Tucked away in the picturesque Paso Robles wine country, Allegretto Vineyard Resort is a true gem. With its breathtaking 20-acre vineyard, jaw-dropping views, and Tuscan-inspired villas that’ll make you feel like you’ve teleported to Italy (minus the jet lag), Allegretto is the epitome of wine country luxury. It’s like a grown-up version of Disneyland for wine enthusiasts!
The Beginning of a Dream
So how did this beautiful resort come to be? It all started with a dream by Doug Ayres, who fell in love with the Paso Robles region while traveling California’s wine country. After visiting Paso Robles over 20 years ago, Doug knew that he wanted to own property there one day and plant his own vineyard.
In 1997, Doug and his wife Dawn purchased a 500 acre property in Paso Robles, aptly named “Allegretto,” the musical term meaning lively or moderately fast. They chose the name both for it’s link to music and wine, which they considered to be harmonious art forms. Though Doug came from an engineering background, his passion for wine led him to enroll in viticulture and winemaking courses at UC Davis. His dream was finally coming to fruition.
Early Challenges to Overcome
Doug and Dawn’s journey to create Allegretto Vineyard was no walk in the park. They started with a plot of land that was as bare as a baby’s bottom, lacking even the most basic infrastructure. It was like trying to build a sandcastle without any sand!
In 2001, they finally planted their first 20 acres of vines, mostly Cabernet Sauvignon with a sprinkle of Merlot, Petit Verdot, Sangiovese, and Zinfandel. These vines gave birth to Allegretto’s first vintage in 2004, but the celebration was short-lived.
In 2005, the soil decided to throw a tantrum, causing the vines to become sickly and unproductive. Doug and Dawn had to make the painful decision to rip out the entire vineyard and start from scratch. It was like watching 20 acres of money go down the drain! But, like true wine warriors, they pushed on, determined to make their vision a reality.
Turning the Dream into Reality
In 2007, the replanted vines flourished in the mineral-rich soil and limestone of Paso Robles wine country. After regaining vine health and production capacity, Doug and Dawn resumed wine production with the 2007 vintage. Production capacity grew rapidly as more acres of vines were planted.
Wine production was no longer limited to the estate vineyard, as strategic partnerships were formed with several premier vineyards across Paso Robles. Doug partnered with winemaker Steve Gleason to craft ultra-premium wines that expressed the terroir of Paso Robles. This led to the first releases of Allegretto’s estate grown reserve tier wines and single vineyard designate wines between 2009 and 2011.
As production capacity increased, so did national recognition and demand. In 2011, Wine Enthusiast magazine named Allegretto among the world’s top wine tourism destinations. This prompted Doug and Dawn to envision a new path forward – a wine resort unlike anything else in Paso Robles wine country.
Bringing the Dream to Life: Enter Allegretto Vineyard Resort
Leveraging Allegretto’s success as an ultra-premium winery, Doug and Dawn broke ground on Allegretto Vineyard Resort in 2013. The Tuscan-inspired resort would include 20 luxury villas, a wine country inn, the estate tasting room, production facility and of course – the breathtaking 20-acre estate vineyard. Allegretto Vineyard Resort officially opened to guests in 2015, establishing Allegretto as Paso Roble’s premier wine country getaway.
But Doug and Dawn weren’t done yet. In 2017, they opened the immersive Allegretto Vineyard Cellar tasting lounge to showcase rare wines and the winemaking process through a “behind the scenes” vineyard and cellar tour. Then in early 2018 came the Villa Toscano – Allegretto’s ultimate two-story villa offering 2,700 square feet of luxury. Newenhancements continued with infinity spas added to each villa, completing the wine country oasis.
Today, Allegretto Vineyard Resort brings Doug and Dawn’s 20-year dream to reality. Through perseverance, passion and vision, the Ayres overcame obstacles at every turn to create one of Paso Robles most beloved destinations. For visitors, Allegretto offers luxury accommodations paired with ultra-premium wine tasting experiences amongst breathtaking vine-to-villa views. It’s the ultimate wine getaway.
The Vineyards Behind the Wine
The rolling terrain makes Allegretto home to an incredibly diverse range of microclimates, soils, vineyards and clones. This diversity is key to crafting complex wines that showcase Allegretto’s distinct terroir in Paso Robles wine country.
