2 Must Visit Paso Robles Wineries
There are a ton of fantastic wineries to visit in Paso Robles. Here are two that will not disappoint.
Halter Ranch – A Complete Wine Tasting Experience
Why Visit Halter Ranch?
You are looking to kick back with a glass of wine while soaking in some seriously expansive views
You love easy drinking wines
You want to get an inside look at how wine is made and aged
You have an eye for design and love architecture
Halter Ranch is an expansive winery with sustainably farmed vineyards producing a variety of wines on the west side of Paso Robles. I first visited Halter Ranch years ago when, if I’m recalling correctly, their tasting room was in a house near the front of their property. It’s truly incredible to see how far Halter Ranch has come over the past few years. Halter Ranch opened in 2002 with their first vintage released in 2005. The first vintage in the new facility was in 2011.
The vineyards of this far-reaching 2000 acre ranch encompass around 281 acres in total, which include 13 different varietals planted in 77 separate vineyard blocks. The blocks are diverse in soil and elevation, ranging from 1350 to 1800 feet. Varieties planted include Picpoul Blanc, Grenache Blanc, Viognier, Grenache, Mourvèdre, Syrah, Tannat, Malbec, Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot, Petite Sirah, Tampranillo, and Carignan.
The new state-of-the-art production facility and massive gorgeous tasting room are nothing to scoff at. The tasting room overlooks the rolling hills and vineyards of west side Paso Robles and it’s a huge tasting room at that. There are three bars to choose from plus a significant amount of outdoor seating so you can sit down, relax and enjoy the view with a glass of wine. My mom and I stopped in on Easter since Halter Ranch was one of the handful of wineries open on Easter Sunday. We went through the tasting flight. Then bought a glass of our favorite, the 2015 Ancestor, and sat outside to enjoy the views on a gorgeous, sunny Sunday.
One of the coolest parts about visiting Halter Ranch is the complimentary offering of winery and cave tours, at least this was still complimentary when I last visited.
The production facility is quite impressive and our host walked us through all steps of the winemaking process. The facility is gravity fed with about 36 main tanks with larger capacities. After touring the production facility we walked through about 20,000 feet of barrel caves that were nice and cool. The caves were completely lined with barrels and there was even a rad farmhouse style table hidden in an outlet of the caves underground for winemaker dinners.
Tasting Notes
All of the wines on the flight at Halter Ranch were quite easy drinking. The two standouts for me are the 2016 Grenache Blanc and the 2015 Ancestor.
The 2016 Grenache Blanc was delicate and nuanced with just a bit of brightness on the palate from the inclusion of Picpoul Blanc. I definitely picked up notes of honeysuckle, honeydew melon, and pear. This is a perfect, crisp white for hot summer days by the pool.
The 2015 Ancestor was the red on the list that had the most to offer. Well layered, a good structure, and a silky smooth mouthfeel. I purchased a glass of this to enjoy with the stellar view!
Here are the tasting notes provided by Halter Ranch for your review. Head out there and take in this experience for yourself.
Linne Calodo – A Taste of the Willow Creek AVA in Paso Robles
Why Visit Linne Calodo?
You are looking for an elevated, personalized wine tasting experience while in Paso Robles
You are curious to taste how wines from the Willow Creek AVA may differ from other AVAs in Paso Robles
You want to get your hands on extremely limited and exclusive wine offerings
You admire businesses that respect mother nature
Linne Calodo was founded by winemaker Matt Trevisan and his wife Maureen in 1998. While attending college at Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, Matt was introduced to the world of winemaking by chance. His college roommate Justin Smith, the mastermind behind the cult wine label Saxum, was Matt’s bridge into the world of wine and he soon changed majors from Aerospace Engineering to pursue winemaking.
A man whose hobbies include flying planes and racing cars, Matt is also the kind of guy who respects mother nature. Linne Calodo, translated to limestone and clay, is a winery rooted in the philosophy that wines should be shaped by the land where they were grown. At a relatively minimal production of 4,000-5,000 cases annually, each wine is developed around four main factors: minimalist intervention winemaking, steadfast viticulture practices, vineyard location, and building upon experience from previous harvests.
Linne Calodo Tasting Room
Linne Calodo is mostly estate grown, although the winery may source fruit from three specific vineyards year to year. All of the grapes that go into Linne Calodo wines come from the Willow Creek AVA in Paso Robles. With diverse elevations and steep 45 degree hillsides amongst the Linne Calodo estate vineyards, Matt is offered a wide variety of flavor profiles to work with each vintage. Linne Calodo grows Syrah, Grenache, Mourvèdre, Tempranillo, Tannat, Cinsault, Zinfandel, Carignan, Grenache Blanc, Picpoul Blanc, Viognier, Chenin Blanc, and Counoise.
Tasting Notes
2017 Contrarian
Named Contrarian because Matt said he would never make a white.
50% Grenache Blanc, 30% Picpoul Blanc, 20% Viognier. $42.
Flinty, minerals on the nose.
Tropical citrus notes come through from the Picpoul Blanc, pineapple and white grapefruit.
Viognier contributes light floral notes.
Full-weighted mouthfeel, almost like a red.
This wine would pair well with oysters, spicy Thai food, or even Mexican food.
2017 Pale Flowers
Rosé of Grenache. $35.
Appropriately named. This rosé was extremely elegant, soft textured, and delicate.
Hints of strawberry and dried roses on the palate.
Very easy drinking.
This wine would pair well with spiced chicken kebabs, roasted stuffed peppers, or tacos with jalapeño pineapple salsa.
2016 Sticks and Stones
74% Grenache, 19% Syrah, 7% Mourvèdre. $92.
A lighter red. Very smooth, easy drinking.
Nicely layered with a bit of spice on the palate.
The perfect red for grilling with friends over summer.
2016 Problem Child
77% Zinfandel, 17% Syrah, 6% Mourvèdre. $76.
A luscious, almost savory mouthfeel.
Notes of dried violets, rhubarb, and pomegranate.
Very well-structured.