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PASO ROBLES WINE FESTIVALS
Central Coast Wine Tasting
The
Paso Robles between Santa Barbara and the San Francisco Bay area is
California’s fastest growing wine region. Over 170 wineries
produce a more than forty varieties on a collection of various soils
and mini-climates. Tucked against the foothills of the Coast Range mountains
that separate California’s central valley from the Pacific coast,
in past years, Paso Robles was a small sleepy small farm community and
gas stop on California Highway 101 between southern and northern California
and the turning point for Hearst Castle and perhaps most notable as the
town nearest where James Dean crashed in his Porsche on the infamous
Highway 46 from Bakersfield on his way to a race in Monterrey, or it’s
more famous nearby tourist sight of Hearst Castle
Paso
Robles has grown up in the years since as wine tasting has become a
vacation and past-time
and wine-growing
has flowered in California’s
rolling hills and Mediterranean climate. Winemaking has been a Paso Robles
industry since 1882 when Andrew York came from Indiana and planted vineyards.
York Mountain Winery is still in operation as the oldest winery in continuous
operation. Zinfandel was the first variety grown and the most associated
with Paso Robles. It wasn’t until the 1970’s that Cabernet
Sauvignon, Pinot Noir and Chardonnay grapes were introduced, with addition
of Bordeaux in the 90’s as the appellation began to attract winemakers
from around the world.
Paso Robles now celebrates it growing wine popularity with three Wine Festivals throughout the year.
Zinfandel Festival
Held on the third weekend in March, the Paso Robles Zinfandel Festival is the second largest tasting event of the Zinfandel variety in California. Special tasting events are held at many of the region’s wineries, including dinners, special tastings, seminars and open houses. A “Grand Tasting” is held on Saturday night following auctions, both silent and loud, of rare wines, life-style and travel packages and art items.
Paso Robles Wine Festival
The Wine Festival takes place on the third Saturday of May in the outdoors of the city park in downtown Paso Robles when the weather of central California begins to turn warm and dry (before the sometimes brutal heat of summer). Aside from the chance to taste wines form around 80 participating wineries, vistors can begin the weekend at the Wine Festival Golf Tournament at the Hunter Ranch Golf Course, with winemaker dinners, live music events and open houses continue throughout the weekend.
Harvest Wine Tour
The leaves change color fast
in the California coast range and October is when the grapes get harvested.
Held on the third weekend of October
every year, the Paso Robles wineries provide a number of activities to
celebrate the harvest and crushing of the grapes. From barbecues to grape
stomping, along with seminars and lessons, and special tours of the wine
making process. © Bargain
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Paso Robles Wine
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