Page 254 - WINE DINE AND TRAVEL SUMMER 2024 LIMA

Austin Hope wines. Decanter magazine small and grand, so it’s wise to pre-plan your
named the Treana Red one of the three best trip according to your palette and sense of
regional blends in America. adventure. With so many blends and varietals
The next day, we headed east on Highway available, this is an ideal opportunity for
46 to the land of the larger vineyards and higher palate education. While many wine-
tasting rooms to match. We met with the tasting rooms are open every day, some
winemakers from Silver Horse, J. Lohr and smaller ones are open only on weekends, so
Eberle. Each one had beautiful, large wine- check the Paso Robles website (pa‐
tasting and picnic areas. Each offered its sowine.com) for hours, fees, and offerings.
own special experience and was very much To prevent “tasting room fatigue” there’s
worth visiting. You’ll also find favorites such much to do on alternate days. Just a short
as Tobin James, EOS, Chumeia, and Robert drive to the coast is the town of San Simeon
Hall in the area. to the north, home to Hearst Castle, and the
We revisited Eberle Winery. A few years fishing village of Morro Bay to the south. In
ago the highlight of our first trip to Paso was between, you will find the charming towns
meeting pioneer winemaker Gary Eberle and of Cambria, Harmony, and Cayucos.
touring the subterranean caves below the The very best way to sample everything
tasting room. If you visit Eberle Winery, Paso is to attend Paso Wine Fest on May 16-
there’s a chance you’ll see Gary grilling veni‐ 19. For over 40 years, it has been the marquee
son sausage for the guests in the tasting showcase for Paso Robles wine. Come and
room. Ask him how he brought in the first Syrah enjoy a four-day celebration with over 100
vine stock; hint: he calls it the Samsonite clone. wineries, live entertainment, artisans, wine‐
Paso has a lot of tasting rooms, both makers, and distilled spirits.

PHOTO CREDITS: COURTESY OF PASO ROBLES WINE COUNTRY ALLIANCE

254 WINE DINE & TRAVEL MAGAZINE SUMMER 2024