In January 2023, we spent a long weekend exploring Paso Robles to celebrate a milestone birthday for Jason. We wanted to check out one of the Meccas of craft breweries - Firestone Walker Brewing Company - as well as the wine country. We were not disappointed!
Firestone Walker Brewing Company is headquartered in Paso Robles right off of the main highway and you can smell them brewing as you drive by. The complex is impressive with different buildings for brewing, bottling lines, and keg-filling lines. During the brewery tour, we learned about the history of how the brothers-in-law got the idea to start brewing and got to taste the very first ale they ever made. We walked through all three levels of the brewhouse and stopped at key areas to learn more about each part of their system. We got to go into the hop storage refrigerator and smell fresh citra hops. At the end of the tour, we sampled beers that are only available at that facility.
With over 300 wineries in the area, it was challenging to decide on a handful to visit. We were excited to try varietals that can't grow in Western Colorado such as Zinfandel and Pinot Noir. We really enjoyed Hope Family Wines. They had a wide variety of award-winning wines, including the 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon that was named the number 10 of the top 100 wines by Wine Enthusiast. This vintage is long gone but their 2020 Cab was outstanding.
Our time at Four Lanterns Winery reminded us very much of Palisade. We were greeted by the resident golden retriever Brix and enjoyed their delicious wines with a picnic lunch. The owners, Steve and Jackie Gleason, were very warm and accommodating. Steve and Jackie have a similar story as many of the winemakers in Palisade: sick of the rat-race they took a leap of faith and bought a winery. The quality of their wines and beauty of their winery is proof-positive that their gamble paid off.
On behalf of many of the winemakers in Palisade, Sarah was drooling over the concrete system at Willow Creek Wine Company. Their mastery of Rhône varieties is a testament to their work ethic; owners and winemakers Brian and Natalie Brown were both present and hard at work when we visited, but Brian graciously took some time to show us their facility and told us about the challenges they encountered when installing the concrete system.
In terms of winery amenities, Castoro Cellars may have one of the most unique - a beautiful and immaculate 18-hole disc golf course that winds its way through the vineyards on the property. Established in 2014 as a way to get tasting room guests closer to the land and the winemaking process, Whale Rock Disc Golf Course has quickly become a favorite, not only with the local players but for travelers coming from across the country. Our day at Castoro was capped off by a wonderful tasting experience (make sure to ask for Tony!) and lunch on their beautiful patio.
This summary of our trip wouldn't be complete without mentioning our evening at Sensorio. Amidst rolling hills and against the stark outlines of the dormant California live oak trees that give Paso Robles its name, the 58,000 solar powered lights were purely magical. A picture-perfect ending to a wonderful weekend!
Cheers,
Sarah and Jason