The Estate Vineyard
The crown jewel is Allegretto’s 20-acre estate vineyard. Situated around the resort for unobstructed panoramic views, this vineyard includes several blocks:
- The Hillside Block – Located just below the resort on an east-facing slope. Mix of clay loam and limestone soils.
- The West Block – Located below the resort with southern and western solar exposure. Sandy clay loam over a calcareous layer.
- The Eastern Block – Eastern exposure and gently rolling terrain. Predominately sandy clay loam soil.
These blocks contain Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Petit Verdot, Sangiovese and Zinfandel vines featuring a mix of rootstocks and clonal selections. The estate vineyard’s diversity is why Allegretto’s wines express an array of complex flavors and aromas.
Partner Vineyards
Beyond the estate vineyard, Allegretto sources ultra-premium grapes from eight partner vineyards:
- Austin Hope Vineyard – Located in Paso Roble’s Templeton Gap District, known for weather extremes. Rhone and Bordeaux varieties.
- Brothers Ranch – Located in nearby Shandon Valley featuring big temperature swings and sandy soils. Rhone and Bordeaux grapes.
- Cerro Tabla Vineyard – Located in the rugged Creston District featuring steep hills, intense sunlight and calcerous soils. High elevation Vineyard, savoir blanc and chardonnay.
- Hammer Sky Vineyard – Located in Paso Roble’s Geneseo District, very hot summer days/cool nights. Great for zinfandel and petite syrah.
- Mill Road Vineyard – Located in Paso Roble’s Creston District, features high elevation and ancient seabed soils. Bordeaux and Rhone grapes.
- Nikki’s Vineyard – Located in the El Pomar District features rare limestone and gravely loam soils. Bordeaux and Syrah grapes.
- Roland Estate Vineyard – Located in Templeton features soil high in manganese and iron. Grenache and Syrah grapes.
- Willow Creek District – Located in Paso Roble’s Templeton Gap, elevated vineyards with extreme diurnal temp swings. Zinfandel, cab and Rhone grapes.
These partner vineyards combined with the estate vineyard allow for incredible blending potential across varietals, vineyards, districts, soils and microclimates of Paso Robles wine country.
Winemaking Philosophy
Led by Winemaker Steve Gleason since 2014, Allegretto crafts wines focused on balance, elegance and approachability while expressing Paso Roble’s remarkable diversity. Steve’s approach combines Old World elegance with New World boldness and intensity of flavors.
To preserve fresh fruit flavors, Steve utilizes gentle destemming, gravity flow, minimal handling and hand punch downs to craft wines in a Certified Sustainable Winery powered by solar panels. Barrels are hand selected by Steve from only the highest quality French and American oak. Allegretto’s reserve-tier wines see extended barrel aging to enhance delicacy and complexity of texture and flavor.
The vineyard and vintage establish the vision for each wine. Through careful vineyard management, precision farming and timing of harvest, Steve ensures grapes reach desired ripeness to match the profile of each wine. This integrated grape growing and winemaking process brings the terroir of Paso Roble’s limestone-rich soils into the glass.
The wines are unfined and unfiltered – a labor-intensive approach allowing for purity of flavors and smoother mouthfeel. These techniques deliver honest wines that express the regional diversity of Paso Roble’s districts and microclimates.
The result is a collection of Bordeaux-inspired blends, single vineyard selections and small-lot estate wines that balance approachability with layers of complexity. This focus on crafting honest, high quality wines earned Allegretto membership in Paso Robles CAB Collective, a group that represents the region’s top Cabernet Sauvignon producers.
