Keeping it real with owners, winemakers, growers and personalities as they discuss the places and wines that have shaped the Paso Robles Wine Region
🍇 Where Wine Takes You, Episode Highlights 🍷
This week, we continue our journey through the eleven sub-AVAs of Paso Robles with a stop in the Templeton Gap District, where the Pacific gets a vote, the wind rarely takes the day off, and Paso’s natural power finds a little extra freshness, perfume, and lift.
Joining Adam at SLO CAL Studios are two winemakers operating on very different timelines.
Vic Roberts, owner, estate grower, and winemaker at Victor Hugo Winery, arrived in Paso Robles in 1982. A UC Davis enology graduate, Vic helped with the original Paso Robles AVA effort, participated in the early growth of the Paso Robles Wine Festival, and planted his Templeton property one section at a time with his wife, Leslie.
Sitting beside him is Scott Mathews, owner and winemaker at 915 Lincoln Wines. Scott’s wine journey began when he announced plans to make wine from a kit, and a friend immediately told him absolutely not. Real grapes were picked, an obsession was born, and the project eventually outgrew the garage and basement at 915 Lincoln.
Today, Scott is building a small-production label and welcoming guests into his tasting room on Pine Street in Paso Robles.
Together, Vic and Scott discuss estate farming versus creative sourcing, Viognier’s long climb toward name recognition, small vineyards, tasting-room realities, shifting consumer habits, the current wine market, and how a winemaker stays flexible without losing the reason they started.
Two winemakers.
Two completely different clocks.
One cool, windy corner of Paso Robles tying their stories together.
Later, the Travel Paso Spotlight heads just off the downtown Paso Robles park to Nectar Supply Co., a modern apothecary and lifestyle shop featuring clean skincare, wellness goods, home fragrance, gifts, and small-batch products.
Caleb joins Adam to explain what a modern apothecary actually is, how Nectar curates its shelves, what the shop adds to the downtown Paso experience, and where a first-time visitor should begin.
Guests + Featured Brands* Victor Hugo Winery
victorhugowinery.com
Instagram: @victorhugowinery
* 915 Lincoln Wines
915lincoln.com
Instagram: @915lincoln
* Nectar Supply Co.
nectarsupplyco.com
Instagram: @nectarsupplyco
* Travel Paso
travelpaso.com
🌐 Paso Wine Wire
🍷 Cab Franc Masters returns to Paso Robles
The fourth annual Cab Franc Masters takes place Sunday, December 6, 2026, at Cass Winery.
The event includes expert-led seminars, culinary pairings, and a grand tasting featuring more than 25 Paso Robles producers pouring Cabernet Franc.
The day begins with a global exploration of the grape led by Sam Schmitt of the Central Coast School of Wine, followed by a food-pairing seminar with winemaker and educator Wes Hagen.
🔗 Read more:
WineBusiness announcement
🔗 Tickets and information:
CabFrancMasters.com
🍇 Central Coast vineyards running early
Central Coast vineyards are reportedly running three to four weeks ahead of schedule, with a lighter 2026 crop also expected.
An early harvest can compress labor, trucking, picking schedules, tank space, and winery production while a lighter crop can affect grape availability and the financial outlook for growers and producers.
🔗 Read more:
Central Coast harvest report
🏡 Bodega de Edgar moves to Templeton
Bodega de Edgar is shifting its tasting-room experience from Paso Robles to Templeton.
The new location is at the Lone Madrone property on West Highway 46, alongside Kitchen 46, adding another wine and food stop to the Templeton tasting map.
Visitors should confirm the current tasting location and hours before arriving.
🔗 Visit Bodega de Edgar:
BodegaDeEdgar.com/visit
🌅 Travel Paso Spotlight
This week’s Travel Paso Spotlight features Nectar Supply Co., located just off the downtown Paso Robles park at 840 11th Street, Suite 102.
The modern apothecary and lifestyle shop offers clean skincare, wellness products, home fragrance, gifts, and small-batch goods curated to turn everyday routines into more thoughtful rituals.
🔗 Learn more:
NectarSupplyCo.com
📱 Instagram:
@nectarsupplyco
🎯 Plan your next Paso Robles getaway at travelpaso.com
📲 Where Wine Takes You now has its own Instagram. Follow us at @wherewinetakesyou for new episodes, behind-the-scenes pours, guest highlights, and more from Paso wine country.
🎙️ RECORDED AT SLO CAL STUDIOS
Recorded at SLO CAL Studios, San Luis Obispo County, California.
SLO CAL — where the wine is world-class, the people are real, and life is too beautiful to rush.
For turns well taken:
https://slocal.com
🎧 Subscribe & FollowLove Where Wine Takes You? Leave a review, subscribe, and share it with a fellow wine (or Paso) lover.🎙️ CreditsExecutive Producer: Joel Peterson + Paso WineAssociate Producer: Krista SmithRecorded, edited, hosted by Adam MontielFollow Adam: @AdamOnTheAirExplore all things Adam: AdamMontiel.comListen to Adam’s other shows: Up + Adam (daily) and The Pour (wine & more, travel, culture) Learn more, connect, or say hey at AdamMontiel.com/connect🎵 Original music by Moonshiner Collective
📱 Download the Paso Wine App
🍷 Plan your trip at PasoWine.com and follow @PasoWine
🎯 Plan your next Paso Robles getaway at travelpaso.com🎧 Subscribe & Follow
If you love Where Wine Takes You, make sure to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with your favorite wine or Paso lover.
©2026 Where Wine Takes You, All Rights Reserved.
🍇 Where Wine Takes You – Episode Highlights 🍷
In this episode of Where Wine Takes You, Adam sits down with two people who represent both sides of the bottle: Janell Dusi, owner and winemaker of J Dusi Wines, and Octavio “Tavo” García Martínez, founder of Martínez Farming.
Recorded at SLO CAL Studios, the conversation celebrates Janell being named the 2026 Winemaker of the Year and Tavo being named the 2026 Wine Grape Grower of the Year. The honors recognize two very different journeys. One is rooted in a century of Paso family history. The other was built through decades of vineyard work, entrepreneurship, and leadership.
Janell grew up in the Dante Dusi Vineyard, where grapevines surrounded her childhood home and her grandfather Dante taught her old-world Italian winemaking. After making her first Zinfandel as a kid, she launched J Dusi Wines in 2006 and built a winery that carries her family’s legacy forward with her own perspective.
This appearance is also a full-circle moment. Janell was the very first guest on Where Wine Takes You. Six years later, she returns with 20 years of J Dusi wine in the bottle and a Winemaker of the Year belt buckle around her waist.
Tavo was born in Oaxaca, Mexico, came to the United States as a teenager, and built his career from the ground up in California’s vineyards. He founded Martínez Farming in 2010 and now provides vineyard development, farming, and management services while using social media to show the work, people, and knowledge behind every grape.
Janell has seen Tavo’s leadership firsthand, including overnight harvests when he arrives with dozens of Double-Doubles, donuts, ice, and whatever else his crew needs. His style of leadership is built not just on managing vineyards, but on taking care of the people working inside them.
They also talk about an extraordinarily early 2026 harvest, Janell’s expanding partnership with Maker Wine, her canned wine headed to United Airlines, Tavo’s enormous online following, and what it feels like when years of quiet work are finally recognized out loud.
Later, the Travel Paso Spotlight fires up the grill for the 27th annual Paso Robles Rotary Winemakers’ Cookoff, happening Saturday, August 8, 2026, from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Paso Robles Event Center. Local wineries serve their wine alongside competition-worthy food while battling for People’s Choice and Judges’ Choice honors. More importantly, the event supports scholarships for local high-school seniors through the Harlow Ford Scholarship Fund.
Guests + Featured Brands J Dusi Winesjdusiwines.com
Instagram: @jdusiwines
* Martínez Farmingmartinez-farming.com
Instagram: @martinez_farming
* Paso Robles Rotary Winemakers’ Cookoffwinemakerscookoff.com
* Travel Paso*travelpaso.com
🌐 Paso Wine Wire
🏆 Toast Tours earns major national recognition
Paso-based Toast Tours was named California’s highest-ranked wine tour company and the number-two wine tour company in the United States in the 2026 USA Today 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards. Founded by Kristina Horton and Lars Bruinink, the company is known for personalized itineraries, local guides, and experiences built around each guest.
🔗 Read more:
https://www.winebusiness.com/news/article/321273
🥃 Paso Robles Distillery Trail Weekend
The annual Distillery Trail Weekend runs August 7 to 9, 2026, with special tastings, tours, demonstrations, live music, food, and experiences at 12 boutique distilleries. Visitors who collect stamps from at least six locations can earn a limited-edition Paso Robles Distillers shot glass.
🔗 Event details:
pasodistillerytrail.com
🥂 Paso Robles White Wine Invitational
The third annual Paso Robles White Wine Invitational takes place Saturday, August 1, 2026, from 4 to 7 p.m. at Rava Winery. More than 20 producers will pour quality-driven white wines in a walk-around tasting designed to show that Paso’s range goes far beyond big reds. Advance tickets are required.
🔗 Event details:
pasorobleswhitewineguild.com
🌅 Travel Paso Spotlight
The 27th annual Paso Robles Rotary Winemakers’ Cookoff takes place Saturday, August 8, 2026, from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Paso Robles Event Center.
Enjoy wine, food, live music, and friendly competition while supporting scholarships for local students.
🔗 Information and tickets:
winemakerscookoff.com
🎯 Plan your next Paso Robles getaway at travelpaso.com
🎙️ RECORDED AT SLO CAL STUDIOS
Recorded at SLO CAL Studios, San Luis Obispo County, California.
SLO CAL — where the wine is world-class, the people are real, and life is too beautiful to rush.
For turns well taken:
https://slocal.com
🎧 Subscribe & FollowLove Where Wine Takes You? Leave a review, subscribe, and share it with a fellow wine (or Paso) lover.🎙️ CreditsExecutive Producer: Joel Peterson + Paso WineAssociate Producer: Krista SmithRecorded, edited, hosted by Adam MontielFollow Adam: @AdamOnTheAirExplore all things Adam: AdamMontiel.comListen to Adam’s other shows: Up + Adam (daily) and The Pour (wine & more, travel, culture) Learn more, connect, or say hey at AdamMontiel.com/connect🎵 Original music by Moonshiner Collective
📱 Download the Paso Wine App
🍷 Plan your trip at PasoWine.com and follow @PasoWine
🎯 Plan your next Paso Robles getaway at travelpaso.com🎧 Subscribe & Follow
If you love Where Wine Takes You, make sure to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with your favorite wine or Paso lover.
©2026 Where Wine Takes You, All Rights Reserved.
🍇 Where Wine Takes You: Episode Highlights 🍷
In this episode of Where Wine Takes You, Adam sits down with Phil Lamontagne, owner and winemaker of IIWII Wines, and Taylor Mathiesen, owner and winemaker of Cutbow Wines, for a conversation about the space between paychecks and passion.
Recorded at SLO CAL Studios, the episode brings together two emerging Paso Robles brands from what Phil calls the “good draft class of ’22.” Both launched in 2022. Both are earning serious respect. And both are still being built around full-time jobs, long cellar days, supportive partners, hard-earned relationships, and the belief that a small brand can grow into something much bigger.
For Phil, IIWII, pronounced “ee-wee”, grew from his years working with Jennifer and Terry Hoage at TH Estate Wines. When the Hoages retired, Phil and longtime coworker Cyril Pujadas found themselves pushed from the nest. Instead of walking away from what they had built, they created IIWII: short for “It Is What It Is.”
But the name is not about giving up. For Phil, it describes the reality of winemaking. It is this vintage, this hillside, this weather, this fruit, and this moment. The winemaker’s job is to capture it honestly, using the raw chemistry of wine as a palette for what he calls abstract art under a cork.
Taylor’s Cutbow story started with a happy accident. After five formative years at Booker Vineyard, Taylor joined Bret Urness at Levo. During the 2022 harvest, Bret had an extra ton of Grenache from Jack Creek Vineyard and encouraged Taylor to take it, experiment, and make the wine his own.
The name comes from a cutbow trout, a hybrid of a cutthroat and rainbow trout, and Taylor’s childhood fly-fishing trips with his grandfather. For Taylor and his wife, Emma, the fish became a symbol of two individuals coming together to create something distinct, beautiful, and entirely their own.
Adam, Phil, and Taylor get into the open-cellar culture that makes Paso different, the mentors who made time for them, the challenge of finding your own voice without rejecting your influences, and what it takes to build a premium wine brand when the day job is still paying the bills.
🌐 PASO WINE WIRE
Third Annual Paso Robles White Wine Invitational
The Paso Robles White Wine Invitational returns Saturday, August 1, 2026, from 4 to 7 p.m. at Rava Wines.
What began as a collaboration among seven like-minded wineries has grown into a major Central Coast celebration featuring more than twenty producers. The participating lineup includes Tablas Creek, Union Sacré, Paix Sur Terre, Monochrome, Kinero, Alta Colina, Thacher, Giornata, Villa Creek, and episode guest IIWII Wines.
The walk-around tasting includes live music, food available for purchase, and oysters that can be added when making a reservation. Advance tickets are required.
🔗 Event details:
https://pasowine.com/member-event/3rd-annual-white-wine-invitational/
Tablas Creek’s Original Nursery Block Is Still Teaching Lessons at 32
Tablas Creek Vineyard is looking back at the original nursery block that helped seed the modern American Rhône movement.
The block began with a small number of Rhône cuttings brought into the United States, quarantined, propagated, and eventually distributed to growers throughout the West Coast. At its peak, Tablas Creek was selling hundreds of thousands of vines annually to roughly 600 vineyards.
Jason Haas estimates that around 70 percent of the wineries at a typical Rhône Rangers tasting work, at least partly, with material that originally came through Tablas Creek.
More than three decades later, those own-rooted vines remain healthy and productive. Their longevity is now raising new questions about what own-rooted Mourvèdre may be capable of under the right conditions.
🔗 Read the story:
https://blog.tablascreek.com/2026/07/our-original-nursery-block-source-of-most-of-californias-rhone-cuttings-still-teaching-us-lessons-at-age-32/
🥃 TRAVEL PASO SPOTLIGHT
Paso Robles Distillery Trail Weekend
This episode’s Travel Paso Spotlight trades the corkscrew for the cocktail shaker and explores the Paso Robles Distillery Trail.
Distillery Trail Weekend happens August 7–9, 2026, bringing together twelve boutique distilleries for three days of local spirits, special tastings, tours, demonstrations, and build-your-own exploration.
No general-admission ticket is required. Visitors can pick up a map at any participating distillery or the Paso Robles Visitor Center, create their own route, and start exploring. Guests who visit at least six distilleries and collect a stamp at each stop earn a limited-edition Paso Robles Distillers shot glass.
The 2026 Copper Card adds one complimentary tasting at each participating distillery, access to select private tours, demonstrations and events, plus discounts at certain locations. The cards do not expire, allowing visitors to experience the trail at their own pace.
Adam also makes the case for treating Paso’s distillers with the same respect and excitement given to its winemakers. These small producers are making world-class whiskey, gin, vodka, rum, brandy, liqueurs, and other craft spirits—often with tiny teams and major obstacles standing between their bottles and the people who want them.
Visit them. Taste what they are making. Ask questions. Buy a bottle. Supporting local producers matters.
HELP YOUR LOCAL DISTILLERS HERE
🎯 Plan your next Paso Robles getaway at travelpaso.com
🎙️ RECORDED AT SLO CAL STUDIOS
Recorded at SLO CAL Studios, San Luis Obispo County, California.
SLO CAL — where the wine is world-class, the people are real, and life is too beautiful to rush.
For turns well taken:
https://slocal.com
🎧 Subscribe & FollowLove Where Wine Takes You? Leave a review, subscribe, and share it with a fellow wine (or Paso) lover.🎙️ CreditsExecutive Producer: Joel Peterson + Paso WineAssociate Producer: Krista SmithRecorded, edited, hosted by Adam MontielFollow Adam: @AdamOnTheAirExplore all things Adam: AdamMontiel.comListen to Adam’s other shows: Up + Adam (daily) and The Pour (wine & more, travel, culture) Learn more, connect, or say hey at AdamMontiel.com/connect🎵 Original music by Moonshiner Collective
📱 Download the Paso Wine App
🍷 Plan your trip at PasoWine.com and follow @PasoWine
🎯 Plan your next Paso Robles getaway at travelpaso.com🎧 Subscribe & Follow
If you love Where Wine Takes You, make sure to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with your favorite wine or Paso lover.
©2026 Where Wine Takes You, All Rights Reserved.
🍇 Where Wine Takes You: Episode Highlights 🍷
In this episode of Where Wine Takes You, Adam sits down with Janis Pelletiere, owner and founder of Pelletiere Estate Vineyard & Winery; Riley Roddick, founder, owner, and winemaker of Hubba Wines; and Morgan Stepp of Pelletiere Estate for a conversation about family names, inheritance, independence, and what we choose to make permanent.
Recorded at SLO CAL Studios, the conversation brings together two very different approaches to building a wine legacy.
For Janis, that legacy is rooted in place. She took her family name, Italian heritage, and decades of entrepreneurial experience and turned them into Pelletiere Estate, a mother-daughter-owned winery and vineyard in Paso Robles’ Willow Creek District. Janis and Morgan share how they restored the property, built the winery from different sides of the Pacific, and created an intimate estate experience centered on Italian varieties, hospitality, and family.
For Riley, family shows up right on the label. Hubba comes from her original last name, Hubbard, and her wines are named for relatives, friends, pets, nicknames, and the stories that come with them. The result is less like a traditional wine portfolio and more like a family album you can drink.
Riley also gets into her hands-off, but definitely not careless, approach to winemaking. She talks native fermentation, trusting the fruit, choosing vineyards by vibe, and learning from some of Paso’s most respected winemakers. Stephan Asseo gave her control and cellar discipline. Scott Hawley showed her how organization can create the freedom to step back. Vailia From gave her the spreadsheets. Riley added the vibes.
And then there’s the barrel of Carignan sitting in Riley’s garage. It may become a ten-year cult wine. It may become the most expensive vinegar in Paso Robles. We’re rooting for it either way.
The conversation also catches Riley in a huge personal chapter: new motherhood. Baby Jones has arrived, sleep is negotiable, and Riley is entering Hubba’s tenth year while figuring out how family, freedom, control, and creativity all fit together now.
In this episode’s Travel Paso Spotlight, Adam checks in with California Mid-State Fair CEO Colleen Bojorquez in the middle of the fair’s twelve-day run. They talk about the fair’s big concerts, its back-to-the-’80s energy, the first-ever Day Zero show with Chris Stapleton, free stages, the tractor pull, fair food, shuttle tips, and what it takes to convince major artists that Paso Robles belongs on the itinerary.
🌐 PASO WINE WIRE
2026 SLO County Wine Industry Award Winners
Three major contributors to the local wine community are being honored at the California Mid-State Fair. Octavio García Martínez is the Wine Grape Grower of the Year, Janell Dusi is the Winemaker of the Year, and Andrew Jones is the Wine Industry Person of the Year.
The awards recognize three very different—but equally essential—parts of the region: vineyard stewardship, multigenerational winemaking, and the entrepreneurial spirit that helped turn Tin City into a major Paso destination.
The ceremony takes place Friday, July 17, at 4 p.m. in Mission Square at the California Mid-State Fair. A ticketed tasting of Central Coast Wine Competition gold-medal wines follows from 5 to 7 p.m., with Diablo Paso Wines also being recognized as Winery of the Year.
🔗 Read the story:
https://pasoroblesdailynews.com/paso-robles-wine-country-alliance-announces-2026-award-winners/221973/
Hope Family Wines Takes Over the Fair’s Hospitality Tent
Hope Family Wines is the official wine partner of the California Mid-State Fair Hospitality Tent, pouring wines from across the family’s portfolio and bringing some serious Paso personality with them.
The display includes a full-sized Troublemaker bull, an Austin Hope welcome backdrop, and a declaration we’re willing to support in the name of research: “Real Cowboys Drink Cabernet.”
The partnership builds on a big year for Hope Family Wines, including $167,000 raised for Must! Charities through the Austin Hope Charity Golf Tournament, a new partnership with Vina Robles Amphitheatre, and Austin Hope receiving the Spirit of Paso Award.
🔗 Read the story:
https://pasoroblesdailynews.com/hope-family-wines-named-official-wine-partner-of-mid-state-fair-hospitality-tent/221936/
🎡 TRAVEL PASO SPOTLIGHT
The California Mid-State Fair is happening now in Paso Robles, bringing twelve days of concerts, livestock, carnival rides, free entertainment, fair food, community traditions, and the kind of joyful chaos that somehow makes perfect sense once you’re inside the gates.
See the complete schedule, concert lineup, ticket information, visitor details, and fair updates at:
🎯 Plan your next Paso Robles getaway at travelpaso.com
🎙️ RECORDED AT SLO CAL STUDIOS
Recorded at SLO CAL Studios, San Luis Obispo County, California.
SLO CAL — where the wine is world-class, the people are real, and life is too beautiful to rush.
For turns well taken:
https://slocal.com
🎧 Subscribe & FollowLove Where Wine Takes You? Leave a review, subscribe, and share it with a fellow wine (or Paso) lover.🎙️ CreditsExecutive Producer: Joel Peterson + Paso WineAssociate Producer: Krista SmithRecorded, edited, hosted by Adam MontielFollow Adam: @AdamOnTheAirExplore all things Adam: AdamMontiel.comListen to Adam’s other shows: Up + Adam (daily) and The Pour (wine & more, travel, culture) Learn more, connect, or say hey at AdamMontiel.com/connect🎵 Original music by Moonshiner Collective
📱 Download the Paso Wine App
🍷 Plan your trip at PasoWine.com and follow @PasoWine
🎯 Plan your next Paso Robles getaway at travelpaso.com🎧 Subscribe & Follow
If you love Where Wine Takes You, make sure to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with your favorite wine or Paso lover.
©2026 Where Wine Takes You, All Rights Reserved.
🍇 Where Wine Takes You, Episode 175 Highlights 🍷Legacy and Lift-Off: OGs & New BloodIn this episode of Where Wine Takes You, Adam brings two generations of Paso Robles wine together for a conversation about roots, risk, reinvention, and what it takes to keep building when the business gets complicated.
Paul Hoover, owner and winemaker at Still Waters Vineyards, brings the long view. Paul is a Cal Poly agriculture guy, farmer, former hospitality executive, longtime business leader, home-winemaker-turned-estate-winemaker, fisherman, and one of the most approachable voices in Paso wine. His stories stretch from a formative wine education fueled by an employer’s monthly bottle allowance to buying the vineyard that became Still Waters during an earlier downturn in the grape market.
Paul also breaks down the current wine-business correction with refreshing honesty. The COVID years created extraordinary direct-to-consumer demand, wineries increased production to meet it, and then the market shifted before all that slow-moving inventory reached the end of the line. Paul calls it an “I Love Lucy” moment. More wine keeps coming down the conveyor belt while the industry tries to figure out where to put it.
Across the table is Kyle Jury, founder and winemaker at Truss Wines, representing the next wave. Kyle arrived at Cal Poly thinking architecture might be his future, moved into agribusiness and winemaking, interned at JUSTIN, and spent nearly nine years at Booker Vineyard, where Eric Jensen became both a mentor and a major influence on his winemaking and entrepreneurial outlook.
Kyle launched Truss in 2022 with a tiny Chardonnay project, an old high-school drawing of a truss bridge, and a name that came to represent architecture, support, collaboration, and the structure of his growing family. Today, Truss is based at the former TH Estate property in the Willow Creek District, where Kyle is shifting the focus toward estate-grown Syrah, Grenache, and Mourvèdre while continuing to make smaller amounts of coastal Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. His goal is not to abandon Paso power, but to find balance, elegance, acidity, and, true to the brand, beauty in structure.
What makes this conversation special is the handoff happening in real time. Kyle listens to Paul’s stories not as a history lesson, but as fuel. Paul looks at the next generation not as competition, but as proof that the work continues. As Kyle puts it, Truss started on second base with a special Willow Creek property. Now the job is to take the torch and keep it going.
This episode was recorded at SLO CAL Studios in San Luis Obispo County, California, where life’s too beautiful to rush. Learn more and plan your next countywide adventure at SLOCAL.com.
Featured Guests* Still Waters Vineyards * Instagram: @stillwatersvineyards * Truss Wines * Instagram: @trusswines
🌴 Travel Paso Spotlight: Concerts in the ParkLater in the episode, Adam shines the Travel Paso Spotlight on one of the city’s best summer traditions: Concerts in the Park.
Every Thursday evening from 6 to 8 p.m., Downtown Paso Robles City Park turns into one big community backyard, with blankets on the grass, kids dancing, friends sharing food, and live music under the trees. The 2026 season runs through August 20, with a lineup spanning classic rock, reggae, Latin music, R&B, and soul.
PASO WINE WIREPaso’s White Wines Take the Main StageThe Third Annual Paso Robles White Wine Invitational lands at Rava Winery on Saturday, August 1, from 4 to 7 p.m. More than twenty wineries will pour over 100 wines in a walk-around tasting dedicated to the bright, textured, increasingly exciting white-wine side of Paso Robles. Live music and food vendors round out the evening, and advance tickets are required.
🔗 White Wine Invitational Information and Tickets
Marin’s Vineyard Puts Gold in the BubblesMarin’s Vineyard earned a Gold Medal at the 2026 OC Fair Commercial Wine Competition for its 2024 Sparkling Viognier. The wine was also voted Best Sparkling Wine in the 2026 Best of the Central Coast Awards.
Winemaker Marin Wolgamott produces the wine in the pét-nat style, finishing fermentation inside the bottle before every bottle is disgorged by hand. The winery celebrates two years in Downtown Atascadero on August 22 and plans to release the 2025 Sparkling Viognier that weekend.
🔗 Read the Paso Robles Daily News story
🔗 Marin’s Vineyard
Instagram: @marinsvineyard
Pink Drank Returns PoolsidePink Drank Pool Social (Adam’s Rosé/Pink Event) returns Saturday, July 11, 2026, at the San Luis Obispo Elks Lodge. VIP entry begins at 2 p.m., general admission starts at 3, and the pink runs until 6.
More than 30 producers will pour wine, beer, cider, spirits, and cocktails alongside food, music, raffles, a wine pull, a silent auction, and actual pool time. Proceeds support Woods Humane Society and Elks charitable, scholarship, and youth programs. The event is 21 and over.
🔗 Pink Drank Tickets and Details
Instagram: @pinkdrank_poolsocial
🔗 Woods Humane Society
🎡 Summer in PasoThe California Mid-State Fair runs July 15 through July 26, 2026, at the Paso Robles Event Center, bringing twelve days of concerts, carnival rides, exhibits, livestock, food, and classic Paso fair energy.
🔗 California Mid-State Fair
And a friendly wine-country reminder: do not buy beautiful bottles and leave them cooking in the car. Bring a cooler, ask the winery to hold your purchase, or drop the wine at your hotel before the fair, dinner, or your next tasting stop.
🎯 Plan your next Paso Robles getaway at travelpaso.com
🎙️ RECORDED AT SLO CAL STUDIOS
Recorded at Adam’s SLO CAL Studios, San Luis Obispo County, California.
SLO CAL — where the wine is world-class, the people are real, and life is too beautiful to rush.
For turns well taken:
https://slocal.com
🎧 Subscribe & FollowLove Where Wine Takes You? Leave a review, subscribe, and share it with a fellow wine (or Paso) lover.🎙️ CreditsExecutive Producer: Joel Peterson + Paso WineAssociate Producer: Krista SmithRecorded, edited, hosted by Adam MontielFollow Adam: @AdamOnTheAirExplore all things Adam: AdamMontiel.comListen to Adam’s other shows: Up + Adam (daily) and The Pour (wine & more, travel, culture) Learn more, connect, or say hey at AdamMontiel.com/connect🎵 Original music by Moonshiner Collective
📱 Download the Paso Wine App
🍷 Plan your trip at PasoWine.com and follow @PasoWine
🎯 Plan your next Paso Robles getaway at travelpaso.com🎧 Subscribe & Follow
If you love Where Wine Takes You, make sure to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with your favorite wine or Paso lover.
©2026 Where Wine Takes You, All Rights Reserved.
🍇 Where Wine Takes You – Episode Highlights 🍷
In this episode of Where Wine Takes You, Adam heads downtown, not just to taste wine, but to dig into the people helping shape the downtown Paso Robles tasting room experience.
Recorded at SLO CAL Studios, this episode brings together two winemakers and brand owners with very different stories and a beautifully shared hustle: Ray Smith of Indigené Cellars and Enrique Torres of Diablo Paso.
