We didn’t have many plans this weekend…which is actually how it happens for us sometimes. We love these kind of weekends because it means we can sort of wing it and let our day go as it pleases. This Saturday was no different. The weather was beautiful and Spring is definitely in the air. The hills are green (for the moment) but the vineyards are still dormant. It’s the perfect time to go for an adventure!
Where Will This Adventure Lead Us?
Any good spontaneous adventure has to have a starting point, and ours was Shale Oak Tasting Room. We knew that Shale Oak had just released some new wines and we figured we’d better get a taste to see how things are looking. You’ve heard us talk about Shale Oak in the past, and as you may know, we really dig this place. They’ve built the place entirely by “green” standards, and besides being absolutely beautiful, it’s just a really neat place to hang out. They tasted us through the list; including the newly released 2010 Albarino and “Sui”, a white blend of Viognier, Pinot Grigio and Albarino. They also just released an ’09 Petite Sirah which was delicious and very drinkable for a P.S., which can be a pretty intimidating variety. As usual, their Cabernet Sauvignons and Syrah were also tasting really nicely. Shale Oak has great price points, and a pretty cool story as well.
As you can imagine, we were getting pretty hungry after all that adventurous tasting, so we headed over to Farmstand 46 for a snack. If you’ve not been to this place, you MUST go!!! Grab a sandwich or a wood fired pizza and hang out in the sun and watch the wine tasters go by. This is some entertainment for sure, as Farmstand 46 is perfectly situated on 46 West, right in front of the Cypher Tasting Room. It’s a main thoroughfare for wine tasting, and Cypher is one of the most interesting and unique places to grab some tastes…which we did after lunch! Be sure to ask for some of their crazy blends, and let them tell you story of how creative and out-of-the-box winemaker, Christian Tietje is!
After reluctantly heading down the road from Farmstand 46 and Cypher, we did a last minute, must stop at Edward Sellers on 46 West. Besides having one of the best vineyard views in the area, the wines are incredible! Oh yeah, and the people pouring the wine are pretty special, too! Kendall and Machelle will take great care of you and guide you through the delicious Rhone-centric list of wines. From crisp and rich white Rhones to rich and complex red blends, you definitely won’t be disappointed.
Ahhhh, another spontaneous adventure through our beautiful Paso Robles wine country! What would you do with a free Saturday???
Related articles
- Shale Oak Winery – The Perfect Hangout Spot (hootnannieblog.com)
- Cypher Winery at Artisan Monday Night Supper (hootnannieblog.com)
- Calcareous Winery, Another Adventure for Us, #8 (hootnannieblog.com)
Another great “H & A Excellent Adventure”!! Been to all of the above mentioned….not a bad stop on that list!!
Thanks, Mo! Yeah…what a great day! Enjoying the sun, great wine, and seeing a ton of cool peeps!