If you're interested in the workings of a true family run winery, please do yourself a favor and visit.John and Carri produce some great wines at great prices and always provide some fun at the tasting room. With an emphasis on Pinot they still produce two zins, two syrahs, and couple of deserts.
Paso Robles premier winery Brain Benson Cellars is family owned and operated. Enjoy award-winning wines from unique AVA regions. Open Friday, Saturday and Sunday for tastings.
Deux Amis {duh zah me}, French for "two friends," was a partnership between two close companions, Phyllis Zouzounis and Jim Penpraze. Throughout their time in the wine industry, the duo spent countless late nights unwinding over a glass of Zinfandel following busy days on the crush pad. These shared moments led the two friends to envision establishing their winery, a dream that ultimately materialized with the 1987 harvest. That year, Deux Amis yielded one hundred cases of Zinfandel sourced from a single vineyard in the Dry Creek Valley.
After 26 years of fruitful collaboration, the partnership evolved as Jim entered retirement and Phyllis continued to nurture their shared vision. Phyllis carried on the tradition of crafting exceptional wines, relying on the same vineyards, and maintaining strong bonds with growers through handshakes and long-term commitments. She wholeheartedly embraced the belief that great wines are born in the vineyard, ensuring that the Deux Amis legacy persevered through Zouzounis Wines.
The wine has a beautiful spicy bouquet, nicely fruit forward in the mouth with lots of raspberry tones, and slightly peppery notes on the clean, lingering finish. A very well balanced wine framed with good acidity and a soft touch on the palette. The distinctive intensity and spiciness of old vines fruit is well preserved. Grilled meats and anything lamb immediately come to mind as pairing choices.
This is a reallly pretty winery and lovely italian castle/mansion looking architecture, and really friendly staff and of course lots of cool racing pics all around and other art also.
Although the original settler may have been Joaquin Murrieta, the bandit who favored the water at the property’s artesian well, it was a French native whom recognized the land’s potential for amazing wine quality. Louis Mel bought the 92-acre property in 1883 and built a winery into the hillside adjacent to the well. The old stone winery building is a gorgeous example of early California architecture. Local timber and rustic concrete made from gravel gathered from the nearby Arroyo Mocho Creek were used in the construction.
The Dry Creek wineries produce a wider variety of wines and styles of wines than the traditional PN and Zin crowd along the Russian River. The Amphor tasting room location is in the same parking lot as 10 other wineries tasting rooms - right off Dry Creek Road. Stop at this location and you will be able to taste wines from Amphora, Collier Falls, Dashe, Forth, Philip Staley, Peterson, Lago di Merlo, Kokomo, Mietz and Papapietro.
AmByth is the Welsh word meaning 'forever'. We view it as our legacy: to live and farm to our heart's content in Templeton for the remainder of our lives...but also to farm with the future in mind, and the healthy condition of our land being left behind. AmByth Estate is Paso Robles' first and only winery to produce Demeter-certified Biodynamic wines. We utilize the Biodynamic method of farming to enhance our observations of nature, and use these intimate insights as tools that allow our 20 acres of vineyards to express their true character through the grapes it produces. We want our grapes to be as unique to AmByth Estate as your thumbprint is to you.
Artwork by Wine Artist Agata Zaborowski – Agata Art Gallery
The tasting was fun even though it was very crowded in the tasting room. But once we had a good amount of wine in us, we were warmed up and ready to eat. Since it was end of December, it was cold and dreary outside and most of the seating for the restaurant is outside and but luckily I was able to suggest a table for us by a heater which was cozy. We didn't order anymore wine because we had, had enough. We were served bread and butter. Then we order a caesar salad and lobster bisque and the addicting and famous parmesan garlic fries. ALL were very scrumptious! The bisque warmed me right up! Then we shared the lobster mac and cheese because we knew it was going to be a huge portion and it was! And boy...was it delicious!
Chateau Montelena boasts a celebrated history, with the Judgment of Paris being just one notable chapter.
While modern technology enhances the creative possibilities in winemaking, it does not replace the artistry or the people behind it. There are no set formulas in their approach.
Every project at Chateau Montelena is driven by careful consideration and a commitment to shaping their future with determination.
