Can You Get Drunk At A Wine Tasting
Even though it might seem like it, you arent aiming to get drunk at a wine tasting event. However, you can get drunk much faster if youre consuming wines on an empty stomach. Eat and hydrate well before any wine tasting event to prepare your body. Other vineyards serve food as part of their wine tasting experience.
Perfect Things To Do In Paso Robles California On A Weekend Getaway
By Lia Garcia | August 15, 2021
Things are changing rapidly – please double check what’s open before your trip and follow all local guidelines to keep yourself and others safe! Also, ads are how we pay our bills and keep our blog free for you to enjoy. We also use affiliate links if you make a purchase through them, we may receive a small commission at no cost to you.
Vineyards. Olive trees. Hot springs. Paso Robles, California is one of our absolute favorite places in California, and the perfect spot for a weekend getaway! Located under an hour from San Luis Obispo and Morro Bay, the Central Coast town where my husband grew up, this California wine country town is the Central Coasts answer to Napa & Sonoma, and worth a trip down from the well-worn path of Northern California wine country. Its one of the best places to visit on Californias Central Coast!
The first thing you need to know about Paso Robles is how to pronounce it, not because its especially important, but because youre going to get a lot of weird looks if you arent aware . The actual name of the town, Paso Robles, isnt pronounced like you would think -that is, if youre a person who speaks Spanish. Throw that Spanish accent right out the window.
Oh, and dont forget the hot springs Paso Robles is tailor-made for the perfect weekend getaway! So whether youre looking for a girlfriend getaway or a romantic weekend for two, there are plenty of perfect things to do in Paso Robles.
Hang Out On An Industrial Estate
It doesnt look like much at first. In fact, you could easily drive by and never know it was there. But Tin City, a sort of micro-district where everything is about drink or food , is one of the hippest places to go wine tasting.
Just off busy Highway 101, this industrial area still home to pool manufacturers and car repair shops has become a hub for small-production, ‘garagiste’ winemakers, with around 20 tasting rooms in corrugated tin sheds alongside distilleries and restaurants.
Tin Canteen/Facebook
The choice is overwhelming, but some of the most interesting wineries include Monochrome, which only produces white wines, and Desparada, an all-female operation making bold, delicately complex reds.
Line your belly with pizza or pasta at Tin Canteen, followed by sheep milk ice-cream from Negranti Creamery for dessert. And, for a break from wine, slug an intensely refreshing sour beer or citrussy IPA in the garden at BarrelHouse Brewing Co. a pioneer when it opened here in 2012.
Best of all, you can stroll between tastings as everything is contained within a few blocks. Just make sure someone else is driving.
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Ladder Ranch And Creamery
Stepladder Ranch and Creamery is located in Cambria, which is a 20-minute drive west from Paso Robles. As of this writing, the Ranch property is not yet re-opened for public visits. However, the produce, notably avocados, are available in local farmers’ markets, along with their artisan cheeses made from cow’s sourced from local neighboring dairies and goat’s milk from their own herd of La Mancha goats.
We tried Stepladder Creamery’s cheeses as part of the Wine and Cheese Pairing/Tasting at Austin Hope Wines, which inspired my Paso Robles Wine and Cheese Pairing Guide.
Stepladder Ranch and Creamerywww.stepladdercreamery.com |
Feed A Kangaroo And Learn About Rescue Animals At Conservation Ambassadors
Have you ever wanted to cuddle a lemur, play with otters, feed a kangaroo and hug an alligator? Well, maybe not that last one! But you can do all this and more on the grounds of Conservation Ambassadors in Paso Robles. A visit to their animal sanctuary is like getting a backstage pass to a rescue zoo.
Founded in 1990 by David Jackson, Conservation Ambassadors allows visitors to feed and interact with their rescue animals on its sanctuary, located minutes away by car from downtown Paso Robles. They also operate a program called Zoo to You, focused on educating students of all ages to get up close and personal with animals theyd otherwise never have the chance to meet.
Kevin poses with a Kinkajou, found mostly in Central and South America. Known as the honey bear, they are believed to be the inspiration behind Winnie The Pooh.
In addition to their education and outreach efforts, the animal sanctuary is the forever home of abused, displaced, confiscated or permanently injured wildlife and exotic animals. We signed up for their Up Close Encounters experience where we met their rescue animals and learned about their unique backstories. Like one of the alligators, which was discovered during a drug bust. They asked me if I wanted to hold one and of course how could I pass up the opportunity.
Living out my Florida dreams.
Conservation Ambassadors is open 7 days a week. The Animal Encounter experience is highly recommended and can be booked directly on their website.
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How Much Does Wine Tasting Cost In Paso Robles
One quick note, the average Paso Robles wine tasting fee is $15 per person. There are a few Paso wineries that still offer tastings for free. A few even made our list of the best Paso Wineries below. On the other end of the spectrum, there is a winery that charges $60 per person for their exclusive tastings!
History Of Paso Robles California
Lets kick off this 3 days in Paso Robles guide with a little history lesson.
