Paso Robles

Our flight to the Paso Robles area was a short and sweet trip from Seattle. As we were landing, I looked out my window to see beautiful estates nestled among perfectly groomed vineyards. The last time I was here was in 2002, and much has changed since then – all for the better, I can definitely say.

After landing at the very cool San Luis Obispo airport, our group did not waste any time. We only had a couple of days for our Paso Robles winery tour, and we wanted to make the best of it! Our first stop was Copia Winery. The owners, Varinder and Anita, have created an unforgettable experience. The name “Copia” is a Latin word that means abundance, which is the perfect name for a winery created by two people who have always chased the “glass half full” philosophy.

Paso robles Copia wineryNot only were the wines absolutely perfect, but the meaningful space they curated matched the wines. I can only believe that their summer concerts on the patio are the perfect way to spend a day. They produce both Rhône and Bordeaux varietal wines, but I must confess that their Rhône blends were my favorite.

paso robles Copia winery2020 The Cure: This GSM Blend picks up right where “The Story Grenache” left off. It’s very floral when you smell it, like being in a room filled with violets. When you taste it, you’ll find it’s full of tart cherries, cranberries, and red plums, all mixed with a good amount of pepper. The tannins are present but blend so well with the acidity. This wine is great to drink now, but I bought a few bottles because I think it will taste even better in 3 to 4 years.

2020 The Source: This Syrah is a heavy hitter! Just like before, it starts with floral smells, but then it takes you to a savory world. Think cured meat, mushrooms, and black pepper. Drinking this wine, you’ll notice ripe black fruits with that same black pepper flavor. This wine is just perfect. It’s the wine I came to Paso Robles for.

California coast beer companyAfter our visit to Copia, we decided to take a little break from wine tasting and headed to California Coast Beer Company. While waiting for a table in their “Brewhouse,” we stopped by “The Den” to enjoy a beer. Imagine sitting in your grandma’s living room, surrounded by vintage memorabilia from the 70s, with music that perfectly fits the retro atmosphere.

The Brewhouse itself used to be an auto body shop and now boasts a vast outdoor seating area with several decks and patios. I started with their Belgium Witbier, which had a refreshing hint of spice and a citrusy finish. Next, I tried a Brown Ale – and let me tell you, it was DELICIOUS! It wasn’t too bitter and had a lovely sweet note of caramel and nuts.

A little side note: while the beers are fantastic, the pizzas are the real stars. My wood-fired Chicken Caprese pizza was just glorious.

On our way back to our Airbnb, we made a quick stop at Lone Madrone to do a wine tasting. We tried a bunch of different wines, but in the end, everyone in our group decided to buy the 2019 Oveja Negra. This wine is a mix of Mourvedre, Counoise, Syrah, and Grenache, and let me tell you, it’s a big one! It has a lasting finish with flavors of ripe dark black cherries, leather, and pencil shavings. The aroma was strong, and the taste was full and rich.

For our first evening, we followed a local tip and went to see the “Lights At Sensorio.” This incredible light show was created by the British artist Bruce Munro, and it’s his biggest work in the world. We picked up a local beer from a food truck and started walking through the lights. There were over 100,000 light spheres lighting up the path. The show was spectacular, from the “Light Towers” to the “Gone Fishing Poles.” It’s hard to put into words how amazing this sensory experience was. You really have to see it for yourself.

Hope you enjoyed hearing about my first day in Paso Robles… tomorrow, I’m off to Tin City, and I can’t wait to share all about it with you!

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