Paso Robles, the charming little town tucked away in California’s Central Coast wine country, is like the hidden gem you never knew you needed. With over 200 wineries scattered among the rolling hills (and let’s be real, who’s counting after the first few tastings?), Paso Robles is a wine lover’s paradise. But it’s not just about the vino – the area also boasts delicious food, stunning scenery, hot springs and that small-town charm that’ll make you want to quit your day job and move there. Got three days to spare? Get ready for the perfect Paso Robles adventure!
How To Get There
Paso Robles is conveniently located almost halfway between San Francisco and Los Angeles, making it fairly easy to access. Here are some of the best options for traveling there:
- Fly into San Luis Obispo County Regional Airport – This small airport is located just 40 minutes from downtown Paso Robles in the city of San Luis Obispo. United and American Airlines offer direct flights from major hubs like Los Angeles, Phoenix, San Francisco and more. Rent a car or use the on-demand rideshare service SmartShuttle to get to Paso Robles.
- Fly into Santa Maria Airport – Just a 35 minute drive from Paso Robles, this airport has direct flights on Allegiant as well as United from Los Angeles and other regional airports. Car rental desks are located onsite.
- Drive from LA or SF – Paso Robles sits right along the route of Highway 101, a main north-south artery, making it a relatively convenient 4 hour drive from either Los Angeles or San Francisco. Make it a comfortable road trip with stops along some of California’s iconic coastline along the way.
- Take Amtrak – Paso Robles has an Amtrak station conveniently located right downtown just blocks off the main square. The Pacific Surfliner route offers direct connections from San Luis Obispo down to Los Angeles or up the coast towards Oakland and San Francisco with stops in-between.
- Take rideshare – Major rideshare services like Uber and Lyft operate throughout the Paso Robles area. Prices from regional airports usually cost $50-100 each way. Shared rides can help save costs for groups.
With plenty of ways to get there whether by air or car, traveling to wine country awaits! Just pick the option that best fits your specific needs and budget.
Getting Around Paso Robles
While having a car is ideal to fully explore Paso Robles wine country, here are some options for getting around if you didn’t or can’t drive:
- Wine Tours – Numerous tour companies like Breakaway Tours and Wine Wranglers offer both group and private winery tours in sprinter vans and limos. This way, you can visit multiple wineries worry-free about transportation or drinking and driving. Lunch and wine tasting fees may be additional costs.
- Uber & Lyft – Rideshares like Uber and Lyft operate in the area and are handy for getting to wineries close to downtown or reaching restaurants for dinner. But coverage may be spotty on the more remote Westside. Pricing is demand-based but fairly reasonable.
- GrapeLine Wine Shuttle – This convenient shuttle service offers scheduled pickups and transportation between many of Paso Robles main wineries and hotels. Single rides start around $10, worthwhile to avoid driving. Route options include Westside Wineries, Adelaida Wine Trail or Downtown Wineries.
- Bike Rentals – For wineries closer to downtown, consider renting a bike from Pedal Paso or Wine Country Cycling as an active and eco-friendly way to visit. Their self-guided bike tour maps make navigating to nearby vineyards easy.
- Walk Downtown – Exploring downtown Paso Robles historic main square area is easily done by foot. Many boutique shops, cafes, restaurants and tasting rooms here are within a comfortable few block’s radius.
While having your own rental car does provide the most flexibility, combinations of the above options should still allow you to craft a fulfilling Paso Robles getaway! Just plan ahead with tour reservations or shuttle schedules to make wine tasting carefree.
Day 1
Morning: Breakfast and Paso Robles Downtown
Start your day by fueling up with a hearty breakfast. For classic eggs benedict and stuffed French toast, head to the popular Red Scooter Deli. Or grab fresh pastries and an espresso drink at Panolivo, which uses locally produced olive oil in their baked goods.
After breakfast, spend the morning wandering Downtown Paso Roble’s shady, oak-lined streets. Pop into some of the area’s unique boutiques, like Studios on the Park with fine art galleries and studios or Visitin’ Leather for custom leather jackets.
Make sure to see the historic town square originally laid out in the 1860s. Here you’ll find charming old brick and mortar buildings shading sidewalk cafes that are perfect for some early afternoon people watching.
Mid-Day: Tablas Creek Vineyard
In the afternoon, head to Tablas Creek Vineyard. This renowned vineyard helped ignite Paso Roble’s status as an AVA (American Viticultural Area) known for outstanding Rhône style blends.
Start with a vineyard tour to see the organically farmed vines firsthand and learn about the history of Tablas Creek. Then proceed to guided tasting of several of their award-winning blends out on their picture-perfect patio. Make sure to try both their refreshing white and complex red wines, like Viognier and Mourvèdre blends. Pair them with a cheese board for the perfect wine country lunch.
Late Afternoon: Explore Westside Wineries
While the day is still young, make your way to Paso Roble’s booming Westside wine region. Here, vineyards sprawl across sunny rolling oak hills in a quiet, rustic setting.
Start by visiting Six Mile Road Wine Company, a family-owned boutique vineyard making small batches of Rhône varietals like Grenache Blanc and bright, berry-tinged Syrah.
Then make the short drive over to Grey Wolf Cellars for spectacular views and big Zinfandel. Be sure to sample their robust and balanced Reserve Zinfandel with notes of dark fruits and peppery spice.
End your first day relaxing on the patio at Henry’s Winery tasting a bottle of their award-winning Tinto Dulce late harvest red blend made using Port-style winemaking. The views of the sun setting over the vineyards can’t be beat.
Day 2
Morning: Breakfast and Spa Treatment at River Oaks Hot Springs
For your second day, begin with a morning wellness reset at River Oaks Hot Springs Spa. Their breakfast cafe offers healthy dishes using seasonal, local ingredients like wild mushroom scrambled eggs and USDA prime tri-tip steak and eggs.