Enrique’s journey starts in Guerrero, Mexico, and continues in Paso Robles, where he arrived in 2001 and began working at the former Martin & Weyrich winery. He worked his way up from cellar rat to cellar master to assistant winemaker, eventually creating Diablo Paso, his personal love letter to Spanish varieties, old world style, hard work, and family balance.
In this conversation, Enrique also drops some big news: Diablo Paso was named Winery of the Year at the Central Coast Wine Competition, with his El Nico taking Best Red, Double Gold, Best of Class, and 97 points. Not bad for a brand that started as a dream, a little troublemaker energy, and two barrels.
Ray Smith of Indigené Cellars brings a different but equally Paso story. Born and raised in Oakland, Ray came to Paso in the late 1980s and spent years behind the scenes in production, including building and operating mobile bottling lines. After years of bottling other people’s dreams, he created Indigené Cellars, a brand built around origin, terroir, evolution, and wines that speak clearly of place.
Ray also shares the personal story behind the Indigené label, which started with his young daughter saying all Dad thinks about is grapes and wine. Somehow, that became one of the most memorable label stories in Paso.
Together, Ray and Enrique represent something special happening downtown: small rooms, big soul, and wines that don’t feel like copies of each other. Diablo Paso and Indigené Cellars are only about 50 feet apart, but each offers a completely different experience: Spanish varieties and devilish charm at Diablo Paso, terroir-driven wines and deep conversation at Indigené.
Later in the show, Adam spotlights Fourth of July in Paso Robles at Barney Schwartz Park, a free, family-friendly celebration with food, live entertainment, a FunZone for kids, and one of the region’s favorite fireworks shows.
Guest Links:
Travel Paso Spotlight:
Fourth of July in Paso Robles at Barney Schwartz Park
The City of Paso Robles and Travel Paso host this free, family-friendly celebration featuring food vendors, live entertainment, family activities, a FunZone, and fireworks over Paso.
Paso Wine Wire:
Austin Hope Charity Golf Tournament Raises $167,000 for Must! Charities
The 2026 Austin Hope Charity Golf Tournament, hosted by Austin Hope and Hope Family Wines at Hunter Ranch Golf Course, raised $167,000 for Must! Charities. Since being reestablished in 2015, the event has raised $960,000 to support children, families, and nonprofit programs throughout San Luis Obispo County.
🔗 Read More: https://pasoroblesdailynews.com/golf-tournament-raises-167000-for-local-nonprofit/221466/
🔗 Must! Charities: https://www.mustcharities.org/
Paris Valley Road Launches “Sip & Sparkle”
Paris Valley Road Estate Winery has introduced Sip & Sparkle, a customizable sparkling spritz experience featuring three pours of sparkling wine and seasonal fruit and botanical mixers. The new summer experience invites guests to create their own sparkling combinations with flavors like strawberry, dragonfruit and key lime; orange, vanilla and rose; and pineapple, ube and yuzu.
🔗 Paris Valley Road: https://parisvalleyroad.com/
Pleasant Valley Wine Trail Presents Under the Estrella Sky Winemakers’ Dinner
The Pleasant Valley Wine Trail hosts its Under the Estrella Sky Winemakers’ Dinner on August 15, 2026 at Hartley Farms in San Miguel wine country. The evening includes wine tasting, dinner, music, dancing, auctions, and proceeds benefiting the Pleasant Valley Wine Trail Scholarship Fund.
🔗 Event Info: https://www.pleasantvalleywinetrail.com/pages/upcoming-events
🔗 Travel Paso Event Listing: https://www.travelpaso.com/event/under-the-estrella-sky-winemakers-dinner/5962/
🎯 Plan your next Paso Robles getaway at travelpaso.com
🎙️ RECORDED AT SLO CAL STUDIOS
Recorded at SLO CAL Studios, San Luis Obispo County, California.
SLO CAL — where the wine is world-class, the people are real, and life is too beautiful to rush.
For turns well taken:
https://slocal.com
🎧 Subscribe & FollowLove Where Wine Takes You? Leave a review, subscribe, and share it with a fellow wine (or Paso) lover.🎙️ CreditsExecutive Producer: Joel Peterson + Paso WineAssociate Producer: Krista SmithRecorded, edited, hosted by Adam MontielFollow Adam: @AdamOnTheAirExplore all things Adam: AdamMontiel.comListen to Adam’s other shows: Up + Adam (daily) and The Pour (wine & more, travel, culture) Learn more, connect, or say hey at AdamMontiel.com/connect🎵 Original music by Moonshiner Collective
📱 Download the Paso Wine App
🍷 Plan your trip at PasoWine.com and follow @PasoWine
🎯 Plan your next Paso Robles getaway at travelpaso.com🎧 Subscribe & Follow
If you love Where Wine Takes You, make sure to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with your favorite wine or Paso lover.
©2026 Where Wine Takes You, All Rights Reserved.
🍇 WHERE WINE TAKES YOU – EPISODE 173: THE HIGHLANDS DISTRICT 🍷
Everybody knows Willow Creek. Everybody knows Adelaida. But venture east into Paso Robles and you’ll find one of the region’s most fascinating, and least understood, wine-growing areas: the Highlands District.
In this episode of Where Wine Takes You, Adam sits down with two people uniquely positioned to tell the story of Paso’s highest-elevation sub-AVA.
Natalie Brown, owner and winemaker of Rococo Wines and Willow Creek Wine Co., shares her passion for old-vine Chenin Blanc and the remarkable Highlands District vineyard that continues to produce some of California’s most distinctive expressions of the grape. What began as an obsession with forgotten Chenin Blanc vineyards has grown into one of the most compelling Chenin-focused projects in the state.
Joining her is Nicholas Miller, fifth-generation California farmer and Vice President of Sales & Marketing for Miller Family Wine Company. Nicholas helps steward the legendary French Camp Vineyard, one of Paso Robles’ most important vineyard properties and a cornerstone of the Highlands District. Together, the conversation explores massive diurnal shifts, old vines, farming challenges, climate, terroir, Wild West history, Basque shepherds, and why this rugged, remote region deserves far more attention than it gets.
Along the way, Adam discovers that the Highlands District may be one of Paso’s best-kept secrets, a place where triple-digit summer days collide with chilly nights, where old vines continue to thrive, and where some of California’s most respected wines quietly begin.
Later in the show, Adam recaps the 2026 Travel Paso Tourism Round Up, celebrating the people who help make Paso Robles one of California’s most welcoming destinations. The event featured presentations from Wine Institute’s Honore Comfort, branding strategist Mark Barden of EatBigFish, and travel expert Aida Mollenkamp of Salt & Wind Travel, alongside recognition of local hospitality leaders who continue to elevate the visitor experience throughout Paso Wine Country.
🥂 FEATURED IN THIS EPISODE
🌐 PASO WINE WIRE
🍷 Gretchen Roddick Elected Chair of the Wine Institute
Hope Family Wines Executive Vice President Gretchen Roddick has been elected Chair of the Wine Institute, becoming one of California wine’s most influential voices during a critical time for the industry.
🔗 https://pasoroblesdailynews.com/paso-robles-wine-executive-elected-wine-institute-chair/221294/
🌱 ONX Wines Expands Leadership Team and Organic Farming Efforts
ONX appoints Tucker Robertson as Vineyard Manager and promotes Drew Nenow as Head of Winegrowing and Winemaker as the winery continues expanding organic farming practices across its estate vineyards.
🔗 https://pasoroblesdailynews.com/local-vineyard-names-new-vineyard-manager-expands-leadership-team/221134/
🌴 TRAVEL PASO SPOTLIGHT
Travel Paso Tourism Round Up 2026
Celebrating the hospitality professionals, winery ambassadors, restaurant teams, lodging leaders, and tourism advocates who continue to make Paso Robles a world-class destination.
🎯 Plan your next Paso Robles getaway at travelpaso.com
🎙️ RECORDED AT SLO CAL STUDIOS
Recorded at SLO CAL Studios, San Luis Obispo County, California.
SLO CAL — where the wine is world-class, the people are real, and life is too beautiful to rush.
For turns well taken:
https://slocal.com
🎧 Subscribe & FollowLove Where Wine Takes You? Leave a review, subscribe, and share it with a fellow wine (or Paso) lover.🎙️ CreditsExecutive Producer: Joel Peterson + Paso WineAssociate Producer: Krista SmithRecorded, edited, hosted by Adam MontielFollow Adam: @AdamOnTheAirExplore all things Adam: AdamMontiel.comListen to Adam’s other shows: Up + Adam (daily) and The Pour (wine & more, travel, culture) Learn more, connect, or say hey at AdamMontiel.com/connect🎵 Original music by Moonshiner Collective
📱 Download the Paso Wine App
🍷 Plan your trip at PasoWine.com and follow @PasoWine
🎯 Plan your next Paso Robles getaway at travelpaso.com🎧 Subscribe & Follow
If you love Where Wine Takes You, make sure to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with your favorite wine or Paso lover.
©2026 Where Wine Takes You, All Rights Reserved.
🍇 WHERE WINE TAKES YOU – EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS 🍷
In this episode of Where Wine Takes You, Adam explores one of Paso Robles’ most unique success stories: Tin City.
What began as a collection of industrial buildings on the edge of town has evolved into one of California wine country’s most creative destinations—home to winemakers, distillers, brewers, chefs, artists, and entrepreneurs who continue to shape Paso’s culture one idea at a time.
First, Adam sits down with Patrick Brooks, founder of Tin City Distillery, and Vailia From, founder and winemaker of Desparada Wines. Together they reflect on the early days of Tin City, the evolution of the district, the people who helped build it, and the unique spirit of collaboration that continues to define the neighborhood today.
Then the conversation shifts from the makers to the builder.
Brooke English joins the show to share the story of her father, Mike English, whose vision, creativity, and willingness to invest in people helped create the foundation for what Tin City would become. Brooke reflects on growing up around a lifelong builder, the organic growth of Tin City, and the legacy her father leaves behind in the people, businesses, and community spaces that continue to thrive today.
It’s a conversation about entrepreneurship, creativity, community, and the people who leave fingerprints on a place long after they’re gone.
Later in the show, Adam’s Travel Paso Spotlight heads downtown to visit Farmhouse Motel, one of Paso Robles’ most charming boutique properties. Adam catches up with Kimberley Walker of Nomada Hotel Group to talk about family-friendly hospitality, monthly pottery workshops, pet-friendly travel, and why Farmhouse continues to be one of Paso’s favorite places to stay. Along the way, we also tip our hat to sister property Stables Inn, another standout stop in Paso’s growing hospitality scene.
And somewhere between the conversations about builders, dreamers, fathers, daughters, and legacy, Adam finds himself reflecting on his own dad—and the realization that the people who shape us never really leave us.
🍷 FEATURED GUESTSPatrick Brooks — Tin City Distillery🔗 https://www.tincitydistillery.com
📸 @tincitydistillery
Vailia From — Desparada Wines🔗 https://www.desparadawines.com
📸 @desparadawine
Brooke English — Tin City Paso Robles / English Family Legacy🔗 https://www.tincitypaso.com
📸 @tincity.pasrobles
Kimberley Walker — Nomada Hotel Group / Farmhouse Motel🔗 https://www.farmhousepaso.com
🔗 https://www.nomadahotelgroup.com
📸 @farmhousepaso
🌐 PASO WINE WIRE🏆 Castoro Cellars’ Whale Rock Disc Golf Course Named World’s Best Winery Disc Golf Course
The Templeton winery’s 18-hole vineyard course continues to attract players from around the globe and has become one of the most unique wine-country experiences anywhere.
🔗 https://www.sanluisobispo.com/living/food-drink/wine-beer/article316078861.html
❤️ JUSTIN Vineyards & Winery Awards More Than $350,000 In Community Grants
The program brings JUSTIN’s total community investment to more than $2.5 million since 2013, supporting local education, healthcare, recreation, mental health programs, and nonprofit organizations throughout North County.
🔗 https://www.winebusiness.com/news/link/319104
🍇 Peachy Canyon Launches New Locals Program
SLO County residents—and visiting Cal Poly graduation families—can enjoy discounted wine tastings this June at one of Paso’s most beloved family-owned wineries.
🔗 https://www.winebusiness.com/news/article/318997
🌴 TRAVEL PASO SPOTLIGHTFarmhouse MotelA boutique Paso Robles stay blending wine country charm, family-friendly experiences, pet-friendly hospitality, monthly pottery workshops, and creative community programming.
🔗 https://www.farmhousepaso.com
🎯 Plan your next Paso Robles getaway at travelpaso.com
🎧 Subscribe & FollowLove Where Wine Takes You? Leave a review, subscribe, and share it with a fellow wine (or Paso) lover.🎙️ CreditsExecutive Producer: Joel Peterson + Paso WineAssociate Producer: Krista SmithRecorded, edited, hosted by Adam MontielFollow Adam: @AdamOnTheAirExplore all things Adam: AdamMontiel.comListen to Adam’s other shows: Up + Adam (daily) and The Pour (wine & more, travel, culture) Learn more, connect, or say hey at AdamMontiel.com/connect🎵 Original music by Moonshiner Collective
📱 Download the Paso Wine App
🍷 Plan your trip at PasoWine.com and follow @PasoWine
🎯 Plan your next Paso Robles getaway at travelpaso.com🎧 Subscribe & Follow
If you love Where Wine Takes You, make sure to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with your favorite wine or Paso lover.
©2026 Where Wine Takes You, All Rights Reserved.
🍇 WHERE WINE TAKES YOU – EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS 🍷
This episode of Where Wine Takes You comes to you LIVE from Paso Wine Fest 2026, the biggest celebration of Paso Robles wine country and one of the fastest-growing food and wine events in America.
Adam hangs out inside the madness of Wine Fest with a lineup that perfectly captures the spirit of Paso: collaboration, creativity, hospitality, and a little beautiful chaos.
First up, Chef Rachel Ponce of Pair With Chef Rachel talks food pairings, palate balance, and why the wrong bite can completely wreck a great wine. She also shares details on her upcoming restaurant project, The Staviary, opening this summer with chef’s counter dinners, beer pairings, and immersive culinary experiences.
Adam also catches up with Joel Peterson, CEO of Paso Wine, about the continued evolution of Paso Wine Fest, now drawing visitors from across the country for a world-class wine, food, and lifestyle experience.
Then there’s the story of Chris Lamoreaux and Creekcut Winery, a dream decades in the making. Chris shares how she and her husband found their Willow Creek District property on their 30th wedding anniversary and built a Rhône-focused winery rooted in hospitality, community, and Paso spirit.
Later in the episode, Adam sits down with Paso legend Tobin James, who reflects on the early days of Paso wine country, when Wine Fest fit inside a corner of the park, barrels were rolled in from pickup trucks, and the afterparty happened at Buckley’s over tequila shots.
Joining the conversation is Ian Cansoli of Tablas Creek Vineyard, discussing regenerative farming, Rhône varietals, Paso’s global wine influence, and the region’s deep connection between wine and food culture.
In this episode’s Travel Paso Spotlight, Adam chats with Barby Wunsch, Executive Director of Paso Robles Youth Arts, about the return of the beloved Pinot & Paella Festival on June 7, 2026, at Templeton Community Park. The event supports arts education for local youth while bringing together Pinot Noir, paella, live music, and community under the oaks.
We also talk to Natalie of Rococo, Ryan from Paix Sur Terre, and Dave from Monochrome about the White Wine Invitational – Get your Tickets Here
This episode is Paso in a glass:
community, stories, food, wine, legacy, and a whole lot of heart.
🍷 FEATURED GUESTS + LINKS
🌐 PASO WINE WIRE
🌱 TABLAS CREEK: “FLOWERING 2026, EARLY BUT NOT QUITE AS MUCH AS WE’D FEARED”
Tablas Creek Vineyard shares an inside look at Paso’s 2026 growing season, frost concerns, flowering progression, and what could become one of the most staggered harvests in recent memory.
🔗 https://blog.tablascreek.com/2026/05/flowering-2026-early-but-not-quite-as-much-as-wed-feared/
🎯 Plan your next Paso Robles getaway at travelpaso.com
🎧 Subscribe & FollowLove Where Wine Takes You? Leave a review, subscribe, and share it with a fellow wine (or Paso) lover.🎙️ CreditsExecutive Producer: Joel Peterson + Paso WineAssociate Producer: Krista SmithRecorded, edited, hosted by Adam MontielFollow Adam: @AdamOnTheAirExplore all things Adam: AdamMontiel.comListen to Adam’s other shows: Up + Adam (daily) and The Pour (wine & more, travel, culture) Learn more, connect, or say hey at AdamMontiel.com/connect🎵 Original music by Moonshiner Collective
📱 Download the Paso Wine App
🍷 Plan your trip at PasoWine.com and follow @PasoWine
🎯 Plan your next Paso Robles getaway at travelpaso.com🎧 Subscribe & Follow
If you love Where Wine Takes You, make sure to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with your favorite wine or Paso lover.
©2026 Where Wine Takes You, All Rights Reserved.
🍇 Where Wine Takes You – Episode Highlights 🍷In this episode of Where Wine Takes You, Adam heads deep into the heart of Paso Robles agriculture with two guys who live the rhythm of the land every single day: Daniel Sinton of Avanales Ranch and Sinton & Sons, alongside Chad Taber, ranch manager for HMR and Viking Vineyards in the Adelaida District.This conversation goes far beyond wine.Adam and the guys dive into the realities of farming in Paso Robles: early budbreak, frost scares, heat spikes, vineyard stress, resilience, and the emotional weight of living at the mercy of nature. From old-vine Chenin Blanc planted in the early ‘70s to the historic limestone vineyards of Hoffman Mountain Ranch, this episode captures the soul of farming on the Central Coast.Daniel shares stories about his family’s deep ranching roots in San Luis Obispo County, how mentorship from respected viticulturist Hilary Graves helped save their old-vine Chenin Blanc program, and how that fruit has gone on to inspire winemakers across California.The conversation also explores the evolution of local food culture through Sinton & Sons, Daniel’s modern continuation of the historic J&R Meats legacy in Templeton. From dry-aged local beef to nutrient-dense “ancestral ground beef,” the episode looks at why consumers are reconnecting with where their food actually comes from and why that matters more than ever.Meanwhile, Chad takes listeners inside one of Paso’s most historic vineyard sites, HMR, where vines planted in the 1960s continue to produce legendary wines from limestone-rich soils at nearly 2,000 feet elevation. The guys talk farming instincts, vineyard intuition, weather anxiety, and the strange calm that comes from spending your life outdoors.Later in the show, Adam heads downtown for the Travel Paso Spotlight with Tony Bennett from The Alchemists’ Garden, one of Paso’s most inventive culinary and cocktail destinations. From globally inspired dishes to theatrical cocktails and the intimate lounge experience at The Remedy, the conversation highlights the creativity and energy transforming downtown Paso Robles into a true food-and-drink destination.🍇 FEATURED GUESTS + BRANDSDaniel Sinton | Avanales Ranch + Sinton & Sons🔗 https://sintonandsons.com 📸 IG: @sintonandsonsChad Taber | HMR + Viking Vineyards🔗 https://adelaida.comThe Alchemists’ Garden + The Remedy🔗 https://www.alchemistsgarden.com 🔗 https://www.theremedyca.com 📸 IG: @alchemistsgardenpaso🌐 PASO WINE WIRE⚡ Castoro Cellars Expands “Farming with Light™”Castoro Cellars and Saga Robotics expand autonomous UV-C vineyard technology to over 600 organic acres on the Central Coast, one of the largest programs of its kind in the U.S.🔗 https://www.winebusiness.com/news/article/317749🍷 J. Lohr Celebrates 25 Years of Hospitality in Paso RoblesJ. Lohr marks 25 years of its Paso Robles Wine Center while continuing to evolve the guest experience through seated tastings, vineyard education, and elevated hospitality.🔗 https://www.winebusiness.com/news/article/317867🎉 Paso Wine Fest Is HereOne of Paso Robles wine country’s biggest weekends is back.🔗 https://pasowine.com🎧 SUBSCRIBE & FOLLOWIf you love Where Wine Takes You, make sure to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with your favorite wine-loving humans.🎉 PASO WINE FEST WEEKEND MAY 15-17Paso Wine Fest and Paired PasoOne of the region’s premier events featuring winemakers and chefs, including Adam as a judge
https://pasowine.com/consumer_events/paired-paso/
Sparkling PasoA must for bubble lovers, showcasing sparkling wines from across the region
https://pasowine.com/consumer_events/sparkling-paso/
🎯 Plan your next Paso Robles getaway at travelpaso.com
🎧 Subscribe & FollowLove Where Wine Takes You? Leave a review, subscribe, and share it with a fellow wine (or Paso) lover.🎙️ CreditsExecutive Producer: Joel Peterson + Paso WineAssociate Producer: Krista SmithRecorded, edited, hosted by Adam MontielFollow Adam: @AdamOnTheAirExplore all things Adam: AdamMontiel.comListen to Adam’s other shows: Up + Adam (daily) and The Pour (wine & more, travel, culture) Learn more, connect, or say hey at AdamMontiel.com/connect🎵 Original music by Moonshiner Collective
📱 Download the Paso Wine App
🍷 Plan your trip at PasoWine.com and follow @PasoWine
🎯 Plan your next Paso Robles getaway at travelpaso.com🎧 Subscribe & Follow
If you love Where Wine Takes You, make sure to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with your favorite wine or Paso lover.
©2026 Where Wine Takes You, All Rights Reserved.
🍇 WHERE WINE TAKES YOU – EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS 🍷In this episode of Where Wine Takes You, Adam hangs with three guests who are helping shape the next wave of Paso Robles wine culture, not just through the wines they make, but through the new spaces and experiences they’re building.First up is Juan M. Contreras, owner and winemaker of V1NO JUAN, whose story might be one of the purest Paso stories out there. Juan came to the United States from Mexico in the early ‘90s, started working in the vineyards, moved into the cellar at Robert Hall, and spent more than two decades learning every side of the business before opening his own tasting room across from the downtown Paso park. Alongside his wife and kids, Juan is now crafting bold Paso reds, rosé, Sauvignon Blanc, and Bordeaux blends rooted in hard work, family, and legacy.Then there’s Kit Kuyper of Hawks Hill Ranch, farming some wildly diverse and rugged terrain in the Adelaida District. Massive elevation swings, Rhône varietals, grower-first philosophy, and guidance from winemaker Don Burns of Turtle Rock Vineyard all come together in a project focused on expressing Paso in its own authentic voice. Kit also shares stories about balancing wine life between Paso, Chicago, and Portugal, plus a hilarious detour into bidet culture that absolutely stays in the episode.And returning to the show is James Boutzoukas of Boutz Cellars, who continues pushing the envelope with Greek varietals grown right here in Paso Robles. Inspired by generations of family winemaking traditions in Greece, James and his family are planting and producing wines from grapes like Assyrtiko, Moschofilero, Xinomavro, Agiorgitiko, and more, proving Paso’s versatility might be even broader than we thought.One of the coolest parts of this story? Kit and James now share a tasting room space together, a very Paso-style collaboration rooted in community over competition.Later in the show, Adam catches up with Jill Alexander from the Paso Market Walk in this episode’s Travel Paso Spotlight. From live music nights and outdoor patios to boutique shopping, incredible food, coffee, wine, and the ultra-modern Lofts at Market Walk, the conversation highlights why this growing hub has become one of the coolest gathering places in Paso Robles.🍷 FEATURED GUESTS + LINKS• V1NO JUAN Official Website • @v1nojuan on Instagram• Hawks Hill Ranch Official Website • @hawkshillranch on Instagram• Boutz Cellars Official Website • @boutz_cellars on Instagram🌴 TRAVEL PASO SPOTLIGHT• Paso Market Walk Official Website • @pasomarketwalk on Instagram🎯 PLAN YOUR NEXT PASO GETAWAY TravelPaso.comPASO WINE WIRE THIS WEEK:🍷 Le Vigne Winery Named U.S. Winery of the Year at the 2026 London Wine Competition The Paso Robles winery earned four gold medals, including honors for its Acquarello Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve. 🔗 Paso Robles Daily News – Le Vigne Winery Wins Top Honors🌎 Paso Robles Wine Month Launches Nationally Paso takes center stage nationwide with retail partnerships, AI wine pairing tools, restaurant activations, and travel giveaways aimed at introducing the next generation to Paso wine country. 🔗 WineBusiness – Paso Robles Wine Month Launches Nationally🎉 Paso Wine Fest Weekend Is Here Paired Paso, the Grand Tasting, Sparkling Paso, and a full weekend of events are ready to take over wine country. 🔗 Paso Wine Fest Official Site🎧 SUBSCRIBE & FOLLOWIf you love Where Wine Takes You, make sure to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with your favorite wine-loving humans.🎉 PASO WINE FEST WEEKEND MAY 15-17Paso Wine Fest and Paired PasoOne of the region’s premier events featuring winemakers and chefs, including Adam as a judge
https://pasowine.com/consumer_events/paired-paso/
Sparkling PasoA must for bubble lovers, showcasing sparkling wines from across the region
https://pasowine.com/consumer_events/sparkling-paso/
🎯 Plan your next Paso Robles getaway at travelpaso.com
🎧 Subscribe & FollowLove Where Wine Takes You? Leave a review, subscribe, and share it with a fellow wine (or Paso) lover.🎙️ CreditsExecutive Producer: Joel Peterson + Paso WineAssociate Producer: Krista SmithRecorded, edited, hosted by Adam MontielFollow Adam: @AdamOnTheAirExplore all things Adam: AdamMontiel.comListen to Adam’s other shows: Up + Adam (daily) and The Pour (wine & more, travel, culture) Learn more, connect, or say hey at AdamMontiel.com/connect🎵 Original music by Moonshiner Collective
📱 Download the Paso Wine App
🍷 Plan your trip at PasoWine.com and follow @PasoWine
🎯 Plan your next Paso Robles getaway at travelpaso.com🎧 Subscribe & Follow
If you love Where Wine Takes You, make sure to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with your favorite wine or Paso lover.
©2026 Where Wine Takes You, All Rights Reserved.
🍇 Where Wine Takes You – Episode Highlights 🍷
In this episode of Where Wine Takes You, Adam Montiel sits down with the driving force behind one of the most ambitious initiatives Paso Robles has ever launched, Paso Wine Month.
Leading the charge is Linda Sanpei of the Paso Robles CAB Collective, the architect behind this national campaign set to roll out in May 2026. Joined by Krista Smith of the Paso Robles Wine Country Alliance and Neeta Mittal of LXV Wine, the conversation explores how Paso is rethinking the way people discover and connect with wine.
Paso Wine Month is a first-of-its-kind, retail-driven movement designed to meet the next generation of wine drinkers where they are. Through food, culture, technology, and storytelling, the campaign brings Paso beyond the tasting room and into everyday life. Think AI-powered taste matching, chef-driven recipes, in-store experiences, and a national sweepstakes that could bring new visitors straight to Paso Robles Wine Country.
This episode is about more than wine. It is about connection over consumption. Discovery over intimidation. And a region that is not waiting for the future, but building it.
In the Travel Paso Spotlight, Adam connects with Lynette Sonne of FarmsteadED to highlight Open Farm Days, a hands-on experience that takes you beyond the tasting room and into the farms, ranches, and roots of Paso.
🍷 FEATURED IN THIS EPISODEPaso Wine Month🔗 https://pasowine.com/wine-month/
📸 https://www.instagram.com/pasorobleswinemonth/
LXV Wine🔗 https://lxvwine.com
📸 https://www.instagram.com/lxvwine/
Paso Robles CAB Collective🔗 https://pasoroblescab.com
📸 https://www.instagram.com/pasoroblescab/
Paso Robles Wine Country Alliance🔗 https://pasowine.com
📸 https://www.instagram.com/pasowine/
🌐 PASO WINE WIREPaso Wine Meets the Festival CrowdPaso Robles CAB Collective wineries take the stage as the exclusive wine sponsor of Shabang Music and Arts Festival, May 2 to 3, 2026. A major step in bringing Paso wine to a new generation of consumers.
🔗 https://www.winebusiness.com/news/article/316503
Wine 4 Paws Returns April 25 to 26More than 75 wineries and local businesses donate proceeds to Woods Humane Society. A feel-good weekend where wine lovers and pet lovers come together.
🔗 https://www.wine4paws.com
White Wine Invitational August 1Paso’s white wines take the spotlight with more than 20 wineries showcasing the diversity and creativity of the region.
🔗 https://pasoroblesdailynews.com/white-wine-invitational-returns-to-paso-robles-aug-1/219760/
🌴 TRAVEL PASO SPOTLIGHTFarmsteadED Open Farm Days June 19 to 21Explore Paso from the ground up. Meet farmers, visit ranches, and experience the agricultural side of the region through tours, tastings, and workshops. Free to attend with registration.
