Santa Barbara to Paso Robles: A Wine-Tasting Road Trip

By Priscilla Willis

Cabernet Sauvingon Grapes Le Vigne Winery

As California slowly reopens following three months of sheltering-in-place, a wine-tasting road trip from Santa Barbara to Paso Robles may be the perfect antidote to pandemic weariness and a well-deserved escape. Awaken your senses while tasting beautiful world-class wines and reveling in the freedom that only a road trip filled with spectacular views of California’s legendary coast along Highway 101 can offer. Whether you consider yourself an oenophile or just enjoy exploring different wines, Santa Barbara makes wine tasting incredibly easy with an array of hip, urban tasting rooms along the Urban Wine Trail. After a few days in the city, pack an overnight bag and hit the road for a quick two-hour drive to Paso Robles to experience the world varietals that have taken root in the glorious golden hills of California’s Central Coast.

Pioneer spirit in Paso Robles Visiting Paso Robles is to venture back in time for an authentic and uniquely California experience. A little untamed with broad expanses of countryside, folks have been flocking here since the 1800s for the famed hot springs to cure what ailed them. Only a three-hour drive north from Los Angeles or south from San Francisco, Paso evokes a Wild Wild West spirit and offers a welcoming respite from city life. And wine. Lots of wine.

Paso Robles world wine varietals

Paso Robles is California’s fastest-growing wine region and largest geographic appellation with 40,000 acres and over 200 vineyards. Paso’s unique geography, coastal influence, diverse soil types, and long growing season are excellent for wine grapes, which has given root to many international wine varietals.

The region’s diverse microclimates grow more than 60 different varieties of grape ranging from Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot to Syrah, Viognier, and Roussanne, to Zinfandel, the area’s heritage wine varietal. {Paso Wines}

Paso Robles wineries offering French varietals

Paso Robles has several wineries owned by Frenchborn winemakers who recognized that Paso Robles has the type of soil and climate necessary to grow Rhône varietals. Xavier Arnaudin of Union Sacré stands out as a name you will know, especially if you favor elegant Alsace white wines.

“Xavier brings an old-world approach to his vineyard management, cellar, and winemaking. He is making very small amounts of very striking wines. The Riesling and Gewurztraminer, which see extended skin contact, are the sleepers, not to be missed.” {Le Storie Wines} Two long-time friends from opposite ends of the globe own Union Sacré. Xavier has an Oenology degree and WSET certification, from France, and Philip is a self-taught designer from Michigan. Their wines are elegant, single vineyard, single varietal wines that are table-friendly, and representative of France’s Alsace region, including Pinot Noir and drystyle Gewürztraminer, Riesling, and Pinot Gris.

For a destination experience with serene vineyard views, visit Cass Winery to taste their awardwinning, 100% estate-grown Rhone and Bordeaux varietal wines. Complement your tasting with a scrumptious lunch from the chef-driven menu highlighting locally sourced produce. All this, plus the distinctive architecture of the VIP tasting room and adjacent Geneseo Inn, are definitely worth the drive along the beautiful “back roads” east of Paso Robles.

Paso Robles wineries offering Italian varietals

To explore Italian wines on our quickie 24-hour wine-tasting road trip, my daughter and I visited Le Vigne Winery. Le Vigne is all about famiglia (Italian for family). The Filippini family came to Paso Robles in the early 1960s when winery owner Sylvia Filippini’s family purchased the property where Le Vigne winery now stands. Initially, they raised hay and cattle until 1982, when they planted grapevines.

The winery’s original plantings were Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon vines to supplement the growing demand of other wine growing regions like Napa and Sonoma. The family began making wine with the grapes from their estate in 1989 and built their stateof-the-art winery in 1995. They added additional vineyards and expanded wine varieties to include Merlot, Syrah, Sangiovese, and Cabernet Franc, and small blocks of Grenache, Petite Sirah, Malbec, and Tannat.

Le Vigne stands out for the spacious patio with comfortable seating, welcoming staff, and the specially selected wine and cheese flights for tasty nibbles while you sip. Plus, the tasting room market features an extensive cheese selection and products from Italy and Spain available for purchase. Also, chef-owner Walter fires Neopolitan pizzas made with the secret family recipe tomato sauce, dough handmade on-site, extra virgin olive oil from olive harvested from Arbequina trees on the ranch. Note: Sunday is half price pizza day.

Paso Robles wineries offering Spanish varietals

Spanish-style wines in Paso Robles are growing in popularity, and every year more wineries are releasing Albarinos, Tempranillos, and Garnacha wines. Wineries producing wines from Spanish varietals include Bodegas Paso Robles, Diablo Paso, and Bodega de Edgar. Bodega is the Spanish word for a winery or cellar and fitting, considering Torres’ Hispanic heritage and passion for Spanish wines.

In a private wine tasting with Edgar Torres, owner of Bodega de Edgar, I sipped an astonishing array of wines. I learned how he honors his family’s Mexican roots while steadfastly promoting Spanish varietals.

Photos (Opposite from left): LeVigne Grape Arbor; PASO ROBLES Union Sacre Tasting Room; PASO ROBLES Cass Winery Tasting Room; (This page): LeVigne Wine Cheese Pairing; LeVigne Barrel Room; Straight Out Of Paso Bodega de Edgar

Bodega de Edgar experienced an unexpected hit in the limited release of Straight Out Of Paso. The reference to the cult movie “Straight Out Of Compton” made wine more approachable and appealing to a young urban demographic unfamiliar with wine. With demands for the brand blowing up, Straight Out Of Paso is the catalyst revealing another path for Torres, who values creativity and remaining relevant in a rapidly changing world.

Make your wine-tasting road trip an adventure

Get the most out of the scenic drive on Highway 101 from Santa Barbara with stops at three iconic state beaches: El Capitan, Refugio, and Gaviota State Beach. A day pass costs a mere $5.00 per car and gets your toes in the sand at all three beaches. A must-see while in Paso Robles is internationally acclaimed artist Bruce Munro’s Field of Light at Sensorio. The 15-acre walk-through, solar-powered artwork is a sculptural composition covering Sensorio’s rolling hills with over 58,800 stemmed spheres lit by fiber-optics, gently illuminating the landscape in subtle blooms of morphing color.

Margarita Adventures will get your adrenaline pumping as you zipline above vineyards and end with a wine tasting at Ancient Peaks Winery or ride among the vines and explore the rolling hills of wine country on a horseback tour with Central Coast Trailrides.

See the sidebar for tips on planning and staying safe during your wine tasting getaway.

California’s Covid-19 guidelines for wineries

Please know that wineries and tasting rooms in Santa Barbara and Paso Robles are doing everything they can to ensure their staff and patrons’ safety during the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic. Adhering to the state guidelines and CDC recommendations will help you feel safe and comfortable while visiting the many wineries, vineyards, and tasting rooms in the region. If you have questions regarding safety procedures, please reach out to the individual properties you plan to visit.

Tips For Wine Tasting and Staying Safe During Covid-19

Make a Reservation. Since only outdoor tastings are permitted, there may be limited seating. Make a reservation in advance to ensure an easy and effortless wine tasting experience.

Be on Time. Keep in mind that wineries are on a stricter timeline during this time. Most tasting rooms set aside 60-90 minute time frame for tasting reservations, so plan on arriving a little before your reservation time.

Wear Your Mask. Tasting room staff are required to wear masks. It’s also mandatory that visitors wear a mask until seated and anytime you leave your table to go to the bathroom or walk around. But no worries—you may remove your mask to sip the delicious wines or nosh on that fabulous cheese board.

Plan a Picnic, Pick-up Takeout, or Order Lunch at a

Winery. Two glasses of wine and you’re hungry! Be prepared with snacks, pack a picnic lunch, or plan on visiting a winery that has a restaurant or food options. Also, bring water, preferably a reusable water bottle. It’s important to stay hydrated and it’s easier when you have it with you!

Plan to Visit 3-4 Wineries. Considering the size of Paso Robles Wine Country, plan on visiting 3-4 wineries or tasting rooms to ensure you have enough travel time between stops. Tasting rooms on Santa Barbara’s Urban Wine Trail are in close proximity to each other so visiting more that 4 is possible but not advisable unless you spit often.

Consider Booking Transportation. Especially in Paso Robles where the wineries are spread out, consider booking a safe wine tour! Relax in the company of a knowledgeable local guide at the wheel, sit back, and enjoy the ride!

Visit Mid Week. If possible, plan your getaway during the middle of the week when Santa Barbara and Paso Robles are a little quieter and lodging and tasting reservations are easier to get.

Taste with a Small Group. Invite your squad to join you for an intimate wine tasting experience but please comply with social distancing measures and keep to a small group.

Photos (Opposite from left): Bodega de Edgar Private Tasting Room; Bodega de Edgar Service with a Smile; PASO ROBLES Bodega de Edgar; (This page): Union Sacre Alsace Style Wines; PASO ROBLES Bodega de Edgar Family Labels