niners will rule the world! (not bike related)

[slowSSer]

http://www.ninerwine.com/

hot damn! niner wine!

so, we're heading to Paso this weekend for the wife's 25th and leaving the circus midget (the 6 month old) with my parents and associated family (aunt/uncle live in Paso) as part of the birthday present

should be a bomber weekend! the "must" winery list

*Justin- why? wine club member biznatch! freebies galore!

*Adelaida- why? parents are whine club members. "family" invite!!!

*Castoro- why? need more of their "blind faith reserve" series.....as the kiddo's name is Faith (awesome coincidence) that and we're hanging with the cousins who got married there. that's right- more freebies- don't be hatin.

anyone else we should put on the "must visit" list?

edit: more bike related paso wine:
http://www.bianchiwine.com/
wasnt "ventoux" the name of a camelback and a peak in the alps? http://www.venteuxvineyards.com/

[theclayster]

Castoro i would say is a must, Robert Hall? Tobin James? Turley? All good wineries in Paso.

[slowSSer]

Originally Posted by theclayster

Castoro i would say is a must, Robert Hall? Tobin James? Turley? All good wineries in Paso.

will check those out. thanks!

[theclayster]

no problem, was just wine tasting in that area couple of months ago, try the Tango at Castoro.

[slowSSer]

Originally Posted by theclayster

no problem, was just wine tasting in that area couple of months ago, try the Tango at Castoro.

i've been to Castoro. their Viogner is incredible, but can be had cheaper at trader joes (like 1/2 price from the winery)

[theclayster]

haha yeah I agree, but I think that Castoro is the best on the tasting and actually paying to taste, screw the wineries that charge $10 for 3 tastings.

[JimN]

My current faves:

Wild Coyote
Tolo Cellars
Pipestone

Always worth a visit:

L'Aventure
Lone Madrone
Tablas Creek
Linne Calodo
Zin Alley

[Reedster]

The Ventoux is a famous climb in the Alps. There are some wineries on the flanks of the Ventoux and I have had some good Cotes du Ventoux, but I don't remember what winery.

Enjoy your weekend. Sounds like fun.

~R

[Endo Verendo]

Originally Posted by Reedster

The Ventoux is a famous climb in the Alps. There are some wineries on the flanks of the Ventoux and I have had some good Cotes du Ventoux, but I don't remember what winery.

Enjoy your weekend. Sounds like fun.

~R

Actually Mt. Ventoux is not in the Alps but it is in the Southern Rhone wine region of France.

The winery SlowSSer mentioned is in Paso and is pronounced Vin 2.

I'd recommend Dover Cyn and Zin Alley as a must do wineries as well. And I'd hit Peachy Cyn instead of Castoro, which sucks IMHO ... I never had a good wine there. I'd 2nd JimN's recommendations too. Have fun.

[b5driver]

Originally Posted by JimN

My current faves:


Zin Alley

Mmmm Zin Alley. Love their port.

[FatWhat?]

Always was a huge fan of Castoro. I also like Rotta which has a pretty good Zin. I wasn't too happy with Turley in that they would charge a lot for tastings. Grey Wolf has a cool location and a comical white guy that wishes he was Native American. Brian Benson I always heard great things from as well as his son at Dark Star. I also love Malory O'Neil.

Elegant Image Limos has a pretty good deal on wine tasting packages in that lunch and some champagne comes with it. It's like $40 a person I think for about a four hour stretch. You can tell them that Doug from SD sent you. If you go on a day other than Sat it might help you to get a little discount.
elegantimagelimos.com 805 772-5390

Also there is a cheese shop called DiRomandos (or something like that on 13th and Spring). If everyone or every couple buys a 1/4" block of various cheeses it's a lot of fun to try the different wines with the different cheese flavors.

Not a huge fan of Tobin James (they were the rival winery when I worked at Bonny Doon) , but they are a great place to end. Another fun place to end is at Hansen's winery because you can drink with Bruce well after closing.


Sorry for the long winded response, I LOVE WINE!!

[slowSSer]

Originally Posted by FatWhat?

Always was a huge fan of Castoro. I also like Rotta which has a pretty good Zin. I wasn't too happy with Turley in that they would charge a lot for tastings. Grey Wolf has a cool location and a comical white guy that wishes he was Native American. Brian Benson I always heard great things from as well as his son at Dark Star. I also love Malory O'Neil.

Elegant Image Limos has a pretty good deal on wine tasting packages in that lunch and some champagne comes with it. It's like $40 a person I think for about a four hour stretch. You can tell them that Doug from SD sent you. If you go on a day other than Sat it might help you to get a little discount.
elegantimagelimos.com 805 772-5390

Also there is a cheese shop called DiRomandos (or something like that on 13th and Spring). If everyone or every couple buys a 1/4" block of various cheeses it's a lot of fun to try the different wines with the different cheese flavors.

Not a huge fan of Tobin James (they were the rival winery when I worked at Bonny Doon) , but they are a great place to end. Another fun place to end is at Hansen's winery because you can drink with Bruce well after closing.