🔗 https://www.farmsteaded.com/openfarmdays
📸 https://www.instagram.com/farmsteaded/
🎉 PASO WINE FEST WEEKEND MAY 15-17Paso Wine Fest and Paired PasoOne of the region’s premier events featuring winemakers and chefs, including Adam as a judge
https://pasowine.com/consumer_events/paired-paso/
Sparkling PasoA must for bubble lovers, showcasing sparkling wines from across the region
https://pasowine.com/consumer_events/sparkling-paso/
🎯 Plan your next Paso Robles getaway at travelpaso.com
🎧 Subscribe & FollowLove Where Wine Takes You? Leave a review, subscribe, and share it with a fellow wine (or Paso) lover.🎙️ CreditsExecutive Producer: Joel Peterson + Paso WineAssociate Producer: Krista SmithRecorded, edited, hosted by Adam MontielFollow Adam: @AdamOnTheAirExplore all things Adam: AdamMontiel.comListen to Adam’s other shows: Up + Adam (daily) and The Pour (wine & more, travel, culture) Learn more, connect, or say hey at AdamMontiel.com/connect🎵 Original music by Moonshiner Collective
📱 Download the Paso Wine App
🍷 Plan your trip at PasoWine.com and follow @PasoWine
🎯 Plan your next Paso Robles getaway at travelpaso.com🎧 Subscribe & Follow
If you love Where Wine Takes You, make sure to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with your favorite wine or Paso lover.
©2026 Where Wine Takes You, All Rights Reserved.
🍇 WHERE WINE TAKES YOU – EPISODE 167 🍷
ROC PART 3: ROOTS, RESPONSIBILITY & THE FUTURE OF FARMING
In this episode of Where Wine Takes You, Adam closes out the three-part deep dive into Regenerative Organic Certified (ROC) farming with two powerhouse voices helping lead the movement in Paso Robles.
First up is Hilary Graves of Booker Vineyard, grower, educator, vineyard strategist, and one of the most respected minds in California viticulture. Hilary shares why ROC matters, how farmers can help capture carbon, and why consumers hold more power than they realize every time they shop or order wine.
Then Adam welcomes Kevin Sass, veteran winemaker of Halter Ranch, whose decades of Paso experience meet one of the region’s most stunning estates. Kevin breaks down what certification means, why transparency matters, how Halter balances multiple vineyards across states, and yes… why planes literally land at the winery.
This episode goes beyond buzzwords and into the real questions:
How do we farm better?
How do we support workers better?
How do we leave land better than we found it?
And if Paso Robles is going to lead the wine world in something… this feels like a damn good place to start.
🌿 TRAVEL PASO SPOTLIGHT
Before your next Paso getaway, start here:
https://travelpaso.com
Later in the show, Adam checks in with Jeffry Weisinger, Interim Executive Director of Paso Main Street, and owner of local favorite Jeffry’s Wine Country BBQ.
They talk about the upcoming Paso Robles Olive & Lavender Festival on May 9th, a downtown celebration of local olive oils, lavender goods, shopping specials, food, cocktails, and community spirit.
The event also serves as the largest annual fundraiser for Paso Main Street, helping support treasured traditions like Santa in the Park, Teddy Bear Tea, Elegant Evening, and more.
🎉 EVENT LINKS
🍷 FEATURED GUEST LINKS
🌐 PASO WINE WIRE
🏰 The Anderson Paso Opens Restaurant DoorsThe “first castle on the right” on Highway 46 West debuts its new restaurant, cocktail bar, and hospitality concept.
🔗 https://www.winebusiness.com/news/article/316431
🤝 Chefs Helping Chefs Supports Baby Saoirse McCabeA sold-out Central Coast fundraiser rallied chefs, wineries, and hospitality leaders in support of the McCabe family during baby Saoirse’s cancer fight.
❤️ DONATE TO SUPPORT SAOIRSE MCCABE
GoFundMe: Support Saoirse’s Journey – Hope & Healing Ahead
🔗 https://gofundme.com/f/support-saoirses-journey-hope-and-healing-ahead
Fiscal Sponsor EIN: 77-0206822
🍑 Peachy Canyon Names Paul Sowerby General ManagerPaso veteran Paul Sowerby steps into leadership at one of the region’s most iconic family wineries.
🔗 https://www.winebusiness.com/news/article/316647
🌱 LEARN MORE ABOUT ROC🔗 https://pasowine.com/grower_certification/regenerative-organic-certified/
🔗 https://regenorganic.org
🎉 PASO WINE FEST WEEKEND MAY 15-17Paso Wine Fest and Paired PasoOne of the region’s premier events featuring winemakers and chefs, including Adam as a judge
https://pasowine.com/consumer_events/paired-paso/
Sparkling PasoA must for bubble lovers, showcasing sparkling wines from across the region
https://pasowine.com/consumer_events/sparkling-paso/
🎯 Plan your next Paso Robles getaway at travelpaso.com
🎧 Subscribe & FollowLove Where Wine Takes You? Leave a review, subscribe, and share it with a fellow wine (or Paso) lover.🎙️ CreditsExecutive Producer: Joel Peterson + Paso WineAssociate Producer: Krista SmithRecorded, edited, hosted by Adam MontielFollow Adam: @AdamOnTheAirExplore all things Adam: AdamMontiel.comListen to Adam’s other shows: Up + Adam (daily) and The Pour (wine & more, travel, culture) Learn more, connect, or say hey at AdamMontiel.com/connect🎵 Original music by Moonshiner Collective
📱 Download the Paso Wine App
🍷 Plan your trip at PasoWine.com and follow @PasoWine
🎯 Plan your next Paso Robles getaway at travelpaso.com🎧 Subscribe & Follow
If you love Where Wine Takes You, make sure to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with your favorite wine or Paso lover.
©2026 Where Wine Takes You, All Rights Reserved.
🍇 Where Wine Takes You – Episode Highlights 🍷
This episode of Where Wine Takes You is Part Two of our Regenerative Organic Certified (ROC) series, diving deeper into one of the most important movements shaping the future of wine. After last week’s conversation with Jason Haas and Chris Cherry, Adam continues the journey with two winemakers leading the charge in Paso Robles.
Adam sits down with Clay Selkirk of Le Cuvier Winery and Amanda Gorter of Robert Hall Winery, two voices from very different backgrounds, united by a shared commitment to regenerative farming. Clay reflects on carrying forward the legacy of Paso legend John Munch, while Amanda breaks down how regenerative practices are showing measurable results in the vineyard and in the glass. From soil health and climate resilience to transparency in winemaking, this conversation brings ROC out of theory and into reality.
Later in the episode, Adam highlights one of the most unique ways to explore Paso wine country in the Travel Paso Spotlight, 3rd Wheel Tours. Think sidecars, tuk-tuks, and a fully guided experience where you don’t have to drive, just sit back and enjoy the ride through vineyards and boutique wineries.
And in Paso Wine Wire, there’s no shortage of local buzz, from a major expansion at Allegretto Vineyard Resort, to community-driven events like Paso Wine Fanatics and Soup & Syrah, and a meaningful moment as Vine Cycle Tours looks for its next owner after building a beloved local experience.
🍷 FEATURED GUESTS* Le Cuvier Winery
🔗 https://www.lcwine.com/
📱 https://www.instagram.com/lecuvierwinery/
* Robert Hall Winery
🔗 https://www.roberthallwinery.com/
📱 https://www.instagram.com/roberthallwinery/
🌐 PASO WINE WIRE Allegretto Vineyard Resort Expansion Approved
A major expansion including a spa hotel, restaurant, and conference center signals Paso’s continued rise as a luxury wine destination.
🔗 https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/luxury-slo-county-resort-adding-120000653.html
* Paso Wine Fanatics Event
A stacked weekend of winemakers, food, music, and community featuring Caliza, Loma Seca, Alta Colina, Guyomar, and Turtle Rock.
🔗 https://pasorobleswinefanatics.com/pages/events
* Soup & Syrah Festival (April 12)
An afternoon of wine, food, and community benefiting Jack’s Helping Hand.
🎟 Use code VTR* for 35% off tickets
🔗 https://pasoroblesdailynews.com/soup-and-syrah-festival-benefits-programs-for-children-with-special-needs/219172/
🔗 https://soupnsyrah.wixsite.com/soup
* Vine Cycle Tours For Sale
A Paso favorite e-bike vineyard tour business is looking for its next chapter. Includes bikes, van, and full brand platform.
📩 jeff@vinecycletours.com
🔗 https://www.bizben.com/business-for-sale/paso-robles-electric-bike-vineyard-tour-and-rental-business-7796971
🔗 https://www.vinecycletours.com/about-us
🌴 TRAVEL PASO SPOTLIGHT* 3rd Wheel Tours
A one-of-a-kind guided wine country experience featuring sidecars and tuk-tuks, no driving required.
🔗 https://thirdwheeltours.com
🌱 LEARN MORE ABOUT ROC🔗 https://pasowine.com/grower_certification/regenerative-organic-certified/
🔗 https://regenorganic.org
🎉 PASO WINE FEST WEEKEND MAY 15-17Paso Wine Fest and Paired PasoOne of the region’s premier events featuring winemakers and chefs, including Adam as a judge
https://pasowine.com/consumer_events/paired-paso/
Sparkling PasoA must for bubble lovers, showcasing sparkling wines from across the region
https://pasowine.com/consumer_events/sparkling-paso/
🎯 Plan your next Paso Robles getaway at travelpaso.com
🎧 Subscribe & FollowLove Where Wine Takes You? Leave a review, subscribe, and share it with a fellow wine (or Paso) lover.🎙️ CreditsExecutive Producer: Joel Peterson + Paso WineAssociate Producer: Krista SmithRecorded, edited, hosted by Adam MontielFollow Adam: @AdamOnTheAirExplore all things Adam: AdamMontiel.comListen to Adam’s other shows: Up + Adam (daily) and The Pour (wine & more, travel, culture) Learn more, connect, or say hey at AdamMontiel.com/connect🎵 Original music by Moonshiner Collective
📱 Download the Paso Wine App
🍷 Plan your trip at PasoWine.com and follow @PasoWine
🎯 Plan your next Paso Robles getaway at travelpaso.com🎧 Subscribe & Follow
If you love Where Wine Takes You, make sure to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with your favorite wine or Paso lover.
©2026 Where Wine Takes You, All Rights Reserved.
🍇 Where Wine Takes You – Episode Highlights 🍷
Today, we’re talking about dirt.
Not just any dirt, but living soil. The kind that breathes, holds water, stores carbon, and might just be the difference between surviving the next 50 years or not.
Because right now, something big is happening in Paso Robles. If you haven’t heard the term yet, you’re about to hear it a lot more. Regenerative Organic Certified. ROC.
And here’s the thing. This isn’t a buzzword. This isn’t marketing. This is a full-on shift in how we farm, how we think, and how we take care of the land. And Paso is leading that charge on a global level.
In this episode, Adam sits down with two of Paso Robles’ most forward-thinking minds, Jason Haas of Tablas Creek Vineyard and Cris Cherry of Villa Creek and MAHA Estate, to kick off a special series exploring the future of farming and wine.
This isn’t just about what’s in your glass. It’s about what’s happening beneath it. Soil health, farmworker fairness, and animal welfare, the pillars of ROC, are reshaping how wine is grown.
Jason breaks it down in a way that actually makes sense, farming not just to sustain, but to improve the land and community. Cris brings the real-world perspective, sharing what it looks like to live this every day at MAHA Estate, from sheep in the vineyard to the economics of doing things the right way.
Together, they unpack why this matters now more than ever, and how regenerative farming could be a key piece in the future of agriculture.
You’ll also hear how Paso has quietly become a global epicenter for regenerative viticulture, with wineries like Tablas Creek, MAHA Estate, Booker, Halter Ranch, and others helping push the industry forward.
Later in the show, Adam heads just off Highway 101 for a Travel Paso Spotlight on Firestone Walker Brewing Company, where beer, food, and community collide. With the Firestone Walker Invitational Beer Fest celebrating 30 years, plus a can’t-miss block party open to the public, it’s a perfect reminder that Paso is more than just wine, it’s an experience.
🍷 FEATURED GUESTSTablas Creek Vineyard (Jason Haas)🌐 https://tablascreek.com
📸 https://www.instagram.com/tablascreek/
MAHA Estate / Villa Creek (Cris Cherry)🌐 https://www.villacreekwine.com
📸 https://www.instagram.com/villacreekcellars/
🌐 PASO WINE WIREPaso Wine Fanatics Annual Tasting at Caliza WineryOne of the most passionate wine communities in the country is bringing the heat this spring. Owner-poured wines, gourmet food, live music, and Adam co-hosting.
🔗 https://pasorobleswinefanatics.com/pages/events
Soup & Syrah Festival (April 12, Templeton)Comfort food meets Rhône magic, all benefiting Jack’s Helping Hand.
🔗 https://pasoroblesdailynews.com/soup-and-syrah-festival-benefits-programs-for-children-with-special-needs/219172/
Robert Hall Launches ROC Wines at Whole FoodsA major milestone. Regenerative organic wines are hitting national retail shelves, and Paso’s impact just went mainstream.
🌴 TRAVEL PASO SPOTLIGHTFirestone Walker Brewing Company🌐 https://www.firestonewalker.com
Plan your trip → https://travelpaso.com
🌱 LEARN MORE ABOUT ROC🔗 https://pasowine.com/grower_certification/regenerative-organic-certified/
🔗 https://regenorganic.org
🎉 PASO WINE FEST WEEKEND MAY 15-17Paso Wine Fest and Paired PasoOne of the region’s premier events featuring winemakers and chefs, including Adam as a judge
https://pasowine.com/consumer_events/paired-paso/
Sparkling PasoA must for bubble lovers, showcasing sparkling wines from across the region
https://pasowine.com/consumer_events/sparkling-paso/
🎯 Plan your next Paso Robles getaway at travelpaso.com
🎧 Subscribe & FollowLove Where Wine Takes You? Leave a review, subscribe, and share it with a fellow wine (or Paso) lover.🎙️ CreditsExecutive Producer: Joel Peterson + Paso WineAssociate Producer: Krista SmithRecorded, edited, hosted by Adam MontielFollow Adam: @AdamOnTheAirExplore all things Adam: AdamMontiel.comListen to Adam’s other shows: Up + Adam (daily) and The Pour (wine & more, travel, culture) Learn more, connect, or say hey at AdamMontiel.com/connect🎵 Original music by Moonshiner Collective
📱 Download the Paso Wine App
🍷 Plan your trip at PasoWine.com and follow @PasoWine
🎯 Plan your next Paso Robles getaway at travelpaso.com🎧 Subscribe & Follow
If you love Where Wine Takes You, make sure to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with your favorite wine or Paso lover.
©2026 Where Wine Takes You, All Rights Reserved.
🍇 Where Wine Takes You – Episode Highlights 🍷In this episode of Where Wine Takes You, Adam heads east into one of Paso Robles’ most quietly compelling sub-AVAs, the Creston District. It’s a place that doesn’t shout for attention, but once you find it, it sticks with you.
Adam sits down with Erin Faulkner, co-owner of Defiance Vineyard, and Josh Morris, owner and winemaker of Ella’s Vineyard, two producers carving out their own identities in a part of Paso defined by elevation, wind, and independence.
Erin shares the story behind Defiance, a true family-built operation that started from raw land and evolved into a Bordeaux-focused program rooted in intention and individuality. Josh brings a different lens with Ella’s Vineyard, leaning into Italian varietals, concrete fermentation, and a hospitality-driven experience that reflects both precision and personality.
Together, the conversation dives into what makes Creston different, not just in terroir, but in mindset. A place where winemakers aren’t following a template, they’re building their own.
Later in the show, Adam shifts from quiet vineyard hills to center stage, catching up with Manuel Barba from the Vina Robles Amphitheatre. They talk about the upcoming concert season, evolving guest experiences, and why this venue continues to be one of the most unique places to see a show on the Central Coast.
🍷 FEATURED GUESTS & WINERIESDefiance Vineyard• Website: https://www.defiancevineyard.com/
• IG: https://www.instagram.com/defiancevineyard/
Ella’s Vineyard• Website: https://www.ellasvineyard.com/
• IG: https://www.instagram.com/ellasvineyard
Learn more about the Creston District AVA• https://pasowine.com/creston-district-2/
• https://paso.guides.winefolly.com/regions/
🌐 PASO WINE WIREOpolo Vineyards Releases Second Vintage of VranacAmerica’s only varietal bottling of this bold Balkan grape returns with its 2022 vintage, a unique Paso take on a Montenegrin classic.
🔗 https://www.winebusiness.com/news/article/315639
Solterra Strategies & Sensorio Win Visit California Poppy AwardA major win for local storytelling and tourism marketing, highlighting Paso’s growing presence on a statewide stage.
🔗 https://www.winebusiness.com/news/article/315619
Halter Ranch Earns Glyphosate Residue Free CertificationA first for Paso Robles, signaling a deeper push toward transparency and sustainability in the vineyard and in the bottle.
🔗 https://www.winebusiness.com/news/article/315631
🌅 TRAVEL PASO SPOTLIGHTVina Robles AmphitheatreOne of the Central Coast’s premier live music venues, offering an intimate, high-quality concert experience right in the heart of wine country.
🎉 PASO WINE FEST WEEKEND MAY 15-17Paso Wine Fest and Paired PasoOne of the region’s premier events featuring winemakers and chefs, including Adam as a judge
https://pasowine.com/consumer_events/paired-paso/
Sparkling PasoA must for bubble lovers, showcasing sparkling wines from across the region
https://pasowine.com/consumer_events/sparkling-paso/
🎯 Plan your next Paso Robles getaway at travelpaso.com
🎧 Subscribe & FollowLove Where Wine Takes You? Leave a review, subscribe, and share it with a fellow wine (or Paso) lover.🎙️ CreditsExecutive Producer: Joel Peterson + Paso WineAssociate Producer: Krista SmithRecorded, edited, hosted by Adam MontielFollow Adam: @AdamOnTheAirExplore all things Adam: AdamMontiel.comListen to Adam’s other shows: Up + Adam (daily) and The Pour (wine & more, travel, culture) Learn more, connect, or say hey at AdamMontiel.com/connect🎵 Original music by Moonshiner Collective
📱 Download the Paso Wine App
🍷 Plan your trip at PasoWine.com and follow @PasoWine
🎯 Plan your next Paso Robles getaway at travelpaso.com🎧 Subscribe & Follow
If you love Where Wine Takes You, make sure to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with your favorite wine or Paso lover.
©2026 Where Wine Takes You, All Rights Reserved.
🍇 Where Wine Takes You Episode Highlights 🍷
In this episode, Adam heads just south of Paso Robles into Atascadero, a town that is quickly becoming one of the most exciting new pockets of the Central Coast wine scene.
Adam sits down with Ryan Kirkpatrick of Ruby Cellars and Marin Wolgamott of Marin’s Vineyard, two winemakers with very different paths but a shared belief in what Atascadero is becoming.
Ryan, born and raised in Atascadero, brings a family legacy forward while evolving Ruby Cellars into a more expressive, story-driven brand. His work spans Bordeaux blends, experimental wines, and a growing passion for dessert wines that continues to shape the winery’s future.
Marin, a rising winemaker and entrepreneur, is building something uniquely her own. From her aromatic Viognier-based pét-nat to a welcoming tasting room that reflects her personality and perspective, her approach is intentional, fresh, and deeply personal.
Together, they represent a new wave of Paso-adjacent energy rooted in community, creativity, and a willingness to take risks.
Later in the show, Adam connects with David Morneau of Paso Robles Inn, diving into the transformation of this historic property. The conversation explores the reopening of Cattlemen’s Bar, the upcoming rooftop concept Salina, and a new restaurant called The Pass created in collaboration with Chef Charlie Palmer.
🌐 PASO WINE WIRE (WHAT’S HAPPENING NOW)Calcareous Vineyard celebrates 25 yearsA major milestone for one of Paso’s iconic estates. The winery is marking the occasion with a renovated tasting room, elevated hospitality, and a full calendar of events throughout the year. It’s a reminder that Paso’s early visionaries are still pushing forward.
🔗 https://pasoroblesdailynews.com/winery-celebrates-25-years-with-tasting-room-renovation/218561/
Firestone Walker releases Sunglider Golden LagerThis new seasonal beer is more than just a crisp, easy drinker. It highlights California-grown ingredients and the brewery’s sustainability efforts, from solar energy to water recycling. A look at how Central Coast producers are thinking long-term.
🔗 https://pasoroblesdailynews.com/firestone-walker-releases-new-sunglider-golden-lager-brewed-with-california-barley/218546/
🍷 FEATURED IN THIS EPISODERuby Cellarshttps://rubycellars.com
Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/rubycellars/
Marin’s Vineyardhttps://www.marinsvineyard.com/
Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/marinsvineyard/
🏨 TRAVEL PASO SPOTLIGHTPaso Robles InnA historic property in the heart of downtown Paso undergoing a major transformation, including new culinary concepts and refreshed guest experiences.
https://pasoroblesinn.com/
Cattlemen’s BarA revived local institution rooted in Paso’s ranching history. Think strong drinks, community energy, and a true Central Coast vibe.
https://www.cattlemenspaso.com/
🎉 PASO WINE FEST WEEKEND MAY 15-17Paso Wine Fest and Paired PasoOne of the region’s premier events featuring winemakers and chefs, including Adam as a judge
https://pasowine.com/consumer_events/paired-paso/
Sparkling PasoA must for bubble lovers, showcasing sparkling wines from across the region
https://pasowine.com/consumer_events/sparkling-paso/
🎯 Plan your next Paso Robles getaway at travelpaso.com
🎧 Subscribe & FollowLove Where Wine Takes You? Leave a review, subscribe, and share it with a fellow wine (or Paso) lover.🎙️ CreditsExecutive Producer: Joel Peterson + Paso WineAssociate Producer: Krista SmithRecorded, edited, hosted by Adam MontielFollow Adam: @AdamOnTheAirExplore all things Adam: AdamMontiel.comListen to Adam’s other shows: Up + Adam (daily) and The Pour (wine & more, travel, culture) Learn more, connect, or say hey at AdamMontiel.com/connect🎵 Original music by Moonshiner Collective
📱 Download the Paso Wine App
🍷 Plan your trip at PasoWine.com and follow @PasoWine
🎯 Plan your next Paso Robles getaway at travelpaso.com🎧 Subscribe & Follow
If you love Where Wine Takes You, make sure to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with your favorite wine or Paso lover.
©2026 Where Wine Takes You, All Rights Reserved.
🍇 Where Wine Takes You – Episode Highlights 🍷
In this episode of Where Wine Takes You, Adam Montiel sits down with Michael Emlie of Dark Star Cellars and brothers Matt and Steve Glunz of Glunz Family Winery & Cellars for a conversation about something Paso Robles does especially well, family-friendly wine country. Recorded at Lobro Studios, the conversation flows the way great wine conversations should, with glasses on the table, stories in the air, and a few laughs along the way.Michael Emlie shares the classic Paso story of how a longtime Los Angeles attorney fell in love with Paso Robles while visiting for Wine Fest and eventually traded courtrooms for barrels when he purchased Dark Star Cellars. Over a decade later, Dark Star remains one of Paso’s most relaxed and welcoming spots, a place where guests can enjoy great wine while kids, dogs, and friends all feel right at home.Adam is also joined by Matt and Steve Glunz, part of a family wine legacy that stretches back to 1888 Chicago, when their ancestor Louis Glunz opened a wine and spirits shop that would eventually grow into one of the country’s longest-running family wine businesses. Today the brothers continue that legacy in Paso Robles, producing wines at Glunz Family Winery & Cellars, located along Highway 46 East just outside town.Together, the group explores the idea that Paso Robles wine country can be both world-class and welcoming, where incredible wines, heritage vineyards, and family-owned wineries coexist with picnic tables, dogs underfoot, and kids running around the property.Later in the show, Adam connects with Corey Jordan, founder of Libretto, an intimate live music venue in downtown Paso Robles that has quickly become a cultural gem in wine country. Corey shares the story behind Libretto’s incredible Steinway concert grand piano, the world-class musicians performing in the space, and the upcoming inaugural Paso Robles Jazz Festival, a three-day event that will bring Grammy-winning jazz artists to Paso and culminate with a spectacular performance at Sensorio’s Field of Lights.🍷 Featured Guests• Dark Star Cellars – Paso Robleshttps://www.darkstarcellars.com/Instagram: @darkstarcellars• Glunz Family Winery & Cellars – Paso Robleshttps://www.glunzfamilywinery.com/Instagram: @glunzfamilywinery🌴 Travel Paso Spotlight• Libretto – Live Music Venuehttps://www.librettopaso.com/Instagram: @librettopaso• Paso Robles Jazz Festival (Inaugural 2026)https://www.pasoroblesjazzfest.com/🌐 Paso Wine Wire46 West Revives Paso Zinfandel FestivalThe wineries of 46 West are bringing back Zinfest Weekend, celebrating Paso’s heritage grape with a grand tasting at Castoro Cellars and events throughout the weekend.Tickets & Info:https://my805tix.com/e/zinfest-weekend-2026https://46west.wine/McPrice Myers Wines Launches Student Tasting ProgramCollege students 21+ can now enjoy a $10 tasting flight — helping open the door for the next generation of wine lovers and industry professionals.Read more:https://pasoroblesdailynews.com/paso-robles-winery-launches-discounted-tastings-for-college-students/218705/California Mid-State Fair Opens Home Brewing & Winemaking CompetitionsLocal makers can enter beer, cider, perry, and wine for judging as part of the fair’s long-running traditions.Details:https://pasoroblesdailynews.com/california-mid-state-fair-opens-entries-for-home-brewing-competitions/218482/Remembering Jake Beckett of Peachy Canyon WineryA moving tribute from writer R.H. Drexel honoring the life and legacy of Jake Beckett.Read the piece:https://jebdunnuck.com/2026/03/r-h-drexel-a-wise-man-makes-his-own-luck-remembering-jake-beckett-of-peachy-canyon-winery/🎯 Plan your next Paso Robles getaway at travelpaso.com
🎧 Subscribe & FollowLove Where Wine Takes You? Leave a review, subscribe, and share it with a fellow wine (or Paso) lover.🎙️ CreditsExecutive Producer: Joel Peterson + Paso WineAssociate Producer: Krista SmithRecorded, edited, hosted by Adam MontielFollow Adam: @AdamOnTheAirExplore all things Adam: AdamMontiel.comListen to Adam’s other shows: Up + Adam (daily) and The Pour (wine & more, travel, culture) Learn more, connect, or say hey at AdamMontiel.com/connect🎵 Original music by Moonshiner Collective
📱 Download the Paso Wine App
🍷 Plan your trip at PasoWine.com and follow @PasoWine
🎯 Plan your next Paso Robles getaway at travelpaso.com🎧 Subscribe & Follow
If you love Where Wine Takes You, make sure to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with your favorite wine or Paso lover.
©2026 Where Wine Takes You, All Rights Reserved.
🍇 Where Wine Takes You – Episode Highlights 🌊🐎
In this episode of Where Wine Takes You, Adam sits down with two Westside Paso farmers who bet on place and trusted the dirt beneath their feet.
Carl Bowker of Caliza Winery and John Lemstra of Jack Creek Cellars join the show to talk about the power, elegance and diurnal magic of the Willow Creek District AVA, one of Paso Robles’ most compelling sub appellations.
From ripping out 30 acres of Pinot and Chardonnay to replant Rhône varieties.
From 4,000 cow dairy mornings in Tulare to cool climate Pinot Noir near York Mountain.
This episode is about conviction, farming and crafting wines with both restraint and presence.
