One year ago, Congress defunded public media. Now that we're 100% community funded, please become a sustaining member or increase your existing membership today.
This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.
This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.
Wine Country Road Trip
If you've lived in L.A. for more than two years and haven't experienced wine country, it's time to take the trip. We finally did, making the three-hour trek to Paso Robles, and now can't believe we'd put it off this long.
Paso Robles, known for fabulous reds, has over 170 wineries and is the most spacious wine region in California (610,000 acres). Sounds overwhelming, but the town is really easy to get around, even for the navigationally-challenged. Many of the wineries are bunched together, making it possible to get in a lot of delicious tasting. The wineries are divided east and west of town, so sticking to one side maximizes sipping time.
On the east side, we took advantage of free tastings at Wild Horse, EOS and Tobin James, and were happy to pay the usual $5 fee to keep our glasses at Firestone and Four Vines. Most hotels offer free tasting coupons at the front desk.
Taking a shuttle tour isn't necessary, but the Grapeline Wine Country Shuttle was a great time. Their $85 evening tasting tour included stops at two wineries, a tasty, three-course dinner and the opportunity to retire the car keys and guzzle back a bottle we'd purchased earlier. The local bars looked sleepy, so we called it a night after dinner, but late-night revelers beware: there's only one cab company in town, and a local said it can be very slow, especially on holiday weekends.
And speaking of, Opolo Vineyards is having a BBQ and winetasting this Saturday and Sunday. For anyone desperate for a last-minute trip.
http://www.localwineevents.com/Paso-Robles-Wine/event-119863.html
Sponsored message
Other recommendations:
The Adelaide Inn, which was conveniantly located between the east and west side wineries.
Falcon Nest Vineyard, a small family-owned vineyard with great red wines and a short menu of homemade food.
5185 Union Rd. Paso Robles, CA 9346
Herrmann's Chocolate Lab and Ice Cream Parlor, for yummy homemade sweets.
422 S. Main St. Templeton, CA 93465
One year ago, Congress voted to defund public media, eliminating a critical $1.7 million from our budget every year going forward. But they couldn’t silence us, and we’re not going anywhere. LAist is now 100% community funded and that means we’re taking our future into our own hands and turning to you to keep local reporting strong.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief
