46 West Wineries sip your way from Paso to the Pacific
Story and photos by Katherine McMahon Over the past decade Paso Robles has taken off as a wine region. In 2013, Wine Enthusiast named it the Wine Region of the Year and in 2016, Sunset Magazine called it the Best Wine Region in the West. From around 20 wineries in the 1990s, there are now approximately 300. Some wineries have grouped together to create separate identities within the Paso region. One such group is the 46 West Wineries. As the name suggests, these wineries lie along the western portion of State Route 46, which runs from the 101 just south of Paso Robles over the Santa Lucia Mountains to Cambria and the Pacific. In these 20-odd miles, you’ll find about the same number of boutique wineries that have joined together to form the 46 West Wineries. Recently I drove the 46, stopping at a few to get a taste of what makes them so special. Heading west on the 46, less than a mile from the 101, the first road to the right is Twelve Oaks Drive. “Twelve oaks” in Spanish is doce robles, which is the name of the winery you will find down this country lane. Doce Robles Winery & Vineyard was started by Jim and Maribeth Jacobsen more 66
Spring 2022
Grey Wolf Cellars
than 20 years ago. They produce affordable yet award-winning red wines — specifically Barbera, Zinfandel, Merlot, Syrah, and Cabernet Sauvignon. Jim comes from generations of grape growers, and he believes that the real work of winemaking happens in the vineyard. His focus on healthy, flavorful fruit translates into flavorful wine. The Doce Robles tasting room sits behind the family farmhouse on a ridge overlooking vineyards stretching to the east and west. Maribeth and Jim are often there in the tasting room to greet you and talk about their wines. In addition to great wine and views, Doce Robles features live music, hayrides, an ideal special event venue, and friendly dogs! Continuing west along the 46 and down Arbor Road is Hope Family Wines. The Hope Family grew grapes for others in the Paso Robles area for many years before Austin Hope decided to try his hand at winemaking. Twenty-plus years later, Austin is still the Hope Family winemaker. In 2019 and 2020, the Austin Hope Cabernet Sauvignon was ranked in the top 10 of Wine Enthusiast Magazine’s Top 100 Wines of the World — the only Paso wine to achieve this honor. While Austin’s Cab was impressive, my personal favorite was the Lagrein-Petite Sirah. california101guide.com