🍷 Featured GuestsCarl BowkerCaliza Winery
Estate driven Rhône varietals rooted in limestone soils. Celebrating 20 harvests and a new estate location on Peachy Canyon Road.
https://www.calizawinery.com
2570 Peachy Canyon Rd, Paso Robles
End of the Day Tasting Room
Tin City, Paso Robles
John LemstraJack Creek Cellars
Former dairy farmer turned Pinot Noir specialist farming one of the coolest pockets of the Willow Creek District.
https://www.jackcreekcellars.com
5265 Jack Creek Rd, Templeton
🏔️ About the Willow Creek District AVAEstablished 2014
Elevation ranges roughly 900 to 1,900 feet
Approximately 1,400 planted vineyard acres
Significant diurnal shift driven by Templeton Gap influence
Limestone and shale based soils
Known for Rhône varieties, structured Syrah, Grenache, Mourvèdre and distinctive Pinot Noir
Learn more
https://pasowine.com/willow-creek-district/
🍷 Wines DiscussedFrom Caliza Winery:
Azimuth GSM blend
100 percent Syrah
Cohort Cab and Petit Sirah driven blend
Estate Grenache
Concrete Grenache
End of the Day Albariño
End of the Day Graciano
From Jack Creek Cellars:
Concrete Chardonnay
Estate Pinot Noir
100 percent Mourvèdre
Petit Sirah
The Straight and Narrow GSM blend
📰 Paso Wine WireHawks Hill Ranch and Boutz Cellars now share a tasting room inside a heritage barn overlooking the Adelaida District. A Westside collaboration bringing estate Rhône wines and Greek varietals together under one roof.
https://www.hawkshillranch.com
https://www.boutzcellars.com
Wine 4 Paws returns April 25 and 26 benefiting Woods Humane Society. Participating wineries and businesses across SLO County donate 10 percent of sales for the weekend. Since 2009 the event has raised more than 750,000 dollars for homeless pets.
https://wine4paws.com
McPrice Myers Wines collaborates with Hog Island Oyster Co. on Sea Legacy, a limited 100 percent Clairette Blanche release benefiting the White Abalone Project.
https://mcpricemyers.com
🌴 Travel Paso SpotlightRhone Rangers March 20 and 21
Adam connects with Kim Murphy Rodriguez, Executive Director of Rhone Rangers, to preview their upcoming event celebrating American grown Rhône varieties.
Seminars. Tastings. Winemaker panels. Rhône education at its best.
https://rhonerangers.org
Planning a weekend around it
Start here: https://travelpaso.com
🎉 Paso Wine FestPaso Wine Fest returns May 15 through 17.
Locals Only Grand Tasting tickets at $99 are available through February 28 to San Luis Obispo County residents. In-person purchase required.
🔗 https://pasowine.com/
🎟️ Win a pair of tickets at
🔗 https://adammontiel.com/
🎯 Plan your next Paso Robles getaway at travelpaso.com
🎧 Subscribe & FollowLove Where Wine Takes You? Leave a review, subscribe, and share it with a fellow wine (or Paso) lover.🎙️ CreditsExecutive Producer: Joel Peterson + Paso WineAssociate Producer: Krista SmithRecorded, edited, hosted by Adam MontielFollow Adam: @AdamOnTheAirExplore all things Adam: AdamMontiel.comListen to Adam’s other shows: Up + Adam (daily) and The Pour (wine & more, travel, culture) Learn more, connect, or say hey at AdamMontiel.com/connect🎵 Original music by Moonshiner Collective
📱 Download the Paso Wine App
🍷 Plan your trip at PasoWine.com and follow @PasoWine
🎯 Plan your next Paso Robles getaway at travelpaso.com🎧 Subscribe & Follow
If you love Where Wine Takes You, make sure to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with your favorite wine or Paso lover.
©2026 Where Wine Takes You, All Rights Reserved.
🍇 Where Wine Takes You – Episode Highlights 🌊🐎
In this coastal-meets-cowboy episode of Where Wine Takes You, Adam heads west, all the way to the waterline, for a conversation about tasting rooms by the ocean and how proximity to the Pacific changes the wine experience.
First up, Soren Christensen, winemaker for Hearst Ranch Winery, shares what it is like pouring wine across the street from Hearst Castle in San Simeon. With 25 Paso harvests under his belt, including time at Hope Family Wines and Alta Colina, Soren talks about legacy, instinct, and crafting wines worthy of the Hearst name. From Rhône varieties to Bordeaux blends, and even a run-in with ranch longhorns, Soren brings grounded Paso wisdom with an ocean view.
Then meet Dirk Neumann, owner and winemaker of Absolution Cellars in Morro Bay. A second-career winemaker who packed up South Florida and moved west without a master plan, Dirk now produces limited-production, single-vineyard wines from across the Central Coast. His tasting room on the Morro Bay Embarcadero offers albariño, tempranillo, tribiano, and more, often with sea otters floating by outside the patio. It is Old World philosophy, New World creativity, and a whole lot of coastal energy.
Later in the show, Adam connects with Tami Rodman and Ashley Hallinan of the Pacific Coast Cutting Horse Association. From lightning-fast turns to “cow sense,” they break down the adrenaline and heritage behind the sport of cutting. The 2026 PCCHA Trainers Gold Club Roundup runs March 3 through 8, a major event showcasing elite horses, riders, and more than one million dollars in purses across premier competitions.
This episode explores what happens when wine meets water and when Western heritage meets modern Paso culture.
🍷 Featured WineriesHearst Ranch WinerySan Simeon Tasting Room across from Hearst Castle
🔗 https://www.hearstranchwinery.com/
📸 IG: @hearstranchwinery
Absolution CellarsMorro Bay Embarcadero Tasting Room
🔗 https://www.absolutioncellars.com/
📸 IG: @absolutioncellars
🌐 PASO WINE WIREHope Family Wines Installs Major Rooftop Solar Array1,500 solar panels now offset 60 percent of the winery’s energy use, marking another major sustainability milestone.
🔗 https://pasoroblesdailynews.com/paso-robles-winery-installs-major-rooftop-solar-array/218162/
Robert Hall Winery Marks One-Year Anniversary of Regenerative “One Block Challenge”A 40-acre side-by-side regenerative viticulture study continues to position Paso as a leader in climate-smart farming.
🔗 https://www.winebusiness.com/news/article/313815
Celebration of Life for Jake Beckett of Peachy Canyon WineryHonoring the legacy of a multi-generational Paso wine leader.
🔗 https://pasoroblesdailynews.com/celebration-of-life-honors-the-legacy-of-jacob-jake-russell-beckett/217825/
🐎 Travel Paso SpotlightPacific Coast Cutting Horse Association🔗 https://pccha.com/
📅 2026 PCCHA Trainers Gold Club Roundup, March 3 through 8
🔗 Event Info: https://pccha.com/shows.asp?id=75
🎉 Paso Wine FestPaso Wine Fest returns May 15 through 17.
Locals Only Grand Tasting tickets at $99 are available through February 28 to San Luis Obispo County residents. In-person purchase required.
🔗 https://pasowine.com/
🎟️ Win a pair of tickets at
🔗 https://adammontiel.com/
🎯 Plan your next Paso Robles getaway at travelpaso.com
🎧 Subscribe & FollowLove Where Wine Takes You? Leave a review, subscribe, and share it with a fellow wine (or Paso) lover.🎙️ CreditsExecutive Producer: Joel Peterson + Paso WineAssociate Producer: Krista SmithRecorded, edited, hosted by Adam MontielFollow Adam: @AdamOnTheAirExplore all things Adam: AdamMontiel.comListen to Adam’s other shows: Up + Adam (daily) and The Pour (wine & more, travel, culture) Learn more, connect, or say hey at AdamMontiel.com/connect🎵 Original music by Moonshiner Collective
📱 Download the Paso Wine App
🍷 Plan your trip at PasoWine.com and follow @PasoWine
🎯 Plan your next Paso Robles getaway at travelpaso.com🎧 Subscribe & Follow
If you love Where Wine Takes You, make sure to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with your favorite wine or Paso lover.
©2026 Where Wine Takes You, All Rights Reserved.
🍇 Where Wine Takes You – Episode 159 We’re kicking off a brand-new Where Wine Takes You series spotlighting the 11 sub-AVAs of Paso Robles, and first up: the iconic, elevated, ‘limestone’-rich Adelaida District.
Host Adam Montiel is joined by:
Together, they talk terroir, winemaking dreams, and what makes this high-elevation zone truly one-of-a-kind.
Also in this episode:
📰 Paso Wine Wire 🏆 Brian & Stephy Terrizzi of Giornata Wines + Etto Pastificio named 2025 Paso Robles Wine Industry Persons of the YearRead More
* 📺 Vanderpump Rules* films in Paso. Rava Wines was featured this week, and Tobin James Cellars is next.
Episode Coverage
* 🍇 Tablas Creek Vineyard announces new winemaking leadership
Read Story
🌴 Travel Paso Spotlight: Paso Robles Distillery TrailWe’re joined by Kathleen Naughton, Project Coordinator of the Paso Robles Distillery Trail, to talk:
Join the waitlist or learn more: pasoroblesdistillerytrail.com
🎯 Plan your next Paso Robles getaway at travelpaso.com
🎧 Subscribe & FollowLove Where Wine Takes You? Leave a review, subscribe, and share it with a fellow wine (or Paso) lover.🎙️ CreditsExecutive Producer: Joel Peterson + Paso WineAssociate Producer: Krista SmithRecorded, edited, hosted by Adam MontielFollow Adam: @AdamOnTheAirExplore all things Adam: AdamMontiel.comListen to Adam’s other shows: Up + Adam (daily) and The Pour (wine & more, travel, culture) Learn more, connect, or say hey at AdamMontiel.com/connect🎵 Original music by Moonshiner Collective
📱 Download the Paso Wine App
🍷 Plan your trip at PasoWine.com and follow @PasoWine
🎯 Plan your next Paso Robles getaway at travelpaso.com🎧 Subscribe & Follow
If you love Where Wine Takes You, make sure to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with your favorite wine or Paso lover.
©2026 Where Wine Takes You, All Rights Reserved.
🍇 Where Wine Takes You – Episode 158: This episode celebrates two people who define what Paso Robles is all about — Brian and Stephy Terrizzi, this year’s Paso Wine Industry Persons of the Year.
Brian and Stephy are the powerhouse duo behind Giornata Wines and Etto Pastificio, both based in Paso’s Tin City. Together, they’ve blended Old World Italian sensibility with the creative pulse of Paso — crafting wines that rival the best of Italy and pasta that’s become a staple from local kitchens to Michelin-level restaurants.
We talk about their path from Fresno State to Italy, how they built two thriving brands rooted in authenticity, and how they’ve made community impact part of their business — including thousands of pasta meals donated to local schools.
🍝 FEATURED GUESTSBrian & Stephy Terrizzi — Owners of Giornata Wines & Etto Pastificio
🌟 TRAVEL PASO SPOTLIGHTOur spotlight this episode shines on Branden Cancino, President of the Downtown Paso Wine District and Tasting Room Manager at Tank Garage Winery. Branden shares how Paso’s downtown tasting scene has evolved into one of California’s most exciting wine destinations — and gives us a look at their upcoming February 28 event, bringing together 20+ wineries, food, and live music.
🎟️ Tickets & info → DowntownWineDistrictPaso.com | ThePasoVibe.com
✨ Plan your next trip → TravelPaso.com
📰 PASO WINE WIRE Paso Robles Wine Month goes national (May 2026) — A collaboration between the Paso Robles CAB Collective, Paso Wine Country Alliance, and Travel Paso bringing Paso to new audiences nationwide. Learn more → PasoRoblesWineMonth.com * Paso Robles makes East Coast headlines — Nantucket Magazine calls Paso “The Classic American Wine Story,” celebrating its pioneer roots and terroir diversity. * Paso Wine 2025 DTC Report* — Paso held strong with just a 2% dip in direct-to-consumer sales versus 6% statewide, proving the region’s loyal following. Read more → PasoWine.com
🎟️ EVENTS & LINKS Paso Wine Fest 2026 → May 15–17, 2026🎫 Locals Only tickets available through Feb 28 for $99Buy in person at the Paso or SLO Chamber of Commerce* with local ID.
Full details → PasoWine.com
🎯 Plan your next Paso Robles getaway at travelpaso.com
🎧 Subscribe & FollowLove Where Wine Takes You? Leave a review, subscribe, and share it with a fellow wine (or Paso) lover.🎙️ CreditsExecutive Producer: Joel Peterson + Paso WineAssociate Producer: Krista SmithRecorded, edited, hosted by Adam MontielFollow Adam: @AdamOnTheAirExplore all things Adam: AdamMontiel.comListen to Adam’s other shows: Up + Adam (daily) and The Pour (wine & more, travel, culture) Learn more, connect, or say hey at AdamMontiel.com/connect🎵 Original music by Moonshiner Collective
📱 Download the Paso Wine App
🍷 Plan your trip at PasoWine.com and follow @PasoWine
🎯 Plan your next Paso Robles getaway at travelpaso.com🎧 Subscribe & Follow
If you love Where Wine Takes You, make sure to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with your favorite wine or Paso lover.
©2025 Where Wine Takes You, All Rights Reserved.
🍇 Where Wine Takes You – Episode 156: Part 2: 20 Years of Torrin: From Helping Others to Holding His Own In this follow-up to our deep dive with Scott and Viquel Hawley of Torrin, Adam picks up right where we left off. More stories from 20 vintages of balance, grit, and staying true to their winemaking vision and their family. If you loved Part 1, this pour is even deeper.• Torrin Wines: torrinwines.com• IG: @torrinwines🎯 Travel Paso Spotlight
This week’s spotlight takes us to Willow Creek Distillery, located at Opolo Vineyards. Head Distiller Kevin Coulton joins Adam to talk about the art of small-batch spirits, how Opolo’s wines inspired the distillery’s unique approach, and what makes their Paso-grown ingredients so special. They also unveil their brand new gin — a fresh expression of Paso in a bottle.
Plan your trip at travelpaso.com
📰 PASO WINE WIRE• Remembering Jake BeckettThe Paso Robles wine community is mourning the sudden loss of Jake Beckett, beloved GM of Peachy Canyon Winery and son of founders Doug and Nancy Beckett. Jake was instrumental in running day-to-day operations while his brother Josh built out Thibido and Écluse. His passion, warmth, and leadership left a lasting mark on West Side Paso.🔗 Family Statement• Paso Wine Fest 2026 — Locals Only Ticket Window Now OpenSan Luis Obispo County residents can lock in early-bird Grand Tasting tickets for just $99 through Feb. 28. Tickets must be purchased in person at the Paso or SLO Chamber of Commerce with a valid local ID.🔗 PasoWine.com• Hope Family Wines Named Official Wine of Vina Robles AmphitheatreThe 2026 concert season at Vina Robles will feature wines exclusively from the Austin Hope portfolio, including Treana, Liberty School, and more. Club members will enjoy early ticket access and special perks.🔗 Read the story🎧 Subscribe & FollowLove Where Wine Takes You? Leave a review, subscribe, and share it with a fellow wine (or cocktail) lover.🎙️ CreditsExecutive Producer: Joel Peterson + Paso WineAssociate Producer: Krista SmithRecorded, edited, hosted by Adam MontielFollow Adam: @AdamOnTheAirExplore all things Adam: AdamMontiel.comListen to Adam’s other shows: Up + Adam (daily) and The Pour (wine & more, travel, culture) Learn more, connect, or say hey at AdamMontiel.com/connect🎵 Original music by Moonshiner Collective
📱 Download the Paso Wine App
🍷 Plan your trip at PasoWine.com and follow @PasoWine
🎯 Plan your next Paso Robles getaway at travelpaso.com🎧 Subscribe & Follow
If you love Where Wine Takes You, make sure to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with your favorite wine or Paso lover.
©2025 Where Wine Takes You, All Rights Reserved.
🍷 Where Wine Takes You – Episode 156: 20 Years of Torrin: From Helping Others to Holding His Own 🍇In this episode of Where Wine Takes You, Adam sits down with one of Paso’s most respected and quietly legendary winemaking couples, Scott and Viquel Hawley of Torrin Wines, as they mark their 20th vintage. From their landlocked beginnings between Booker and L’Aventure to becoming one of Paso’s benchmark brands, the Hawleys share their winemaking philosophy, what balance means to them, and the soulful evolution of their wines.They even open a bottle of their very first vintage — 2006 — and talk about what’s changed, what hasn’t, and how Torrin continues to define West Side Paso.In the Paso Wine Wire, Adam reflects on the sudden loss of Jake Beckett of Peachy Canyon, and honors his impact on Paso wine. Plus, a locals-only deal for Paso Wine Fest 2026, and Hope Family Wines takes center stage as the new official wine of Vina Robles Amphitheatre.This episode’s Travel Paso Spotlight features the newly renovated Bellesera Hotel, now part of the Hilton Tapestry Collection. Adam chats with GM Benny Cendali about the hotel’s full transformation, new dining direction, and why Bellesera is a true local-meets-luxury experience for visitors and staycationers alike.• Torrin Wines: torrinwines.com• IG: @torrinwines🎯 Travel Paso Spotlight• Bellesera Hotel: belleserapasorobles.com• Enoteca: Dining at Bellesera• Plan your trip: travelpaso.com📰 PASO WINE WIRE• Remembering Jake BeckettThe Paso Robles wine community is mourning the sudden loss of Jake Beckett, beloved GM of Peachy Canyon Winery and son of founders Doug and Nancy Beckett. Jake was instrumental in running day-to-day operations while his brother Josh built out Thibido and Écluse. His passion, warmth, and leadership left a lasting mark on West Side Paso.🔗 Family Statement• Paso Wine Fest 2026 — Locals Only Ticket Window Now OpenSan Luis Obispo County residents can lock in early-bird Grand Tasting tickets for just $99 through Feb. 28. Tickets must be purchased in person at the Paso or SLO Chamber of Commerce with a valid local ID.🔗 PasoWine.com• Hope Family Wines Named Official Wine of Vina Robles AmphitheatreThe 2026 concert season at Vina Robles will feature wines exclusively from the Austin Hope portfolio, including Treana, Liberty School, and more. Club members will enjoy early ticket access and special perks.🔗 Read the story🎧 Subscribe & FollowLove Where Wine Takes You? Leave a review, subscribe, and share it with a fellow wine (or cocktail) lover.🎙️ CreditsExecutive Producer: Joel Peterson + Paso WineAssociate Producer: Krista SmithRecorded, edited, hosted by Adam MontielFollow Adam: @AdamOnTheAirExplore all things Adam: AdamMontiel.comListen to Adam’s other shows: Up + Adam (daily) and The Pour (wine & more, travel, culture) Learn more, connect, or say hey at AdamMontiel.com/connect🎵 Original music by Moonshiner Collective
📱 Download the Paso Wine App
🍷 Plan your trip at PasoWine.com and follow @PasoWine
🎯 Plan your next Paso Robles getaway at travelpaso.com🎧 Subscribe & Follow
If you love Where Wine Takes You, make sure to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with your favorite wine or Paso lover.
©2025 Where Wine Takes You, All Rights Reserved.
🍸 Where Wine Takes You – Episode 155: “A Spirited Start to 2026” 🥃In this episode of Where Wine Takes You, Adam kicks off the new year with a deep pour into Paso’s cocktail and distillery scene. He’s joined by Alex and Monica Villicana, founders of Re:Find Distillery, who pioneered Paso’s sustainable spirits movement using free-run wine juice, aka saignée, to create premium vodka, gin, and more. Also in the mix is Briana Heywood, head winemaker and distiller at Donati Family Vineyard, who brings her deep winemaking chops to both wine and spirits production. Together, they talk trends, challenges, and what it means to distill with purpose in a wine-first town.In the Paso Wine Wire, Adam recaps a rain-drenched but spirited New Year’s Eve celebration in Downtown Paso, where he emceed under the stars and met amazing fans of the show (shout out to Angie & Eric from San Jose and Kim & Brett from Redondo Beach). He also pays tribute to the legendary Norma Moye, who recently passed away at 92 and leaves behind an unmatched legacy of civic love and downtown revitalization. Plus, big changes at Villa San Juliette Winery, where the celeb ownership era ends and a new chapter begins with Continental Vineyards.This episode’s Travel Paso Spotlight features two of Paso’s coolest hidden gems: the candlelit speakeasy 1122, recently named one of the world’s best, and The Remedy, a tucked-away cocktail bar inside The Alchemists’ Garden. Adam shares a special recorded convo with Tony Bennett, co-owner of The Remedy, about creating intimate cocktail experiences with soul.• Re:Find Distillery: refinddistillery.com• IG: @refinddistillery• Donati Family Vineyard: donatifamilyvineyard.com• Donati Spirits: donatispirits.com• IG: @donatifamilyvineyard🎯 Travel Paso Spotlight• The Remedy: theremedyca.com• The Alchemists’ Garden: alchemistsgarden.com• 1122 Speakeasy: eleven-twentytwo.com• Plan your trip: travelpaso.com📰 PASO WINE WIRE• Paso Rings in 2026 Downtown — Rain, live music, and major vibes🔗 Event Recap• Norma Moye Remembered — Civic matriarch, downtown champion🔗 Tribute Story• Villa San Juliette Winery Sold — Celebrity era ends, new vision begins🔗 Ownership Change🎧 Subscribe & FollowLove Where Wine Takes You? Leave a review, subscribe, and share it with a fellow wine (or cocktail) lover.🎙️ CreditsExecutive Producer: Joel Peterson + Paso WineAssociate Producer: Krista SmithRecorded, edited, hosted by Adam MontielFollow Adam: @AdamOnTheAirExplore all things Adam: AdamMontiel.comListen to Adam’s other shows: Up + Adam (daily) and The Pour (wine & more, travel, culture) Learn more, connect, or say hey at AdamMontiel.com/connect🎵 Original music by Moonshiner Collective📱 Download the Paso Wine App🍷 Plan your trip at PasoWine.com and follow @PasoWine
🎯 Plan your next Paso Robles getaway at travelpaso.com🎧 Subscribe & Follow If you love Where Wine Takes You, make sure to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with your favorite wine or Paso lover.
©2025 Where Wine Takes You, All Rights Reserved.
🍇 Where Wine Takes You – Episode Highlights 🍷In this episode of Where Wine Takes You, Adam sits down with Nate Hall, head winemaker at Jada Vineyard & Winery in the Willow Creek District of Paso Robles. Nate didn’t grow up in the wine world. He studied ecology and marine biology at Cal Poly, then taught high school and did environmental research before answering the call of the cellar. After learning the ropes at places like Sextant and Kukkula, Nate joined Jada in 2017 and was named Head Winemaker in 2024, bringing a fresh, soil-first focus to their Rhône-style and Bordeaux-inspired program.
And while Nate is shaping the future of Jada, the roots go back to one of Paso’s most respected names. Scott Hawley was Jada’s original consulting winemaker, helping launch their estate program and set the tone for what the vineyard would become.
Later in the show, Adam makes a spontaneous call to Scott. A real, unfiltered convo that captures what makes Paso tick. Community, mentorship, and the magic that happens when the right people show up.
In this episode’s Travel Paso Spotlight, Adam shines a light on Studios on the Park, the creative heart of downtown Paso Robles. This isn’t just a gallery. It’s a working art space where you can watch painters, sculptors, and makers do their thing in real time. Founded by artist Anne Laddon, Studios is all about access, connection, and community. The perfect artistic pairing to wine country vibes.
PASO WINE WIRE:CJ Gormley Named Paso’s 2025 Hospitality Star
Hope Family Wines’ national brand ambassador is recognized by the Paso Robles Wine Country Alliance for his hospitality leadership and ability to light up every room.
🔗 Read More
Remembering Winemaker Christian Roguenant (1959–2025)
The Central Coast sparkling wine pioneer, mentor, and musician leaves a lasting legacy. Celebration of Life is January 9, 2026.
🔗 Obituary
🔗 Tribute Article
Vineyard Team Recaps 2025 Milestones
SIP Certified hits 41,000 acres across CA, OR, and MI. Sustainable Ag Expo celebrates 20 years with 479 attendees and 80+ hours of education.
🔗 WineBusiness Story
🔗 Vineyard Team Website
New Year’s Eve in Paso — Hosted by Adam Montiel
Live music, food trucks, bonfire, and a 9 PM countdown in Downtown Paso’s City Park.
🔗 Event Info
🎉 Win an overnight stay at Paso Robles Inn and NYE dinner — enter now at adammontiel.com
🎯 Plan your next Paso Robles getaway at travelpaso.com
🎧 Subscribe & Follow If you love Where Wine Takes You, make sure to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with your favorite wine lover.
Where Wine Takes You is Executive Produced by Joel Peterson and Paso Wine
Associate Producer: Krista Smith
Recorded, edited, produced, and hosted by Adam Montiel
📱 Download the free Paso Wine App — your ultimate guide to wine country.
For the latest in Paso Robles Wine Country, check out PasoWine.com and follow @PasoWine
Follow Adam on IG → @AdamOnTheAir
Listen to Adam’s other shows: Up + Adam (daily) and The Pour (wine, travel, culture)
Learn more, connect, or say hey at AdamMontiel.com
🎵 Original music by Moonshiner Collective If you love Where Wine Takes You, subscribe, leave a review, and share it!
©2025 Where Wine Takes You, All Rights Reserved.
🍇 Where Wine Takes You – Episode Highlights 🍷
In this episode of Where Wine Takes You, Adam sits down with two winemakers that have stepped into new chapters: Aaron Hunt of Shadow Run Vineyards and Michael Barretto of Oso Libre Winery.
The conversation uncorks harvest reflections, the transition from family stewardship to full ownership, and what it means to go from the cellar to the boardroom. Aaron shares how taking over Shadow Run has reshaped his vision, while Michael opens up about becoming a partner at Oso Libre after years of hands-on hustle.
Later, we spotlight Allegretto Vineyard Resort and their upcoming 12 Days of Festive Celebration, a magical holiday experience wrapped in wine country luxury.
GUEST LINKS • Shadow Run Vineyards: shadowrunvineyards.com
• IG: @shadowrunvineyards
• Oso Libre Winery: osolibre.com
• IG: @osolibrewinery
TRAVEL PASO SPOTLIGHT • Allegretto Vineyard Resort: allegrettovineyardresort.com
• IG: @allegrettoresort
PASO WINE WIRE SOURCES • Thomas Hill Organics / Chef Mike Espy: GoFundMe – Support the Espy Family
• Wine Country Christmas Market (Dec 7 @ McPrice Myers): Event Info
• Caliza Winery’s New Location: Paso Robles Daily News
🎯 Plan your next Paso Robles getaway at travelpaso.com
🎧 Subscribe & Follow If you love Where Wine Takes You, make sure to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with your favorite wine lover.
Where Wine Takes You is Executive Produced by Joel Peterson and Paso Wine
Associate Producer: Krista Smith
Recorded, edited, produced, and hosted by Adam Montiel
📱 Download the free Paso Wine App — your ultimate guide to wine country.
For the latest in Paso Robles Wine Country, check out PasoWine.com and follow @PasoWine
Follow Adam on IG → @AdamOnTheAir
Listen to Adam’s other shows: Up + Adam (daily) and The Pour (wine, travel, culture)
Learn more, connect, or say hey at AdamMontiel.com
🎵 Original music by Moonshiner Collective If you love Where Wine Takes You, subscribe, leave a review, and share it!
©2025 Where Wine Takes You, All Rights Reserved.
🍇 Where Wine Takes You – Episode Highlights 🍷
In this episode of Where Wine Takes You, Adam sits down with three bold names shaking up Paso Robles: Tommy Booth of Wine Boss, and Dina & Jeff Hevert of Vinyl Vineyards. From Hollywood reality TV to rockstar collabs, this episode is a journey through reinvention, hustle, and the kind of creativity that makes Paso wine country unlike anywhere else.
Recorded live at Lobro, the conversation dives into Tommy’s wild ride from Cal Poly viticulture student to crafting wine for Kevin Hart and Pepper, and how Jeff & Dina turned their passion for vintage trailers and music into a soulful, boutique vineyard experience.
Later, we spotlight Tin City with Bri Brighlane, who shares what’s in store for the holidays at Paso’s urban wine collective with 44 creative producers packed into one unforgettable block.
GUEST LINKS • Wine Boss: winebosspasorobles.com
• IG: @wineboss_pasorobles
• Vinyl Vineyards: vinylvin.com
• IG: @vinylvineyards
TRAVEL PASO SPOTLIGHT • Tin City: tincitypasorobles.com
PASO WINE WIRE SOURCES • Jenny Heinzen Real Estate Feature: Paso Market Outlook 2025
• Grey Wolf Earthquake Story: The Tribune – SLO Earthquake
🎯 Plan your next Paso Robles getaway at travelpaso.com
🎧 Subscribe & FollowIf you love Where Wine Takes You, make sure to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with your favorite wine lover.
Where Wine Takes You is Executive Produced by Joel Peterson and Paso WineAssociate Producer: Krista SmithRecorded, edited, produced, and hosted by Adam Montiel
📱 Download the free Paso Wine App as your guide to all things wine country.
For the latest in Paso Robles Wine Country, check out PasoWine.com and follow @PasoWine.
Follow Adam on Instagram → @AdamOnTheAir
Listen to Adam’s other shows: Up + Adam (daily podcast) and The Pour (wine, spirits, brews, lifestyle)
Learn more, reach out, or connect at AdamMontiel.com
🎵 Original music by Moonshiner Collective
If you love Where Wine Takes You, subscribe, leave a review, and share it!
©2025 Where Wine Takes You, All Rights Reserved.
