By guest author, Mr. Wino – Paso Robles is just simply a wine drinker’s paradise. They have a great variety and over 200 tasting rooms. With such a large selection, it’s really hard to decide which 3, 4 or 5 to hit. So a good starting point would be to decide what your parameters are. It could be proximity to where you’re staying if you don’t have a driver. It could be the type of wine.
Because of its proximity to the ocean and also being a very warm location, different wines are available in areas that have a coastal influence vs those that are more inland. For us winos, cost is always a factor as is the type of experience. Since we like a light and fun atmosphere that gives a good bang for the buck, that’s where we try to focus. We’ve been to Paso three different times. In fairness, the first was just winging it. We did get a little more dialed in on the next two visits and had a couple repeat locations. Here’s a rundown on some places we went to on our first two visits:
Tobin James Winery
I just have to start with this one. It is truly one of the more unusual and fun experiences you can have wine tasting. Since we are converted beer drinkers and love bars, this one checks off all the boxes. Tobin James gives the feel of going into a western bar. You literally “belly up” to one of a few different bars and begin your tasting. We’ve always gone on a Thursday or Friday and it’s usually busy, but not crazy. I imagine on a Saturday or Sunday it gets a bit nuts.
Tobin James Winery in Paso Robles looks like a beer place, but its not!
The grounds are not spectacular, but they do have places you can stay and, as a wine member, get really good discounts on both wine and the rooms. These are awesome perks if you do not have a driver and this is your final stop.
We find the wines at Tobin James to be average. But they pour you lots of wines and you are bound to find a couple you like. Each time we have been, they pour not only the 6 or 7 on the list but at least two or three reserve wines not on the list. As Cab drinkers and big reds in general, we’ve always found a couple to buy.
Prices are also good. They have a cheaper option for under $20 that we always get and usually a pretty good Cab for under $30. They do have higher priced wines for tasting and purchase and the quality has a pretty wide range.
Tobin James Winery in Paso Robles is fun, friendly and affordable.
The servers are really fun and attentive and this place just has an atmosphere we have not seen anywhere else. We rate Tobin James a “must-see” for anyone seeking a fun, light atmosphere with a bar like experience. It’s so fun we give it hits our “Wino’s Pick” category. A warning for the delicate folks out there…it’s not quiet or quaint and doesn’t have beautiful grounds…but nonetheless, we are just fine with this!
Winery Overview
Information current as of January 2018
Tasting Cost: None – complimentary
Hours: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily
In town/Rural/Remote: Near town, off major highway
Location: 8950 Union Road, Paso Robles, CA
Quality of Wines (1-5 smiley faces): 🙂 🙂 🙂 (an extra 🙂 for reserve wines)
Winery Style: Friendly & Fun, Energetic Party Zone, Unique
Space for Weddings & Events: No
Website: http://tobinjames.com
Mondo Cellars
This place has a special place in our hearts because I proposed to Mrs Wino here. And SHE ACCEPTED! Mondo is up on a hill and has amazing views of the country side. It has a great outdoor area to drink your wine. We were served by the owner, who is a retired rocker. We loved that. In fact, they have concerts at the place during some weekends.
The view of Paso Robles from Mondo Cellars is spectacular.
The wines are really very good, especially the reds. Mostly we like Mondo for the relaxed atmosphere, amazing views and good quality reds. The wonderful house dog greeting you is nice perk too. The bottle price point is definitely on target for us winos. Wines are all under $40 with several options under $30.
We are not sure about crowds here as our tasting was on a Friday early afternoon. However, on a Friday, we had the place basically to ourselves. The tasting fee is also right on target with a low $5 tasting fee waived with purchase.
Winery Overview
Information current as of January 2018
Tasting Cost: $5- waived with purchase
Hours: 11am to 4pm M-F (closed Wed), 11am to 5pm Sat/Sun (check for seasonal closures)
In town/Rural/Remote: Rural, 10 minutes from town
Location: 3260 Nacimiento Lake Drive, Paso Robles, CA
Quality of Wines (1-5 smiley faces): 🙂 🙂 🙂
Winery Style: Friendly & Fun, (Exceptional Views!!!)