According to the Paso Robles Historical Society, the Salinan Tribe were the original inhabitants of this land, which eventually came to be known as Paso Robles in San Luis Obispo County.
While today Paso Robles is known mainly for its wine country, it was actually its natural mineral hot springs and therapeutic mud baths that brought people to the area, and then the promise of gold.
In fact, this is what attracted brothers Daniel and James Blackburn who are known as the founders of Paso Robles as well as Drury Woodson James, the uncle of Frank and Jesse James, to the area. These men formed a business partnership and worked to get the land surveyed and plots auctioned off.
In 1889, Paso Robles officially became incorporated as a city.
Of course, you cant discuss Paso Robles history without mentioning agriculture. These early pioneers realized just how special the bounty of this land was, tilling it and starting farms and dairies.
Eventually, Paso Robles became known as the Almond Capital of the World though today is really known for its outstanding wine and olives.
As a thank you to these early settlers for paving the way for the agricultural prosperity Paso Robles enjoys today, Pioneer Day is an annual celebration that has taken place in the city since 1931!
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Heres What Some Of Our Guests Shared Around The Web
What an amazing experience!!!!! The ride, recommendations and service was amazing. We were all cracking jokes with each other it was so fun. An amazing day. Id use wine line again in a heart be. See you soon.
Amaya S.
I booked this tour for my friends bachelorette. I have to say I am sooo glad I did!!! Thank you so much for making this trip memorable for us!!!!! We will definitely be booking our next tour with the wine line.
Mayra G.
We couldnt have had a better time this weekend. We were able to visit four wineries in five hours. We had plenty of time at each winery. Thanks to The Wine Line for providing a fun day.
Omar G.
We had a great day in Paso Robles. Our driver took us wherever we wanted to go and also gave us some great suggestions. Thanks for a fun day out with friends totally relaxing. Recommend The Wine Line 100 percent!
Barbara S.
This service is awesome. My friend and I rented the private wine shuttle because three of the wineries we wanted to go to were outside the list. So we had the van to ourselves. I highly recommend The Wine Line.
Kerri H.
Our driver took great care of our group and provided a tasty lunch. The Wine Line is the smart choice to visit several wineries and have everything covered like lunch, driving, and making decisions on where to go.
Sasha P.Pam M.
Daou Vineyards & Winery
DAOUs story is an American Dream story.
The DAOU brothers Georges and Daniel left their home in Lebanon during the civil war and grew up with their family in France.
Later on, they both attended UCSD, studying mathematics and engineering.
The brothers eventually sold a software company that they had created, catapulting them into financial success, and allowing them to purchase what is now known as DAOU Mountain in Paso Robles.
DAOUs winery atop the mountain at 2,200 feet is epic.
The views are arguably some of the best vineyard views in California, and when you see them you might want to cancel the rest of your winery visits so you can just sit here and enjoy the scenery all day .
DAOU offers several different tasting options, including food and wine pairings.
Definitely make reservations ahead of time.
Theyll their best try to accommodate walk-ins, but this is a really popular spot and is on everyones list of Paso Robles wineries to visit, especially on weekends.
Broken Earths original name, Rancho Tierra Rejada, is Spanish for land of worked earth.
In the late 19th century, the 2,500-acre ranch here was mostly grain and cattle.
Now, its home to the vineyards that produce Broken Earth Wines.
The Vineyard was established in 1973 and was one of the first large-scale producers in Paso Robles.
Their winery is 100% solar-powered, producing wines that are estate-grown, and harvested in bottled all in Paso Robles.
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La Cosecha Bar And Restaurant
La Cosecha Bar and Restaurant is a Latin and Spanish-inspired restaurant in downtown Paso Robles. It is a real reflection of place, Paso Robles, and people, Chef Santos MacDonal and his team. Foods, sourced locally whenever possible, showcase what the Central Coast has to offer. The menu and preparation are an expression of Chef’s heritage, training and experience in restaurants in Los Angeles and beyond.
I had:
- Burrata Toast with heirloom tomatoes, pesto, shallot wine vinaigrette
- Paella, one that was made special for me with chicken and Linguica sausage because I’m allergic to shrimp
- Pan-seared Salmon with Citrus Mustard Sauce and Market Vegetables
La Cosecha Bar and Restaurant835 12th Street, Suite A, Paso Robles, CA 93446805.237.0019
wine at La Cosecha Bar + Restaurant, Paso Robles by James Collier for CaliforniaWines
How Many Days Should I Spend In Paso Robles Wine Country
Spending a three-day weekend is ideal to visit a handful of wineries, eat some awesome food, and take in the beauty of the Central Coast.
If you are already planning a stay in nearby Pismo Beach, San Luis Obispo, or Cambria, then you can do a day trip up to Paso Robles. But I recommend staying at least one night in Paso Robles.
For years I only went up on a day trip from SLO but after staying several days and getting to know the town, I wish I had planned an overnight sooner!
