Why Choose Paso Robles Wine Country?
Why choose Paso Robles Wine Country? With California having nearly 150 American Viticultural Areas (AVAs), there are some choices in which wine country you should visit next. Whether you are returning or looking to discover a new area, Paso Robles is a beautiful wine country not to be missed!
Wine Varietals In Paso Robles
Cabernet Sauvignon is king in Paso Robles, but the wine country also offers many varieties such as Rhones, Pinot Noir, Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, exciting blends, and historical Zinfandel. Paso Robles grows 60 varieties of wine grapes! That is correct, 6-0, which means you can enjoy many styles of wine. This variety in wine is perfect for specific and adventurous palates. No matter who is a part of your group, you can find a winery that specializes in something for each person. Cabernet Sauvignon is our flagship wine at Parrish Family Vineyard but we serve other estate wines like Sauvignon Blanc, Grenache Rosé, Bordeaux blends, Zinfandel, and Cabernet Franc.
Paso Robles can offer a range of wines because of the 11 sub-AVAs, which each have varying microclimates, soils, and topographies (hills to flats). The varying terriors cultivate different grape varieties and create diverse characteristics in the grapes, for instance, cool vs. warm styles. The variety of grapes then gives winemakers the ability to make not only different wine varietals but also various styles of wine.
Family and Boutique Wineries in Paso Robles
In Paso Robles Wine Country, we are primarily family and boutique wineries. Approachability and unique experiences are at your fingertips. You may be able to do a private tour with an owner who will share many behind-the-scenes stories, or the server pouring the wine is a family member with a generational passion for wine.
Not only will family and boutique wineries deliver memories that will create an impression, but they will also offer access to new wines. Wineries at this scale may not be in BevMo, so you will discover gems that excite your palate.
Wine Country in Central California
Paso Robles is considered a part of the Central Coast in California. With the Central location, Paso Robles is halfway between Los Angeles and the Bay Area making it very accessible. Paso Robles is a perfect rendezvous to meet friends and family as you can easily access U.S. 101 and Hwy 46. You can even make Paso Robles a stop on a Pacific Coast Highway (Hwy 1) road trip, which features stunning views of the California coastline.
If you prefer flying, Paso Robles is 30 minutes from the regional airport in San Luis Obispo. The San Luis Obispo Airport (SBP) has direct flights from big cities such as Los Angeles, San Diego, San Francisco, Seattle, Las Vegas, Phoenix, Denver, and Dallas. Traveling to Paso Robles has only been made easier with the additional flights to SBP over the last few years.
Sustainable Winegrowing
Our Paso Robles wine region features rolling green hills in the Spring but Paso is becoming green year-round with many wineries pioneering sustainable practices. Many grape growers focus on organic, biodynamic, and regenerative farming. Many wineries are installing solar panels to shrink their carbon footprint.
At Parrish Family Vineyard, we focus on being eco-friendly in the winery and vineyards. In the vineyards, we have always focused on using organic compost to enrich the soil and naturally give nutrients to the vines to create quality fruit. We also plant diverse cover crops in the rows to naturally control weeds. At our Creston and Adelaida vineyards, we installed solar to reduce our carbon footprint to zero in operating our AG pumps and buildings. At our winery, our state-of-the-art water treatment system recycles water for vineyard irrigation with non-detectable nitrogen.
Furthermore, the Parrish Family gave a portion of the Adelaida vineyard to the county of San Luis Obispo to restore an onsite creek to its native vegetation. Restoring the vegetation has slowed the creek's flow in the Winter by assisting in erosion control and replenishing the aquifer beneath the area. At Parrish, we do a lot for sustainability but several other wineries and vineyards are taking similar action to preserve our precious environment.
Historical Wine Region
Paso Robles may be new to you, but it is an established wine region with a grape history. The first grapes were planted in 1882, but it wasn't until the 1920s that vineyards flourished in the Paso Robles area. Zinfandel was one widely planted variety that still holds a place in the hearts of many wineries. That is how Parrish Family Vineyard’s history began as David Parrish's grandfather came to the area in the 1920s from Fresno, California. He planted and grew over 740 acres of grapes, including Zinfandel, in the neighboring area of Atascadero.
To become more enriched in our history, view more here.
More than Just Wine
Being a wine region we will always promote wine, but even the wine industry appreciates other craft beverages. Paso Robles offers great options for those seeking breweries, distilleries, and coffee roasters. Therefore, a weekend itinerary can include wine, beer, ciders, spirits, and coffee. We highly recommend booking with a Paso Robles tour company to assist in itinerary creation and navigation.
Foodies
Paso Robles offers Michelin-star restaurants to quaint local hangs for those seeking to enjoy delicious food while in wine country. Our darling Downtown offers a selection of well-appointed restaurants and eateries from Italian, French, elevated Mexican, Farm to Table, Fusion, Soul, and Vegan. You can also find delicious eats in the Paso Robles Market Walk and Tin City area.
The Central Coast is a cornucopia of farms, ranches, groves, and orchards. You can find local vegetables, fruits, nuts, cheeses, meats, vinegar, and olive oil. Also, being along the coast you can find local seafood like oysters, fish, and harvested seaweed. Visit one of the wonderful farmer’s markets to find these local treats.
Coastal Influence
As we have alluded, Paso Robles is near the coast which influences our grapes as well as makes our area a well-rounded travel destination. We are a 20-30 minute drive from the blue waters of the Pacific Ocean. Visitors can spend a few days in Paso Robles Wine Country and then venture to the coast for various activities. Our coastline features beautiful beaches and quaint towns with perfect spots for hiking, surfing, kayaking, wildlife watching, and visiting historic monuments like Hearst Castle. We recommend first stopping in Paso Robles to pick wines for your coastal adventures!
Paso Robles Festivals & Events
Paso Robles offers various festivals and events throughout the year for wine enthusiasts and those with varying interests in music, crafts, lavender, olive oil, cars, and cycling. Visitors can plan a wine-country trip alongside a fun festival to deepen their understanding of what makes Paso Robles, Paso.
We highly recommend visiting around the first few weeks of December to enjoy the annual Vine Street Victorian Showcase, which has graced the town for almost 40 years. The walking event features singing, dancing, notable characters (Scrooge and Santa), treats, and local goodwill to bring holiday cheer and a sense of small-town charm to your heart.
Dog Friendly Wineries & More
Last but not least, Paso Robles Wine Country is paw-rific! Many of the wineries allow furry friends to join wine excursions and multiple hotels offer accommodations for you and your pups. We love dogs so much that many local businesses host an annual fundraising event,
Wine4Paws, supporting our local Woods Humane Society.
Prior to visiting, we still recommend that you check business guidelines to create a seamless trip for you and your dog. At Parrish Family Vineyard, we welcome friendly dog patrons and serve fresh water as well as treats on our porch overlooking the vineyard. Idyllic for all involved.
Time to start planning your next wine trip to Paso Robles Wine Country and we hope that you will add Parrish Family Vineyard to the itinerary as we offer estate wines, house-made food offerings, and beautiful vineyard views in our Ranch house. Book your next visit here!
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