Space for Weddings & Events: Yes, contact winery for information
Website: http://www.mondocellars.com
Fratelli Perata
This is a family owned winery and we were served by the owner’s daughter, who is also the assistant winemaker. She was so friendly and informative regarding how they make the wines. From weather, to soil to timing, we really got an education.
A mural on the wall at Fratelli-Perata Winery shows generations of wine making in the family.
The tasting room is down a little winding road and you get that remote winery feel as you wind around the vineyard. There is a definitive Italian style to the room and the experience. The wines are better than most with several reds meeting our needs.
The price point on our first visit was really quite good, with wines costing mostly under $30 and all under $40. The tasting fees were either $10 for 4 to 5 wines. On our second visit, they were still serving 4 to 5 wines, but the fee had gone up to $15 and the wines were mostly in the $30 to low $50’s range. Still, they were quite good. The price point is a bit high for us winos, but it’s hard to resist the quality of wine they serve.
Winery Overview
Information current as of January 2018
Tasting Cost: $10 waive with purchase (increased to $15 on last visit)
Hours: 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. daily
In town/Rural/Remote: Rural but very close to town
Location: 1595 Arbor Road, Passo Robles, CA
Quality of Wines (1-5 smiley faces): 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂
Winery Style: Rustic & Low Key, Educational
Space for Weddings & Events: No
Website: https://www.fratelliperata.com/
Caprone
Sometimes we find a place that just feels comfortable and relaxed. Caprone fit the bill for us. First, the price point was right there with tasting fees at free! Second, there was a very nice feel to the place. It’s family owned and one of the early wineries in the Paso area.
Their tasting room is modest but the wines at Caparone in Paso Robles are fantastic.
The wines were in the average level but they had a few good reds and the price point was under $20 for virtually all of the wines. Mostly, we enjoyed the people that run Caprone. There wasn’t any pretentiousness and the people serving us wine really enjoyed telling us about the place and its history. By the way, those people serving wine to us were the owners and winemakers!
Caprone is pretty basic in its ambiance. The tasting room is essentially in a warehouse and the grounds are very basic. There is no fabulous view here. Instead, there is a great experience with people just enjoying their time. This is a great bang for the buck and ranks high on the wino list.
Winery Overview
Information current as of January 2018
Tasting Cost: None
Hours: 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. M-F (closed Wed), 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sat/Sun
In town/Rural/Remote: Rural
Location: 2280 San Marcos Rd, Paso Robles, CA
Quality of Wines (1-5 smiley faces): 🙂 🙂 🙂
Winery Style: Rustic & Low Key, Educational
Space for Weddings & Events: No
Website: http://www.caparone.com/
Pasoport
So we always love a nice dessert wine or port to finish off our tasting and some offer a few different options. Never have we been to a place that specialized in ports like Pasoport. Located only a few minutes from town center but in a very rural feeling area, Pasoport offers some really nice views of the surrounding countryside.
Pasoport has a cool combination of rustic and retro that makes it a unique stop in Paso Robles
They offer several ports to choose from and some standard wines as well. The wines and ports are in the mid $20 to low $30’s. There are a few really good ports and standard wines that are part of their selection.
What we enjoyed most about Pasoport…even more than their ports…is the atmosphere and the friendliness. While we have been served better ports, theirs are quite good and having several options is really kind of a fun way to switch things up a bit. The tasting fee at $5, which is right in our wheelhouse.
Winery Overview
Information current as of January 2018
Tasting Cost: $5 waived with purchase
Hours: 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Th-Sun, closed Tues and Wed
In town/Rural/Remote: Rural
Location: 95 Booker Road, Templeton, CA
Quality of Wines (1-5 smiley faces): 🙂 🙂 🙂
Winery Style: Rustic & Low Key, Friendly & Fun
Space for Weddings & Events: No
Website: http://www.pasoportwine.com