After fueling up, unwind in the spa with a couple’s oak bark or chardonnay wine barrel soak. The thermal mineral waters will leave you feeling blissfully relaxed.
Mid-Day: Explore Adelaida District AVA
Next, travel a scenic twenty minutes into the Adelaida District AVA. With soils unlike the rest of Paso Robles, this hilly region produces more elegant, complex wines perfect for Pinot Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon, Zinfandel and Rhône style blends. The mountain landscape dotted with live oaks is also unparalleled in beauty.
Tour the sustainably farmed vineyards at Tablas Creek-owned Adelaida before a special tasting pairing four wines with four mini gourmet food pairings. The mashed potato and truffle paired with Gamay is a real treat.
Then head to Halter Ranch Vineyard for more sweeping views of vineyards, oak forests and the area’s signature calcareous shale soils. Wine tasting takes place inside a historic 1800s barn accompanied by small bites like pork liver pate and ricotta crostini. Make sure to sample their 95+ point Cab Sauv and Malbec.
Late Afternoon: Cider Tasting
For later afternoon refreshment, make the short drive over to Bristols Cider House, home to a fantastic line of unique craft ciders made from local apples and fruit. Standouts include their Blood Orange and Ginger cider, not too sweet with a touch of spice, as well as the Dry Hop cider with Citra and Mosaic hops for some bitterness to balance the fresh apple.
Enjoy your flight on their large outdoor patio looking out over the rolling apple orchards. Make sure to also grab a bratwurst to pair with those semi-dry and hopped ciders – it’s a fantastic combination.
Sunset: Dinner at Thomas Hill Organics Bistro
After a day out exploring, return back to Paso Robles downtown for dinner at Thomas Hill Organics Bistro. A local’s favorite, this cozy bistro excels at farm-to-table cuisine like whole roasted chicken over squash risotto and pan fried swordfish with quinoa tabbouleh. Their seasonal cocktails are excellent as well, like the strawberry mojito or blood orange Negroni. Make reservations in advance for patio seating and breathtaking views overlooking Paso Robles wine country as the sun goes down.
Day 3
Morning: Breakfast at Red Scooter, then on to Templeton
For your last day, begin with another delicious Red Scooter breakfast. Try their French toast stuffed with goat cheese and blueberries or the wild mushroom omelette with a side of crispy hash browns. Properly fueled up, take the short drive over to the tiny nearby town of Templeton for some antique shopping and western Americana history.
Wander in and out of the century old brick buildings housing over 30 unique antique stores, like Treasures on Main Street Antique Mall with countless vintage finds. Grab lunch nearby at McPhee’s Grill, a casual local favorite for burgers, salads and craft beer on tap in an old train depot setting.
Mid-Day: More Westside Wineries
Spend your afternoon exploring more of Paso Roble’s acclaimed Westside wineries. Start at Le Cuvier Winery, beloved for it’s intimate tasting experience including cheeses perfectly paired with it’s mostly Rhône style wines. Charming and knowledgable owners personally guide each tasting held in a comfortable, living room-like setting. Standouts include Le Cuvier’s lush Syrah and spicy Cabernet Franc-Merlot blend.
From there, head to Alta Colina for their highly acclaimed estate grown Old 900 Syrah and Petite Sirah as well their unique white blends. You’ll be treated to gorgeous views of rolling hills while sampling these rich, complex wines.
Finish up wine tasting over at Saint K Wines, a new solar-powered facility specializing in authentic Bordeaux style blends grown locally. The owner himself, a friendly Bordeaux native, frequently leads the informal and educational wine tastings.
Late Afternoon: Paso Robles Beer Trail
With palates refreshed, spend the rest of your late afternoon drinking in Paso Robles’ burgeoning craft beer scene. Start at popular BarrelHouse Brewing Co, known for it’s smooth flagship IPA and unique barrel-aged sours like Wild Rumpus, aged in Cabernet barrels. Then walk over to newcomer Naughty Oak Brewing specializing in West Coast style hoppy ales like their Hazy AF IPA bursting with citrus and tropical fruit notes. Only open a year, their large outdoor beer garden filled with picnic tables under string lights is the perfect place to unwind. Finish up with some unique English style ales at Dust Bowl Brewing Taproom, located in a funky old warehouse. Must try options include their easy drinking Hobo Pilsner and Infinite Sadness, a malty Scotch Ale. And be sure to grab some pizza from the food truck Loveshack outside to help soak up the day’s tastings.
After all that, you’re sure to sleep very well on your final Paso Robles night. With so much to discover in the area, you likely barely scratched the surface so start planning a return visit soon!
FAQs
The region enjoys a long growing season with ample sunshine almost year-round. Spring (April-May) brings blooming wildflowers and trademark green, rolling hills. Summertime is perfect for sipping Rosé on vineyard patios. Fall (September-October) offers wine harvest, festivals and cooler temps. However, bigger crowds swarm during summer weekends so fall shoulder season is an ideal time to visit.
Like anywhere tasting fees range, but averages of $15-25 per tasting are typical in Paso with some higher end experiences going up to $50-75. Many wineries though also waive the fee with a bottle purchase. Benefits come via wine club memberships but those require buying wine monthly or bimonthly.
One downside to life in a more remote wine region is the shops close up early during weeknights. For dinner past 9pm or later with full wine list still available, best options are to dine in downtown Paso Robles which stays lively a bit later. Or check with your accommodation for room service.
Great for both! Many wineries and hotels are quite dog-friendly with shaded patios, water bowls and treats. However, not all tasting rooms may permit pets so call ahead first. For families, many vineyards also offer fun amenities for kids like yard games, grape juice tasting and special food menus while parents enjoy the wines!
