The Wine Traveler Visits Norman Vineyards in Paso Robles

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Joe Becerra

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Norman Vineyards is one of the wineries on a wine trail called “The Far Out Wineries of Paso Robles.” These wineries were so hidden off Highway 46 West that wine visitors were few and far between. With a great PR move, the wineries banded together to form this association complete with a great little brochure guide that you can pick up at the visitor center in town. We highly recommend following this trail, the roads are beautiful and each winery on the trail offers something a little different to the wine traveler.

From Highway 46 West take a right onto Vineyard Drive and after you pass Opolo winery look for Norman Vineyards. Norman is family owned and famous for the Zinfandel that they have aptly name Monster Zin. Stop here and taste for $5 some very good wines. The $5 fee is waived if you buy a case. That one, is a first for us.

The Monster Zin is a big bold Zinfandel that is as big as its name. You can find it at many supermarkets and fine wine shops, it is Norman’s flagship wine. Perhaps a bigger Zin is the Norman Old Vine Zinfandel that actually comes from old vine grapes grown in, if you can believe it, Cucamonga. Yes, that area way down south where is hot and dry. Of the two wines, the Cucamonga-grown Zinfandel was more to our liking than the Monster Zin. The Syrah was also quite tasty and impressive.

The winery has a beautiful picnic area and we suggest you bring your picnic lunch here and grab one of the Norman wines and just take an hour or so to enjoy the peacefulness of the area.

By the way, they also have an Elvis cardboard cutout in the tasting room that is very lifelike. We shot this photo of some young ladies who, after tasting the Monster Zin, thought that they were actually hanging with Elvis.

  • Joe Becerra

    Joe Becerra has been traveling to wine country and enjoying wine since 1965. He is a retired educator, and now have the time the opportunity to share his wine travel experiences through this Website.