Paso Robles is a charming and highly underrated wine region in San Luis Obispo, centrally located between Los Angeles and San Francisco. The Central Coast is often overshadowed by its NorCal rivals such as Napa Valley and Sonoma but the unique microclimate and diversity of soil in Paso Robles provide optimal conditions for producing top-tier wine.
Paso Robles is approximately a 3.5-hour drive north of Los Angeles (although you can also take a 1-hour flight into San Luis Obispo). Its close proximity to Los Angeles and impressive list of wineries have made the area a prime weekend getaway destination during COVID.
I’ve been to Paso Robles several times and some of my favorite wines are from this region. Here are the 6 best Paso Robles wineries that offer outdoor wine tastings.
- Best Tasting Room Overall: DAOU Vineyards & Winery
- Best Restaurant at a Winery: Niner Wine Estates
- Best Members Lounge: JUSTIN Wine
- Best Estate Grown Wine: Booker Wines
- Best Seated Tasting Experience: The Austin Hope & Treana Tasting Cellar
- Best Value: Denner Vineyards
Best Tasting Room Overall: DAOU Vineyards & Winery
If you’ve been following me on Instagram you know how much I love DAOU Winery. This winery is a little slice of heaven and it’s perched on a 2,200-foot mountain making it the highest elevated point in Paso Robles (read: epic views). The Tuscan-inspired tasting room has an expansive outdoor seating area and a Lebanese-inspired menu for small bites. Pro-tip: order the mezze platter. It’s arguably one of the most beautiful wineries in Paso Robles. The Cabernet Sauvignon is what put the family-run winery on the map but all of their Bordeaux-style wines and the rosé are excellent choices. If you choose only one winery, let DAOU Winery be the one you visit.
Hours: Open daily from 10am-5pm
Tasting fee: $45 per person
Reservations required? Yes
Best Restaurant at a Winery: Niner Wine Estates
Best known for their estate-grown Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir, and Chardonnay, Niner Wine Estates is a family-owned winery that has been around since 2001. They are LEEDcertified and offer 19 varietals mostly focusing on small production wines catered to their Wine Club Members. There is a fantastic restaurant at the winery that takes advantage of what’s in season and utilizes local purveyors so the menu is always rotating and the ingredients are always fresh.
But, whatever you do, don’t leave without purchasing a bottle of the extra-virgin olive oil that is made using handpicked olives harvested on the ranch. This is the most delicious extra-virgin olive oil I’ve tasted! The oil is buttery and it’s made using only high-quality ingredients (no chemicals). I love to drizzle this on salads, roasted vegetables, and avocado toast. It’s also really delicious to pair with freshly baked bread.
Hours: Open daily from 10:30am-3:30pm
Tasting fee: $30 per person (waived with a two bottle purchase)
Reservations required? Yes
Best Members Lounge: JUSTIN Wine
You might recognize the iconic red triangle logo from the bottle. The 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon from JUSTIN wine is a classic and you’ll notice it on a lot of wine menus at restaurants. It’s a fantastic bottle. In fact, it was my gateway wine — this was the bottle that made me appreciate wine so it has a special place in my heart.
Needless to say, I was excited to visit the JUSTIN winery back in 2018. The winery is a bit off the beaten path and the tasting room didn’t stand out to me as anything particularly special but I am a big fan of the wine and I really enjoyed the food at the restaurant so for me, it was worth a visit. If you’re a JUSTIN wine club member, you also get access to the Wine Society Lounge which was pretty cool. They have a tasting room conveniently located in downtown Paso Robles so if you’re limited on time, I would visit the downtown location.
Hours: Open daily from 10:30am-4pm; Downtown tasting room hours vary
Tasting fee: $40 per person
Reservations required? Yes
Best Estate Grown Wine: Booker Wines
Booker Wines is a boutique winery that prides itself on sustainable farming practices and 100% estate-grown wine. The sleek tasting room is perched on a hill adorned with firepits and outdoor seating and a cave lounge for those looking for a unique wine tasting experience. The minimalist design of the tasting room is also reflected in their wine which is simple but bold. At Booker Wines, you can expect to find Rhône varietals like Syrah, Grenache, and Viognier.
Hours: Thursday-Monday from 11am- 4pm
Tasting fee: $40 (waived with a three bottle purchase)
Reservations required? Yes
Best Seated Tasting Experience: Hope Family Wines
Austin Hope makes a solid Cabernet Sauvignon; it’s the kind of red wine you should always have in your wine collection. Outdoor lounge seating lines the perimeter of the barn-inspired tasting room. Enjoy a tasting of 5 distinct wines over a 90-minute seated experience. If you selected outdoor seating, you may bring your own picnic food or you can pair your tasting with a pre-made cheese box for an additional $25 (good for 2 people).
Hours: Open daily from 10am-5pm
Tasting fee: $25 per person
Reservations required? Yes
Best Value: Denner Vineyards
If you love big, full-bodied Cabernets then you’ll love Denner Wine. The contemporary tasting room has plenty of outdoor seating overlooking the vineyards. The tasting fee is $20 for 4-5 tastings and the fee is waived if you purchase a single bottle. Denner Vineyards doesn’t have a restaurant on-site but you are permitted to bring your own food and picnic at the winery.
Hours: Open daily from 10am-4pm
Tasting fee: $20 per person (waived with a single bottle purchase)
Reservations required? Yes
This post contains products or places that I personally recommend and think you will like. When you click a link or make a purchase, I may earn a small commission.
Leave a Reply