Gary Eberle, the founder and one of the godfathers of the Paso Robles wine scene, played football for Penn State many moons ago (before my time!)
First wine and first selfie of the trip
Gary's Jersey and Penn State shrine behind the bar in the tasting room
This giant poster hangs in the tasting room. Gary looks pretty good for 70 - something.
We checked in to the Wine Country RV Resort, got set up, then walked through the adjacent vineyards to EOS.
EOS is part of the Foley empire and Eos is the goddess of dawn. Why anyone would name a winery after someone who gets up early, I couldn't guess.
It's a nice place, though...and we could walk there!
Here is Lorri in the vineyard.
Here is me with our purchase!
And here is me cooking dinner
Wednesday (top of this page)
On Wednesday we headed out Adelaida Road to LeCuvier. Actually we were headed to Villicana but saw the sign for LeCuvier and went there first.
It's a few hundred yards up a windy dirt road but the trek is worth it for the views and the setting.
LeCuvier tasting room
We were the only guests
Wine barrel chairs!
The view from LeCuvier
We were a little early so we soaked up some sun and atmosphere
We made a stop at Villicana but forgot to take any more photos
Next stop was Daou
Daou has a great setting.
Heading in
That's the winery and tasting room at the top of the hill
A view from Daou
A view of me at Daou.
Lorri overlooking the bocce court and the view
Another view
And another view
Even if their wines are overpriced, it's still a nice place to visit
That evening we took Uber into town and had a warm-up cocktail at Villa Creek and an excellent dinner at Il Cortile
Thursday (top of this page)
First stop in Thursday was Red Soles Winery and Still House
Interestingly, distilling liquor from left-over grape juice is becoming more widespread. Hopefully at some point, they'll figure out how to make spirits that are a little more interesting than flavor-infused vodka.
Like maybe gin?
Red Soles
We decided to take the dirt road to the very end to see Dunning Vineyard. Our tourist magazine said it was open, so we didn't bother to call.
Yup, it was after 11:00.
Looks kind of quiet...
OK, we're on the right track.
Nice views and a nice peaceful setting, sort of rustic.
They have a couple "suites" for rent
Dang! Closed!
Next stop!
We had seen this place on the way to Dunning. They advertised Italian varietals so we thought we'd give it a try.
This old couple in the tasting room was having a jolly old time. They should have had a driver. We were so impressed with Janis's wines that we joined her wine club! She also has a two-bedroom house and a one-bedroom house on the property, supposedly listed on VRBO. We toured them and they looked good.
Epoch is rebuilding York Mountain Winery one brick at a time.
We'll stop there again when they're finished.
Had to stop at Jack Creek Farms!
Pumpkin, squash, onions, all the bounty of the season!
Quite a car load
Here is Lorri grabbing the bull by the horns! Ye hah!
Hey! Hay!
Friday (top of this page)
About 75 miles north of Paso Robles lies the Santa Lucia Highlands (SLH) AVA.
We made the drive up 101 on Friday and our first stop was Hahn Estates.
The SLH vines grow on the western slopes above the valley floor where they conditions are conducive to Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.
Hahn's tasting room
The view from the deck off the back of the tasting room
Our lunch on the deck at Hahn
That jagged ridge on the left in the distance is within Pinnacles National Park. The B&B where we stayed was about three miles from the entrance
Leaving Hahn
Wrath? The grapes of Wrath? I don't know. The people at Hahn suggested we make it our next stop.
The dirt road to Wrath
Wrath
Tasting at Wrath. Excellent Pinots.
The Wrath People sent us to Pessagno.
Yup, it was open.
The three ladies on the right were the pourers at Hahn. After our lunch on the deck at Hahn we went back in the tasting room which was almost deserted. They told us the girls had gone to a meeting! Ha!
Inn at the Pinnacles
Our B&B, more like a six-room hotel, was in the middle of vineyards at about 1600' elevation.
The back patio. Our room was on the right.
The chairs under the oak tree are in shade in the afternoon and that is where happy hour is. The owners shared wine made from their vines and provided a nice charcuterie plate.
