How to Pick a Wine Tasting Driver in Paso Robles (2024)
Local Wally
LXV Winery in Paso Robles
I know what you’re thinking - you’re going wine tasting but you’ll show tremendous self control and only take tiny sips and pour the rest into the spit bucket. But let me tell you something; that never happens! Oh sure, one sip and you got this. Two sips and you’re trying hard. Three sips and you’re having such a good time and the wine is so good that the hell with it, you can handle it.
Before you know it you’re trading your resort room for a DUI “shared occupancy room”, aka drunk tank jail cell. And here’s another reality check - there’s no pool, no room service, and you don’t get to choose your room mate in jail. It’s a bummer. A huge bummer.
How to Hire a Driver in Paso
For me the expense of hiring an experienced driver is well worth it. They’ll help you pick wineries, they’ll pick you up and make sure you get to all of your destinations on time, and they often have deep winery or wine country background so they’re fun to hang out with.
But not all drivers are created equal - you want fully insured and licensed drivers who can either legally drive your vehicle or rental or drive you in theirs. I can hook you up with this type of professional driver so you can just sit back and enjoy your day without worrying if you’re taking any sort of risk.
Does Uber Work?
Uber can work but Paso is so spread out that hailing an Uber whenever you want to get to your next stop can be a hassle. Some people have reserved Ubers in advance but for me that’s also a bit restrictive as you’re always hoping that the next one shows up on time. I think Ubers are best if you really are only going to a couple of wineries and have plenty of time built in so that you don’t stress out. Or if you visit the tasting rooms in Tin City where they drop you off and you’re on your own.
When is a Driver More than a Driver?
Sometimes you need more help than just someone to drive you around and I have just the solution. First, if you purchase the Priority Wine Pass to take advantage of the 2 for 1 discounts you get access to FREE concierge service. The concierge will help you pick the best wineries on the pass and arrange them in proper order so all you have to do is make the reservations and give the itinerary to your driver. You can use a driver I recommend, or a driver you found yourself, no problem either way.
Not sure about the Priority Wine Pass? Here are all of the deals in Paso and here is the link to buy the pass with my discount. You can get the pass for $39 per couple so do the math and you’ll see how much money you’ll save using it. Most people save about a hundred bucks over a weekend, sometimes more depending on how many wineries you visit.
FULL CONCIERGE SERVICE: I also have access to full concierge service if you want someone to figure out all of the details for you and hand pick wineries based on the types of wines or winery experiences you’re looking for. If you’re looking for unique experiences like barrel tastings with the wine maker or private tastings at luxury wineries away from the crowds, this is a great option. They’ll even make all of your reservations, including dinner.
Think of a high end resort concierge, but unlike most concierge services they don’t take kickbacks or commissions so every recommendation is honest and unbiased. Transportation, reservations, it’s all part of the service that’s priced so reasonably that once you use it you might never go back to doing it yourself.