Paso Robles Wine Country

Sustainably farmed, Still Waters handcrafts over 22 different wines. Choose from many special tasting locations, like the gazebo, koi pond, olive grove, or under a great oak.

Next, freshen up back at the hotel and prepare yourself for a real treat dining at The Restaurant at Niner Wine Estates. Named #1 Best Winery Restaurant by USA Today and “Top Winery Restaurants in America” by Food & Wine, this experience exemplifies wine country. Seasonal and themed dinners occur on a limited basis. Spring dinners include A Fancy Night Out, Winemaker Dinners, and Vineyard Vista Dinners. Each multi-course, family-style meal is expertly paired with Niner wines and created to highlight the best the season has to offer.

Local tip: Take pictures from Niner with the picturesque Heart Hill in the background.

Day Three

Start day three with coffee from local hangout Spearhead Coffee across the street from your hotel. Next, head west on Highway 46 for coastal views and the brilliant, green, rolling landscape. Just 15 minutes from Paso Robles, crest the Santa Lucia Mountains and be amazed by the Pacific coastline. To the south is the iconic Morro Rock in Morro Bay and the small surfer town of Cayucos.

A tad farther to the north, nestled between pine trees hugging the ocean, is Cambria, with San Simeon, home to the world-famous Hearst Castle and elephant seal rookery, just a tad to the north. Choose one of the few turnouts on Highway 46 for breathtaking views or drive the additional 15 minutes longer to explore Highway 1 to the south or north and the multitude of beaches. It’s good for the soul and one of the most memorable drives in North America.

After epic coastal sights and crisp salty air, head back on Highway 46 and make a left turn onto Vineyard Drive. This meandering road, which is dusted with bright purple lupin and pastel sweet peas, loops through what’s known as the Westside of Paso Robles wine country. Scattered with highly acclaimed wineries and established vineyards, the offshoots of backroads will lead you to adventure at every turn.

The list of outstanding wineries and unique experiences on Vineyard Drive is a long one. You won’t be able to do them all, but here are a few recommended stops. First, there’s the cheese and wine paring at Jada. We are obsessed with the Jersey Girl Syrah. You can enjoy the wide-open views and handcrafted wines at Paix Sur Terre or head to Oso Libre to taste the Por Vida Estate Blend and their estate beef. Enjoy Brecon Estate for the boutique wine tasting in the gardens and super-cool photo op with the giant hanging Brecon frame. And last, but certainly not least, experience a visit to Whalebone Winery to see THE whalebone pulled from the vineyard, meet some of the nicest people in the world, grab a pic of you and Bentley the Bulldog, and taste and purchase the infamous Bob Wine.

Local tip : Before heading out west for the day, pick up box lunches from Red Scooter Deli. We are obsessed with the tuna’licious and the veggie wrap!

After Vineyard Drive, head back to the hotel and tap into some of those delicious bottles you collected over your two-day itinerary in Paso Robles wine country. Still hungry for more? Head to downtown Paso Robles and let your nose guide the way to another fabulous meal from one of the many chef-owned-and-inspired restaurants.

Local tip: Bring that special bottle you purchased out on the wine trail to dinner. Local restaurants often offer a lower-priced corkage fee for local wines that are not already on their wine list. n