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Top Paso Robles Wineries
Highway 46 West
| This is a fabulous California wine country tour of the Paso Robles
wineries on Highway 46 West. Leave the Paso Robles town center
after stocking up for your picnic lunch. On Highway 101 watch for
the exit to Highway 46 West to Cambria. The wineries on this wine
trail are all small and family owned. Each winery is unique and
worth visiting. Much of this wine country is located in the Templeton
Gap, an area that receives cooling afternoon breezes from the Pacific
Ocean.
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Windward Vineyard
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Winery Descriptions, Driving directions, Tasting Room Hours
Zenaida Cellars
The first winery is Zenaida Cellars, about a mile on 46 W from 101.
It will come up fast on your right. The owner and winemaker is Eric
Ogorsolka who began producing quality wines in 1994. Zenaida produces
small amounts of nine estate varietals from its 65 acres of vineyards.
The staff is very friendly and accommodating and they will keep
you well informed as you sample these very nice wines. There is
an attractive picnic area that overlooks beautifully arranged row
of vineyards. There are lodging accommodations available at the
winery. The Loft, as it is called, is above the tasting room and
accommodates up to six people. It is close enough to the towns Paso
Robles or Templeton for a dinner meal.
Tasting room open 11-5 daily, Phone: (805) 227-0382
E-mail: info@zenaidacellars.com, Zenaida
Cellars
Peachy Canyon
Just down the road from Zenaida and on the left side of the road
is Peachy Canyon. The winery is famous for Zinfandel. Ask to taste
and compare the different Zinfandel wines.
It is fun to see if you detect differences in aroma and flavor in
the Zinfandels from different growing regions. The Incredible Red,
which is 100 Zinfandel grapes, is a good value and a great everyday
wine. The winery also produces other varietals including a very
nice Syrah. Peachy Canyon has a cottage with two units accommodating
two people each. There is nice picnic area and this is a good choice
to have your lunch.
Tasting room open 11-5 daily, Phone: (800) 315-7908
E-mail: tastingroom@peachycanyon.com, Peachy
Canyon
Castoro Cellars
Leave Peach Canyon turn left and stay on Bethel Rd. You will see
the signs that lead to Castoro Cellars. Castoro is an excellent
winery producing several varietals. This family-owned winery is
in its 20th year of producing fine wines. We consider all their
wines to be excellent values. Their wines are reasonably priced
and all very tasty. Our favorites are the Syrah, Petite Syrah, and,
if still available, a special anniversary bottling called “Diciannove
Annui.” The picnic area is nice and another excellent choice
for enjoying a picnic lunch.
Tasting room open 11-5 daily, Phone: 888.DAM.FINE
E-mail:tastingroom@castorocellars.com, Castoro
Cellars
Head back to Highway 46 and make a left and immediately begin looking
for Anderson Road on the right . Shortly, up this wide gravel road,
you find two very small and really interesting wineries.
Dark Star Cellars
This a very tiny winery producing about 4000 cases of red wines.
Their signature wine is the Ricordati. a blend of Cabernet, Merlot,
and Cabernet Franc. It is quite good and sells out quickly! The
tasting is room is small If you like the wines, stock up here because
outside of the Paso Robles these wines will be difficult to find.
Tasting room open Friday - Sunday, 11:00 to 5:30, Phone: 805.237.2389
E-mail:norm@darkstarcellars.com Dark
Star Cellars
Midnight Cellars
Next door to Dark Star is Midnight Cellars another family owned
winery in this area. Next to the tasting room you will notice a
new warehouse type building where the wine making and barrel storage
takes place. Ask to take a peek inside so you can get an idea of
Midnights approach to winemaking. The winery also has 25 acres of
vineyards on its property. For a small winery, about 6500 cases
per year, Midnight Cellars produces several different varietals
of wine and some interesting blends. Most of the wines are very
good which are all reds, except for one white, a Chardonnay.
Tasting Room Open Daily 10 – 5:30 p.m, Phone:805-239-8904
E-Mail:info@midnightcellars.com, Midnight
Cellars
York Mountain Winery
This is a very rustic winery which has been neglected until its
recent purchase by The owners of Martin Weyrich winery on East 46.
To get to the winery from Midnight Cellars. Get back to Highway
46 and head west. Watch for York Mountain Rd and drive up the road
for one and a half miles. Founded in 1892, York Mountain Winery
is the oldest continuous winery in the Paso Robles region. The new
owners have plans to replant the vineyards and remodel the winery
and tasting room. This area has the ideal soil and climate for producing
Rhone style wines. For now, the tasting room is located in a mobile
unit. As the changes are made expect the wines to improve. If you
like rustic and peace and quiet you will enjoy a visit to this winery.
Enjoy a picnic lunch under the sycamore trees with with a glass
of the York Mountain Viognier.
Tasting room open daily 11-4, Phone:
(805) 238-3925, York
Mountain Winery
Option
Windward Vineyards
This winery produces Pinot Noir exclusively, and only in small amounts.
On our visit we paid five dollars for a vertical tasting of four
vintages of Pinot Noir, 1998 to 2001. Each was quite different,
demonstrating how the growing season influences the taste in the
wine. The estate vines of Pinot Noir are cooled by the afternoon
winds that blow in from the ocean. The wines are produced in burgandian
style by winemaker Marc Goldberg. If you are a Pinot Noir lover,
don't pass up a chance to taste some great Pinot. To get to this
winery, turn up Arbor road (about a mile from Highway 101). Turn
left on Live Oak Road and watch for the entrance to the winery.
Tasting room open 11 to 5 pm, Friday to Sunday, Phone: (805) 239-2568
E-mail:marcgoldberg@windwardvineyard.com, Windward
Vineyards
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