Wine Tasting in Paso Robles

Paso Robles Wine Tasting

It was a last minute decision based on a coastline socked in with fog and the availability of a spacious minivan able to hold up to eight wine loving ladies. We'd all travelled to Cambria - a woodsy artist community on California's central coast located about 4 hours north of Los Angeles - to celebrate the 4th of July weekend. Some of us were regular visitors, others were locals getting reacquainted with their old stopping grounds, and a couple were complete newbies with eager hearts and voracious appetites for adventure. On that particular Saturday, our plans for leisurely day at the beach were unceremoniously thwarted by a chilly, overcast morning. A quick call to Hearst State Beach, known as "the cove" to locals, confirmed our fears - the sun had called in sick and terminated any chance of sunshine 20 miles along the coast in either direction.

First just a whispered suggestion, the idea for wine tasting suddenly gained momentum. A full tank of gas later, we found ourselves floating nicely across highway 46, a state route that directs drivers from the the main freeway to the heart of central coast wine country. As we top the first hill and descended into the valley, the fog melted away, replaced by a heavy air, heated by a healthy sun and perfumed with the sent of oak trees and lavender.

Paso Robles and its neighboring communities, has steadily grown into a vintners paradise. Over 150 wineries dote the rolling hills that undulate from edge of the Pacific Ocean to the flat lands of California's central valley. The climate makes the ideal for Zinfandel and Syrah varietals, with the rare white wine making an appearance in blush form. Most of the wineries are small set ups, often family run, focusing on a short list of selections. The limited grape varietals, combined with the large number of wineries, allows the taster to focus on one type of wine - a Syrah for example - and still experience a wide range of flavors.

On our trip we stopped at four establishments, all quirky in their own way, and each offering different versions of one or two grape types. Unlike Napa and Santa Barbara, the wineries of the central coast feel less like stores focused on selling a product, and more a like a local hang out interested in inspiring visitors to explore the wines they produce. This difference becomes quite defined when it comes to tasting fees, which are often at least a couple of dollars less than the $15 average that reigns in Santa Ynez. At a couple of our stops, the tasting room manager waived off our money and asked us to just enjoy the tastings.

I am a huge fan of the Santa Ynez valley and the local wineries located there, but I was surprised at how the relaxed feel in Paso Robles allowed me to really "sink my teeth" into the wines and absorb all the flavor and possibility. I didn't feel as if I'd just ponied up to a bar to order a shot, I felt like I was visiting a friend of friend for a piece of pie. Ultimately, many people in our party bought two or more bottles, and the pourers "comped" our tasting fee altogether. This is apt to happen once in a while in Napa, but I've yet to get the same treatment in Santa Barbara (where, in one famous incident, a friend bought a case of wine for her wedding, but the winery still asked us to pay "up front" for the tasting and then hunted us down for the glasses as we strolled the property).

As for the wines themselves, I won't pretend that I am expert enough to satisfy the true connoisseur with my assessment. For the most part, I found my faith in the Syrah upheld and expanded. Not as trendy as the Pinot Noir, I find the Syrah to be much more accessible by the general public. It's a grape that can often serve as a canary in a goldmine. If the Syrah is good, chances are some of the other, more complex wines will also be up to par. What truly excited me though were the Central Coast Zinfandels. I will admit to a personal prejudice against the noble Zin. Often associated with little old ladies and high school party punch gone horrible awry, the White Zanfindel's budget reputation often tarnishes his red brother's reputation. It's my suspicion that the Zin is a complex grape, harder to understand or appreciate when compared to merlot of cabernet.

Four wineries in one day is a good start, but with some many locales to choose from, I doubt even the most seasoned wine taster could get bored in Paso Robles. In addition, at several of the wineries we visited were set up with picnic benches and a picnic friendly atmosphere. One winery in particular even had a couple of chardonnays (quite rare in tat area), chilled and ready to give a final, flavorful note to an end-of-day picnic.

Hey! Wanna go wine tasting?

