When thinking of weekend wine destinations, Paso Robles is often overlooked. Once a sleepy agricultural enclave, Paso Robles now touts 11 separate AVA’s (American Viticulture Areas) and more than 200 wineries. Roughly three times larger than Napa Valley AVA, the soils are as diverse and the grape varietals produced here range from Burgundian Pinot Noir to Old Vine Zinfandel. Vineyard elevations are between 700 feet to over 2,400 feet and are greatly influenced by the Templeton Wind Gap, which brings cooling ocean breezes to some of the most prized wine estates.
A great place to start your wine trek is at Calcareous Vineyards off Peachy Canyon in the west hills of Paso Robles. Perched high atop a limestone ridge, the panoramic views from the tasting room are absolutely stunning, as are the wines.
Burgundy, Rhone and Bordeaux grape varietals are sourced from three estate vineyards resulting in distinctive small lot handcrafted wines. Still family-owned, this gem of a winery is a must visit. Play a game of bocce ball or bring a picnic lunch and enjoy the never-ending vistas from Calcareous Vineyards.
