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checked into the very nice La Bellasera Hotel
and Suites, dropped our bags in our room,
and immediately headed out to our first wine-
tasting adventure.
Paso wine county is roughly divided into
the Highway 46 West Trail that leads to the
Pacific and the Highway 46 East Trail on the
east side of Highway 101. And then there are
the “hidden and far out” wineries scattered
all over the region that include some of the
most famous names, like Turley, Tablas
RON JAMES WITH WINEMAKER GARY EBERLE Creek, and Justin.
We visited the Templeton Gap area on
deaux, Rhône, and Zinfandel blends. Highway 46. Most of the wineries are small
In the mid-1970s, Paso wine pioneer Gary family-owned affairs tucked into the hillsides
Eberle planted the first syrah in the U.S. since along the road.
prohibition. The grapes thrived and were a Our first stop was the Four Vines winery
natural for the region. Growers began exper‐ and tiny tasting room whose motto is “Tem‐
imenting with other Rhône grapes. It’s now perance, like chastity, is its own punishment.”
a premier region for Rhône varietals and Four Vines is a destination for the young and
blends dominated by Syrah, Grenache, hip who can’t get enough of their zinfandels,
Mourvèdre, and Viognier. In the 1980s, Paso syrah. And why not Four Vines makes wines
winemakers joined forces as The Rhône that honor the anti-establishment views of
Rangers. Their mission is to introduce lesser- the Central Coast’s eccentric personalities.
known varietals to a public obsessed with They make interesting wine … for interesting
merlot, cabs, and chardonnay. people.
We meandered off of the highway for
Destination Paso several scenic miles to Villa Creek Cellars.
We almost missed the corrugated metal barn
winery owned by Cris Cherry and his wife
The town of Paso is a long way from the
cowboy town of my youth, as a recent visit JoAnn.
showed. Today you can take time to stroll The winery creates top-notch blends us‐
the historic downtown to shop and dine. High- ing the finest Grenache, Syrah, Mourvèdre,
end boutiques, wine country restaurants, and and Tempranillo in Paso Robles. A stop here
tasting rooms fill the blocks around Paso will help you understand these varietals and
Robles’ Downtown City Park. It’s like the what inspired blending is all about.
quaint plazas of Healdsburg and Sonoma. While you’re on the west side, don’t miss
Restaurants and hotels accommodate every Hope Family Wines, the most architecturally
budget. stunning wine-tasting facility in Paso. It’s a
We left San Diego at 6:45 on a Sunday modern take on a rustic barrel room with
morning, breezed through L.A., and arrived stunning views of the vineyards. They pour
in Paso Robles in time for a late lunch. We some outstanding Treana White and Red and
252 WINE DINE & TRAVEL MAGAZINE SUMMER 2024
