The Big Loop winery route: Paso Robles

KEEP IT SIMPLE: STICK TO THE BIG LOOP

With over 250 wineries and tasting rooms and 11 wine AVA’s it’s easy to get overwhelmed. So let’s make it easy - just concentrate your wine tasting along The Big Loop.

The top of the loop runs from downtown along Adelaida Road until you get to JUSTIN Winery. Along the way you’ll pass some big names like Daou, Halter Ranch, and Adelaida Winery. The drive is about 17 miles and without stops takes about 32 minutes. Here’s the google map to get you started.

PRO TIP: Google Maps will want to route you to the northern Chimney Rock Road which makes sense to google but misses all of the wineries. Always add in a stop like Daou, even if you don’t plan to taste there, so that google maps takes you along the correct route.

The bottom of the loop takes you from JUSTIN back to downtown, passing well known wineries like Opolo, Niner, and Tooth and Nail along the way. This section of the loop is about 21 miles which you can drive in about 35 minutes.

If you were to do the entire loop your drive is a bit over an hour without stops. Part of the fun is getting there so take your time and enjoy the scenic drive.

Picking Wineries, Planning your Day

I know you want to visit as many wineries as possible but with wine tasting, more is not better. You probably won’t be able to fit more than 3 to 4 winery stops into a day. If you have two full days in Paso Robles then spend the first day doing the top of the loop along Adelaida Road and the second day along the bottom of the loop, Green Valley Road & Vineyard Drive.

PRO TIP: All of the wineries below are in GEOGRAPHICAL ORDER starting from downtown to help you avoid driving back and forth.

I’ve vetted out the wineries I think should be on your short list. Just pick and choose the ones that look the most interesting to you - all of them will be good stops. Some are quick bar tastings, good for if you want to squeeze in an extra stop, some are more luxurious seated tastings which can last two hours so make sure you read the descriptions to so give yourself enough time at each stop. Or just do one at 10:00, one at noon with lunch, and one at 2:00. That’s pretty easy and you won’t be so tipsy that you fall asleep back at the hotel and miss dinner. I know. I’ve done that.

And make reservations! Not all of them will require reservations but there’s nothing worse than showing up and being turned away. But if that happens just go back to the list and pick a winery nearby since they’re in geographical order. See? Brilliant!

Need a Wine Pass? Use my Discount Code

If you already have a Priority Wine Pass from a past visit then pay attention to the two for one deals. Paso wineries are being added all the time to the pass so always check this list for the most updated deals in Paso and nearby areas. If you would like a pass use the button below to get it with my exclusive Local Wally discount - just $39 for the annual pass and you only need one per couple for the two for one deals. You should easily break even after a couple of wineries and then it’s like putting $10 and $20 dollar bills into your pocket from there on. Not all wineries take it but I’ve marked the ones that do to keep things easy.

Got a question? Email me!

Wineries along the top of the Big Loop

Wineries are in geographical order so start with the wineries closest to downtown and work your way to Justin to avoid any backtracking. Every winery here has the Local Wally stamp of approval so pick the ones that look the most interesting to you and boom, just like that you have an itinerary.

Here’s the google map to get you started. Remember, set your GPS to start in downtown Paso Robles (use The Hatch Restaurant as a basic start point), add DAOU WINERY to make sure the GPS gets you on the right road, then use JUSTIN WINERY as the end point. That will get you on the right road.

Wineries Along The Bottom of the big Loop

Now let’s take the South Loop, the bottom of the BIG LOOP wine trail, which takes you from Downtown Paso and also ends up at JUSTIN. If you have two days do the Top of the Loop on Day 1, the Bottom of the Loop on Day 2.

For your GPS enter your starting point at The Hatch Restaurant in downtown Paso, add Opolo Winery to get you on the right road and Justin as your end pount. Google Map to the rescue.

The list below is in geographical order starting in downtown so select them in order to avoid back and forth driving.