Our room looking north
Our bathroom
Our mirror
Our bed
View from our deck
one more
almost the last one
last view from our deck
Getting ready for dinner on our deck
Saturday (top of this page)
Saturday morning seemed like a good time to visit a National Park
And since there happened to be one just around the corner, we did!
We weren't really prepared for a full-on hike
But we spent a little time on a nice stroll toward the Pinnacles
It was a nice easy hike with plenty of color and scenery although everything was really dry.
People climb these things!
Lorri taking a break
See those pinnacles?
Lorri taking another break
If you look toward the very center of this photo you will see a small figure climbing. That is not me or Lorri.
This is me and Lorri
This is too
Mike Filling, there is a road runner in this photo. Can you find it? Beep, beep!
The "highway" to the Pinnacles.
OK, enough of nature, on to wine-tasting!
Odonata is toward the north end. Their wines are very good. If you see Denis, tell we said "hello".
Manzoni makes some nice SLH Burgundy-style wines too!
I guess we should have more photos, eh?
Sunday (top of this page)
We left the Inn and headed down to the valley which happened to be socked in, or at least looked that way. By the time we got down there, it was mostly burned off.
We were heading south on 101 to meet our friends in Los Alamos and we were about half-hour early. What should we do? I know, how about a wine tasting?
It was Sunday morning so a little bubbly was in order. What better stop than Laetitia. Sparklers are their forte!
Good morning!
In Los Alamos we met Greg and Kelly for a glass of wine at the Wine Saloon then went to check out Bob's Bakery.
Bob makes really good stuff. He's a little paranoid, though. he thought I was a reporter when I started to bombard him with bread questions. Relax, Bob.
We went to Casa Dumetz where we had a great lunch and had the pleasure of meeting Sonja Magdevski, the owner/winemaker and part time server at her restaurant.
She makes some fine wines and was part of the inspiration for the Grenacharama!
After a stop in Los Olivos to pick up the keys, we drove out Alamo Pintado Rd to the Carhartt guest house, Eleven Oaks.
It's a great little place in the middle of a five acre vineyard
Calm and quiet with all the modern conveniences!
Part of the bocce court and vineyard
Looking down the driveway
Looking to the left of the house
The 11 Oaks Ranch "Dirtmobile"
Bocce anyone?
We spent some good times around the chiminea in Carhartt's special wine barrel chairs
The dining room
Monday (top of this page)
Monday was sort of cloudy and rainy so we drove to "downtown" Los Olivos
We started with a bottle of Gloria Ferrer's best bubbly at the Fess Parker Hotel then did a fun tasting at Ludlow
It was time for a wine break, or I should say, a break from wine, so we moseyed across the street to Figueroa Mountain Brewing Co for a cerveza or two.
What a great little bar in the middle of Los Olivos!
Good beers too!
Tuesday (top of this page)
We had a date at D'Alfonso-Curran for a tasting and it turned into a three hour party!
It's thataway!
The setting
We started with whites and then kept going.
Kris took us outside to show some of the results of "fining".
She is a knowledgeable and enthusiastic instructor on the intricacies and challenges of producing good wine, obviously in love with her craft.
Bruno is no less knowledgeable and enthusiastic!
Kris and Bruno treated us to tastings of a Grenache from a tank that was ready for bottling, as well as several other tastings from barrels in different stages of aging. It was very interesting and informative (and fun!).
Here we all are. Thanks to Noe Marin, the assistant winemaker for taking the photo! Noe helped us get started until Kris and Bruno took over.
After all that tasting and good times we stopped at Industrial Eats in Buellton for lunch. As we were leaving, Kris and Bruno walked in and it was like running into old friends.
By the time we got back to the ranch, we only had time for one game of bocce!
Another great wine trip and great time with our friends, Greg and Kelly.
The sun slowly sets over Santa Ynez Valley.
We made the tedious drive through LA back to San Diego on Wednesday.
We unpacked our wine purchases from where they were stored in all the hiding places in the van. Holy Cow! Did we really buy all this? I guess two or three bottles at each winery add up. We'll have some fond memories whenever we pour one!
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