Paso Robles

Paso Robles, located halfway between Los Angeles and San Francisco, is truly a magical, trendy and bustling destination!  I recently had the pleasure of spending a wonderful weekend there and was blown away by how much this emergent city has to offer.  While the eateries are incredible, the main draw is definitely the wine – and boy does Paso Robles deliver. It’s honestly on par with Napa – but at a much more wallet-friendly price. Without a doubt, the next time you are craving a memorable California wine country getaway but without the aloof No Cal attitude and latitude, I suggest you use my Paso Robles travel guide, head to Central California and prepare to be wowed.

As we continue to explore the area surrounding San Francisco, we’re always looking to discover hidden gems. Although we love Napa Valley wine country, it isn’t exactly an undiscovered secret. Paso Robles is about three hours south of San Francisco, and it’s a whole new way to do California wine country. It’s charming and peaceful, but still has great restaurants, amazing wine and beautiful places to stay.The people of Paso Robles are gracious and welcoming and everything feels much more personalized than we’re used to. It’s also wayyy more affordable. When you meet other visitors, it’s almost like you are in on a shared secret.

Home away from home for our Paso Robles stay is Allegretto Vineyard Resort. Allegretto opened in October 2015 and is both beautiful and comfortable. It’s Mediterranean-inspired and every detail is perfectly thought out. The property is quite large, and has everything from bocce ball courts to a large pool, to a French-inspired ‘abbey’ (multi-use chapel). They also have olive trees, a few rows of grapes and even some pomegranate trees!

The Paso Robles Pioneer Museum showcases the history and cultural heritage of the Paso Robles area. The museum features a variety of exhibits, historical literature, and educational displays that tell the story of this small town, including a replica of the first two-cell jail with an original door dating back to the late 19th century, an El Camino Real bell that was placed along Highway 101, and a one-room schoolhouse.

Formerly known as Paso Robles Hot Springs, River Oaks Hot Springs Spa is a luxurious spa centered around the region’s famous artesian thermal spring waters, and it offers a range of premier spa services, therapeutic remedies, rejuvenating body treatments, and tailored skin care.

Exceptional wine meets intimate live music in the Vina Robles Amphitheatre. Resting on a picturesque hillside, the boutique amphitheater is one of the largest outdoor entertainment venues in San Luis Obispo County and hosts a variety of concerts and events from April through October. The concert season features first-class acts in a range of genres from around the world, and past acts have included Judas Priest, Ringo Starr, and Tears for Fears.

Eberle Winery is a family-run wine estate in the Paso Robles Wine Region owned and managed by Gary Eberle. Eberle, meaning “small boar” in German, was established in 1984 and features a modern production facility, tasting room, and vast underground wine caves. Gary greets all visitors to the estate, and they can enjoy complimentary wine tastings and public tours of the production facility and explore the 16,000 square feet of underground caves where the wine is stored.

The Estrella Warbirds Museum is an aviation museum located on more than 13 acres of land at the Paso Robles Municipal Airport. The museum is named after the Estrella Army Air Field, which was built in 1943 and eventually became the city’s municipal airport. The focus of the museum is on restoring and preserving military aircraft, memorabilia, and vehicles.

LXV is a small award-winning boutique winery that sources its limited wine production from the famous Willow Creek District of Paso Robles. Their tasting room and wine lounge in downtown Paso Robles provides a unique experience for wine lovers in an exotic, sensual space with cobalt blue walls, plush daybeds, and art from Kama Sutra. The wines are paired with interesting mixes of spices sprinkled on an assortment of cheeses for a blend of flavors that are sometimes complementing each other and at other times contrasting for an enhanced experience. The atmosphere is opulent and for wine lovers an absolute must when in this famous wine producing region.

The Wine Wrangler offers tours and tastings in the western wine regions of San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara Counties. The company offers a wide range of tours through Paso Robles and Edna Valley, as well as tours to Monterey, Big Sur, and historic Hearst Castle. There are more than 300 wineries in the Paso Robles area, and the company offers half day and full day wine tours.

