10 Gorgeous Wineries Every Aficionado Should Visit in Paso Robles
Napa and Sonoma are no longer the only faces of California’s thriving wine scene. The central coast is emerging as a key player of The Golden State’s viticulture and Paso Robles is at the forefront, producing some top-rated, highly acclaimed wines that even have the Brits and Europeans talking. Ideally seated between Los Angeles and San Francisco (perfect for a wine-centric road trip!), Paso Robles has long been known for producing zinfandel and Rhone-style wines. There's a more rural, laid-back feel here compared to Napa and, more recently, even Sonoma, that makes for a truly authentic, intimate, and memorable tasting experience if you're fortunate enough to visit.
If you're wondering about the best wineries in Paso Robles, there's plenty of exploration to be done with a few bottles and your palate. The following wineries highlight different slices of Paso Robles’s diverse terrain, thoughtful approach to winemaking, and ripening reputation as a top destination for oenophiles to visit in the U.S. Plus, get a wine recommendation for each, straight from the makers themselves, to ensure a proper introduction to these acclaimed labels. Here, the best wineries in Paso Robles, California, to add to your travel bucket list.
Eberle Winery
Eberle Winery is the brainchild of founder Gary Eberle. He fell in love with food and wine during his cellular genetics fellowship, which sparked a new dream of creating an American cabernet sauvignon that would rival those of Bordeaux. Eberle moved to Paso Robles, and the winery’s flagship bottle of Cabernet Sauvignon was released several years later in 1979. Since then, Gary Eberle and his namesake winery have accomplished major feats for winemaking in Paso Robles and California as a whole: He co-founded the Paso Robles appellation in 1983 and was the first to list it on a wine label. He and his wines have won numerous awards over the years, the latest being deemed an American Wine Legend by Wine Enthusiast in 2020.
Tasting experiences at Eberle Winery are available by appointment with options ranging from complimentary tastings on the deck to VIP offerings in the winery’s 8,000 square foot wine caves. You’ll likely be greeted by the winery’s standard poodle mascots, Barbera and Sangiovese, and you’re welcome to bring your pup along for the day, too. While the Eberle Estate Cab is the flagship wine, Gary Eberle’s favorite white wine is the brand’s viognier, which is expressive and very food-friendly.
Villa Creek Cellars
Villa Creek Cellars is a Demeter-certified biodynamic and CCOF-certified organic winery in West Paso Robles. The family-owned and -operated winery was established in 1996 and seeks to balance Old World winemaking traditions with New World technologies. Villa Creek uses a traditional type of natural, whole-cluster fermentation that uses native yeasts to bring a sense of texture and terroir to each bottle while allowing the grapes to shine. The winery has since expanded to a second label, MAHA, which features wines sourced solely from the MAHA Estate where many of Villa Creek’s grapes come from.
Visits to Villa Creek Cellars are available by appointment with experiences offered in the tasting room and on the patio overlooking the MAHA Estate vineyards. These tastings highlight the winery’s zest for grenache and Rhone-style wines, showcasing that California deserves to be known for more than chardonnay and cabernet sauvignon.
DAOU Vineyards
DAOU Vineyards was born out of a desire to find the best terroir in California. Aspiring winemakers Georges and Daniel Daou found it in Paso Robles at a breathtaking site in the Adelaida District now called DAOU Mountain. The Daous were the first to bring cabernet clones from the most iconic regions around the world to Paso Robles and dreamed of making the region known for incredible cabernet and Bordeaux varietals in a land of zinfandel and Rhone-style wines. DAOU Vineyards has since produced the highest-rated cabernet sauvignon in the Central Coast region and nearly 60% of Paso Robles grapes are cabernet sauvignon or Bordeaux varietals.
You’ll need to be thoughtful about a visit to DAOU Vineyards, as it is advised to book your desired experience six weeks in advance. From guided walking tours around DAOU Mountain and off-roading adventures to elegant tastings with panoramic views of the vineyards, there’s something for every type of oenophile to experience here.
Booker Wines
Located in West Paso Robles, Booker Wines was founded by winemaker and farmer Eric Jensen, and his wife, Lisa. After working with other acclaimed wineries in the region, inclduding Saxum and L’Aventure, Jensen released his first vintage in 2005 and has become renowned for his Rhone-style wines, as well as his passion project, My Favorite Neighbor. Booker Wines is a CCOF-certified, solar-powered farm that’s as passionate about what isn’t going into its wine bottles as it is about what does.
Eric and Lisa opened up a new visitors space in 2021 with a design that mirrors the estate’s growing principles. Inspired by California minimalism, the estate is full of indoor-outdoor entertaining spaces that offer terraces for tranquil tastings and bocce fields for those looking to make an afternoon out of a trip to Booker.
