I’m just back from a week along the central California coast and already I am planning my next trip there. October 16- 18, 2009 is the Harvest Wine Weekend in the region surrounding Paso Robles where over 130 local wineries will host a myriad of activities in celebration of the 2009 harvest. It’s a pick and choose create your own itinerary which includes barrel tasting of previously uncorked vintages, bottling and blending seminars, even grape stomping tops the list as wine enthusiasts will get a rare peek at the processes surrounding a grape’s journey from the moment it leaves the vine until its splendor is released in the glass. From cheese sampling to spectacular gourmet dining, many venues will feature live music to enhance the experience under a leafy canopy of oaks and sycamores. As I plan this sojourn to my favorite and fastest-growing California wine region, I reflect on my affinity for the wine culture and what compels me to share news of this harvest event.
One cannot extol the virtues of the fermented grape without pause to celebrate the dedication of a vast network of growers and vintners as well. Each sip of wine is a labor of love - these specialized artisans deftly work with hands and hearts to produce the best wines available on the market today. Beyond this my affection is comprised of pure infatuation, easily spread and cautiously addictive. Behold the tint of a pale chardonnay held up to the sparkling light of a mid-day sun or the autumnal purple of a pinot noir as it tumbles into your glass. Rejoice in the design of architecturally unique tasting rooms which combine the tangible elements of wood, stone, stainless steel, tile or brick - some with fireplaces or polished rock floors, soaring ceilings, exposed beams, wooden tasting bars smooth from wear or granite cool to the touch. Gaping windows frame endless views, and paintings by local artists summon the eye. No matter the season, one cannot help but revel in the setting of the quintessential California landscape, rolling vineyards amidst the oaks under a timeless blue sky. Inhale the “feel good” green of a mid-summer vineyard as if every cell of your body can absorb its photosynthetic energy. Marvel in the harvest colors of an autumn field or pause in the tranquility of a vineyard in winter, barren in the pinkish glow of a late January sun. Each of these elements is exclusive, yet combined they exact the brush strokes of a painting which invites you to step in, experience and savor the essence of wine country as it is meant to be.
Paso Robles, small town that it is, offers the unexpected. The charming downtown with a historic central park is replete with restaurants, boutique shops, wine tasting rooms, and stores featuring locally produced olive oils for the sampling. Hotel choices in town range from the intimate Hotel Cheval to the one hundred year old Paso Robles Inn. California hospitality awaits you with a wide selection of bed and breakfast inns which dot the hills surrounding Highway 101. Venture a short drive west out Highway 46 and you will arrive at the fog-cooled Pacific Coast with legendary towns like Morro Bay, Cambria, and the Hearst Castle - each a destination unto itself. Forty-five minutes south of Paso Robles along Highway 101 you arrive at San Luis Obispo where a Thursday evening farmer’s market along Higuera Street attracts hordes of local folk vying for the attention of fruit, vegetable, and flower vendors, not to mention live music and mouth-watering barbeque at every turn. A perfect place to end your stay is at the Sycamore Mineral Springs with its 20 health-enhancing mineral springs that meander up sycamore and oak studded hillsides. Yoga classes and massage therapy at the springs make this the perfect place to unwind after indulging in the sights.
Elaine Pike- A Happy Traveller
One cannot extol the virtues of the fermented grape without pause to celebrate the dedication of a vast network of growers and vintners as well. Each sip of wine is a labor of love - these specialized artisans deftly work with hands and hearts to produce the best wines available on the market today. Beyond this my affection is comprised of pure infatuation, easily spread and cautiously addictive. Behold the tint of a pale chardonnay held up to the sparkling light of a mid-day sun or the autumnal purple of a pinot noir as it tumbles into your glass. Rejoice in the design of architecturally unique tasting rooms which combine the tangible elements of wood, stone, stainless steel, tile or brick - some with fireplaces or polished rock floors, soaring ceilings, exposed beams, wooden tasting bars smooth from wear or granite cool to the touch. Gaping windows frame endless views, and paintings by local artists summon the eye. No matter the season, one cannot help but revel in the setting of the quintessential California landscape, rolling vineyards amidst the oaks under a timeless blue sky. Inhale the “feel good” green of a mid-summer vineyard as if every cell of your body can absorb its photosynthetic energy. Marvel in the harvest colors of an autumn field or pause in the tranquility of a vineyard in winter, barren in the pinkish glow of a late January sun. Each of these elements is exclusive, yet combined they exact the brush strokes of a painting which invites you to step in, experience and savor the essence of wine country as it is meant to be.
Paso Robles, small town that it is, offers the unexpected. The charming downtown with a historic central park is replete with restaurants, boutique shops, wine tasting rooms, and stores featuring locally produced olive oils for the sampling. Hotel choices in town range from the intimate Hotel Cheval to the one hundred year old Paso Robles Inn. California hospitality awaits you with a wide selection of bed and breakfast inns which dot the hills surrounding Highway 101. Venture a short drive west out Highway 46 and you will arrive at the fog-cooled Pacific Coast with legendary towns like Morro Bay, Cambria, and the Hearst Castle - each a destination unto itself. Forty-five minutes south of Paso Robles along Highway 101 you arrive at San Luis Obispo where a Thursday evening farmer’s market along Higuera Street attracts hordes of local folk vying for the attention of fruit, vegetable, and flower vendors, not to mention live music and mouth-watering barbeque at every turn. A perfect place to end your stay is at the Sycamore Mineral Springs with its 20 health-enhancing mineral springs that meander up sycamore and oak studded hillsides. Yoga classes and massage therapy at the springs make this the perfect place to unwind after indulging in the sights.
Elaine Pike- A Happy Traveller
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