Giornata is a high-quality boutique winery in Paso Robles, established in 2005 by married duo Stephanie and Brian Terrizzi. The winery is known for its highly drinkable Italian wine varietals, which are prepared on site according to traditional Old World winemaking techniques and emphasize the unique terroir of the Paso Robles region. Signature wines include Fiano, Vermentino, Ramato, and Barbera varietals, along with blends such as the winery's il Campo Bianco, which pairs Vermentino and Pinot Grigio for a deliciously aromatic white wine with jasmine and lime leaf notes. Visitors can taste wines by appointment at the company's Tin City tasting room, with reservations available on the company's website.

Tobin James Cellars Winery and Tasting Room is an award-winning winery in the heart of the Paso Robles wine region. Tobin James crafts intense fruit driven wines, including Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrahs, Zinfandel, Merlot, Chardonnay, and Dessert Zinfandel, all of which visitors can sample in the inviting tasting room that features a grand, 150-year-old bar.

Sculpterra Winery and Sculpture Garden is a beautiful estate that combines wine and art to create a unique experience for both wine aficionados and art lovers. Established in 2007 by the Frankel family, Sculpterra brings the beauty of art and wine together in stylish form. Meandering paths wind through the perfectly manicured landscaped gardens that feature sculptures and ironwork by well-known artists Dale Evers, John Jagger, and Robert Bentley.

Located in the Westside Adelaida District, Halter Ranch Vineyard is a historic vineyard and winery that grows superior wine grapes and produces world-class wines.

The estate-grown wines are sustainably farmed in the limestone soils, producing Bordeaux and Rhône wines of the highest quality. Halter Ranch features a modern tasting room surrounded by large oak trees and a beautiful garden where visitors can sample the estate’s fine wines, as well as enjoy picnics with select deli items, including cheeses, meats, olives, nuts, and locally produced olive oils.

Established in 1994, Opolo Vineyards, owned by Rick Quinn and Dave Nichols, produces a range of Bordeaux varietals, including Zinfandel, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Merlot.

Spread over 80 acres on both the west and east side of Paso Robles, Opolo features a rustic tasting room surrounded by the Zinfandel vineyards where guests can sample some of the estate’s best wines and enjoy patio pairings of deli-style platters of cured meats, artisan cheeses, and wood-fired pizza. 

Adelaida Cellars is a family-owned wine estate made up of five distinct properties in the rugged mountainous terrain of Paso Robles’ Adelaida District.

Situated on steeply elevated sites just 14 miles from the Pacific Ocean, the vineyards feature a diverse range of more than 24 varietals, including old vine Pinot Noir, dry farmed Zinfandel, Rhônes, and mountain style cabernet sauvignon. Adelaida Cellars offers visitors a scenic Tour, Taste and Tailgate Tour, which explores the winery’s 150-acre estate.

Tablas Creek Vineyard is a stunning 120-acre property in the hilly Las Tablas district of west Paso Robles that produces traditional French red varietals such as Mourvèdre, Grenache Noir, Syrah, and Counoise and whites of Roussanne, Viognier, Marsanne, and Grenache Blanc.

Located in the heart of the Paso Robles Wine Region, Niner Wine Estate, owned by Richard and Pam Niner, produces estate grown Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir, and Chardonnay, as well as a broad range of varietals.

Spread across three different vineyards and covering 212 acres, the farm’s wines are made at the LEED Certified Winery at Heart Hill Vineyard, and visitors to the farm can enjoy daily wine tastings in the tasting room, as well as guided winery tours.

Il Cortile Ristorante is an award-winning fine dining Italian restaurant in Downtown Paso Robles. Decorated in warm tones of dark and light woods and rich creams, the restaurant has a warm and inviting ambiance with a menu to match.

Hope this helped !!!