By Elizabeth Cutright


Perhaps you've seen the film Sideways and you want to have your own adventure. Or maybe you've stood in the aisles of your local grocery story…confused and overwhelmed…trying to decide which bottle to pick for that special dinner, fancy party or weekend BBQ. It could be that you're an old hat at all this wine tasting business, but you've never tried out the wines in the Santa Ynez Valley or explored an urban wine trail. If you're curious or confused, then look no further: Here's your ultimate guide to wine tasting in, and out, of the city of Santa Barbara.


Tasting
Wine tasting engages all the senses. When evaluating a wine, take the time to note the color (hold it up to the light for full effect) and the way it sticks to the sides of the glass. Before taking a sip, inhale the aromas: twirl you glass to help the wine release the volatile compounds that make up its scent, and then go ahead…stick your nose into the glass and try to name all the smells you can identify. Is that cinnamon? Maybe a touch of vanilla or fig? Could that really be the sweet scent of your grandfather's old cigar? Once you're ready to take taste, make that first sip count. Swish the wine around your tongue and let the wine settle in your mouth. Swallow slowly and feel the texture of the wine as it slides down your throat - is smooth and silky? Dry and tangy? Take another sip or two (or more!), just to make sure. Then on to the next one on the list!


The Wines
So what should you expect when it comes to Santa Barbara wines? One word: variety. While California Chardonnays and Pinot Noirs get most of the press, in the Santa Ynez Valley and the streets of Santa Barbara, you can travel across a wide swathe of vintages and varietals; from Italian grapes to French flavors to old favorites, it's all here.

You may have heard someone speak of the great Bordeaux they just tried, or maybe you've stared at the Sauvignon Blancs and the Pinot Grigios and wondered what set them apart from their other white cousins. Below is a list of the kinds of wines you can expect to find in and around Santa Barbara:


Whites:
Chardonnay: To some extent, the taste of Chardonnay depends on whether it's been fermented in oak or steel barrels. The former produces a smooth, buttery white with flavors of vanilla and coconut. The latter produces a slightly more citrus taste, with flavors reminiscent of lemon and grapefruit.
Gewurtztraminer: An aromatic white with fruity flavors and aromas of peach and rose. Moscato: Another fruity wine, this varietal is sweet and retains much of the flavor of its parent, the Muscat table grape.
Pinot Grigio: Aromatic and fruity, Pinot Grigio is also a dry, crisp wine with a salty, and acidic "bite."
Pinot Gris: Also slightly acidic, the taste of a Pinot Gris can vary wildly depending on where it's planted, but all varieties have a floral aroma and a slightly sweet taste.
Sauvignon Blanc: A lighter wine than Chardonnay, a Sauvignon Blanc tastes of white meat fruits like green apples and pears. Viognier: A crisp drinking wine with sweet aromas and a dry, soft floral taste.


Reds:
Pinot Noir: A delicate red, the soft flavors include cherry, plum and even hints of damp soil or worn leather.
Merlot: A softer red, with hints of berry and plum.
Cabernet Sauvignon: A middle-of-the-road red with hints of berry and soft pepper, along with tinges of vanilla and tobacco.
Syrah (or Shiraz): A spicy, peppery red with a taste of black fruit (blackberries, cherries and even currants), a Syrah can also have tinges of dark chocolate, coffee or even toffee.
Grenache: A fruity red - with hints of everything from cherries to raspberries to strawberries - this wine can also turn dark, with intense notes of coffee, pepper and even black olives.
Barbera: A slightly acidify red with a silky texture and juicy, plummy flavor.
Nebbiolo: With an acidic, heavy base, this wine carries flavors of dried fruit , licorice and leather.
Sangiovese: This bold reds tastes primarily of berry and plum.

This is by no means an exhaustive list; part of the fun of tasting is Santa Barbara is discovering new varietals and blends. There's always something new brewing, and at any moment you may find a great new Rhone Blend, another Bordeaux varietal and even a new twist on a familiar friend.

*Special note:
In France wines are named by region, rather than grapes. Roughly speaking, a white Burgundy wine is similar to a California Chardonnay while a red Burgundy comes from the Pinot Noir grape. Anything from the Bordeaux family will most always include a Cabernet blend. For more on French wine, go here: French Wine


Additional information:
For a list of wine tasting terms, go here: Terms
For more information on Santa Barbara wines, go here: SB County Wine
For a list of wineries, go here: SB County Wineries.