Ceja Vineyards
This place is great! The people that work here are always extremely nice and are very educated on their product! Mike is always such a pleasure to sit and chat with.
This place is great! The people that work here are always extremely nice and are very educated on their product! Mike is always such a pleasure to sit and chat with.
The Cab House at Hansen Vineyard & Winery is known for excellent, award-winning Cabernet Sauvignon Wines. Taste with winemaker Bruce Hansen in the winery he built in 1993. Bruce oversees everything with extreme attention to detail, from planting, growing, and harvesting, to barrels, fermentation, and bottling. Nothing escapes Bruce’s obsessive desire to use the best methods, the best barrels, to be the best Cabernet Sauvignon anywhere.
Painting by Wine Artist Agata Zaborowski
Located in the small, historic town of St. Helena (yes, part of Napa Valley) Bressler like many of its neighbors is a small lot, premium producer of Cabernet Sauvignon. Bressler was started as many wineries do in Napa, with the retirement of an executive from nearby Silicon Valley. Bob Bressler spent his career at Sun Microsystems where he was a visiting scientist and advised the Sun executive team. Bob's wife Stacey is also intimately involved with the day to day operations of the winery and comes to the wine business after her own successful career in the Bay Area high tech market, although her focus was more marketing than it was the technology itself. Small production winery of approx. 500 cases.
Midnight Cellars, home to the Hartenberger family and their small production of award-winning Paso Robles wines. Twenty eight acres of hilly, rocky, limestone-rich and south facing slopes are dedicated to growing quality, low-yield, sustainably farmed Bordeaux grapes. In addition to the Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Petit Verdot varietals, are Zinfandel and Chardonnay. Known for their gigantic Merlot, Midnight Cellars also makes some of the best “Paso Roblan blends.”
Winemaker Aaron Jackson
Hailing from California's beautiful Central Coast, Aaron Jackson's journey into winemaking began with a thought-provoking question: “How can we write a new story for Central Coast wine, and how do we unlock its potential?” With a thirst for answers, Aaron found himself working in coastal Pinot Noir vineyards near his hometown of Cayucos, alongside crafting wines from the celebrated westside of Paso Robles, especially the distinctive Petite Sirah.
While studying wine at Cal Poly in San Luis Obispo, Aaron pooled together his hard-earned pennies from weekend jobs to launch his own label, debuting with the first vintage of Aaron Petite Sirah in 2002. His career blossomed as he collaborated with several acclaimed wineries in Paso Robles and earned a Master’s degree in Oenology from the University of Adelaide in South Australia.
In 2017, Aaron took on the ambitious task of spearheading the creation of the San Luis Obispo Coast AVA (SLO Coast), which proudly gained approval in 2021.
Now, with over 20 years of experience under his belt, Aaron remains committed to pushing boundaries and celebrating his homeland through his wines. Each bottle reflects his authenticity and passion for unearthing the incredible potential of Paso Robles and the stunning San Luis Obispo Coast. For those who love California wines, Aaron Jackson is a winemaker to watch!
Waugh Cellars, Ryan Waugh founded this winery in 2001 at the young age of 25. Many 25 year olds are still trying to figure out what to do with their careers. At the time of our visit Ryan is project manager for his own 22,000 square foot completely underground-contained cave winery (including the crush pad) 900 feet above the valley floor in the famed Stag's Leap District. Ryan is one of the new generation of Napa winemakers - young, lots of enthusiasm, with initiative, International wine experience and an unbridled passion for working with vineyards. He was bitten with the wine bug while studying to be a Doctor at Santa Clara University.
Kevin helped us out tonight! Amazing wine tasting, wine was incredible. He was very informational and helpful. Not pushy...just right! We had a great time and LOVED the wine
THE PROMISE OF GOLD
California was founded on the promise of gold, a standard that 1850 Wine Cellars upholds to this day. Inspired by the state's breathtaking natural beauty and a spirit of discovery, 1850 Wine Cellars exemplifies the gold standard in winemaking. By sustainably farming and sourcing grapes from vineyards primarily in Amador County, Fair Play, El Dorado County, and other Sierra Foothill growing regions, they craft high-quality wines designed to complement every adventure.
MEET THE WINEMAKER: BRIAN DARWAZEH
Winemaker Brian Darwazeh has deep roots in California agriculture. Raised in a small farming community in Northern California, and with a grandfather who worked the land, Brian's connection to California-grown fruit is personal. For him, working with local harvests and experiencing the rhythm of the land and seasons is a labor of love. Brian is drawn to the Sierra Foothills for its diverse microclimates and the wide variety of grape varietals that thrive there. His passion lies in creating fruit-driven wines that express the true character of each varietal, with minimal intervention.
Dover Canyon Winery is nestled on Vineyard Drive in the Willow Creek appellation of Paso Robles. Owner and winemaker Dan Panico has long believed that the calcareous soil along Vineyard Drive is ideal for cultivating Zinfandel and Rhône varieties. The estate vineyard showcases Organic, Dry-Farmed Zinfandel and Syrah, reflecting the winery's dedication to sustainable practices.
Focusing on small lots of artisanal wines, Dover Canyon often produces vineyard-designated selections that highlight the unique characteristics of each site. With a passion for the heritage grape of Paso Robles, the winery actively seeks out Dry-Farmed, Mountain Grown, and Old Vine Zinfandel from local vineyards, ensuring a commitment to quality and tradition in every bottle.
people enjoying wine - wine artist Agata Zaborowski
The path to Bethel Rd. has been one of passion, experimentation and homage to the tradition of spirit making from around the world. Since Niels Udsen’s time living in Italy, making Italian-style Grappa has been something he dreamed of. After acquiring one of the first distilling licenses in the county and an Arnold Holstein Bavarian still, the dream has finally become a reality.
In its first phase of production, Bethel Rd. has created two outstanding Grappas, a Gin and a two-year barrel aged Brandy that is both rich and complex. You will also find top notch small batch wines made from Estate Grown Organically farmed grapes. This is only the beginning of the journey and many more spirited experiments are in the works.
The distillery and winery is run by the Udsen family of Castoro Cellars, who are pioneers of Paso Robles wine country. Creativity and community are at the center of the Bethel Rd. mission with the goal being to manifest a space that is both inviting and inspirational.
Thursday - Monday: 11:00am - 5:00 pm
Closed Tuesday & Wednesday
Spirit Tasting Flight $20
Wine Tasting $20
Club Members Taste Free!
people enjoying wine - painting by wine artist Agata Zaborowski