🍇 Where Wine Takes You – Episode Highlights 🍷
This week on Where Wine Takes You, we’re exploring what happens when world-class wine meets next-level hospitality. Because in Paso Robles, where you lay your head after that last pour can shape the entire experience.
Joining Adam are the dream team from SummerWood Winery & Inn: Winemaker Mauricio Marchant, Tasting Room & Wine Club Manager Margaret Shirley, and Inn Manager Angie Vazquez – alongside Maggie Tillman of Alta Colina Winery and the one-of-a-kind Trailer Pond glamping experience.
This episode is a deep dive into how you sip and how you feel hospitality, and why the full wine country experience is worth getting right. It’s wine-story, and soulful-stay… straight from the source.
🍷 This episode features:* Mauricio Marchant, Winemaker, SummerWood Winery
• Margaret Shirley, Tasting Room & Wine Club Manager, SummerWood
• Angie Vazquez, Inn Manager, SummerWood Inn
• Maggie Tillman, HBIC, Alta Colina Winery & The Trailer Pond
🔗 Links* SummerWood Winery & Inn
• Alta Colina Winery
• The Trailer Pond
• Paso Robles Vacation Rentals – PasoStay
• TravelPaso.com
📲 Follow on Instagram* @summerwoodwinery
• @altacolina
• @thetrailerpond
• @pasoroblesvacationrentals
• @travelpaso
🧭 Travel Paso SpotlightLater in the episode, we spotlight Paso Robles Vacation Rentals, aka PasoStay.com, a locally owned service helping visitors book thoughtfully curated stays throughout Paso, from vineyard estates to charming downtown hideaways. Adam chats with Sandy Oneal about how the right place to stay can transform your trip. Originally founded by Kathy Bonelli with just a handful of properties over 20 years ago, Paso Robles Vacation Rentals now features more than 100 unique homes. The team partners with local property owners and works closely with community leaders and task forces to support the evolving landscape of vacation rentals in the region.
🎧 Subscribe & FollowIf you love Where Wine Takes You, subscribe, leave a review, and share it with your favorite wine and travel junkies.
Where Wine Takes You is Executive Produced by Joel Peterson and Paso Wine Associate Producer: Krista Smith
Recorded, edited, produced, and hosted by Adam Montiel
📱 Download the free Paso Wine App 🔗 PasoWine.com
📸 Follow: @PasoWine, @AdamOnTheAir
🎙 Listen to Adam’s other shows: Up+Adam and The Pour 💻 Connect or reach out at AdamMontiel.com – Learn about Adam’s Breaking & Entering Christmas
🎵 Original music by Moonshiner Collective ©2025 Where Wine Takes You. All Rights Reserved.
🍇 Where Wine Takes You – Episode Highlights 🍷
Episode 150 turns a new page in Paso Robles. Adam sits down with the founders of Gravesend Paso, Matt Reese and Keith Robinson (also of Saint K Wines) along with Chef Amy Baer and rising winemaker Andy Neja of Cairjn Wine Cellars. We dig into why a name like Gravesend matters, how a kitchen is built entirely by women, how small lot winemaking finds new voice in Paso, and why hospitality is getting reimagined up and down Spring Street. Recorded at LoBro Studios in downtown Paso Robles.
This episode features: • Matt Reese, Co-owner, Gravesend and Saint K Wines
• Keith Robinson, Co-owner, Gravesend and Saint K Wines
• Chef Amy Baer, Founder and Owner of Epicurean Santa Barbara and Executive Chef at Gravesend
• Andy Neja, Owner and Winemaker at Cairjn Wine Cellars
Links
• Gravesend Paso
• Saint K Wines
• Cairjn Wine Cellars
Follow on Instagram:
Cairjn Wine Cellars → @cairjnwines
Gravesend Wine Merchant & Eatery → @gravesendpaso
Saint K Wines → @saintkwines
We also spotlight our unique partnership with Engelbert Strauss, the official workwear partner of Paso Robles Wine Country, and why it matters in the vineyard, the cellar, and beyond. I picked up the phone and spoke with Cris Cherry of Villa Creek & MAHA Estate and Janell Dusi of J Dusi Wines – two makers who know that craft isn’t just what happens in the glass, but who shows up in the fields, in the hands, in the gear. Their insights on harvest, community, and what it takes to make it count in Paso bring context to a partnership that’s built for the people doing the work.
Paso Wine Wire • Garagiste Wine Festival returns Nov 7-8, in Paso Robles for its 15th anniversary → garagistefestival.com
• Firestone Walker Brewing Company unveils a new CO2 recovery system in Paso Robles, expected to save four million pounds of emissions annually → firestonewalker.com
• Ancient Peaks Winery hosted the 4th Annual Walk for Cancer at Santa Margarita Ranch → pasoroblespress.com
Travel Paso Spotlight Later in the show we spotlight Taste! Craft Eatery in downtown Paso Robles, the same concept featured on Diners, Drive Ins and Dives. They offer over 60 mini dishes, sliders, mac and cheese, big flavor, and local wine pairing energy.
• tastepasorobles.com
🎯 Plan your next Paso Robles getaway at travelpaso.com
🎧 Subscribe & FollowIf you love Where Wine Takes You, make sure to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with your favorite wine lover.
Where Wine Takes You is Executive Produced by Joel Peterson and Paso WineAssociate Producer: Krista SmithRecorded, edited, produced, and hosted by Adam Montiel
📱 Download the free Paso Wine App as your guide to all things wine country.
For the latest in Paso Robles Wine Country, check out PasoWine.com and follow @PasoWine.
Follow Adam on Instagram → @AdamOnTheAir
Listen to Adam’s other shows: Up + Adam (daily podcast) and The Pour (wine, spirits, brews, lifestyle)
Learn more, reach out, or connect at AdamMontiel.com
🎵 Original music by Moonshiner Collective
If you love Where Wine Takes You, subscribe, leave a review, and share it!
©2025 Where Wine Takes You, All Rights Reserved.
🍇 Where Wine Takes You – Episode Highlights 🍷
Two Paso originals, zero gimmicks. This week Adam sits down with Marc Caparone of Caparone Winery (owner/winemaker, founded 1979) and Roger Nicolas of RN Estate (owner/winemaker, launched 2000) to talk patience, classic craft, and why less can taste like more. We dig into moderate alcohols, neutral oak, and Italian/Bordeaux varieties that age into real conversations. Plus, a Travel Paso Spotlight on the Garagiste Wine Festival turning 15.
Recorded at Timbre LoBro Studios, this episode features:
• Marc Caparone — Owner/Winemaker, Caparone Winery • Roger Nicolas — Owner/Winemaker, RN Estate Vineyard & Winery
We explore Caparone’s father-and-son “simple winery, complex wines” ethos and their pioneering work with Sangiovese, Nebbiolo, and Aglianico. Then we head to RN Estate’s hilltop lens on Paso: Bordeaux-inspired reds, finesse-first blending, and SRH Pinot Noir when the coast calls. If you’re chasing origin stories in the glass, start here.
Paso Wine Wire Dream Big Darling opens 2026 FLOurish leadership track — six months of coaching, peer mentoring, and skill-building → https://dreambigdarling.org/flourish
• Cambria Hotel Templeton–Paso Robles is now open at 1000 Las Tablas Rd, Templeton → https://www.choicehotels.com/cambria
• National love for locals: Yes Cocktail Co. named #1 Best Craft Mixer Brand in USA TODAY 10Best; Allegretto Vineyard Resort ranked #3 Best Wine Country Hotel* → https://www.yescocktailco.com • https://www.allegrettovineyardresort.com
Travel Paso SpotlightWe check in with Stewart McLennan, co-founder of the Garagiste Wine Festival, celebrating 15 years of discovery in Paso — small-lot producers, first-name energy, and the best place to stumble into your new favorite label.
• Festival info & schedule → https://www.garagistefestival.com/paso-robles
• Plan your trip → https://travelpaso.com
🎯 Plan your next Paso Robles getaway at TravelPaso.com
Links & FollowWineries • Cparone Winery (est. 1979) → https://www.caparone.com
• RN Estate Vineyard & Winery (est. 2000) → https://www.rnestate.com
🎯 Plan your next Paso Robles getaway at TravelPaso.com
🎧 Subscribe & FollowIf you love Where Wine Takes You, make sure to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with your favorite wine lover.
Where Wine Takes You is Executive Produced by Joel Peterson and Paso WineAssociate Producer: Krista SmithRecorded, edited, produced, and hosted by Adam Montiel
📱 Download the free Paso Wine App as your guide to all things wine country.
For the latest in Paso Robles Wine Country, check out PasoWine.com and follow @PasoWine.
Follow Adam on Instagram → @AdamOnTheAir
Listen to Adam’s other shows: Up + Adam (daily podcast) and The Pour (wine, spirits, brews, lifestyle)
Learn more, reach out, or connect at AdamMontiel.com
🎵 Original music by Moonshiner Collective
If you love Where Wine Takes You, subscribe, leave a review, and share it!
©2025 Where Wine Takes You, All Rights Reserved.
🍇 Where Wine Takes You – Episode Highlights 🍷
This week we saddle up with the Canopy Cowboys of Alterra Solutions — a vineyard management supergroup shaping some of the most coveted sites in Paso. We’re talking legacy, precision farming, and how to ride ripeness like a pro, and what Paso is learning from Harvest 2025, from the brightest minds farming it.
Recorded at LoBro Studios in Paso Robles, this ep features:
• Kevin Wilkinson (the thinker), founder & vineyard strategist
• Lucas Pope (the kind & sensitive one), VP, sparkling evangelist, and co-founder of Haliotide Wines • Chris Hammell (token bad boy), vineyard whisperer (formerly Bien Nacido)
We dig into Alterra’s 2025 rebrand from Coastal Vineyard Services and why it signals more than just a name change. It’s a full-circle moment for founder Kevin Wilkinson, who has spent decades shaping the region from behind the scenes. Lucas Pope shares his wild entry into farming, managing vineyards for Silicon Valley’s elite in the hills of Santa Cruz, and how that path eventually led to launching Haliotide, a sparkling wine project with his wife Nicole. Chris Hammell reflects on his years managing Bien Nacido Vineyard, and why his quiet, humble demeanor masks one of the most accomplished vineyard résumés on the West Coast.
Paso Wine Wire • New Decemil Wine Lounge brings micro-estate Rhône energy to downtown Paso inside the 1888 Grangers Union Building → decemilwines.com
• Garagiste Wine Festival turns 15 — Nov 7–8 at Paso Robles Event Center → garagistefestival.com
• Opolo’s Harvest Grape Stomp Dinner is back Oct 17 — lamb roast, Balkan beats, and stomping galore → opolo.com
Travel Paso Spotlight This week we check in to Hotel Cheval, the boutique gem of downtown Paso. GM Jayne Christman joins us to talk about warm service, world-class comfort, and what makes Cheval one of Paso’s most beloved places to stay.
• Learn more: hotelcheval.com
• Plan your trip: TravelPaso.com
🎯 Plan your next Paso Robles getaway at TravelPaso.com
🎧 Subscribe & FollowIf you love Where Wine Takes You, make sure to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with your favorite wine lover.
Where Wine Takes You is Executive Produced by Joel Peterson and Paso WineAssociate Producer: Krista SmithRecorded, edited, produced, and hosted by Adam Montiel
📱 Download the free Paso Wine App as your guide to all things wine country.
For the latest in Paso Robles Wine Country, check out PasoWine.com and follow @PasoWine.
Follow Adam on Instagram → @AdamOnTheAir
Listen to Adam’s other shows: Up + Adam (daily podcast) and The Pour (wine, spirits, brews, lifestyle)
Learn more, reach out, or connect at AdamMontiel.com
🎵 Original music by Moonshiner Collective
If you love Where Wine Takes You, subscribe, leave a review, and share it!
©2025 Where Wine Takes You, All Rights Reserved.
🍇 Where Wine Takes You – Episode Highlights 🍷This week we go inside the new life breathed into Paso’s ‘first castle on the right’, the newest hospitality power duo: Fortress Custom Crush (production, collaboration, small-lot craft) and The Anderson Paso (flexible hospitality and events next door). I’m joined by Jeremy Leffert (Fortress), Azurae Shults (The Anderson Paso), and Jeff Kandarian of Serial Wines to talk about harvest 2025, how resident winemakers sharpen each other, and all what we can expect when all the curtains are pulled back. We taste through Serial’s current lineup and dig into the drawbridge between craft and collaboration.
Paso Wine Wire Linne Calodo stays “all in on Zin,” highlighting heritage sites and Willow Creek spice with 2023 releases Problem Child and Cherry Red. → linnecalodo.com * Booker achieves CCOF organic certification in the winery, completing vine-to-bottle organic status. → Read: Paso Robles Daily News • Visit: bookerwines.com * Robb Report spotlights Libretto* as a downtown Paso jazz magnet built around a rare 2012 Steinway Model D. → Read: Robb Report • Visit: librettopaso.com
Travel Paso SpotlightWe’re shining the light on the Paderewski Festival in Paso Robles, November 6–9, 2025, a multi-day celebration of music and legacy. Build your weekend around the concerts, the wine, and the vibe.
• Learn more: paderewskifest.com • Plan your trip: TravelPaso.com
Special Mini-SegmentA quick recognition of our partnership with Strauss, including a short chat with Henning Strauss on why supporting local storytelling matters to makers and travelers alike.
🎯 Plan your next Paso Robles getaway at TravelPaso.com
🎧 Subscribe & FollowIf you love Where Wine Takes You, make sure to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with your favorite wine lover.
Where Wine Takes You is Executive Produced by Joel Peterson and Paso WineAssociate Producer: Krista SmithRecorded, edited, produced, and hosted by Adam Montiel
Download the free Paso Wine App as your guide to all things wine country.
For the latest in Paso Robles Wine Country, check out PasoWine.com and follow @PasoWine.
Follow Adam on Instagram → @AdamOnTheAir
Listen to Adam’s other shows: Up + Adam (daily podcast) and The Pour (wine, spirits, brews, lifestyle)
Learn more, reach out, or connect at AdamMontiel.com
🎵 Original music by Moonshiner Collective
If you love Where Wine Takes You, subscribe, leave a review, and share it! Thank you.
©2025 Where Wine Takes You, All Rights Reserved.
🍇 Where Wine Takes You – Episode Highlights 🍷This week on Where Wine Takes You, we’re going Where the Wild Wines Are with three winemakers who represent the energy and evolution of Paso: Ryan Pease of Paix Sur Terre, Alex Kemp of Brecon Estate, and Ryker Wall of Cordant Winery.
Ryan has carved out a cult following with Paix Sur Terre, crafting Rhône-driven wines that overdeliver in character and soul. Alex is leading the charge at Brecon, one of Paso’s most acclaimed tasting rooms, while also exploring his Grenache obsession through Terranean Wines. And Ryker is steering winemaking at Cordant, continuing its legacy of thoughtful, vineyard-driven blends, while building his personal project Idola Wines into something truly exciting.
Together, we dig into what it means to make wine in Paso right now — the harvest surprises, the challenges, the camaraderie, and the creativity. You’ll hear stories that connect the dots between established brands and the next generation of labels that are quietly rising up in Paso.
Paso Wine Wire* Paso featured in Forbes: “Outstanding Cabernet Year” for 2025 — cooler weather + drought conditions could deliver one of Paso’s most exciting vintages yet. * Sensorio issues global open call for new immersive art installations — artists, designers, and creators invited to light up Paso in new ways. * California Wine Month — celebrating the $2.8 billion impact of wine and tourism on Paso and the many events happening across the state wrapping up September.
Travel Paso SpotlightThis week we’re shining the light on The Bovine Classic, Paso’s gravel cycling adventure happening October 25, 2025, that mixes endurance with pure SLO CAL beauty. Riders take on rugged vineyard trails, rolling hills, and backcountry routes that show off Paso in a whole new way. Last year I even got to call riders across the finish line, and the vibe was unreal, more a fun and memorable community festival than race.
This year promises the same: world-class cycling, live music, food, and plenty of Paso wine and beer to keep the celebration rolling. Whether you’re a cyclist or just want to be part of the scene, it’s a can’t-miss weekend.
👉 Learn more and register: The Bovine Classic
Featured Wineries this episode:* Paix Sur Terre * Brecon Estate * Cordant Winery * Terranean Wines * Idola Wines
🎯 Plan your next Paso Robles getaway at TravelPaso.com
🎧 Subscribe & FollowIf you love Where Wine Takes You, make sure to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with your favorite wine lover.
Where Wine Takes You is Executive Produced by Joel Peterson and Paso WineAssociate Producer: Krista SmithRecorded, edited, produced, and hosted by Adam Montiel
Download the free Paso Wine App as your guide to all things wine country.
For the latest in Paso Robles Wine Country, check out PasoWine.com and follow @PasoWine.
Follow Adam on Instagram → @AdamOnTheAir
Listen to Adam’s other shows: Up + Adam (daily podcast) and The Pour (wine, spirits, brews, lifestyle)
Learn more, reach out, or connect at AdamMontiel.com
🎵 Original music by Moonshiner Collective
If you love Where Wine Takes You, subscribe, leave a review, and share it! Thank you.
©2025 Where Wine Takes You, All Rights Reserved.
🍇 Where Wine Takes You – Episode Highlights 🍷This week we’re celebrating a Paso institution: Opolo Vineyards. Co-founder Rick Quinn joins me for a one-on-one conversation about 25 years of Opolo, how Paso has grown alongside them, and the historic debut of Vranac — a Balkan grape now officially recognized and bottled in the U.S. for the first time.
We also check in with the latest Paso Wine Wire headlines, and in our Travel Paso Spotlight we turn the love toward Thomas Hill Organics, a restaurant and community hub that needs our support right now.
Paso Wine Wire Paso Robles Wine Country Virtual Auction is live Sept. 15–20, with proceeds funding local student scholarships. Join the auction * Alterra Solutions rebrands and expands: Kevin Wilkinson’s vineyard management firm takes on a new name and new horizons. Read more * ONX Wines launches Sunprint*, their first mentorship-driven chillable red. Learn more
Travel Paso SpotlightThis week we shine the light on Thomas Hill Organics, owned by Chefs Lisa and Mike. Mike is in the fight of his life against cancer, and Lisa is back in the kitchen while still holding everything together. Paso takes care of its own, so if you know them, love them, or just love good food, please show them support with a visit, a kind message, or by sharing their story. Visit Thomas Hill Organics
Links + Resources* Opolo Vineyards * Paso Wine Virtual Auction * Thomas Hill Organics
🎯 Plan your next Paso Robles getaway at TravelPaso.com
🎧 Subscribe & FollowIf you love Where Wine Takes You, make sure to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with your favorite wine lover.
Where Wine Takes You is Executive Produced by Joel Peterson and Paso WineAssociate Producer: Krista SmithRecorded, edited, produced, and hosted by Adam Montiel
Download the free Paso Wine App as your guide to all things wine country.
For the latest in Paso Robles Wine Country, check out PasoWine.com and follow @PasoWine.
Follow Adam on Instagram → @AdamOnTheAir
Listen to Adam’s other shows: Up + Adam (daily podcast) and The Pour (wine, spirits, brews, lifestyle)
Learn more, reach out, or connect at AdamMontiel.com
🎵 Original music by Moonshiner Collective
If you love Where Wine Takes You, subscribe, leave a review, and share it! Thank you.
©2025 Where Wine Takes You, All Rights Reserved.
🍇 Where Wine Takes You – Episode Highlights 🍷In this episode, Adam sits down with two of Paso’s freshest big winners — Winemaker of the Year and Wine Grape Grower of the Year — for a deep, soulful convo about hustle, heartbreak, harvest, and hope.
This conversation, recorded at LoBro Studios in downtown Paso, honors legacy, labor, and the beautiful alchemy that happens between vine and wine.
🌐 PASO WINE WIRE — This Week’s Headlines:1️⃣ JUSTIN Winery Powers Youth Basketball with 3Ball Academy JUSTIN Vineyards sponsors a free multi-week basketball training program for local youth athletes, led by Cal Poly Hall of Famer Mike Wozniak.
Full Story »
2️⃣ Hope Family Wines Launches Game-Changing One-Liter Bottle Austin Hope’s flagship Cabernet is now in an innovative 1L format — perfect for restaurant pours and built for value.
Read More »
3️⃣ Serial Wines Celebrates Fall with a National Sweepstakes + Harvest Events Big scores, big flavors, and their iconic Masquerade returns November 8.
Explore Events & Sweepstakes »
4️⃣ Paso Wine Tasting Tour Heads to Fresno & Bakersfield Taste Paso from 50+ producers at two upcoming Central Valley events:
TRAVEL PASO SPOTLIGHT:Meet Kimberly Walker, the vision behind two of Paso’s most stylish boutique stays — The Farmhouse and River Lodge. From curated design to next-level vibes, she’s redefining what it means to stay in Paso.
🎯 Plan your next Paso Robles getaway at TravelPaso.com
🎧 Subscribe & FollowIf you love Where Wine Takes You, make sure to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with your favorite wine lover.
Where Wine Takes You is Executive Produced by Joel Peterson and Paso WineAssociate Producer: Krista SmithRecorded, edited, produced, and hosted by Adam Montiel
Download the free Paso Wine App as your guide to all things wine country.
For the latest in Paso Robles Wine Country, check out PasoWine.com and follow @PasoWine.
Follow Adam on Instagram → @AdamOnTheAir
Listen to Adam’s other shows: Up + Adam (daily podcast) and The Pour (wine, spirits, brews, lifestyle)
Learn more, reach out, or connect at AdamMontiel.com
🎵 Original music by Moonshiner Collective
If you love Where Wine Takes You, subscribe, leave a review, and share it! Thank you.
©2025 Where Wine Takes You, All Rights Reserved.
🍇 Where Wine Takes You – Episode Highlights 🍷Four women. One region. A future uncorked.
In this episode of Where Wine Takes You, Adam sits down with four trailblazing Central Coast women named to Wine Enthusiast’s prestigious Future 40 list for 2025:
Together in the studio, these innovators talk entrepreneurship, representation, identity, and what it means to shape the wine world on their own terms with Paso Robles as both canvas and catalyst.
Paso Wine Wire Stories:
Travel Paso Spotlight: Discover the elevated charm of Hotel Ava, Paso’s newest luxury boutique hotel in the heart of downtown. With rooftop views, a saltwater pool, and culinary experiences led by Chef Julien Asseo and Beverage Director Lannon Rust, this is Paso from the top.
hotelava.com
Other Mentions: • LXV Wine – lxvwine.com
• Ulloa Cellars – ullloacellars.com
• Likely Story Strategies – likelystorystrategies.com
🎯 Plan your next Paso Robles getaway at TravelPaso.com
🎧 Subscribe & FollowIf you love Where Wine Takes You, make sure to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with your favorite wine lover.
Where Wine Takes You is Executive Produced by Joel Peterson and Paso WineAssociate Producer: Krista SmithRecorded, edited, produced, and hosted by Adam Montiel
Download the free Paso Wine App as your guide to all things wine country.
For the latest in Paso Robles Wine Country, check out PasoWine.com and follow @PasoWine.
Follow Adam on Instagram → @AdamOnTheAir
Listen to Adam’s other shows: Up + Adam (daily podcast) and The Pour (wine, spirits, brews, lifestyle)
Learn more, reach out, or connect at AdamMontiel.com
🎵 Original music by Moonshiner Collective
If you love Where Wine Takes You, subscribe, leave a review, and share it! Thank you.
©2025 Where Wine Takes You, All Rights Reserved.
🍇 Where Wine Takes You – Episode Highlights 🍷In this episode of Where Wine Takes You, Adam Montiel brings together two voices that showcase the heart and soul of Paso Robles wine country in very different ways.
First, Mike Adams, the founder of the Facebook group Paso Robles Wine Fanatics, joins the conversation. What started as a small place to swap tasting notes has grown into a digital community of nearly 25,000 members who share their Paso bottles, adventures, and recommendations every day.
Also in studio is Josh Beckett, a name synonymous with Paso. His family launched Peachy Canyon back in the 1980s, he and his brother created Chronic Cellars, and now with his wife Gibsey, Josh is crafting estate wines at Thibido. Most recently, the couple took over one of Paso’s heritage brands, Ecluse Winery, continuing a story of legacy and reinvention that reflects Paso itself.
Later in the show, our Travel Paso Spotlight shines on the Whale Rock Music & Arts Festival. Adam chats with Luke Udsen of Castoro Cellars about how this annual September celebration has grown into one of Paso’s most beloved events, blending music, art, food, wine, and community in a way only Paso can.
In this week’s Paso Wine Wire, Adam shares some of the latest headlines from around the region:
Whether it’s online communities, family wineries, or festivals that bring thousands together, this episode is all about connection — and how Paso keeps finding new ways to share its story.
Links from this episode:
🎯 Plan your next Paso Robles getaway at TravelPaso.com
🎧 Subscribe & FollowIf you love Where Wine Takes You, make sure to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with your favorite wine lover.
Where Wine Takes You is Executive Produced by Joel Peterson and Paso WineAssociate Producer: Krista SmithRecorded, edited, produced, and hosted by Adam Montiel
Download the free Paso Wine App as your guide to all things wine country.
For the latest in Paso Robles Wine Country, check out PasoWine.com and follow @PasoWine.
Follow Adam on Instagram → @AdamOnTheAir
Listen to Adam’s other shows: Up + Adam (daily podcast) and The Pour (wine, spirits, brews, lifestyle)
Learn more, reach out, or connect at AdamMontiel.com
🎵 Original music by Moonshiner Collective
If you love Where Wine Takes You, subscribe, leave a review, and share it! Thank you.
©2025 Where Wine Takes You, All Rights Reserved.
🍇 Where Wine Takes You – Episode Highlights 🍷This one’s not recorded in studio… or even in Paso. It’s recorded on a riverboat in Bordeaux, France – but don’t let the setting fool you. The soul of this episode is 100% Paso Robles.
I sat down with two of the most influential winemakers in our region: Eric Jensen of Booker Wines and Stephan Asseo of L’Aventure Winery. Stephan left Bordeaux to escape the rules. Eric? He never followed them to begin with. Together, they’ve shaped not just vineyards, but a movement, redefining what’s possible in Paso and proving you don’t need permission to make great wine, just vision.
We talk legacy, freedom, and what it feels like to sip wine in the place one of them left, and both outgrew.
Plus: I catch up with Stacie Jacob of Travel Paso on how Paso wine is showing up in a major way in LA this summer, turning casual sippers into true believers. Let’s go. This… is Where Wine Takes You.
🎙️ GUESTS: Eric Jensen, Founder – Booker Wines * Stephan Asseo, Founder – L’Aventure Winery * Stacie Jacob*, Executive Director – Travel Paso
🔗 RESOURCES & MENTIONS: Cork & Cruise – Paso River Cruise Info https://www.corkandcruise.com * Paso in LA – Farmers Market Pop-up Series https://www.travelpaso.com/articles/post/paso-robles-invites-you-to-experience-a-taste-of-wine-country-in-the-heart-of-los-angeles/ * Hope Family Wines acquires Tufera Farms https://pasoroblesdailynews.com/hope-family-wines-adds-vineyard-and-truffle-orchard-in-paso-robles/213536/ * Gifford Fire + Ancient Peaks community response* https://www.sfgate.com/centralcalifornia/article/megafire-san-luis-obispo-county-20813014.php
🎯 Plan your next Paso Robles getaway at TravelPaso.com
🎧 Subscribe & FollowIf you love Where Wine Takes You, make sure to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with your favorite wine lover.
Where Wine Takes You is Executive Produced by Joel Peterson and Paso WineAssociate Producer: Krista SmithRecorded, edited, produced, and hosted by Adam Montiel
Download the free Paso Wine App as your guide to all things wine country.
For the latest in Paso Robles Wine Country, check out PasoWine.com and follow @PasoWine.
Follow Adam on Instagram → @AdamOnTheAir
Listen to Adam’s other shows: Up + Adam (daily podcast) and The Pour (wine, spirits, brews, lifestyle)
Learn more, reach out, or connect at AdamMontiel.com
🎵 Original music by Moonshiner Collective
If you love Where Wine Takes You, subscribe, leave a review, and share it! Thank you.
©2025 Where Wine Takes You, All Rights Reserved.
🍇 Where Wine Takes You – Episode Highlights 🍷What happens when the voice of Paso’s future sits down with the keeper of its past?
In this episode, Adam welcomes two legends who’ve shaped how Paso Robles is seen, celebrated, and remembered:
Together, they dive into the roots of SLO County’s wine culture led by Paso, from early French plantings and Gold Rush refugees to modern multi-generational legacies and the new wave of young winemakers taking over historic vineyards.
