Central Coast

Central Coast

Windward Vineyard

glass of red wine

Pinot Noir is the driving passion of Marc Goldberg and Maggie D'Ambrosia, the husband and wife team who own Windward Vineyard. This vineyard is exclusively devoted to producing Burgundian-style Pinot Noir, reflecting the couple's deep commitment to creating a "Great American Pinot Noir" that can rival those from Burgundy.

Marc and Maggie acquired and planted the vineyard in 1989, drawn by the terroir and microclimate of Paso Robles' Westside. The unique combination of cooling Pacific breezes, calcareous soil, and a significant daily temperature drop of 50 degrees contributes to the production of exceptional Pinot Noir.

Embracing the Burgundian French concept of "Monopole," which signifies total control over both the vineyard and the winemaking process, the 15-acre property is planted with four notable French clones.

Windward Vineyard aims to re-establish Paso Robles' reputation for Pinot Noir, following in the footsteps of two influential figures in California wine history. In the late 1960s, consultant André Tchelistcheff managed the Paso Robles Hoffman Mountain Ranch property for Dr. Stanley Hoffman. During the 1970s, Hoffman's Pinot Noirs gained international acclaim and continued to impress even after 20 years.

Since their debut in 1995, each vintage from Windward Vineyard has been sold out and received significant acclaim, particularly from wine enthusiasts who value the layered complexity of Burgundian-style Pinot Noir. Marc notes, "The vineyard consistently produces formidable fruit. It is meeting our expectations as it matures and develops its intricate complexity."

Mitchella Vineyard & Winery

In the eighties, after indulging in a fair amount of White Zinfandel, Angela and Darren Mitchell were converted by a bottle of 1987 Eberle Cabernet Sauvignon, sparking their passionate quest for fine red wine. By 1993, Darren, frustrated by the high costs of their new hobby, decided to take a winemaking class taught by local Zinfandel legend Charles Poalillo at Cuesta Community College. What began as a cost-saving measure evolved into a deeper pursuit of wine knowledge and production, leading to more classes at institutions such as UC Davis, Allan Hancock, Aspen School of Wine, Copia, and Cal Poly, as well as investments in equipment and supplies. Ultimately, this journey returned Darren to his farming roots with the establishment of their own vineyard.

In 1997, seeking greater control over the quality of their grapes, the couple planted their first crops: 10 acres of Cabernet Sauvignon and 10 acres of Syrah on the hilltop overlooking the old adobe farmhouse where Darren had grown up. They realized that to give the grapes the attention they deserved, they needed to move onto the property. What was intended to be a temporary two-year stay turned into a nearly nine-year adventure, culminating in the construction of the home and tasting room that exists today. Since then, their passionate endeavor has involved updating, cultivating, and nurturing the vineyard, producing small lots of truly handcrafted wines, and enjoying the fruits of their labor with friends, family, and customers.

Located just off Highway 46 East behind Robert Hall Winery, this family-owned estate winery features a rustic, Tuscan-style tasting room that extends from the main house. Visitors can enjoy award-winning estate wines in a welcoming, elegant, and relaxing atmosphere. Whether you choose to taste inside the tasting room, outside on the patio by the fountain, or within the enclosed patio, you will be treated to continuous views of the vineyard throughout your experience. It's an ideal spot for a picnic paired with a bottle of Mitchella wine. Additionally, a selection of non-alcoholic beverages, cheeses, crackers, and other small edibles are available for purchase.

B&E Vineyard

Artwork by Wine Artist Agata Zaborowski – Woman enjoying wine with her cats

This is way off the beaten path, but it is worth a stop if you're exploring the East valley or coming in from the 41. We stopped here on a whim after blowing through our wine budget at another winery down the road. I live to regret that. It's easy to miss and the road up to the tasting room makes you initially feel like you're in the wrong place, but the views are great at the top from the dinky building. It's remote, so you'll most likely be alone with your party, anyway. That's good because max capacity feels like it would be around six. The lady working the tasting counter is super cool. This is a no frills place, but that's what I love about the wine culture of Paso. They don't have a big selection of pours here, but what they offer is great. Half of the wines were cuvees, which I enjoy because there is something intimate about them, like enjoying the food of a chef you are a fan of. You submit to their palate. That being said, the Twisted wines are very good, especially the older of the two that were out for sampling. Hands down the best, though, is the cab. Artwork by Wine Artist Agata Zaborowski – Agata Art Gallery  Gallery | Agata Art Gallery

