Is Paso Robles the next "trending" wine travel destination?
Hello, I'm KEINA from the SoCalization Marketing Department. Due to COVID-19 and the expanding conflict between Ukraine and Russia, it has become difficult to travel abroad again. But don't worry. You can enjoy traveling safely in Southern California, USA. One place that is currently attracting particular attention is the wine kingdom of Paso Robles.
California is blessed with a Mediterranean climate. In 2020, grape cultivation has developed into an industry worth 4.48 billion yen. The thriving wine tourism in California is also thanks to grape cultivation. Nowadays, many tourists are visiting wine kingdoms such as Paso Robles, Napa, Sonoma, and Temecula.
This time, we will introduce the charm of Paso Robles, which is currently popular!
table of contents:
1. The most famous wine region
The Napa region, located north of San Francisco, is probably the most famous wine-producing region. This was triggered by the fact that California wines were proven to be as good as French wines at the Judgement of Paris wine competition held in Paris in 1976. Cabernet Sauvignon leads the grape cultivation in Napa, covering 27 million tsubo (800,000 m2), but grapes are also cultivated widely in Paso Robles, covering 18 million tsubo (600,000 m2).
Paso Robles wines have received accolades from experts Robert Parker and Master Sommelier Evan Goldstein, who says Paso Robles has demonstrated an impressive advancement in style, technique and character of Cabernet and red Bordeaux varieties.
Of the 200+ wineries in Paso Robles, 90% are small production, family-owned businesses. With new capital and technology, Paso Robles is producing quality wines, and there are many tasting rooms in the city, making it some say one of the top wine destinations in the world.
San Luis Obispo County, where Paso Robles is located, is so idyllic that it is called "SLO County" by its initials. It is the perfect destination for those who are interested in wine, those who want to experience a great sensory show, or those who just want to relax. It is located halfway between San Francisco and Los Angeles, and can be reached by car from either city in about 3.5 hours. The nearest airport for air travel is San Luis Obispo Airport. The Pacific Surfliner train, which passes through San Diego, Santa Barbara, and Los Angeles, is one of the easy ways to travel not only in San Luis Obispo but throughout Southern California. From June 2018 to the following year, many tourists visit Paso Robles, including 7.23 million domestic tourists and 300,000 international tourists.
Most tourists in Paso Robles stop by on their way from the north to the south of the Central Coast. The beach towns of San Luis Obispo, Morro Bay, and Cambria are also famous for their elephant seals.
After stopping by a vintage clothing store downtown, we went to wine tasting at Justin in the Main Street area. We enjoyed a delicious Cabernet wine while chatting with the other customers.
Click here for a list of JUSTIN wines
2. Recommended Hotel Allegretto
As the sun goes down, you can settle in to your hotel. Paso Robles has a wide range of accommodations, from Airbnb to budget hotels and luxury hotels.
The recommended hotel is the Tuscan-style vineyard resort Allegretto . The hotel grounds are 80,000m2 and include vineyards and olive trees. Once you step inside, you'll be greeted by high ceilings, a flickering fireplace, and a restaurant called Cello. At the restaurant, you can enjoy exquisite steaks and craft cocktails at tables made from wine barrels.
There's an outdoor seating area with sculptures and a fireplace, and the hotel has its own vineyard and tasting room, perfect for enjoying a glass of wine by the fire on a cold winter's evening.
Allegretto features 200 pieces of art, including some fascinating photographs of the Ayers farming their land from scratch in 1905 and building their home in Wilmington after the war. In the living room is a section of a large Redwood tree that existed before the hotel was built. The tree dates back to the time of Jesus Christ, and the number of tree rings in the section tell the story of its majestic history.
The hotel has a large pool, spa, fitness center, yoga classes, and even a world first "Sonic Labyrinth" - a wind instrument that creates a sense of relaxation.
The Allegretto hotel offers walking tours that take you through the vineyards and chapel and include an outdoor wine tasting, or you can rent bikes from the hotel for a fun bike ride around the local trails or to the wineries.
A short bike ride from the hotel takes you to Mission San Miguel Arcángel, founded in 1797 under the direction of Spanish Franciscans. Still in use as a church, the mission is a National Historic Landmark.
3. Eberle Winery
The next evening, we recommend sipping wine at Eberle . According to the staff, the name Eberle, which is also the name of the founder, means "little pig" in German, but the winery uses a much larger pig as its logo and mascot, a mascot wearing aviator goggles standing proudly at the fireplace outside. The wine is of course excellent, and there is also a free tour of the 5,200m-wide man-made cave that is used to naturally cool hundreds of barrels.
Many people worry about driving after a glass of wine (it is legal to drive under the influence of alcohol up to a certain amount in California), but there is no need to worry, as you can easily get from the Allegretto Hotel to Eberle Winery using Uber .
4. The shining Sensorio
Finally, a recommended spot for the night is Sensorio in Paso Robles, where you can enjoy illuminations. As it gets dark, the vast field begins to sparkle. Designed by light artist Bruce Munro, this illumination lights up a field spanning 60,000 square meters and features 69 light towers made from 17,000 wine bottles.
The illuminations, with thousands of lights lit up in a wide variety of patterns, are another reason that tourists from all over the world visit the wine kingdom of Paso Robles.