🔗 LINKS & RESOURCES* Paso Robles Wine Country Alliance → www.pasowine.com
• SLO County Wine History Project → www.winehistoryproject.org
• Libbie Agran’s Lifetime Achievement Award → Read more
• 2025 Industry Honorees via Paso Wine → View Full List
• Paso Robles Daily News Coverage → Industry Awards Article
• Wine Business Feature → Read Here
🎯 Plan your next Paso Robles getaway at TravelPaso.com
🎧 Subscribe & FollowIf you love Where Wine Takes You, make sure to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with your favorite wine lover.
Where Wine Takes You is Executive Produced by Joel Peterson and Paso WineAssociate Producer: Krista SmithRecorded, edited, produced, and hosted by Adam Montiel
Download the free Paso Wine App as your guide to all things wine country.
For the latest in Paso Robles Wine Country, check out PasoWine.com and follow @PasoWine.
Follow Adam on Instagram → @AdamOnTheAir
Listen to Adam’s other shows: Up + Adam (daily podcast) and The Pour (wine, spirits, brews, lifestyle)
Learn more, reach out, or connect at AdamMontiel.com
🎵 Original music by Moonshiner Collective
If you love Where Wine Takes You, subscribe, leave a review, and share it! Thank you.
©2025 Where Wine Takes You, All Rights Reserved.
🍇 Where Wine Takes You – Episode Highlights 🍷Today’s episode explores The Bottle Shop, Paso Robles’ newest shared tasting room space that’s shaking up downtown with wine, food, and community all under one roof.
Adam sits down with two fresh faces to the Paso wine scene: Bill Lap, co-founder of mid•point, and Fiorella “Fio” DeRodeff, the founder and winemaker at Rockbound Cellars. They each bring a distinct voice, a different path, and a shared passion for building something meaningful.
This episode digs into the journey behind the wines, the rebirth of the historic Rotta property, and the importance of making wine that reflects who you are.
Stick around to the end for something wild, Bill opens the oldest bottle Adam has ever tasted / seen in his life. You won’t believe the vintage.
📰 PASO WINE WIRE* Hope Family Wines Golf Invitational Raises $160K for must! Charities
• 26th Annual Winemakers’ Cookoff Raises Over $1.1M for Scholarships
• Alternative Tastes Wine Festival Returns Aug. 1–2
🌴 TRAVEL PASO SPOTLIGHTThis week’s spotlight takes you to The Lofts at the Market — a boutique stay right above the bustling Paso Market Walk.
Learn more at:
• The Lofts at the Market
• Paso Market Walk
• TravelPaso.com
🍷 TODAY’S GUESTSBill Lap — Co-Founder, mid•point Winery
Fiorella DeRodeff — Winemaker/Owner, Rockbound Cellars
🎯 Plan your next Paso Robles getaway at TravelPaso.com
🎧 Subscribe & FollowIf you love Where Wine Takes You, make sure to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with your favorite wine lover.
Where Wine Takes You is Executive Produced by Joel Peterson and Paso WineAssociate Producer: Krista SmithRecorded, edited, produced, and hosted by Adam Montiel
Download the free Paso Wine App as your guide to all things wine country.
For the latest in Paso Robles Wine Country, check out PasoWine.com and follow @PasoWine.
Follow Adam on Instagram → @AdamOnTheAir
Listen to Adam’s other shows: Up + Adam (daily podcast) and The Pour (wine, spirits, brews, lifestyle)
Learn more, reach out, or connect at AdamMontiel.com
🎵 Original music by Moonshiner Collective
If you love Where Wine Takes You, subscribe, leave a review, and share it! Thank you.
©2025 Where Wine Takes You, All Rights Reserved.
🍇 Where Wine Takes You – Episode Highlights 🍷Episode Title: Small Lot, Big Soul: Paso’s Newest, Best-Kept SecretsIn this episode, we shine a spotlight on three Paso winemakers and vineyard owners who are putting everything into the bottle — and nothing into the hype. These are the small-lot producers who quietly shape what makes Paso Robles such a powerful, soulful, and personal wine region.You’ll meet: Eric Morley of Red Door Ranch Vineyards — alongside his wife Holly, Eric is building a boutique estate in the Templeton Gap focused on organic farming and site-driven wines with purpose. • Anthony Yount of Royal Nonesuch Farm and Kinero Cellars — Anthony and his wife Hillary farm their York Mountain estate by hand, crafting Rhône-style blends and crisp whites with depth and soul. • Paul “P‑Lo” Lopez of Lopai Cellars — a sixth-generation Paso farmer who makes powerful estate wines from Willow Creek fruit with his son Brian.They’re not chasing trends. They’re making wine on their own terms — with heart, hustle, and heritage. This is small-lot winemaking with big soul. This is Paso at its most personal.📰 PASO WINE WIRE HIGHLIGHTS Paso Robles Named Among World's Smartest Wine Regions Tech, climate, and culture converge in this feature from The Buyer that puts Paso on a global innovation map. → Read the story J. Lohr Launches “Share The Lohr” Podcast A new behind-the-scenes podcast from one of Paso’s most iconic wine families. → Read the story Templeton Feed & Grain Silos Lost to Fireworks Fire An accidental blaze takes down a piece of the Templeton skyline — and part of its history. → Read the story🌴 TRAVEL PASO SPOTLIGHTThis episode's Travel Paso Spotlight features Becky Gray, Executive Director of Must! Charities. Becky joins us to talk about long-term community investment and how Must! helps Paso grow with purpose — one story, one family, and one partnership at a time.🎯 Plan your next Paso Robles getaway at TravelPaso.com🔗 LINKS & RESOURCESGuests & Wineries • Red Door Ranch Vineyards • Royal Nonesuch Farm • Kinero Cellars • Lopai CellarsFeatured Organization • Must! CharitiesMore from Travel Paso • TravelPaso.com🎧 Subscribe & FollowIf you love Where Wine Takes You, make sure to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with your favorite wine lover.Where Wine Takes You is Executive Produced by Joel Peterson and Paso WineAssociate Producer: Krista SmithRecorded, edited, produced, and hosted by Adam MontielDownload the free Paso Wine App as your guide to all things wine country. For the latest in Paso Robles Wine Country, check out PasoWine.com and follow @PasoWine.Follow Adam on Instagram → @AdamOnTheAirListen to Adam’s other shows: Up + Adam (daily podcast) and The Pour (wine, spirits, brews, lifestyle)Learn more, reach out, or connect at AdamMontiel.com🎵 Original music by Moonshiner CollectiveIf you love Where Wine Takes You, subscribe, leave a review, and share it! Thank you.©2025 Where Wine Takes You, All Rights Reserved.
🍇 Where Wine Takes You – Episode Highlights 🍷Today: We’re all about Paso’s experiential side, from curated events to ziplines and escape rooms, featuring Shelbi & Molly (Destination Paso), Meghan Ball (Somm’s Kitchen / VinLumia), Barry White (Ancient Peaks, Margarita Adventures), and later, Monica Villicana guiding us through the Paso Robles Distillery Trail Weekend Aug 8-10!📰 PASO WINE WIRE HIGHLIGHTS • Il Cortile Ristorante earns its 11th consecutive Wine Spectator Award of Excellence. Sister-spot Parchetto wins its first. Four Paso favorites land on the 2025 list including Les Petites Canailles and The Pony Club at Hotel Cheval → Read about it HERE Vina Robles opens The Eatery in its new Ramada Drive tasting room, led by Chef Nicola Allegretta (Mama’s Meatball, Mistura) → Vina Robles Paso Wine Country Alliance honors 2025 industry standouts Aron Nevarez – Grape Grower of the Year Molly Bohlman (Niner Wine Estates) – Winemaker of the Year Christopher Taranto – Wine Industry Person of the Year Libbie Agran – Lifetime Achievement Award → Paso Robles Daily News🌴 TRAVEL PASO SPOTLIGHT Featuring Monica Villicana of Re:Find Distillery and the Paso Robles Distillery Trail, including the Copper Card and the Distillery Trail Weekend this August.Plan your next Paso getaway at TravelPaso.com🔗 LINKS & RESOURCES Destination Paso Somm’s Kitchen VinLumia Ancient Peaks Margarita Adventures Paso Robles Distillery Trail Re:Find Distillery For planning your next adventure in Paso Robles, check out TravelPaso.com.If you love Where Wine Takes You, subscribe, leave a review, and share it! Thank you.Where Wine Takes You (WWTY) is Executive Produced by Joel Peterson and Paso Wine.Associate Producer: Krista SmithWWTY is recorded, edited, produced, and hosted by Adam Montiel. Follow Adam on Instagram @AdamOnTheAir and check out his daily podcast Up + Adam as well as The Pour.To connect with Adam, ask a question, or learn more about reaching our audience, visit AdamMontiel.com or PasoWine.com.For the latest in Paso Robles Wine Country, check out PasoWine.com and follow @PasoWine. Download the free Paso Wine App as your guide to all things wine country.🎵 Original music on WWTY, “Good Company,” performed by Moonshiner Collective.©2025 Where Wine Takes You, All Rights Reserved.
🍇 Where Wine Takes You – Episode Highlights 🍷 Today, we head out to the westside of Paso, to a stretch of Arbor Road that’s waking up in a whole new way. It’s a story about building something from scratch, betting on family, and crafting wines that are deeply personal.This episode features two Paso newcomers turning heads for all the right reasons. Cliff Cate of Zobèto Wines left his old life behind to create soulful Rhône-style blends on Paso’s westside, learning the ropes hands-on with some of the region’s most respected winemakers. Kyle Jury of Truss Wines brings an architect’s eye to his minimalist, design-forward wines, building his brand with intention, family, and structure at the core. Both are doing it their way on Arbor Road, and both are names to watch.📰 Paso Wine Wire Highlights • Community Wine Awards – 2025 Winners Announced Master Marketer: Justin Rapolas (Aaron Wines) Unsung Hero: Ryan Kemp (Adelaida Cellars) Good Neighbors: Lars & Kristina (Toast Tours) Le Vigne Winery wins big — TWICE in a week! Central Coast Wine Comp + New York Int’l Wine Comp Double Golds, 96-pt Cab, and Paso pride ONX “Mad Crush” & Pear Valley Albariño sweep the OC Wine Comp Best in Show (ONX) + Best White (Pear Valley)Travel Paso Spotlight: Freda Berman from the City of Paso shares details on Paso’s legendary Fourth of July celebration - where to park, what to bring, and why it’s a can’t-miss.For planning your next adventure in Paso Robles, check out TravelPaso.com.If you love Where Wine Takes You, subscribe, leave a review, and share it! Thank you.🔗 LINKS + RESOURCES: • Zobèto Wines • Truss Wines • Travel Paso – Plan Your Trip • Paso Wine – Latest Happenings • Le Vigne Winery • ONX + Pear Valley in New Times SLO • MoonshinerCollective.comWhere Wine Takes You (WWTY) is Executive Produced by Joel Peterson and Paso Wine.Associate Producer: Krista SmithWWTY is recorded, edited, produced, and hosted by Adam Montiel. Follow Adam on Instagram @AdamOnTheAir and check out his daily podcast Up + Adam as well as The Pour.To connect with Adam, ask a question, or learn more about reaching our audience, visit AdamMontiel.com or PasoWine.com.For the latest in Paso Robles Wine Country, check out PasoWine.com and follow @PasoWine. Download the free Paso Wine App as your guide to all things wine country.🎵 Original music on WWTY, “Good Company,” performed by Moonshiner Collective.©2025 Where Wine Takes You, All Rights Reserved.
🍇 Where Wine Takes You – Episode Highlights 🍷Today, we uncork a milestone decades in the making.Paso’s own Tablas Creek Vineyard just became the first winery in the U.S. to bottle all 14 traditional Châteauneuf-du-Pape grape varieties as single-varietal wines. And we’ve got the full dream team in the room: • Jason Haas, Partner & General Manager • Neil Collins, Director of Winemaking • Chelsea Franchi, Senior Assistant WinemakerThey share how this decades-long vision came together, what each grape reveals on its own, and how their work continues to shape the Rhône movement in California.ALSO IN THIS EPISODE: • Paso Wine Wire:* JUSTIN Vineyards Awards $350K to Local Nonprofits & Classrooms * Paso Wine Industry Generates $2.8 Billion in Economic Impact * Tablas Creek Completes All 14 Châteauneuf-du-Pape Varietals
• Travel Paso Spotlight: Angela McGee of the Best Western Plus Black Oak shares the family’s history and hospitality legacy🔗 LINKS + RESOURCES: • Tablas Creek Vineyard • Decanter Coverage on Tablas’ 14-Grape Milestone • JUSTIN Community Grants Program • Travel Paso – Plan Your Trip • Best Western Plus Black Oak • The Pour – White Wine Invitational Episode📰 Paso Wine Wire Highlights• RIDGE Vineyards Opens New Tasting Room in Paso Robles One of California’s most iconic producers has officially landed in Paso. RIDGE opens its brand-new tasting room on Ramada Drive, deepening its historic ties to the region and giving Zin lovers a fresh reason to visit.• Tablas Creek Completes Full Châteauneuf-du-Pape Lineup A first for any U.S. winery—Tablas Creek has now bottled all 14 traditional Châteauneuf-du-Pape varietals. A decades-long project paying off with limited releases, Rhône passion, and Paso pride.• White Wine Invitational – Tickets via ExploreTock It’s back! The 2nd Annual White Wine Invitational returns to Rava Wines on June 20. Expect crisp whites, summertime bubbles, and community vibes—all to support Must! Charities.**For planning your next adventure in Paso Robles, check out TravelPaso.com.
Tickets on sale for Paso Wine Fest (May 15–18, 2025). Head to pasowine.com for details and tickets. Use Promo Code ADAM and save $20 per ticket!
If you love Where Wine Takes You, subscribe, please leave a review, and share it! Thank you!
Where Wine Takes You (WWTY) is Executive Produced by Joel Peterson and Paso Wine.
Associate Producer: Krista Smith
WWTY is recorded, edited, produced, and hosted by Adam Montiel. Follow Adam on Instagram @AdamOnTheAir and check out his daily podcast Up + Adam as well as The Pour with Adam Montiel.
To connect with Adam, ask a question, or learn more how you or your business can reach our audience on WWTY visit AdamMontiel.com or PasoWine.com
For the latest in Paso Robles Wine Country, check out PasoWine.com and follow on
Instagram @PasoWine. Download the free Paso Wine App as your guide to all things
wine country.
Original music on WWTY, “Good Company,” performed by Moonshiner Collective.
©2025 Where Wine Takes You, All Rights Reserved.
🍇 Where Wine Takes You – Episode Highlights 🍷In this episode of Where Wine Takes You, Adam sits down with Christina Turley, the eldest daughter of legendary winemaker Larry Turley, and a powerhouse in her own right. From summers spent working alongside her father to building a serious wine résumé in New York City, Christina’s path has been anything but linear—and that’s exactly what makes her story so compelling.We explore how she’s shaping the next chapter at Turley Wine Cellars, blending heritage with her own sharp perspective. From becoming a Certified Sommelier to leading the voice of one of California’s most iconic Zinfandel producers, Christina shares what it means to carry a legacy—and still make it her own. This is a conversation about voice, values, and vineyards… and yes, we get into why Paso Robles plays a vital role in Turley’s story.Plus, in our Travel Paso Spotlight, Adam chats with John Arnold, GM of the Holiday Inn Express Paso Robles and local community leader, about the return of Paso’s official 4th of July celebration and how the lodging scene is evolving with the town’s growth.🔗 Links from the ShowChristina Turley & Turley Wine Cellars Website: turleywinecellars.com Instagram: @turleywineJohn Arnold – Travel Paso Spotlight Holiday Inn Express Paso Robles: hotel website📰 Paso Wine Wire Highlights• RIDGE Vineyards Opens New Tasting Room in Paso Robles One of California’s most iconic producers has officially landed in Paso. RIDGE opens its brand-new tasting room on Ramada Drive, deepening its historic ties to the region and giving Zin lovers a fresh reason to visit.• Tablas Creek Completes Full Châteauneuf-du-Pape Lineup A first for any U.S. winery—Tablas Creek has now bottled all 14 traditional Châteauneuf-du-Pape varietals. A decades-long project paying off with limited releases, Rhône passion, and Paso pride.• White Wine Invitational – Tickets via ExploreTock It’s back! The 2nd Annual White Wine Invitational returns to Rava Wines on June 20. Expect crisp whites, summertime bubbles, and community vibes—all to support Must! Charities.**For planning your next adventure in Paso Robles, check out TravelPaso.com.
Tickets on sale for Paso Wine Fest (May 15–18, 2025). Head to pasowine.com for details and tickets. Use Promo Code ADAM and save $20 per ticket!
If you love Where Wine Takes You, subscribe, please leave a review, and share it! Thank you!
Where Wine Takes You (WWTY) is Executive Produced by Joel Peterson and Paso Wine.
Associate Producer: Krista Smith
WWTY is recorded, edited, produced, and hosted by Adam Montiel. Follow Adam on Instagram @AdamOnTheAir and check out his daily podcast Up + Adam as well as The Pour with Adam Montiel.
To connect with Adam, ask a question, or learn more how you or your business can reach our audience on WWTY visit AdamMontiel.com or PasoWine.com
For the latest in Paso Robles Wine Country, check out PasoWine.com and follow on
Instagram @PasoWine. Download the free Paso Wine App as your guide to all things
wine country.
Original music on WWTY, “Good Company,” performed by Moonshiner Collective.
©2025 Where Wine Takes You, All Rights Reserved.
🍇 Where Wine Takes You – Episode Highlights 🍷In this special episode of Where Wine Takes You, host Adam Montiel takes you behind the scenes of Paso Robles’ vibrant tourism industry. Recorded during National Travel and Tourism Week and California Tourism Month, this episode shines a spotlight on the individuals and businesses that make Paso Robles a premier destination.You’ll hear from: Richard Verruni, General Manager of Allegretto Vineyard Resort, who shares insights into creating exceptional lodging experiences. * Carole MacDonal, proprietor of Il Cortile Ristorante and Parchetto, discussing the art of fine dining in Paso Robles. * Dr. Chris Thornberg, a leading economist from Beacon Economics, providing a data-driven perspective on the economic impact of tourism in the region. * Jo Armstrong, recognized for her work at Hope Family Wines and her role in delivering top-tier wine experiences. * Pati Coelho, co-founder of Criú Hospitality, spotlighting excellence in Paso’s hospitality sector. * Stacie Jacob*, President & CEO of Travel Paso, offering a heartfelt message about the people who make Paso Robles special.
This episode is a celebration of the passion, dedication, and community spirit that drive Paso Robles’ tourism industry.🔗 Links & Resources Allegretto Vineyard Resort: Website | Instagram * Il Cortile Ristorante: Website | Instagram * Parchetto: Website | Instagram * Jo Armstrong – Hope Family Wines: Website | Instagram * Pati Coelho – Criú Hospitality: Website | Instagram * Travel Paso*: Website | Instagram
**For planning your next adventure in Paso Robles, check out TravelPaso.com.
Tickets on sale for Paso Wine Fest (May 15–18, 2025). Head to pasowine.com for details and tickets. Use Promo Code ADAM and save $20 per ticket!
If you love Where Wine Takes You, subscribe, please leave a review, and share it! Thank you!
Where Wine Takes You (WWTY) is Executive Produced by Joel Peterson and Paso Wine.
Associate Producer: Krista Smith
WWTY is recorded, edited, produced, and hosted by Adam Montiel. Follow Adam on Instagram @AdamOnTheAir and check out his daily podcast Up + Adam as well as The Pour with Adam Montiel.
To connect with Adam, ask a question, or learn more how you or your business can reach our audience on WWTY visit AdamMontiel.com or PasoWine.com
For the latest in Paso Robles Wine Country, check out PasoWine.com and follow on
Instagram @PasoWine. Download the free Paso Wine App as your guide to all things
wine country.
Original music on WWTY, “Good Company,” performed by Moonshiner Collective.
©2025 Where Wine Takes You, All Rights Reserved.
🍇 Where Wine Takes You – Episode Highlights 🍷There’s Paso… and then there’s Paso during Wine Fest weekend. This episode captures it all — the energy, the people, and the pulse of a region at its most electric.Recorded from the Ponderosa at the Paso Robles Event Center — nestled between In Bloom and Il Cortile — Adam sat down with a lineup of Paso’s most vibrant voices. In three stacked segments, we dive into what makes this festival weekend so special, and why Paso continues to punch above its weight in wine, food, and soul.Segment 1 brings us Nicole Haisma of In Bloom and Nix Cellars, Anthony Yount of Royal Nonesuch Farm, and a surprise drop-in from Madeline Puckette of Wine Folly, fresh off leading her Paso 101 seminar.Segment 2 turns up the heat with Riley Roddick of Hubba Wines, Maggie Tillman of Alta Colina, and Maggie Cameron — the firestarter behind both The Hatch and Della’s.Segment 3 brings the closer with Cris Cherry of Villa Creek / MAHA Estate, Mary Ann Erdos of Cork & Cruise, Kit Kuyper of Hawks Hill Ranch, and Don Burns of Turtle Rock Vineyards — as they talk about their upcoming wine cruise to Portugal and Bordeaux (with two cabins left!).🛵 Travel Paso Spotlight We also meet Jaydy Gonzales, co-owner of Third Wheel Tours, offering one-of-a-kind motorcycle sidecar wine tours through the backroads of Paso — easily one of the coolest ways to sip, cruise, and experience wine country.🎟️ Looking to explore Paso Wine Country? Plan your trip, book your stay, and start your story at TravelPaso.com🔗 Featured Guests + Links* Nicole Haisma – In Bloom / Nix Cellars * Anthony Yount – Royal Nonesuch Farm * Madeline Puckette – Wine Folly * Riley Roddick – Hubba Wines * Maggie Tillman – Alta Colina * Maggie Cameron – The Hatch / Della’s * Cris Cherry – Villa Creek / MAHA Estate * Mary Ann Erdos – Cork & Cruise * Kit Kuyper – Hawks Hill Ranch * Don Burns – Turtle Rock Vineyards * Travel Paso * Third Wheel Tours // @thirdwheeltours
**For planning your next adventure in Paso Robles, check out TravelPaso.com.
Tickets on sale for Paso Wine Fest (May 15–18, 2025). Head to pasowine.com for details and tickets. Use Promo Code ADAM and save $20 per ticket!
If you love Where Wine Takes You, subscribe, please leave a review, and share it! Thank you!
Where Wine Takes You (WWTY) is Executive Produced by Joel Peterson and Paso Wine.
Associate Producer: Krista Smith
WWTY is recorded, edited, produced, and hosted by Adam Montiel. Follow Adam on Instagram @AdamOnTheAir and check out his daily podcast Up + Adam as well as The Pour with Adam Montiel.
To connect with Adam, ask a question, or learn more how you or your business can reach our audience on WWTY visit AdamMontiel.com or PasoWine.com
For the latest in Paso Robles Wine Country, check out PasoWine.com and follow on
Instagram @PasoWine. Download the free Paso Wine App as your guide to all things
wine country.
Original music on WWTY, “Good Company,” performed by Moonshiner Collective.
©2025 Where Wine Takes You, All Rights Reserved.
🍇 Where Wine Takes You – Episode Highlights 🍷 This week, we’re diving into the creative current flowing through Downtown Paso’s tasting rooms — and the two distinct winemakers who are helping define the vibe.Joining Adam Montiel in the studio: Jason Bushong, owner & winemaker at Bushong Vintage Company * Lauren Lange*, winemaker at Sea Shell Cellars
We talk tasting room culture, downtown energy, and how wine can be as much about expression as it is terroir. Expect neon. Vinyl. Maybe some beach sand. And plenty of Paso magic.🌐 Paso Wine Wire A quick look at what’s buzzing in Paso: • Hope Family Wines Adds Beekeeping to the Farm Regenerative farming takes flight — literally — as Hope Family Wines integrates bees into their vineyard ecosystem. → Read more• Paso Wines Support Cystic Fibrosis Gala Paso producers made a powerful showing at the California Winemasters event, raising millions to fight CF. → Read more• Ridge is Coming to Paso It hasn’t hit the press yet, but the word is out — Ridge Vineyards is setting up shop in Paso. After decades sourcing fruit (like Benito Dusi), the iconic California label is finally calling Paso home.🌴 Travel Paso Spotlight This week, we check in with Victor Popp, the hospitality powerhouse behind the newly renovated La Quinta Inn in Paso Robles.With a $3M makeover, award-winning service, and the busiest wine weekend of the year on deck — Victor breaks down why Paso’s accommodations game is as strong as its wine list.→ Plan your trip now at TravelPaso.comAlso Mentioned: 🍷 Visit Sea Shell Cellars 🎸 Visit Bushong Vintage Co. 🎟️ Wine Fest tickets + lineup → PasoWine.com 🎁 Win passes to Wine Fest → AdamMontiel.com📢 Housekeeping: • Want to WIN tickets to Wine Fest? Enter at AdamMontiel.com. • Shoutout Feedspot for naming Where Wine Takes You a Top 3 Wine Podcast! • Thanks to Million Podcasts for putting us at #11 on their Wine Podcast list worldwide.🎟 Paso Wine Fest is coming! Get your tickets at PasoWine.com and don’t miss the Paso 101 Wine Seminar with Madeline Puckette of Wine Folly—a can’t-miss masterclass to earn your Paso Wine Certificate during Wine Fest weekend.**
For planning your next adventure in Paso Robles, check out TravelPaso.com.
Tickets on sale for Paso Wine Fest (May 15–18, 2025). Head to pasowine.com for details and tickets. Use Promo Code ADAM and save $20 per ticket!
If you love Where Wine Takes You, subscribe, please leave a review, and share it! Thank you!
Where Wine Takes You (WWTY) is Executive Produced by Joel Peterson and Paso Wine.
Associate Producer: Krista Smith
WWTY is recorded, edited, produced, and hosted by Adam Montiel. Follow Adam on Instagram @AdamOnTheAir and check out his daily podcast Up + Adam as well as The Pour with Adam Montiel.
To connect with Adam, ask a question, or learn more how you or your business can reach our audience on WWTY visit AdamMontiel.com or PasoWine.com
For the latest in Paso Robles Wine Country, check out PasoWine.com and follow on
Instagram @PasoWine. Download the free Paso Wine App as your guide to all things
wine country.
Original music on WWTY, “Good Company,” performed by Moonshiner Collective.
©2025 Where Wine Takes You, All Rights Reserved.
🍇 Where Wine Takes You – Episode Highlights 🍷
Big moves at ONX Wines. This week, we’re talking about the launch of Kiler Canyon Vineyard – a bold new brand carved from one of Paso’s most exciting sites.Joining Adam Montiel in the studio: Jeff Strekas, Director of Operations & Winegrowing * Drew Nenow*, Winemaker at ONX
What makes Kiler Canyon’s wines different? Why give a vineyard its own label? And what happens when you give a legendary site the spotlight it deserves?🌐 Paso ine WireA quick look at what’s buzzing in Paso:• Booker Hires Molly Lonborg as Senior Winemaker Booker just leveled up. Molly Lonborg — known for her Rhône chops and regenerative mindset — steps in to lead winemaking operations. → bookerwines.com• Vina Robles Launches Rookie Club A new wine club aimed squarely at the next generation — think text-only updates, one-bottle drops, and Swiftie-themed tastings. → vinarobles.com• Halter Ranch Reinvents the Vineyard — with Sheep Elevated trellising. Year-round grazing. High-wire thinking. Halter Ranch proves you can farm smart, farm clean, and still break the rules. → halterranch.com🌴 Travel Paso SpotlightRestaurateur Maggie Cameron has reshaped Paso’s dining game — not once, but twice. At The Hatch, it’s wood-fired everything, killer cocktails, and vibe for days. At Della’s, it’s Southern Italian with California roots — fresh, fun, and Paso as hell. The kind of places that make you linger. And make Paso’s food scene impossible to ignore.→ Plan your next trip at TravelPaso.comAlso Mentioned: 🍷 Explore Kiler Canyon Vineyard 🍇 Visit ONX Wines🎟️ Paso Wine Fest → PasoWine.com 🎁 Win passes → AdamMontiel.com📢 Housekeeping: • Want to WIN tickets to Wine Fest? Enter at AdamMontiel.com. • Shoutout Feedspot for naming Where Wine Takes You a Top 3 Wine Podcast! • Thanks to Million Podcasts for putting us at #11 on their Wine Podcast list worldwide.🎟 Paso Wine Fest is coming! Get your tickets at PasoWine.com and don’t miss the Paso 101 Wine Seminar with Madeline Puckette of Wine Folly—a can’t-miss masterclass to earn your Paso Wine Certificate during Wine Fest weekend.**
For planning your next adventure in Paso Robles, check out TravelPaso.com.