Current Wine Offerings
Allegretto Vineyard Resort offers a range of wine experiences – from casual tastings in the open-air patio to seated educational sessions in the estate cellar. Available wines include:
Estate Wines
- Allegretto Vineyard Estate Viognier (white)
- Allegretto Vineyard Estate Rosé (rosé)
- Allegretto Vineyard Estate Cabernet Sauvignon (red)
- Allegretto Estate Quattro (red blend)
- Allegretto Estate Nascita (red blend)
Single Vineyard Series
- Cello Riserva Cabernet Sauvignon
- Malbec – Cerro Tabla Vineyard
- Grenach – Willow Creek District
Reserve Wines
- Allegretto Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon
- Reserve Cabernet Franc
- Quattro Formaggio
- “1720” Old Vine Zinfandel
- Reserve Petite Sirah
Dessert Wine
- Late Harvest Viognier (white)
This diverse portfolio combines estate grown favorites with single vineyard selections and rare reserve bottlings. Guests can taste current releases by the glass or via guided experiences. Availability includes current releases and library selections dating back to Allegretto’s early vintages.
Why Wine Lovers Adore Allegretto
Allegretto Vineyard Resort brings together world-class hospitality, luxury accommodations and ultra-premium wines for the ultimate wine country getaway. Here’s why it stands out:
- Boutique, Ultra-Premium Winery: While many wineries source bulk wine grapes for mass production, Allegretto is an estate-focused winery specializing in low yield, high quality vineyard blocks. This limits production volume in favor of quality. Bottles are numbered for exclusivity.
- Locally Sourced Cuisine: The on-site restaurant Cello Ristorante features fresh, locally sourced ingredients prepared by Executive Chef Denis Kostandinov to perfectly pair with Allegretto’s wines
- Tuscan-Inspired Luxury: Inspired by vineyard estates in Italy’s Tuscany region, Allegretto’s villas encapsulate wine country luxury with complete amenities and sweeping vine-to-villa views.
- Boutique Wine Experiences: From the elegant Estate Tasting Room to the underground Estate Cellar lounge, Allegretto offers intimate venues and rare tasting opportunities perfect for wine lovers.
- Music & Harmony: Fine music and wine harmoniously combine at Allegretto. From live music on the piazza to the annual Cabernet Cabaret gala event, Allegretto infuses wine and music much like it’s sister property, the Allegretto Vineyard Resort in Niagara-on-the-Lake, Canada located in Niagara’s famous wine country and theater district.
Together, these key elements create a magical, one-of-a-kind wine country experience. Guests fall in love with the inimitable blend of wine, food, luxury, music and sprawling vineyard scenery that can only be found at Allegretto Vineyard Resort.
Accolades and Awards
In just over a decade since Allegretto’s first wine release, the vineyard resort has earned more than 450 wine awards across prestigious wine competitions such as the San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition.
Recent wins include:
- 2015 Reserve Late Harvest Viognier – 95 points from Wine Enthusiast
- 2016 Estate Quattro – 94 points from James Suckling
- 2016 Reserve Petite Sirah – Best of Class of Region Red from California State Fair
- 2018 Reserve Cabernet Franc – 98 points from Wine Enthusiast
Allegretto also earned honors beyond the wines including:
- The Knot Best of Weddings Hall of Fame from weddingwire.com – 12 straight years
- 2015-2017 TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence
- Top 10 Resorts in California – Gayot.com
- Top 10 Romantic Getaways in California – TripAdvisor
- America’s Best Wine Country Spas – Departures Magazine
From wine quality to weddings, Allegretto receives praise from both wine critics and visitors alike. With new vintages released every year, expect the acclaim to continue for this Paso Robles gem.
Looking to the Future
Twenty years ago, Doug and Dawn Ayres had a dream. Today, that dream has become a wine-lover’s paradise known as Allegretto Vineyard Resort. The journey was filled with more twists and turns than a corkscrew, but their passion and perseverance paid off, creating one of the most luxurious wine destinations on California’s Central Coast.
Allegretto is still a family affair, with daughter Jenna running the show on the hospitality front and son Jesper making sure the wine flows freely across the nation. The Ayres family values are the secret sauce that keeps Allegretto thriving.
As for the future? Allegretto is ready to level up its luxury game. Expect more villas, more amenities, and more reasons to never leave this wine country wonderland. And with Steve Gleason crafting new wines from the ever-improving vineyards, wine enthusiasts can look forward to even more delectable Reserve and single vineyard options to tickle their taste buds.
No matter what the future brings, Allegretto Vineyard will always be dedicated to creating unforgettable experiences that perfectly blend luxury, laughter, and the ultimate wine country joy. Cheers to that!