbor where one can sit and enjoy the view of the countryside below. It is a very peaceful setting on a warm day and the ideal spot for a picnic lunch with a glass of chilled white wine. Read the rest of this entry »

Vina Robles is a very new winery in Paso Robles wine country that just opened a new mission style facility last summer. We found Vina Robles about 3 miles from downtown Paso Robles on Highway 46 East. Vina Robles is quite an impressive winery. The tasting room is perhaps one of the most elegant and beautiful that we have ever visited. That is saying a lot because we estimate we have been to at least 400 tasting rooms throughout our travels. Read the rest of this entry »

The best area for restaurant selection in Paso Robles is around the City Park. There are a number of excellent choices to dine for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

On our last trip we tried Artisan Restaurant for dinner for a second time. The restaurant has been open about 18 months and the place is hopping, and for good reason. The food is outstanding and the service terrific. The menu is varied and is matched by a splendid list of local wines. The Artisan is definitely our top choice for dining in Paso Robles. Read the rest of this entry »

We have been traveling to the Paso Robles wine country since 1999. From that first trip to the present, the Paso Robles wine region has changed remarkably. First and foremost, the wineries have increased in number from just a handful to over 100 wineries. The downtown area now boasts fancy and chic restaurants, boutique shopping, and several lavish tasting rooms around the famous City Park plaza. The earthquake of December 2003 was devastating but a rebuilding has resulted in a chic little downtown area reminiscent of Healdsburg in Sonoma County. We visited again in March 2008 and found more wineries and restaurants to explore and visit. Based on our travels to Paso Robles wine country, here are our recommendations. Read the rest of this entry »