Tickets are now on sale for Paso Wine Fest (May 15–18, 2025). Head to pasowine.com for details and tickets.
If you love Where Wine Takes You, subscribe, please leave a review, and share it! Thank you!
Where Wine Takes You (WWTY) is Executive Produced by Joel Peterson and Paso Wine.
Associate Producer: Krista Smith
WWTY is recorded, edited, produced, and hosted by Adam Montiel. Follow Adam on Instagram @AdamOnTheAir and check out his daily podcast Up + Adam as well as The Pour with Adam Montiel.
To connect with Adam, ask a question, or learn more how you or your business can reach our audience on WWTY visit AdamMontiel.com or PasoWine.com
For the latest in Paso Robles Wine Country, check out PasoWine.com and follow on
Instagram @PasoWine. Download the free Paso Wine App as your guide to all things
wine country.
Original music on WWTY, “Good Company,” performed by Moonshiner Collective.
©2025 Where Wine Takes You, All Rights Reserved.
🍇 Where Wine Takes You – Episode Highlights 🍷
Greek spirit. Paso soil. A father and son chasing a dream that started generations ago, and pouring it into the Adelaida hills today. James and Manoli Boutzoukas of Boutz Cellars are bringing real Greek wine culture to Paso Robles, planting Assyrtiko, Roditis, Agiorgitiko – and betting on tradition in a whole new land.When your roots run deep and your dreams run wild, you don’t follow maps — you draw new ones.🌐 Paso Wine Wire: • New stewards at Écluse Wines — as Thibido’s Gibsey and Josh Beckett bring things full circle. Learn more • Charlie Palmer bets big on Paso’s food scene — revamping Paso Robles Inn and the Piccolo rooftop bar into the next culinary hotspots. (Credit: SF Chronicle) • American Idol producers auction off their winery — Ken Warwick and Nigel Lythgoe part ways with Villa San Juliette. (Credit: NY Post)🍷 Travel Paso Spotlight: This week’s Travel Paso Spotlight honors the AIDS/LifeCycle ride. A seven-day, 545-mile journey from San Francisco to Los Angeles that has included Paso Robles as a heartfelt stop for 30 years.2025 marks the final AIDS/LifeCycle ride, and Paso gets to be part of the farewell. Thousands of riders will once again roll through our town and into our hearts before crossing the finish line on the California coast.More on TravelPaso.com.📢 Housekeeping: • Want to WIN tickets to Wine Fest? Enter at AdamMontiel.com. • Shoutout Feedspot for naming Where Wine Takes You a Top 3 Wine Podcast! • Thanks to Million Podcasts for putting us at #11 on their Wine Podcast list worldwide.🎟 Paso Wine Fest is coming! Get your tickets at PasoWine.com and don’t miss the Paso 101 Wine Seminar with Madeline Puckette of Wine Folly—a can’t-miss masterclass to earn your Paso Wine Certificate during Wine Fest weekend.**
For planning your next adventure in Paso Robles, check out TravelPaso.com.
Tickets are now on sale for Paso Wine Fest (May 15–18, 2025). Head to pasowine.com for details and tickets.
If you love Where Wine Takes You, subscribe, please leave a review, and share it! Thank you!
Where Wine Takes You (WWTY) is Executive Produced by Joel Peterson and Paso Wine.
Associate Producer: Krista Smith
WWTY is recorded, edited, produced, and hosted by Adam Montiel. Follow Adam on Instagram @AdamOnTheAir and check out his daily podcast Up + Adam as well as The Pour with Adam Montiel.
To connect with Adam, ask a question, or learn more how you or your business can reach our audience on WWTY visit AdamMontiel.com or PasoWine.com
For the latest in Paso Robles Wine Country, check out PasoWine.com and follow on
Instagram @PasoWine. Download the free Paso Wine App as your guide to all things
wine country.
Original music on WWTY, “Good Company,” performed by Moonshiner Collective.
©2025 Where Wine Takes You, All Rights Reserved.
🍇 Where Wine Takes You – Episode Highlights 🍷
In this Earth Day-inspired episode, Adam sits down with two leaders shaping the future of Paso from the ground up: Cris Cherry, owner of Villa Creek and the Maha Estate, and Hillary Graves, vineyard manager at Booker Wines. Together, they explore what it means to farm with integrity—from regenerative practices to the emotional reality of tending vines through seasons of change.
In honor of Earth Day, we sit down with two Central Coast voices who remind us that wine starts long before the glass.
Cris Cherry, owner of Villa Creek Cellars and MAHA Estate, reflects on decades of farming and his deepening connection to the land. It’s a conversation about resilience, respect, and the rhythm of nature.
Hillary Graves, vineyard manager at Booker Wines, shares her unique path from library stacks to vineyard rows. She breaks down how sustainability isn’t just about what you do, but why you do it—connecting science, soil, and soul.
🌱 Cris Cherry: Villa Creek Cellars / Maha Estate
🌾 Hillary Graves: Booker Wines
✨ FOSO & Sensorio: Blog at AdamMontiel.com
🎟️ Paso Wine Fest tickets: PasoWine.com
🍇 Learn about the Paso Wine 101 Seminar with Wine Folly: Wine Folly Seminar Info
Paso Wine Wire Links: Dream Big Darling Returns to V6 Ranch in Parkfield 25 scholarships for young women in the wine and spirits industry — mentorship, networking, and deep Paso roots.
🔗 Read more
* Cal Poly Winemaker Showcase Raises Over $630,000 Celebrating 30 years of student-led wine excellence and hands-on education.
🔗 Read more
* Paso Gets National Praise in Forbes* Liz Thach highlights Paso Robles and the CAB Collective’s growing influence on sustainable Cabernet production.
🔗 Read more
🎟 Paso Wine Fest is coming! Get your tickets at PasoWine.com and don’t miss the Paso 101 Wine Seminar with Madeline Puckette of Wine Folly—a can’t-miss masterclass to earn your Paso Wine Certificate during Wine Fest weekend.**
For planning your next adventure in Paso Robles, check out TravelPaso.com.
Tickets are now on sale for Paso Wine Fest (May 15–18, 2025). Head to pasowine.com for details and tickets.
If you love Where Wine Takes You, subscribe, please leave a review, and share it! Thank you!
Where Wine Takes You (WWTY) is Executive Produced by Joel Peterson and Paso Wine.
Associate Producer: Krista Smith
WWTY is recorded, edited, produced, and hosted by Adam Montiel. Follow Adam on Instagram @AdamOnTheAir and check out his daily podcast Up + Adam as well as The Pour with Adam Montiel.
To connect with Adam, ask a question, or learn more how you or your business can reach our audience on WWTY visit AdamMontiel.com or PasoWine.com
For the latest in Paso Robles Wine Country, check out PasoWine.com and follow on
Instagram @PasoWine. Download the free Paso Wine App as your guide to all things
wine country.
Original music on WWTY, “Good Company,” performed by Moonshiner Collective.
©2025 Where Wine Takes You, All Rights Reserved.
🍇 Where Wine Takes You – Episode Highlights 🍷
This week, Where Wine Takes You welcomes one of the most influential voices in wine – Karen MacNeil, author of The Wine Bible, a cornerstone text that’s sold over a million copies worldwide. She’s not only helped define how Americans talk about wine, but she’s spent years spotlighting Paso Robles as one of the world’s most exciting wine regions.In this candid, deep-dive conversation, Karen opens up about her path from dropout to wine authority, why she believes Paso is one of the most expressive regions in the country, and how the wine world needs to evolve if it wants to survive. It’s passionate, unfiltered, and rich with perspective.Also in this episode…Travel Paso Spotlight: We’re joined by Lynette Sonne, Exec Dir of Farmstead Ed and the SLO County Farm Trail. She shares how she’s helping locals and travelers alike connect with the land, and offers a sneak peek at this summer’s Open Farm Days—a celebration of the Central Coast’s agricultural bounty.In the Paso Wine Wire, we’re talking: Paso Wine Country teams up with Strauss Workwear: A fresh partnership aligning style and grit, perfectly matching the energy of Paso’s wine community. Joel Peterson of Paso Wine drops in for a few words on what it means for the region.* * CNN covers proposed wine tariffs*: CNN’s Natasha Chen reports on how proposed tariffs could impact the American wine industry—particularly small and mid-sized producers like those in Paso. We’ve got a clip from the coverage to break it down.* * DAOU Wines joins forces with LIV Golf**: A bold move in branding and national visibility—Paso’s own DAOU Family Estates signs on as the official wine sponsor of LIV Golf, expanding Paso’s reach to a whole new crowd.
🎟 Paso Wine Fest is coming! Get your tickets at PasoWine.com and don’t miss the Paso 101 Wine Seminar with Madeline Puckette of Wine Folly—a can’t-miss masterclass to earn your Paso Wine Certificate during Wine Fest weekend.***Cork & Cruise 2025 – The Ultimate Wine AdventureThis year, imagine sailing through the Left and Right Banks of Bordeaux, tasting legendary wines with Paso’s most iconic winemakers, Eric Jensen (Booker Vineyard) & Stephan Asseo (L’Aventure) – Hosted by Cork & Cruise on board with AmaWaterways, this all-inclusive luxury wine cruise is an experience like no other. Spots are filling up fast—visit CorkAndCruise.com for details.
For planning your next adventure in Paso Robles, check out TravelPaso.com.
Tickets are now on sale for Paso Wine Fest (May 15–18, 2025). Head to pasowine.com for details and tickets.
If you love Where Wine Takes You, subscribe, please leave a review, and share it! Thank you!
Where Wine Takes You (WWTY) is Executive Produced by Joel Peterson and Paso Wine.
Associate Producer: Krista Smith
WWTY is recorded, edited, produced, and hosted by Adam Montiel. Follow Adam on Instagram @AdamOnTheAir and check out his daily podcast Up + Adam as well as The Pour with Adam Montiel.
To connect with Adam, ask a question, or learn more how you or your business can reach our audience on WWTY visit AdamMontiel.com
For the latest in Paso Robles Wine Country, check out PasoWine.com and follow on
Instagram @PasoWine. Download the free Paso Wine App as your guide to all things
wine country.
Original music on WWTY, “Good Company,” performed by Moonshiner Collective.
©2025 Where Wine Takes You, All Rights Reserved.
🍇 Where Wine Takes You – Episode Highlights 🍷
In this episode, we take a flavorful detour off the vineyard path and into the heart of Paso’s culinary scene with Chef Ricky Odbert—owner of Six Test Kitchen and the first to earn San Luis Obispo County its very first Michelin Star. From cooking in his parents’ garage in Arroyo Grande to building one of the most exclusive dining experiences in California wine country, Ricky shares his journey, his approach to creativity, and what it means to operate with discipline and vision.In the Travel Paso Spotlight, we’re joined by Adri Wells, founder of Central Coasting with Adri, who’s helping Paso businesses thrive with powerful content and creative social media strategies. It’s the third week in a row we’re highlighting women-led businesses for Women’s History Month!Today’s Guests:Chef Ricky Odbert – Six Test Kitchen • Website: sixtestkitchen.com • MICHELIN Guide Review: Read here • SFGate Feature – Started in a Garage: Read hereAdri Wells – Central Coasting with Adri • Website: centralcoastingwithadri.com • Instagram: @centralcoastingwithadriAlso in this episode’s Paso Wine Wire: + Brecon Estate earns “Historic Vineyard” status from the Historic Vineyard Society. + Indigené Cellars had a nice write up in the Tribune: How founder Raymond Smith is building community, one bottle at a time. * Paso Robles featured in Vogue, in a glowing write-up by Central Coast native Nicole Kliest—who we hope to have on the pod soon. * Grab your Paso Wine Fest tickets at PasoWine.com * Don’t miss the new Paso Robles 101 Seminar hosted by Wine Folly’s Madeline Puckette.*
***Cork & Cruise 2025 – The Ultimate Wine AdventureThis year, imagine sailing through the Left and Right Banks of Bordeaux, tasting legendary wines with Paso’s most iconic winemakers, Eric Jensen (Booker Vineyard) & Stephan Asseo (L’Aventure) – Hosted by Cork & Cruise on board with AmaWaterways, this all-inclusive luxury wine cruise is an experience like no other. Spots are filling up fast—visit CorkAndCruise.com for details.
For planning your next adventure in Paso Robles, check out TravelPaso.com.
Tickets are now on sale for Paso Wine Fest (May 15–18, 2025). Head to pasowine.com for details and tickets.
If you love Where Wine Takes You, subscribe, please leave a review, and share it! Thank you!
Where Wine Takes You (WWTY) is Executive Produced by Joel Peterson and Paso Wine.
Associate Producer: Krista Smith
WWTY is recorded, edited, produced, and hosted by Adam Montiel. Follow Adam on Instagram @AdamOnTheAir and check out his daily podcast Up + Adam as well as The Pour with Adam Montiel.
To connect with Adam, ask a question, or learn more how you or your business can reach our audience on WWTY visit AdamMontiel.com
For the latest in Paso Robles Wine Country, check out PasoWine.com and follow on
Instagram @PasoWine. Download the free Paso Wine App as your guide to all things
wine country.
Original music on WWTY, “Good Company,” performed by Moonshiner Collective.
©2025 Where Wine Takes You, All Rights Reserved.
🍇 Where Wine Takes You - Episode Highlights 🍷 From Everywhere to Here: How Paloma Bilson Found Her Frame in PasoIn this episode of Where Wine Takes You, Adam sits down with Paloma Bilson, owner and winemaker of Dilecta Wines. Her journey—from Angola and Namibia to the film industry in LA, to founding a visa consultancy for extraordinary talent, and finally planting roots in Paso Robles—is nothing short of cinematic. Paloma’s story is rich, layered, and poured into every bottle she creates.In the Travel Paso Spotlight, Adam catches up with Michelle Barrera, founder of Enjoy SLO, whose platform helps locals and visitors alike discover the best events, bites, and sips in SLO County. She’s a trusted voice in Central Coast culture, and she shares what’s buzzing this season in Paso.Paso Wine Wire Highlights: Paso Cabernet Outpaces California: While statewide Cab sales dropped, Paso’s are up 12%—proving it’s not just a region, it’s a rising force. Read the full story Check it out HERE J. Lohr Hits Sustainability Milestone: Their iconic 2022 Seven Oaks Cab now carries the Certified California Sustainable seal—over 20 million bottles strong, and under $20.Check it out HERE Rockbound Cellars Opens Downtown: A new tasting room on Railroad Street brings Adelaida fruit, minimal intervention winemaking, and a relaxed vibe to the heart of Paso. Check it out HEREFeatured Guests & Links: Dilecta Wines (Paloma Bilson): dilectawines.com Enjoy SLO (Michelle Barrera): enjoyslo.com | Instagram @EnjoySLO Paso Wine Fest Info: pasowine.com Plan Your Trip: travelpaso.com Cork & Cruise 2025 – The Ultimate Wine AdventureThis year, imagine sailing through the Left and Right Banks of Bordeaux, tasting legendary wines with Paso’s most iconic winemakers, Eric Jensen (Booker Vineyard) & Stephan Asseo (L’Aventure) - Hosted by Cork & Cruise on board with AmaWaterways, this all-inclusive luxury wine cruise is an experience like no other. Spots are filling up fast—visit CorkAndCruise.com for details.*For planning your next adventure in Paso Robles, check out TravelPaso.com.Before we wrap up, don’t miss Adam’s insider info: Tickets are now on sale for Paso Wine Fest (May 15–18, 2025). Head to pasowine.com for details and tickets.*Where Wine Takes You (WWTY) is Executive Produced by Paso Wine. Associate Producer: Krista SmithIf you love Where Wine Takes You, subscribe, please leave a review, and share it! Thank you!WWTY is recorded, edited, produced, and hosted by Adam Montiel. Follow Adam on Instagram @AdamOnTheAir and check out his daily podcast Up + Adam as well as The Pour with Adam Montiel. To connect with Adam, ask a question, or learn more how you or your business can reach our audience on WWTY visit AdamMontiel.com For the latest in Paso Robles Wine Country, check out PasoWine.com and follow onInstagram @PasoWine. Download the free Paso Wine App as your guide to all thingswine country. Original music on WWTY, “Good Company,” performed by Moonshiner Collective.©2025 Where Wine Takes You, All Rights Reserved.
🍇 Where Wine Takes You - Episode Highlights 🍷 In this episode of Where Wine Takes You, we dive into Cabernet Franc’s moment in the spotlight and how Paso Robles is shaping its future. Once considered just a blending grape, Cab Franc is proving it can stand on its own—with structure, depth, and a signature Paso character.To break it all down, we’re joined by: Neeta Mittal, LXV Wines – A master of food & wine pairings who’s helping elevate Cab Franc’s versatility. Jude Radeski, GM of Adelaida Vineyard – A leader in high-elevation winemaking and site-driven Cab Franc expressions.We also touch on CabFrancMasters, a one-day only event dedicated to celebrating this complex and elegant varietal.Travel Paso Spotlight: Parchetto Bistro We catch up with Carol MacDonal, owner of Parchetto Bistro & Il Cortile, two of Paso’s most celebrated restaurants. Parchetto Bistro’s Park Street Jazz Night with WhistlePig A New York-style jazz night featuring WhistlePig whiskey pairings & a four-course dinner. Live jazz, expertly crafted cocktails, and an elevated dining experience in downtown Paso.Paso Wine Wire – Latest Paso Wine News Best of Paso Auction Lot to Honor JoAnn Cherry at T.J. Martell Foundation EventPaso’s wine community has created a one-of-a-kind auction lot in memory of JoAnn Cherry (Villa Creek & MAHA Estate). Halter Ranch Achieves Regenerative Organic CertificationHalter Ranch joins Tablas Creek and Robert Hall as one of the only three Paso wineries with Regenerative Organic Certification®. Miller Family Wine Co. Named Grower of the Year & Launches AI Sommelier ServiceMiller Family Wine Co. (owners of French Camp Vineyard) was named Grower of the Year at the Unified Wine & Grape Symposium. Cork & Cruise 2025 – The Ultimate Wine Adventure Cork & Cruise is back for 2025. This year, we’re sailing through the Left and Right Banks of Bordeaux, tasting legendary wines with Paso’s most iconic winemakers, Eric Jensen (Booker Vineyard) & Stephan Asseo (L’Aventure) Hosted by Cork & Cruise on board with AmaWaterways, this all-inclusive luxury wine cruise is an experience like no other. Spots are filling up fast—visit CorkAndCruise.com for details.*For planning your next adventure in Paso Robles, check out TravelPaso.com.Before we wrap up, don’t miss Adam’s insider info: Tickets are now on sale for Paso Wine Fest (May 15–18, 2025). Head to pasowine.com for details and tickets.*Where Wine Takes You (WWTY) is Executive Produced by Paso Wine. Associate Producer: Krista SmithIf you love Where Wine Takes You, subscribe, please leave a review, and share it! Thank you!WWTY is recorded, edited, produced, and hosted by Adam Montiel. Follow Adam on Instagram @AdamOnTheAir and check out his daily podcast Up + Adam as well as The Pour with Adam Montiel. He recently dropped an episode from World of Pinot Noir with Louis Latour and Dan Kosta of Kosta Browne fame. More content from WOPN coming soon including a chat with Paso Wine’s Joel Peterson! To connect with Adam, ask a question, or learn more how you or your business can reach our audience on WWTY visit AdamMontiel.com For the latest in Paso Robles Wine Country, check out PasoWine.com and follow onInstagram @PasoWine. Download the free Paso Wine App as your guide to all thingswine country. Original music on WWTY, “Good Company,” performed by Moonshiner Collective.©2025 Where Wine Takes You, All Rights Reserved.
🍇 Where Wine Takes You - Episode Highlights 🍷 In this episode of Where Wine Takes You, we sit down with Matt Villard, owner and winemaker at MCV Wines, to explore his unexpected journey from pre-med at UC Davis to crafting bold, Petite Sirah-driven wines in Paso Robles. Sometimes, the best path is the one you never planned for, and Matt’s story proves that following your passion can lead to extraordinary places.We dive into: How a single UC Davis class changed everything The origin of MCV Wines and Matt’s obsession with Petite Sirah How family, loss, and perseverance continue to shape his winemaking philosophyLater, in our Travel Paso Spotlight, we celebrate Women’s Week in Paso! We chat with Joeli Yaguda, co-owner of General Store Paso Robles, about the incredible impact of women-led businesses in Paso and how At Her Table is shining a spotlight on the women shaping the region’s food, wine, and hospitality scene.And of course, we run down the latest in Paso Wine Wire, including: Parchetto Bistro’s Park Street Jazz Night – A one-night-only New York-style jazz & WhistlePig whiskey dinner (March 20) CabFrancMasters Returns to Paso – A deep dive into Paso’s role as a Cabernet Franc powerhouse (March 16-17) Paso Tourism’s $20.9M Economic Impact – Wine country’s boom is fueling local businesses, public services, and job creationLinks from the Show: MCV Wines: mcvwines.com General Store Paso Robles: generalstorepr.com At Her Table: athertable.com Travel Paso: travelpaso.comFor planning your next adventure in Paso Robles, check out TravelPaso.com.Before we wrap up, don’t miss Adam’s insider info: Tickets are now on sale for Paso Wine Fest (May 15–18, 2025). Head to pasowine.com for details and tickets.**Where Wine Takes You (WWTY) is Executive Produced by Paso Wine. Associate Producer: Krista SmithIf you love Where Wine Takes You, subscribe, please leave a review, and share it! Thank you!WWTY is recorded, edited, produced, and hosted by Adam Montiel. Follow Adam on Instagram @AdamOnTheAir and check out his daily podcast Up + Adam as well as The Pour with Adam Montiel. He recently dropped an episode from World of Pinot Noir with Louis Latour and Dan Kosta of Kosta Browne fame. More content from WOPN coming soon including a chat with Paso Wine’s Joel Peterson! To connect with Adam, ask a question, or learn more how you or your business can reach our audience on WWTY visit AdamMontiel.com For the latest in Paso Robles Wine Country, check out PasoWine.com and follow onInstagram @PasoWine. Download the free Paso Wine App as your guide to all thingswine country. Original music on WWTY, “Good Company,” performed by Moonshiner Collective.©2025 Where Wine Takes You, All Rights Reserved.
🍇 Where Wine Takes You - Episode Highlights 🍷 In this episode of Where Wine Takes You, we're pulling back the curtain on something you might not think about—but it’s the first thing you see when you pick up a bottle of wine: the label. A great wine label isn’t just about looking pretty—it’s storytelling, branding, and marketing all wrapped into one, and it can make or break a wine’s success.To explore this, Thomas Reiss, founder of Kraftwerk Design in San Luis Obispo, joins us. Thomas has worked with some of the most respected wineries, designing labels that don’t just catch your eye—they tell the winery's story in an instant. From bold, modern aesthetics to timeless classics, we break down how wineries decide what face their bottle will wear and why it matters.We also highlight Paso’s vibrant community with our Travel Paso Spotlight, featuring Candice Custodio from At Her Table and Alexandra from The Alchemists' Garden. They’re teaming up for a Fashion Show celebrating Women’s History Month—a perfect blend of style, community, and Paso vibes. It’s more than just fashion; it's about celebrating women-owned businesses and the creativity that fuels Paso.And, of course, we hit the latest in Paso wine country with the Paso Wine Wire: CabFrancMasters is back March 16-17, 2025, celebrating all things Cabernet Franc with tastings, masterclasses, and some of Paso's top producers. Ledge Vineyards welcomes Chris Hammell as their new Vineyard Manager. A perfect fit, considering Chris Hammell's legendary status from Bien Nacido and Ledge’s commitment to world-class fruit. Vina Robles opened a sleek new tasting room off Highway 101, complete with barrel-crafted tables, wood-fired pizzas, and a perfect indoor-outdoor flow for sipping Paso’s finest.Don’t forget: Where Wine Takes You was recently ranked #3 on Feedspot’s Top 100 Wine Podcasts! We’re honored, grateful, and setting our sights on that #1 spot—because Paso deserves nothing less.Links from the Show: Kraftwerk Design: kraftwerkdesign.com At Her Table: athertable.com The Alchemists' Garden: alchemistsgarden.com For planning your next adventure in Paso Robles, check out TravelPaso.com.Before we wrap up, don’t miss Adam’s insider info: Tickets are now on sale for Paso Wine Fest (May 15–18, 2025) and BlendFest on the Coast (Feb. 20–23, 2025). These are two can’t-miss events celebrating the very best of Paso wine. Head to pasowine.com for details and tickets.Attention San Luis Obispo County residents! You can take advantage of the exclusive Locals Only tickets at a special price. On sale now through Friday, Feb. 28, locals enjoy discounted General Admission tickets for the Grand Tasting on Saturday, May 17, for $99. This significant savings is only for SLO County residents. Visit www.pasowine.com/winefest/ to learn more.**Where Wine Takes You (WWTY) is Executive Produced by Paso Wine. WWTY is recorded, edited, produced, and hosted by Adam Montiel. Follow Adam on Instagram @AdamOnTheAir and check out his daily podcast Up + Adam as well as The Pour with Adam Montiel. To connect with Adam, learn more, or for Spotify or other pod links, visit AdamMontiel.comFor the latest in Paso Robles Wine Country, check out PasoWine.com and follow onInstagram @PasoWine. Download the free Paso Wine App as your guide to all thingswine country. Original music on WWTY, “Good Company,” performed by Moonshiner Collective.©2025 Where Wine Takes You, All Rights Reserved.
🍇 Where Wine Takes You - Episode Highlights 🍷 *Where Wine Takes You Named by Feedspot.com #3 on Their List of Top 100 Podcasts*In this episode of Where Wine Takes You, we’re celebrating a milestone that’s been a century in the making. The Dusi family has been farming Paso Robles vineyards for 100 years, and today, we’re sitting down with Janell Dusi of J Dusi Wines and her brother, vineyard manager Matt Dusi, to talk about what that legacy really means. From the early days of Benito Dusi planting some of the region’s most iconic Zinfandel vines to the modern innovations that keep the family name thriving, this episode dives deep into what it takes to balance history with forward-thinking winemaking.The Dusi Family LegacyJanell and Matt open up about the family dynamics of running a generational business, the inspiration behind their special ‘Cent’Anni’ commemorative Zinfandel, and what makes Paso such a special place to grow and craft wine. And of course, we get into the fun stuff—like what not to do in the Dusi household, who’s the worst at potlucks, and more.Connect with J Dusi Wines Website: jdusiwines.com Instagram: @jdusiwines Facebook: J Dusi Wines Online Store: Shop J Dusi WinesPour a glass, settle in, and join us for an unforgettable conversation about legacy, passion, and damn good wine.Travel Paso Spotlight: S’AranellaOur Travel Paso Spotlight this episode highlights Paso’s newest dining hotspot—S’Aranella, where we chat with Chef Julien Asseo, the culinary mastermind behind this exciting new venture. Asseo, known for his work at the Michelin-mentioned Les Petites Canailles (LPC), brings a fresh and elevated dining experience to Paso, making waves in the local food scene. For planning your next adventure in Paso Robles, check out TravelPaso.com.Before we wrap up, don’t miss Adam’s insider info: Tickets are now on sale for Paso Wine Fest (May 15–18, 2025) and BlendFest on the Coast (Feb. 20–23, 2025). These are two can’t-miss events celebrating the very best of Paso wine. Head to pasowine.com for details and tickets.Attention San Luis Obispo County residents! You can take advantage of the exclusive Locals Only tickets at a special price. On sale now through Friday, Feb. 28, locals enjoy discounted General Admission tickets for the Grand Tasting on Saturday, May 17, for $99. This significant savings is only for SLO County residents. Visit www.pasowine.com/winefest/ to learn more.**Where Wine Takes You (WWTY) is Executive Produced by Paso Wine. WWTY is recorded, edited, produced, and hosted by Adam Montiel. Follow Adam on Instagram @AdamOnTheAir and check out his daily podcast Up + Adam as well as The Pour with Adam Montiel. To connect with Adam, learn more, or for Spotify or other pod links, visit AdamMontiel.comFor the latest in Paso Robles Wine Country, check out PasoWine.com and follow onInstagram @PasoWine. Download the free Paso Wine App as your guide to all thingswine country. Original music on WWTY, “Good Company,” performed by Moonshiner Collective.©2025 Where Wine Takes You, All Rights Reserved.
