Wine Country Backroad Vineyard Drive Paso Robles
This is another great wine backroad through the beautiful countryside of Paso Robles heading to the west toward the Pacific Ocean. This is the Vineyard Drive wine country backroad. Along the way, you not only see wineries and vineyards but an array of oak woodland forests and grasslands. To begin this wine country getaway, leave downtown Paso Robles and head south on Highway 101 to the Highway 46 West exit toward Cambria. Drive along Highway 46 West four and a half miles and turn right onto Vineyard Drive. On the map below, you will see the pin drops for several wineries you can visit. However, for this trip let’s just pick three very different wineries, all making great wines. At the Thacher Winery, winemaker Sherman Thacher is making some delicious Rhone-styles wines plus other exciting red wine blends. The interesting tidbit at Thacher is that Sherman Thacher is a former brewmaster. Now Sherman is a rising winemaker. Next is Tablas Creek Vineyard. This is the winery in Paso Robles that determined that this western location of Paso Robles was best suited for growing Rhone grapes. It is historic and worth the drive to see this winery. Tablas Creek also has a nursery where they grow and sell cuttings of various Rhone grapevines. The final stop on this wonderful backroad excursion is Rangeland wines. You definitely need an appointment to visit and receive detailed directions. Rangeland is not too far as the crow flies from Tablas Creek. Getting there, however, is tricky but a beautiful and a rewarding jaunt. Once at Rangeland you will be able to taste some amazing wines. The Cabernet Sauvignon is outstanding , but every Rangeland wine we tasted was a wonderful delight. At the Rangeland Ranch, cattle and sheep are grass fed and you can buy meats here to go along with the delicious wine. Check the Rangeland Website for complete details on wine tasting and buying the grass-feed meats.