First Time Visitor to Paso? Confused? Overwhelmed? Best Wineries for First Timers to Paso!
Local Wally
Dresser Winery in Paso Robles
How to Plan Your First Wine Tasting Trip to Paso Robles
It’s easy to get overwhelmed trying to plan your first trip to Paso. With hundreds of wineries and tons of conflicting YouTube recommendations it’s hard to pick the handful of wineries you can visit in a weekend. And food, who wants a crummy meal when you can only pick a couple of restaurants? So let me cut right to it and give you some straight advice.
THE BASICS: WHEN TO VISIT PASO ROBLES?
I like visiting Spring when the vines are starting to bud. The weather is great, the crowds manageable. Summer can be super hot so forget about that picnic idea and make sure you have a pool where you stay. By Fall the grapes are ripe and harvest time is near, making this a great time to visit if you want to see a winery in action. And the smell of fruit in the air is intoxicating. Winter, well, it can be cold but nothing wrong with wine tasting around the holidays.
Whatever you choose just pay attention to the weather and plan accordingly. Each season has it’s pro’s and con’s. But OK, I like Spring and Fall the best.
Paso in May, one of my favorite times to visit. This is Parish
DO MOST PEOPLE DRIVE THEMSELVES WHEN WINE TASTING?
Hmmm, if they do they shouldn’t. Wine tasting has a bad habit of getting out of hand once you finish that first glass. You start the day saying you won’t drink too much and will toss the wine into the spit bucket but with wine this good do you really think you’re going to have the will power to do that? I mean, does your dog ever turn down treats?
You should just hire a designated driver and if you need one just reach out to me as I work with a few drivers who can legally drive your car or rental*. And yes, there are also drivers who will drive you in their vehicle.
Don’t do Uber. Paso is spread out and there’s nothing fun about waiting for an Uber when you’re late to your next reservation. And trust me, you’re going to be late! Wine tasting has a way of doing that.
WHAT WINERIES ARE BEST FOR A FIRST TIMER TO PASO?
Small Family Run Dubost Ranch Winery
Huge big name wineries like Daou
Most first timers target the big name wineries like Daou, JUSTIN, and Austin Hope. These are wineries where you’ll typically find huge tasting facilities, robust food offerings, and often large crowds. My suggestion for first timers it to pick just ONE of these big names per day. You’ll get the sizzle and instagram setting you’re looking for… but there is another side to Paso and that’s the small boutiques, often family owned and run.
WHY GO SMALL?
The big wineries are fun but the smaller wineries offer a throwback, often more authentic experience. Imagine finding out that the server is actually the winemaker, or just tasting wines you won’t find at BevMo. These wineries might not be on your radar but should - LXV has won the hearts of locals who often consider it to be the top winery in Paso, followed by Guyomar Winery with views that compare to the spectacular views at Daou. Here are all of the favorite local favorite wineries that you should visit.
WHAT ABOUT CUSTOM TOURS?
If you just want to hand over the reins to me then I’ll work with my concierge friend who will plan out your entire day, stop by stop, from morning all the way to dinner reservations. Driving is included so you basically just tell us the sort of experience you’re looking for and let us do all of the heavy lifting. It’s a super good way to ensure you have a top notch experience without having to do tons of research. Hey, we know the good places to go so you can trust that your day is going to be incredible. And no, it’s not expensive. EMAIL ME for more info on custom tours.
What About Winery Deals Like 2 for 1 Offers or Free Tastings?
If you want to stretch your wine tasting budget (more wine, more wine!) then go to the Paso on a Budget page to get the latest info on free tastings and two for one offers.
Where to Start with Picking the BEST Wineries in Paso
First timers are often overwhelmed because there are so many different wine areas in Paso. I narrowed it down to THE BIG LOOP as your basic wine route, perfect for first timers but also a logical way to break down Paso into smaller chunks. Basically you have a giant loop that starts in Downtown Paso with JUSTIN in the middle, then loops back down to where you started.
OK, yes, this totally ignores all of the wineries outside of the loop but that’s the idea, to give you as the first timer a good starting point. Do this loop for your first visit then you can branch out and explore the other areas once you have your footing.
Copia Winery has an exceptional wine and food pairing experience
Need More Help? Email Me!
That’s right, if you are just plain stuck and not sure what to do then shoot me an email and I’ll do my best to help you figure things out. There’s no charge, no catch, just my way of making sure that your trip to Paso is the best wine tasting adventure ever!
*The fine print - Though I am happy to suggest drivers, driving services or concierge service which provides drivers I am not legally responsible for any of the actions of the drivers. Do you own due diligence on their licenses, insurances, background, etc. Do not assume that they are fully vetted just because they are on my site. Does that just about cover it?