Sorry for the long winded response, I LOVE WINE!!

you worked at Bonny Doon? they're among my favorites of everything i've tried over the years. Cardinal Zin (beastly old vines) is always a good purchase. that and the odd artwork on the labels.

i got onto bonny doon through a family friend of ours who is a vintner in Texas. http://www.brushycreekvineyards.com/ is the vineyard's site.

[jasonmason]

Wow, somebody else has been to Zin Alley! Great stuff, both his zin and port...well, that is all he makes, but at least it's all good.

Opolo is one of my favorites, especially their zinfandel and cab franc, and is back out on vineyard road within a few miles of Justin if you're heading there. Cass is way out on the east side, but if you dig dessert wines they have a great late harvest cabernet franc, along with some other good stuff. Halter Ranch is back on the west side too, and their cab was pretty good.
If you get a chance on the drive, stop in at McKeon-Phillips in Santa Maria - their cab franc is outstanding, had both the 01 and 02 last fall, one of the best in the area. Their chardonnay is pretty good too.
Rotta was just ok when i went there last spring, but if you like un-oaked and no malolactic chardonnays, try the naked chardonnay at four vines around the corner in the same building. The rest of thier wines were meh, but i dug that one.
Agree with the sentiment about Tobin James, not my kinda place, though their wines can be pretty good.

[ODB]

Hit up Norman. I luvs me The Monster Zin.

http://www.normanvineyards.com/

[JimN]

Originally Posted by slowSSer

you worked at Bonny Doon? they're among my favorites of everything i've tried over the years. Cardinal Zin (beastly old vines) is always a good purchase. that and the odd artwork on the labels.

Lone Madrone took over the old Bonny Doon outpost in Paso. Same winemaker as Tablas Creek, they produce some really fine Rhone blends, an excellent straight Cab, and a few Italian varietals. I'm a happy member of their wine club.

In my opinion, you can find way better Zins in Paso than what Bonny Doon has to offer. Zin Alley is my favorite, although Frank's wines show better with at least a little bit of resting time. Turley offers some beautiful, well-structured Zins, but like Zin Alley, they need a little bit of time. Even just six months makes a huge difference. Zin Alley is a GREAT tasting room experience, especially if Frank is behind the bar. Turley leaves a bit to be desired, what with the $10 tasting fee and the not-very-informed tasting room hosts. Good, ready-to-drink-now Zins can be found at Adelaida, Peachy Canyon and Tolo Cellars.

Trust me on this: don't miss Wild Coyote. They're just down the road from Adelaida. Probably the best view of any tasting room in Paso, and the wines are incredibly good for the price. Reminds me that I need to order up a mixed case of their Meritage and Merlot.

If I had to pick my favorite winery in Paso, it would definitely be L'Aventure. I'm a member of their wine club, as well. Stephan Asseo is an amazing winemaker. He left France because he wanted to blend Bordeaux and Rhone varietals. Paso offered the terroir he was looking for, and the rest is history. All that said, I will caution you that the tasting room experience there is unpredictable this time of year. I don't think they start offering their 2006 estate wines until April, so you may end up spending ten bucks to taste two wines - definitely not worth it, even though you do get to keep a nice Reidel Syrah "O" glass as part of the tasting.

Endo Verendo's suggestion to check out Dover Canyon is a good one. None of their wines blow me away, but that's not what they're about. Dover Canyon is all about value. Really solid wines at great prices. Definitely the place to stock up on your everyday wines.

Not sure if you'll be doing any dining out, but here are a few suggestions:

For breakfast, and picnic lunch take-out, look no further than Panolivo. Start the day with their almond/chocolate crossaint & a coffee, and order their Panini Club Supreme with a side salad for the road.
http://www.panolivo.com/

For dinner, it's pretty hard to beat McPhee's Grill in nearby Templeton. It's a short, 10-minute drive from downtown Paso. Never disappoints.
http://www.mcphees.com/

A great in-town choice that is always exellent and rarely crowded: Basil Thai. WAY better than average Thai food at an affordable price.
http://www.yelp.com/biz/basil-thai-paso-robles

Avoid the new hot restaurant in town, Artisan. Had dinner there in January. Huge disappointment.

Have a fun weekend!

Jim

[jasonmason]

Gotta second Basil Thai...went there at some urging, figuring that Paso might not be the best locale for Thai, and ended up really enjoying it.

Guess i'll have to get to L'Aventure next time i'm up there - i keep hearing very positive things about their wines and just ran out of time last time. We were lucky enough to have frank pouring at Zin Alley, and JimN's absolutely right, you'll have a really good time there if he's in.

[BrewMaster]

If I were in the area I would hit Morro Bay Brewing Co and Firestone Walker in Buellton (though I think they do have tap room in Paso Robles).

[FatWhat?]

Originally Posted by BrewMaster

If I were in the area I would hit Morro Bay Brewing Co and Firestone Walker in Buellton (though I think they do have tap room in Paso Robles).

Firestone Brewery is right where 46 west hits the 101. So it is another good place to leave towards the end of your trip in that there tasting room is open after the wineries close.

Sounds like you need a week up there with everyones suggestions