Cloak and Dagger Wines

grape cluster

Minimum security tasting is available at Cloak and Dagger's  Tasting Lounge in downtown Paso Robles. The Tasting Lounge is located in a small historic building in the town square, overlooking the City Park. Outward appearances would suggest the Lounge is little more than a delightful wine-tasting venue in the heart of Paso Robles’ vibrant downtown scene. The Tasting Lounge is located at 840 11th Street, Paso Robles.

Labyrinth Winery

winer logo

Labyrinth WInery is a premium producer of Santa Barbara County Pinot Noir and Big French / Spanish Reds from Paso Robles. The team at Labyrinth believes that world-class wines need to be accompanied by world-class service. In addition to a comfortable and welcoming environment to taste the wines poured, you will fine a sincere endeavor to make your visit special so that you feel like a long lost friend. At Labyrinth Winery Eddie and Stephanie Schwatz "craft wines that make your palate sing." *

Hours:
Mon      Closed
Tues     Closed
Wed       3:00pm to 8:00pm
Thur      3:00pm to 8:00pm
Fri         3:00pm to 8:00pm
Sat       12:00am to 8:00pm
Sun      12:00am to 6:00pm

Kenneth Volk Vineyards

Grape cluster - art - Pixabay

Ken Volk has been making Santa Barbara and Central Coast wines for more than a quarter century. Perhaps best known as the founder of Wild Horse Winery, Ken has earned a reputation for crafting world-class wines, particularly Pinot Noir and Chardonnay from the Santa Maria Valley.

Cayucos Cellars

pouring wine - AI Generated Pixabay

Cayucos Cellars is the quintessential small family winery, owned and operated solely by a family of five, without any employees or outside help. Each family member can often be found in the tasting room, pouring wine, interacting with visitors from near and far, and enjoying a good chat.

All wines produced by Cayucos Cellars are fermented using only the natural abilities of wild yeast and are aged for three to six years in neutral oak barrels before bottling. With an annual production of between five hundred and eight hundred cases of premium wine, the family ensures incredible attention to detail in every bottle. The winery itself is located in an old dairy barn in the coastal hills above Cayucos, nestled on a working ranch. To ensure visitors' safety, the tasting room is conveniently located in town, away from the potential hazards of ranch machinery.

Loring Wine Company

Wine Grapes - Pixabay

My philosophy on making wine is that the fruit is EVERYTHING. What happens in the vineyard determines the quality of the wine - I can't make it better - I can only screw it up! That's why I'm extremely picky when choosing vineyards to buy grapes from. Not only am I looking for the right soil, micro-climate, and clones, I'm also looking for a grower with the same passion and dedication to producing great wine that I have. In other words, a total Pinot Freak! - Brian Loring

Clavo Cellars

corks and wine glass - Pixabay

If you appreciate handcrafted Californian wines made in an honest 'Old World' style, welcome to Clavo Cellars. It's great to have you with us.Clavo Cellars is the winemaking project of respected Central Coast viticulturist Neil Roberts. A pioneer of regenerative vineyard farming, Neil's wines exemplify boutique production. Crafted with an expert light touch from premium grapes, Clavo Cellars wines are perfect expressions of the vineyard and terroir that nurtured them.

Whether you enjoy Clavo Cellars wines at home, in a restaurant, or in the Templeton tasting room, you will taste the time, care, and attention that goes into each bottle. The grapes are sourced from vineyards known and managed by Neil, and picked only when they are ready. This ensures that Clavo Cellars wines tell a story not just of their place, but of their time as well.

Denner Vineyards & Winery

Corks and glass - Pixabay

The Denner Winery was completed in time for the 2005 harvest. Ron and John believe that great architecture blends with the environment. Denner Winery, therefore is designed to fit into the rolling hills and is complementary to the geography and culture of the Central Coast and the wines they produce.

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