J. Lohr
Farmer-turned-winemaker Jerry Lohr was a pioneer of Paso Robles wine country and realized its potential for producing chardonnay and other Bordeaux varietals in the 1980s after beginning his wine journey in Monterey County. His namesake winery is still owned and operated by his family after 50 years and features eight tiers of wines that come from more than 4,000 acres across the Central Coast and Napa Valley. More than half of those vineyards are located in Paso Robles, where one of J. Lohr’s two wine centers are located.
Reservations are required to experiences J. Lohr’s vineyard farmhouse in Paso Robles for seasonal picks and winery-exclusive bottles. Tastings are only available Thursdays through Mondays, so be sure to plan accordingly.
Sculpterra Winery
Located in the Linne Valley just a few miles east of Paso Robles, Sculpterra Winery is a 135-acre estate that grows both grapes and pistachios. The estate is owned by Dr. Warren and Kathy Frankel, who moved here in 1979 and can often be found riding their horses across the property. Their son Paul, who grew up at the estate, became Sculpterra’s head winemaker in 2008. The winery produces two labels: its eponymous brand and Héroe, both of which have produced numerous award-winning wines.
Sculpterra Winery & Sculpture Garden is a must-visit for lovers of both wine and art, and walk-ins are welcome. The visitor’s center features a multi-million dollar sculpture garden that highlights an array of prominent artists. There’s always something going on at the winery, be it live music every weekend, monthly festivals, or intense table tennis matches at the winery’s “Central Park West” gaming area.
Adelaida Vineyards & Winery
Founded in 1981, Adelaida Vineyards & Winery is home to seven organically farmed estate vineyards in the coastal-influenced Santa Lucia Mountain range in West Paso Robles. Adelaida was one of the first 10 wineries in the AVA and quickly became the premier winery of its namesake district. While the winery started out with a sole focus on cabernet sauvignon, it has since expanded to produce chardonnay, pinot noir, and the dry-farmed zinfandel and Rhone-style wines Paso Robles is known for.
All visits to Adelaida Vineyards & Winery require a reservation to enjoy its array of tasting experiences across its wine estate vineyards, organic walnut ranch, and intentional wetlands. Tasting appointments are available Wednesdays through Mondays with three different experiences starting at $25 per person. The winery recommends introducing yourself to the portfolio with the 2019 Anna’s Red ($50), which Adelaida considers to be an ideal vintage.
JUSTIN Vineyards & Winery
JUSTIN Vineyards & Winery was founded in 1981 and has since become a leader in New World Bordeaux-style wine production. Known for its iconic Isosceles blend of cabernet sauvignon, cabernet franc, and merlot, JUSTIN melds the best of Old World methods and New World technologies to create fantastic wines at accessible prices.
A visit to JUSTIN Vineyards & Winery is a must when traveling to Paso Robles, as the estate is home to a tasting room, five-star accommodations at the JUST Inn, and an acclaimed restaurant for a truly immersive viticulture experience. The winery also has a second tasting location in Downtown Paso Robles that features a bar, lounge, and full dining room. Reservations are recommended. Try JUSTIN’s 2019 cabernet sauvignon ($30) to discover what Paso Robles’s unique climate and soil can bring to the character of a classic cabernet.
Patrimony Estate
The latest wine-centric venture from the Daou brothers, Patrimony Estate furthers the brothers’ dream of creating a world-renowned cabernet sauvignon in California. In just a few years, the pair has certainly done so as Patrimony Estate has received major acclaim from the most prestigious names, such as London’s legendary Carson & Carnevale Wines. Using the science of phenolics and the Adelaida District’s unique terroir that Daniel Daou deems the best in the country, the Daous are dedicated to blending data and passion to create innovative, age-worthy, and drinkable bottles.
While Patrimony Estate is not currently open to visitors, the brothers are currently working on building The Chateau, set to open in 2025. The Chateau will feature eight luxurious suites, a Michelin-level restaurant, a cheese cave, cigar lounge, and more. While you wait to enjoy its library of vintages in person, introduce yourself to the estate with a highly acclaimed bottle of the 2018 Patrimony Estate cabernet franc ($275).
Austin Hope
Another major playmaker in the world of cabernet sauvignon, Austin Hope is a branch of the third-generation family-owned and -operated Hope Family Wines. Chuck Hope came to Paso Robles to farm grapes in 1978 and helped to establish the region’s AVA five years later before launching Hope Family Wines. Son Austin joined the team in 1996 and a now-legendary California wine label was born. Austin Hope pulls from the best grapes across the districts that are most defining of cabernet sauvignon in the region that has received countless accolades, notably as the #7 bottle in Wine Enthusiast's The Enthusiast 100 in 2020.
The Austin Hope & Treana Tasting Cellar is designed to create casual, accessible experiences for its luxury wines. There are lounges and cabanas to enjoy different types of tastings daily, and reservations are required. You can also participate in virtual tastings to enjoy a taste of Paso Robles from wherever you are in the world. Try the 2020 Austin Hope cabernet sauvignon ($56), which is the label’s most popular and highest-rated wine.
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