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Unique Activities At Paso Robles Tasting Rooms Paso
Paso Robles is a spectacular place to visit and for people who live on California’s Central Coast, there’s no shortage of things to do and one of our favorites is wine tasting.Days ago, Trip Advisor put together a list of the Top Ten Things to Do in Paso Robles and wine tasting with TheWine Wrangler was near the top of the list 448 reviews. $$ Venues & Event Spaces , Wine Tasting Room. Paso Robles, CA. Save. Mike’s 3-star review: Went in during Harvest Festival weekend. Food items were really good especially the chicken tacos, however the tasting fee is now $20 on the non-estate wines 9 of 18 10 of 18 While wine tasting is a favorite activity in Paso Robles, California, more wineries are helping visitors find other activities to enjoy while they’re on the West Coast Semi-Private Hop-On Hop-Off Wine Tasting Tour from Paso Robles. 24. Bus Tours. from R 1 452,46 per adult. Paso Robles Wine Adventure with pickup from Paso Robles, CA. 62. Bus Tours. from R 1 200,70 per adult All-Inclusive Wine Tasting Tour of Paso Robles in Small Group. 25 Opolo Vineyards in Paso Robles is open daily from 10am to 5pm. Join us for wine tastings, food pairings, estate tours and more
What To Pack For Summer In Paso Robles
I keep a list of all my summer essentials and favorite finds on this guide here. I am constantly updated it after every warm destination tried, true & tested! Also, I have a list of my 10 travel essentials I cant live without, you can read those here!
My top 3 recommendations for this itinerary are:
Is it just me or does wine give the WORST hangover?! All the sugar and sunshine will surely sneak up on you and make you hate yourself the next day! I take these babies on every vacation that involves drinking and they have saved my life time and time again.
2. Cute Bathing suit for the hot springs
My two favorite stores to shop swim are ASOS and Showpo. Between these stores, you can have such an adorable variety of swim suits and the best part. these stores are SUPER affordable!
Is it just me or are hats a MUST when wine tasting?! This hat is one Im obsessed with and comes in every color you could ever need!
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Perfect Things To Do In Paso Robles California
Paso Robles is a bustling city in San Luis Obispo County that sits along the Salinas River in a range of rolling hills that will instantly take your breath away.
These hills boast hot springs, astounding hikes, an abundance of wineries and distilleries, as well as an incredible production of olive oil and almond orchards.
Native Americans known as the Salinan lived in the area for thousands of years before the Mission era, and the modern city of Paso Robles began in 1857.
For both Native and settler Americans, the draw of Paso Robles has always truly been its poetic nature, healing hot mineral springs, and proximity to the oceanside.
But the most amazing experience this lovely place has to offer is just a drive through its rolling hills to take in a vast landscape of beautiful Oak trees .
Note: This post contains affiliate links, which earn me a small commission at no extra cost to you if you make a purchase using one of these links. Thank you for supporting this free content!
If you do nothing else with your time in Paso, I swear you wont be disappointed!
But there are so many places to stay, so many things to do, so much amazing food to eat, and definitely all the libations to drink that you could ever possibly imagine when it comes to a visit to Paso Robles.
Top that all off with gourmet ice cream, a horseback ride, and a round of golf and youve got yourself one of the most memorable California trips imaginable!
River Oaks Hot Springs
Formerly known as Paso Robles Hot Springs, River Oaks Hot Springs Spa is a luxurious spa centered around the regions famous artesian thermal spring waters, and it offers a range of premier spa services, therapeutic remedies, rejuvenating body treatments, and tailored skin care.
Designed in the prairie style of architecture, the spa features modern therapy suites and open-air tub rooms where guests can unwind under the stars. If you are looking for fun things to do in Paso Robles, River Oaks Hot Springs is a relaxing place to visit. Deluxe accommodations offer absolute comfort, and luxury spa services range from signature massages and face and skin therapies to wraps, glows, and waxing.
800 Clubhouse Drive, Paso Robles, CA 93446, 805-238-4600
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What Is There To Do In Paso Robles At Night
Best fun things to do at night near Paso Robles, CA 93446
- Franklin Hot Springs. 3.4 mi. 84 reviews.
- Sensorio. 1.3 mi. 283 reviews.
- Paso Robles Casino. 3.9 mi. 33 reviews.
- Ernest Hemingway Vineyards. 0.9 mi.
- The Haunt. 10.3 mi.
- The Pour House. 4.1 mi.
- Eberle Winery. 1.3 mi.
- Sculpterra Winery & Sculpture Garden. 2.3 mi.
Liquor & Spirits Tasting
In Paso Robles, vineyards and distilleries go hand in hand! Most of the Paso Robles distilleries we visited were either part of an existing winery, or crafting spirits using the byproducts of the wine industry, like grapes and barrels. Turns out that a grape that makes an incredible bottle of wine also makes a delicious bottle of brandy or gin!
There are loads of distilleries in Paso Robles, and theyre all helpfully laid out Paso Robles Distillery Trail website. You can use their helpful map to plot out your route.
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