Valentines Day is approaching and there is nothing more romantic than a wine tour in the California Wine Country. Wine, chocolate, and views of vineyards are a natural recipe for romance. Finding things to do together that you both enjoy brings you closer. Drinking wine together especially during a great sunset in the evenings and voila, romance is found in Paso Robles.

Paso Robles was always on my bucket list of places in the USA I wanted to visit. We visited last November and loved the area so much we came back to celebrate our Birthdays in January. Here are a few tips I learned to help you plan a perfect wine tasting itinerary.

Ten Tips to Plan a Perfect Wine Tasting Itinerary

1. Know your favorite wineries before you go to the wine region you are visiting. Sign up on their mailing list. Check their website for events prior to your trip.
2. Visit your local wine store and ask the Sommelier about wines from that region. Taste a few new wines before you go.
3. Check the local event calendar for the wine destination you are visiting. You will find live music, wine tasting events, cave dinners and more.
4. Go online to Trip Advisor or Yelp and read about the top-ranked wineries and the ones you want to visit. I found out about Calcareous on Trip Advisor and so glad I didn’t miss them.
5. Ask your wine friends if they have been to Paso. Get their tips and suggestions.
6. Create an itinerary of the wineries you want to visit. Allow a little more than an hour at each one so you don’t feel rushed. I suggest three wineries a day. We recently visited four and it was a little too much wine for our group. Sharing a tasting is also a good idea to save money as well.
7. Make appointments at each winery because some are by appointment only. I suggest making an appointment to wineries that allow walk-ins because sometimes you get special preference and you have a direct contact before you arrive. I always do this if I am planning a picnic lunch to ensure there is a table available and to see if they have food to order or if we need to bring our own.
8. When creating your wine tasting itinerary choose wineries near to one another. Although Paso Robles seems small there are wineries that are pretty far from each other. Choose the East 46th wineries one day and the wineries in the Adelaida district another day.
9. Plan transportation. We booked a Limo since some of the wineries are remote and cell service is an issue. We used Uber for the wineries we knew were in cell phone range. You do not want the stress of driving.
10. Just book a wine tour and they will save you the planning time.

Romantic Wineries in Paso Robles 

There are more than 200 wineries in Paso Robles at the time of writing this. Here are the ones we visited during our weekend trip.

Calcareous

Calcareous is high on the list when it comes to Trip Advisor ratings. This is a beautiful place for a picnic lunch and they have indoor and outdoor tables.  Food pairings are available from Noon- 3:00 pm on the weekends.  As they say, ” Come for the wine, stay for the view.” The tasting room is open daily from 10:00 am – 5:00 pm. The tasting fee is $15 per person. If you join the club you get the tasting free.

Our wine tasting began with Bobby who taught us that Calcareous means the limestone in the soil. We planned an hour here for wine tasting but once we got here we just wanted to buy a bottle of Chardonnay and sit outside and enjoy the view after our tasting. They have a firepit and a Cornhole game made from wine barrels. My suggestion is to allow at least an hour and a half here. Calcareous may score the winner for the best romantic view.

Law Estate Wines

A friend recommended Law Estate Wines to us. She said the owner is from Denver and there a few Colorado connections to Paso Robles. It was close to Calcareous and since our friends love wine I decided to schedule an appointment for wine tasting. Tastings are by appointment only and cost $25 a person.

You are seated with your own personal wine host and they walk you through each wine explaining the history of the winery and wines in detail. It has been a long time since I’ve had this personal experience at a winery and therefore it was our favorite experience of the day.

Mariah and Addie were in contact with me several times before my arrival. Addie recommended bringing lunch from Red Scooter Deli for a picnic style lunch outside overlooking the vineyards. What an excellent idea, Addie!

Law was the unexpected surprise and was our favorite winery of the day. Good wine and good people is what Law is all about. We joined the club too! Law Wine Estates provided the most intimate and personal experience along with the most delicious wines. Speaking of romance, you can tell these wines are made with love.

Justin Winery

Friends of ours introduced us to the Justin Isosceles Reserve Flagship wine many years ago. We became members in the Fall and we flew out to attend the January Justin Isosceles Release Event. There were several wine stations with cheese pairings. Members may taste wines in the Wine Society Lounge located in the wine caves complimentary.

There are a variety of tastings and tours offered. I would definitely recommend doing a tasting and tour in the wine caves for a unique experience and It is only $5 more per person than the regular $25 tasting fee in the tasting room.

They have a restaurant on site available for lunch and dinner. Wine tasting can definitely work up an appetite.  Depending on how hungry you are you can order your favorite Justin wine, buy some cheese in the tasting room, and relax by a firepit overlooking the grapevines while waiting for a table in the restaurant. Cheese, wine, and a firepit overlooking the grapevines with your love is a wonderful way to enjoy your time together.

Daou

A perfect view with a wine tasting in Adirondack chairs is one way to celebrate togetherness and romance. One couple was having a photo shoot and I was wondering if they just got engaged.

You will definitely want to make a reservation at Daou during sunset for wine tasting and this winery has some of the best views in Paso Robles. If you want to book a tasting for two in the Adirondack chairs you will need to book in advance. Although they allow walk-ins they are busy on weekends and you may have to stand up at the wine tasting counter. The wine tasting fee is $40 a person and light bites are available to order. Daou offers a variety of tasting experiences so you will definitely want to visit their website. They have a Culinary pairing experience that sounds amazing and make sure to try the Soul of the Lion red Bordeaux blend.

If you want romance you definitely want to book a wine tasting at Daou at sunset

Niner Wine Estates

Could there be anything more romantic than sipping wine overlooking a grove of trees that form a natural heart?

Niner is one of our personal favorites wineries to have lunch. The food is delicious and they have a sparkling rose. We have visited Niner twice for lunch and have spent hours here overlooking Heart Hill. If you wish to dine in the restaurant call and make reservations as the restaurant gets busy on the weekends. The restaurant is open Thursday- Saturday but the tasting room is open daily from 10:00 am – 5:00 pm. Tasting fees are $20 per person but free if you join the club or waived with a two bottle purchase.

The Brussels Sprouts are delicious at Niner! Check out their wine events before your trip for pop up dinners. They look like fun.

Wine and Romance are two important things to be celebrated in the month of February.

Cheers,

Bonnie 

 

Looking for a place to stay in Paso Robles? Check out my review of the Allegretto Vineyard Resort