🍇 Where Wine Takes You - Episode Highlights 🍷 In this episode of Where Wine Takes You, we’re exploring new ways to experience Paso Robles beyond the tasting room. Adam sits down with Kristina Horton, owner of Toast Tours, who is redefining how visitors sip and explore Paso with guided wine tours, insider experiences, and now, a Tin City Walking Tour. Joining the conversation is Steffi Terizzi, the force behind Etto Pasta Bar and Giornata Winery, blending authentic Italian flavors with the Paso wine scene. From expertly curated wine adventures to handmade pasta, these two are bringing fresh energy to Paso’s food and wine culture.In Paso Wine Wire, we highlight two big moments from the Paso Robles Wine Country Alliance Gala—the Dusi Family being honored for 100 years of farming in Paso Robles, and Randy & Jenny Heinzen being named Wine Industry Persons of the Year for their work in sustainable vineyard management. Plus, we take a look at DAOU Vineyards’ new partnership with the Dallas Open, bringing Paso wine to the pro tennis world.In the Travel Paso Spotlight, we wrap up Part 2 of VineCycle Tours, riding through the vineyards on an eBike, and then we chat with Gillian Beltran of the Paso Robles Inn about the hotel’s rich history and exciting renovations.Links & Resources: Toast Tours: toasttours.com | Instagram Giornata Wines: giornatawines.com | Instagram Etto Pasta Bar: ettopastabar.net | Instagram VineCycle Tours: vinecycletours.com | Instagram Paso Robles Inn: pasoroblesinn.com Paso Wine Alliance: pasowine.com BLEND FEST TIX: pasowine.com Travel Paso: travelpaso.comFor planning your next adventure in Paso Robles, check out TravelPaso.com.Before we wrap up, don’t miss Adam’s insider info: Tickets are now on sale for Paso Wine Fest (May 15–18, 2025) and BlendFest on the Coast (Feb. 20–23, 2025). These are two can’t-miss events celebrating the very best of Paso wine. Head to pasowine.com for details and tickets.Attention San Luis Obispo County residents! You can take advantage of the exclusive Locals Only tickets at a special price. On sale now through Friday, Feb. 28, locals enjoy discounted General Admission tickets for the Grand Tasting on Saturday, May 17, for $99. This significant savings is only for SLO County residents. Visit www.pasowine.com/winefest/ to learn more.**Where Wine Takes You (WWTY) is Executive Produced by Paso Wine. WWTY is recorded, edited, produced, and hosted by Adam Montiel. Follow Adam on Instagram @AdamOnTheAir and check out his daily podcast Up + Adam as well as The Pour with Adam Montiel. To connect with Adam, learn more, or for Spotify or other pod links, visit AdamMontiel.comFor the latest in Paso Robles Wine Country, check out PasoWine.com and follow onInstagram @PasoWine. Download the free Paso Wine App as your guide to all thingswine country. Original music on WWTY, “Good Company,” performed by Moonshiner Collective.©2025 Where Wine Takes You, All Rights Reserved.
🍇 Where Wine Takes You - Episode Highlights 🍷 In this episode of Where Wine Takes You, Adam sits down with Scott Schramm, owner of Crush Vineyard, and Tyler Russell, his winemaker and a Paso veteran known for his no-nonsense, instinct-driven approach to crafting wines. Scott’s journey is anything but ordinary—coming from a successful career in the fashion industry, he made a bold leap into the world of winegrowing in Paso Robles. From learning the ropes to creating something truly special, Scott shares how a podcast episode (yes, this one!) played a role in his path to Crush Vineyard. Meanwhile, Tyler brings his deep knowledge and laid-back style to the conversation, making this a can’t-miss discussion about passion, reinvention, and damn good wine.Plus, in our Travel Paso Spotlight, we’re jumping on two wheels and exploring Paso’s vineyards like never before with Jeff and Melissa from VineCycle Tours. If you’ve ever wanted to mix outdoor adventure with world-class wine, this is the experience for you.And don’t miss our Paso Wine Wire segment, where we bring you the latest updates in Paso wine country, including BlendFest on the Coast, a major USDA grant for the Paso CAB Collective, and a legendary Paso winery hitting the market.Links & Resources: Crush Vineyard: crushvineyard.com | Instagram VineCycle Tours: vinecycletours.com | Instagram BLEND FEST TIX: pasowine.com Travel Paso: travelpaso.comFor planning your next adventure in Paso Robles, check out TravelPaso.com.Before we wrap up, don’t miss Adam’s insider info: Tickets are now on sale for Paso Wine Fest (May 15–18, 2025) and BlendFest on the Coast (Feb. 20–23, 2025). These are two can’t-miss events celebrating the very best of Paso wine. Head to pasowine.com for details and tickets.Attention San Luis Obispo County residents! You can take advantage of the exclusive Locals Only tickets at a special price. On sale now through Friday, Feb. 28, locals enjoy discounted General Admission tickets for the Grand Tasting on Saturday, May 17, for $99. This significant savings is only for SLO County residents. Visit www.pasowine.com/winefest/ to learn more.**Where Wine Takes You (WWTY) is Executive Produced by Paso Wine. WWTY is recorded, edited, produced, and hosted by Adam Montiel. Follow Adam on Instagram @AdamOnTheAir and check out his daily podcast Up + Adam as well as The Pour with Adam Montiel. To connect with Adam, learn more, or for Spotify or other pod links, visit AdamMontiel.comFor the latest in Paso Robles Wine Country, check out PasoWine.com and follow onInstagram @PasoWine. Download the free Paso Wine App as your guide to all thingswine country. Original music on WWTY, “Good Company,” performed by Moonshiner Collective.©2025 Where Wine Takes You, All Rights Reserved.
🍇 Where Wine Takes You - Episode Highlights 🍷 In this episode of Where Wine Takes You, Adam sits down with Randy and Jenny Heinzen, Paso’s 2024 Wine Industry Persons of the Year. Randy, the mastermind behind Vineyard Professional Services, and Jenny, a leading expert in vineyard real estate, share their journey of building a life and legacy in Paso wine country. From planting agave on their property to winning top honors, this power couple embodies the heart and grit of Paso. Hear the hilarious and heartfelt stories behind their success—including a horse cemetery, award-winning vines, and what it really takes to make dreams come true in wine country. Later in the Travel Paso Spotlight, Adam is joined by Kristina Horton of Toast Tours. Kristina shares how Toast Tours is elevating wine country experiences with their new Tin City Walking Tours—a fresh way to explore Paso’s trendiest tasting destination. Whether you’re looking for a relaxing ride to top wineries or an immersive walking adventure, Toast Tours has you covered. Links and Resources: Vineyard Professional Services (Randy Heinzen) Jenny Heinzen Real Estate: Toast Tours: toasttours.com Travel Paso: travelpaso.com For planning your next adventure in Paso Robles, check out TravelPaso.com.Before we wrap up, don’t miss Adam’s insider info: Tickets are now on sale for Paso Wine Fest (May 15–18, 2025) and BlendFest on the Coast (Feb. 20–23, 2025). These are two can’t-miss events celebrating the very best of Paso wine. Head to pasowine.com for details and tickets.Attention San Luis Obispo County residents! You can take advantage of the exclusive Locals Only tickets at a special price. On sale now through Friday, Feb. 28, locals enjoy discounted General Admission tickets for the Grand Tasting on Saturday, May 17, for $99. This significant savings is only for SLO County residents. Visit www.pasowine.com/winefest/ to learn more.Links & Resources Cork and Cruise Bordeaux Trip: corkandcruise.com Paso Robles Wine Country Alliance: pasowine.com **Where Wine Takes You (WWTY) is Executive Produced by Paso Wine. WWTY is recorded, edited, produced, and hosted by Adam Montiel. Follow Adam on Instagram @AdamOnTheAir and check out his daily podcast Up + Adam as well as The Pour with Adam Montiel. To connect with Adam, learn more, or for Spotify or other pod links, visit AdamMontiel.comFor the latest in Paso Robles Wine Country, check out PasoWine.com and follow onInstagram @PasoWine. Download the free Paso Wine App as your guide to all thingswine country. Original music on WWTY, “Good Company,” performed by Moonshiner Collective.See Moonshiner Collective LIVE IN SLO Nov 15!©2024 Where Wine Takes You, All Rights Reserved.
🍇 Where Wine Takes You - Episode Highlights 🍷 In this episode of Where Wine Takes You, recorded at the renowned Robert Hall Winery in Paso Robles, host Adam Montiel delves into the journeys of three influential figures recently honored as 2024 Wine Industry Leaders by Wine Business Monthly: Maeve Pesquera, Executive Vice President of the Luxury Division at O’Neill Vintners & Distillers (oneillwine.com) and Robert Hall Winery (roberthallwinery.com). Maeve’s visionary leadership has been instrumental in elevating luxury wine brands, including the recent acquisitions of Ram’s Gate Winery and Substance Wines. Amanda Wittstrom Higgins, Founder of Full Cup Solutions (fullcupsolutions.com) and the nonprofit Dream Big Darling (dreambigdarling.org). Amanda’s dedication to mentorship, education, and strategic consulting through Full Cup Solutions has empowered countless women in the wine and spirits industry, fostering a community of emerging leaders and creating pathways for innovation and growth. Caine Thompson, Managing Director of Sustainability at Robert Hall Winery (roberthallwinery.com) and O’Neill Vintners & Distillers (oneillwine.com). Caine’s commitment to regenerative farming and sustainability is driving significant advancements in vineyard practices, promoting environmental stewardship within the industry. Later in the episode, the Travel Paso Spotlight features an insightful conversation with Ryan Hopple, General Manager of Sensorio in Paso Robles. Ryan shares the inspiration and impact behind Sensorio’s immersive art installations, including the mesmerizing Field of Light, which has become a must-visit destination for both locals and visitors.Relevant Links Robert Hall WineryWebsite: roberthallwinery.comInstagram: @roberthallwinery O’Neill Vintners & DistillersWebsite: oneillwine.comInstagram: @oneillwines Dream Big DarlingWebsite: dreambigdarling.orgInstagram: @dreambigdarling Full Cup SolutionsWebsite: fullcupsolutions.comInstagram: @fullcupsolutions SensorioWebsite: sensoriopaso.comInstagram: @sensoriopaso Travel PasoWebsite: travelpaso.comInstagram: @travelpasoFor planning your next adventure in Paso Robles, check out TravelPaso.com.Before we wrap up, don’t miss Adam’s insider info: Tickets are now on sale for Paso Wine Fest (May 15–18, 2025) and BlendFest on the Coast (Feb. 20–23, 2025). These are two can’t-miss events celebrating the very best of Paso wine. Head to pasowine.com for details and tickets.Attention San Luis Obispo County residents! You can take advantage of the exclusive Locals Only tickets at a special price. On sale now through Friday, Feb. 28, locals enjoy discounted General Admission tickets for the Grand Tasting on Saturday, May 17, for $99. This significant savings is only for SLO County residents. Visit www.pasowine.com/winefest/ to learn more.Links & Resources Cork and Cruise Bordeaux Trip: corkandcruise.com Paso Robles Wine Country Alliance: pasowine.com **Where Wine Takes You (WWTY) is Executive Produced by Paso Wine. WWTY is recorded, edited, produced, and hosted by Adam Montiel. Follow Adam on Instagram @AdamOnTheAir and check out his daily podcast Up + Adam as well as The Pour with Adam Montiel. To connect with Adam, learn more, or for Spotify or other pod links, visit AdamMontiel.comFor the latest in Paso Robles Wine Country, check out PasoWine.com and follow onInstagram @PasoWine. Download the free Paso Wine App as your guide to all thingswine country. Original music on WWTY, “Good Company,” performed by Moonshiner Collective.See Moonshiner Collective LIVE IN SLO Nov 15!©2025 Where Wine Takes You, All Rights Reserved.
🍇 Where Wine Takes You – Episode Highlights 🍷
In this sparkling New Year’s episode, host Adam Montiel rings in 2025 with two incredible winemakers who bring the bubbles and Bordeaux brilliance to Paso Robles. Sherri Holzer of Rava Wines shares the story behind Paso’s first sparkling wine-focused winery, crafted using the traditional méthode champenoise. We delve into their diverse lineup, sustainable practices, and the magic of bubbles that make every occasion unforgettable. Doug Hidinger of Paris Valley Road Estate Winery brings us a taste of Bordeaux-inspired elegance, blending Old World tradition with the vibrant terroir of Paso Robles. Doug shares his journey from Cal Poly to winemaking stardom, his passion for curated events, and how Paris Valley Road creates wines that embody Paso’s distinctive style.
Later, in the Travel Paso Spotlight, Adam highlights the must-attend New Year’s Eve Bonfire Celebration in downtown Paso Robles. Featuring live music from the Lucky Devils Band, local food and drinks, and a 9:00 pm East Coast countdown, this free, family-friendly event benefits the Paso Robles Professional Firefighters Local 4148 and the Paso Robles Police Officers Association. Adam, the evening’s emcee, gives you an insider’s look at the excitement, charm, and community spirit of this unforgettable celebration.
Links from this Show
For planning your next adventure in Paso Robles, check out TravelPaso.com.
There’s even more exciting news: Where Wine Takes You is going weekly in 2025! That’s right, starting next year, you’ll get a fresh pour of Paso wine stories, insights, and personalities every single week.
Before we wrap up, don’t miss Adam’s insider info: Tickets are now on sale for Paso Wine Fest (May 15–18, 2025) and BlendFest on the Coast (Feb. 20–23, 2025). These are two can’t-miss events celebrating the very best of Paso wine. Head to pasowine.com for details and tickets.
Links & Resources Cork and Cruise Bordeaux Trip: corkandcruise.com * Paso Robles Wine Country Alliance*: pasowine.com
Where Wine Takes You (WWTY) is Executive Produced by Paso Wine.
WWTY is recorded, edited, produced, and hosted by Adam Montiel. Follow Adam on Instagram @AdamOnTheAir and check out his daily podcast Up + Adam as well as The Pour with Adam Montiel. To connect with Adam, learn more, or for Spotify or other pod links, visit AdamMontiel.com
For the latest in Paso Robles Wine Country, check out PasoWine.com and follow on
Instagram @PasoWine. Download the free Paso Wine App as your guide to all things
wine country.
Original music on WWTY, “Good Company,” performed by Moonshiner Collective.
©2024 Where Wine Takes You, All Rights Reserved.
🍇 Where Wine Takes You – Episode Highlights 🍷
Get ready for an episode recorded deep in the stunning limestone caves of L’Aventure Winery. This week, Adam Montiel sits down with two Paso icons: Eric Jensen of Booker Wines and Stephan Asseo of L’Aventure. These two winemaking legends share their journey of shaping Paso Robles into a world-class wine region, with Eric’s bold innovations like My Favorite Neighbor and Stephan’s pioneering spirit that brought him from Bordeaux to create his acclaimed L’Aventure. Together, they tease the upcoming Bordeaux cruise with Cork and Cruise, giving you a glimpse of what makes this adventure the ultimate wine lover’s dream.
Later in the Travel Paso Spotlight, Adam talks with Chef Julien Asseo of Les Petites Canailles (LPC), the French-inspired restaurant in downtown Paso that has become a must-visit culinary destination. Julien teases an exciting new project that could take the LPC experience to the next level— is it another LPC location, or an entirely new concept? Stay tuned for all the juicy details!
For planning your next adventure in Paso Robles, check out TravelPaso.com.
There’s even more exciting news: Where Wine Takes You is going weekly in 2025! That’s right, starting next year, you’ll get a fresh pour of Paso wine stories, insights, and personalities every single week.
Before we wrap up, don’t miss Adam’s insider info: Tickets are now on sale for Paso Wine Fest (May 15–18, 2025) and BlendFest on the Coast (Feb. 20–23, 2025). These are two can’t-miss events celebrating the very best of Paso wine. Head to pasowine.com for details and tickets.
And finally, don’t forget to register for an incredible New Year’s Eve giveaway at adammontiel.com. The package includes a stay at the newly reimagined Paso Robles Inn, dinner at their legendary steakhouse, tickets to Sip, Savor & Sway at Serial Wines, a tasting at Hope on Park, and lunch at the award-winning Jeffry’s Wine Country BBQ. It’s the perfect way to ring in 2025 with Paso flair!
Links & Resources Cork and Cruise Bordeaux Trip: corkandcruise.com * Booker Wines: bookerwines.com | Instagram: @bookerwines * L’Aventure Winery: aventurewine.com | Instagram: @laventure_winery * Les Petites Canailles (LPC): lpcpaso.com | Instagram: @lespetitescanailles * Paso Robles Wine Country Alliance*: pasowine.com
Where Wine Takes You (WWTY) is Executive Produced by Paso Wine.
WWTY is recorded, edited, produced, and hosted by Adam Montiel. Follow Adam on Instagram @AdamOnTheAir and check out his daily podcast Up + Adam as well as The Pour with Adam Montiel. To connect with Adam, learn more, or for Spotify or other pod links, visit AdamMontiel.com
For the latest in Paso Robles Wine Country, check out PasoWine.com and follow on
Instagram @PasoWine. Download the free Paso Wine App as your guide to all things
wine country.
Original music on WWTY, “Good Company,” performed by Moonshiner Collective.
See Moonshiner Collective LIVE IN SLO Nov 15!
©2024 Where Wine Takes You, All Rights Reserved.
🍇 Where Wine Takes You – Episode Highlights 🍷
In this episode of Where Wine Takes You, Adam Montiel dives into The Magic of Michelin, recorded live at the enchanting Inn Paradiso in Paso Robles. This unique getaway, owned by Steve Werndorf, is unlike any other with its hidden, artistic, and luxurious ambiance. Joining Adam are two stars from Justin Winery—Executive Chef Rachel Hagstrom and Winemaker Scott Shirley. Rachel and her team at The Restaurant at Justin have earned a Michelin star and a green star, highlighting their culinary excellence and commitment to sustainability. Scott shares insights into Justin Winery’s celebrated wines, crafted with the precision to complement Michelin-starred cuisine—a pairing feat that’s no small order.
Later in the Travel Paso Spotlight, could limos be going extinct? We will chat with Derek Stafford from Elegant Image, Paso’s premier car service that’s redefining luxury transportation in a shifting market. Discover how Elegant Image is staying fresh while adapting to a world where traditional limousine service is increasingly rare.
For more on today’s guests and featured locations:
For planning your next adventure in Paso Robles, check out TravelPaso.com.
Where Wine Takes You (WWTY) is Executive Produced by Paso Wine.
WWTY is recorded, edited, produced, and hosted by Adam Montiel. Follow Adam on Instagram @AdamOnTheAir and check out his daily podcast, Up + Adam as well as his other show that’s not all Paso, and not all wine, The Pour with Adam Montiel. To connect with Adam, learn more, or for Spotify or other pod links, visit AdamMontiel.com
For the latest in Paso Robles Wine Country, check out PasoWine.com and follow on Instagram @PasoWine.
Download the free Paso Wine App as your guide to all things wine country.
Original music on WWTY, “Good Company,” performed by Moonshiner Collective.
See Moonshiner Collective LIVE IN SLO Nov 15!
©2024 Where Wine Takes You, All Rights Reserved.
🍇 Where Wine Takes You – Episode Highlights 🍷
Welcome back, to another lively episode of Where Wine Takes You, the podcast where we uncork the magic of Paso’s vineyards and explore the stories behind the wines that define our region. Today, we’re coming to you from a very special place: Bella Luna Winery. It’s not just any winery; it’s a testament to friendship, history, and the passing of the torch.
Best friends Sherman Smoot and Kevin Healey started Bella Luna with the vision of creating something lasting, and now that legacy lives on through Nichole Healey-Finn and Lukas Finn.
We also introduced our neighbors from across the street—Clesi Winery, founded by Chris and Adrienne Ferrara—who are bringing traditional Italian varietals to the Central Coast with their own unique twist. Chris traveled extensively through Italy, studying the culture, terroir, and winemaking techniques that make Italian wines so distinctive. Adrienne Ferrara contributes her passion for viticulture and ensures every bottle captures the essence of Italy. Together, they bring those influences back to Paso.
Later in the show, our Travel Paso Spotlight featured Rich Verruni, the General Manager of Allegretto Vineyard Resort, where luxury and Paso’s wine culture beautifully collide. To plan your stay or learn more, visit Allegretto Vineyard Resort.
For more on our guests, visit:
For planning your next adventure in Paso Robles, check out TravelPaso.com.
Where Wine Takes You (WWTY) is Executive Produced by Paso Wine.
WWTY is recorded, edited, produced, and hosted by Adam Montiel. Follow Adam on Instagram @AdamOnTheAir and check out his daily podcast Up + Adam as well as The Pour with Adam Montiel. To connect with Adam, learn more, or for Spotify or other pod links, visit AdamMontiel.com
For the latest in Paso Robles Wine Country, check out PasoWine.com and follow on
Instagram @PasoWine. Download the free Paso Wine App as your guide to all things
wine country.
Original music on WWTY, “Good Company,” performed by Moonshiner Collective.
See Moonshiner Collective LIVE IN SLO Nov 15!
©2024 Where Wine Takes You, All Rights Reserved.
🍇 Where Wine Takes You – Episode Highlights 🍷
LEARN BY DOING
In this episode of Where Wine Takes You, host Adam Montiel takes you inside Cal Poly’s premier JUSTIN and J. Lohr Center for Wine and Viticulture. This world-class facility, located in San Luis Obispo, serves as a state-of-the-art educational hub for the next generation of wine industry leaders. Opened in 2021, the Center boasts a 15,600-square-foot winery equipped with a fermentation hall, bottling room, barrel storage, and a research lab—providing an immersive learning environment for Cal Poly students. The facility also includes a 12,000-square-foot E. & J. Gallo Winery & Family Building featuring viticulture and enology labs, lecture areas, and shared offices for students and faculty .
During this live-recorded session, Adam sits down with key figures shaping the Cal Poly Wine and Vit program, including Winery Manager Jim Shumate and Department Head Benoît Lecat, Ph.D. Joining the conversation are three current students—Augusta, Gracie, and Caden—who share their experiences learning the ins and outs of the industry through Cal Poly’s signature “Learn by Doing” approach. Together, they discuss the evolution of winemaking education, the importance of research and innovation in the industry, and how the Center is helping students prepare for careers in wine production, viticulture, and wine business. You can learn more about Cal Poly’s Wine and Viticulture Program by visiting their official website .
In this episode’s Travel Paso Spotlight, Adam chats with Bryan Yates, founder of the Bovine Classic, a unique gravel bike race happening on October 26th in Paso Robles. Bryan gives an inside look at how this “seriously unserious gravel hoedown” has become a popular event for cycling enthusiasts and highlights its connection to the Paso Robles wine region. For more details on the Bovine Classic and how to register, head to thebovineclassic.com.
And as always, for all things Paso—where to eat, stay, and explore—head over to Travel Paso website for more information: Travel Paso
Where Wine Takes You (WWTY) is Executive Produced by Paso Wine.
WWTY is recorded, edited, produced, and hosted by Adam Montiel. Follow Adam on Instagram @AdamOnTheAir and check out his daily podcast Up + Adam as well as The Pour with Adam Montiel. To connect with Adam, learn more, or for Spotify or other pod links, visit AdamMontiel.com
For the latest in Paso Robles Wine Country, check out PasoWine.com and follow on
Instagram @PasoWine. Download the free Paso Wine App as your guide to all things
wine country.
Original music on WWTY, “Good Company,” performed by Moonshiner Collective.
©2024 Where Wine Takes You, All Rights Reserved.
🍇 Where Wine Takes You – Episode Highlights 🍷
Heritage & Harvest
In this episode of Where Wine Takes You, host Adam Montiel sits down with two winemakers whose international roots shape their unique approaches to the Paso Robles wine scene: Martin Croad of Croad Vineyards and Kevin Jussila of Kukkula Wines. Recorded live at Croad Vineyards, this episode dives into their respective journeys, blending heritage and harvest in the heart of wine country.
Martin Croad, hailing from New Zealand, shares how his background influences his winemaking style at Croad Vineyards. With a focus on dry farming and bold varietals, Martin’s wines reflect the rugged yet rich landscape of Paso Robles, intertwined with his Kiwi heritage.
Kevin Jussila, born in Finland, brings a different perspective with his dedication to Rhône-style blends at Kukkula Wines. His commitment to organic, dry-farmed practices has helped create wines that are a true expression of the land, and he discusses how his Finnish roots guide his craft in the heart of Paso’s Adelaida District.
In the Travel Paso Spotlight, we feature Zoo to You, an exotic animal conservation group based in Paso Robles. Lisa Jackson talks about the amazing work they do with wildlife education and their unique offering of overnight stays surrounded by creatures like kangaroos, bald eagles, and more. It’s a one-of-a-kind experience that brings conservation and adventure together. And as always, for all things Paso—where to eat, stay, and explore—head over to Travel Paso website for more information: Travel Paso
Guests and Links:
Website: croadvineyards.com
Instagram: @croadvineyards
Website: kukkulawine.com
Instagram: @kukkulawine
Website: zootooyou.org
Instagram: @conservation.ambassadors.zty
Where Wine Takes You (WWTY) is Executive Produced by Paso Wine.
WWTY is recorded, edited, produced, and hosted by Adam Montiel. Follow Adam on Instagram @AdamOnTheAir and check out his daily podcast Up + Adam as well as The Pour with Adam Montiel. To connect with Adam, learn more, or for Spotify or other pod links, visit AdamMontiel.com
For the latest in Paso Robles Wine Country, check out PasoWine.com and follow on
Instagram @PasoWine. Download the free Paso Wine App as your guide to all things
wine country.
Original music on WWTY, “Good Company,” performed by Moonshiner Collective. Find them on Spotify HERE.
©2024 Where Wine Takes You, All Rights Reserved.
🍇 Where Wine Takes You – Episode Highlights 🍷
A Sense of Place
Willow Creek Wine Collective
This episode takes us to the beautiful Willow Creek Wine Collective, where we recorded live with winemakers Natalie and Brian Brown. They’ve created multiple brands under their umbrella, including Rococo Wines, which focuses on old-vine Chenin Blanc, and In Medias Res, offering small-batch, terroir-driven wines. Nestled in Paso’s Willow Creek District, their story is one of passion for the land they farm, and their unique wines are a true expression of place.
Willow Creek Wine Co. | Rococo Wines
Jason Joyce and Calcareous Vineyard
We are also joined by Jason Joyce, the longtime winemaker at Calcareous Vineyard. Known for his deep connection to the calcareous rock that gives his wines their signature mineral complexity, Jason has spent years perfecting his craft and letting Paso’s unique terroir shine through each bottle. From their steep, sun-drenched slopes, Calcareous consistently produces bold, site-driven wines.
Calcareous Vineyard
Travel Paso Spotlight: The Paderewski Festival
In this episode’s Travel Paso Spotlight, we shine a light on the upcoming Paderewski Festival, happening October 31 to November 3, 2024. This annual event celebrates the life and legacy of Ignacy Jan Paderewski, the Polish pianist and statesman who made his mark on Paso Robles by planting Zinfandel grapes here. The festival blends music, history, and wine, with concerts, youth competitions, and tastings from Paso’s top wineries like Epoch Estate Wines.
Travel Paso | Paderewski Festival
And as always, for all things Paso—where to eat, stay, and explore—head over to Travel Paso website for more information: Travel Paso
Where Wine Takes You (WWTY) is Executive Produced by Paso Wine.
WWTY is recorded, edited, produced, and hosted by Adam Montiel. Follow Adam on Instagram @AdamOnTheAir and check out his daily podcast Up + Adam as well as The Pour with Adam Montiel. Connect with Adam and lean more on AdamMontiel.com
For the latest in Paso Robles Wine Country, check out PasoWine.com and follow on
Instagram @PasoWine. Download the free Paso Wine App as your guide to all things
wine country.
Original music on WWTY, “Good Company,” performed by Moonshiner Collective.
©2024 Where Wine Takes You, All Rights Reserved.
🍇 Where Wine Takes You – Episode Highlights 🍷
In this special episode of Where Wine Takes You, we’re bringing you a taste of Paso Robles wine straight from the heart of France! Recorded live aboard the AmaKristina cruise ship as we sail along the Rhône River, with Cork and Cruise. This episode captures the unique experience of blending Paso’s vibrant wine culture with the historic wine regions of France.
Join Adam Montiel and an audience of 50-60 wine enthusiasts as he sits down with some of Paso’s finest to share stories, laughs, and, of course, exceptional wine. In this episode, you’ll hear from Don Burns of Turtle Rock Vineyard, Kit Kuyper of Hawks Hill Ranch, Juan Mercado of Riise Wines, and Joel Peterson, the Executive Director of Paso Wine.
Links to Guests and Their Wineries:
About the Cruise:
This unique experience was organized by Cork and Cruise, who specialize in crafting wine-centric travel experiences. We sailed with AmaWaterways, known for their luxurious river cruises that blend comfort with cultural exploration.
On today’s Travel Paso Spotlight, we had the pleasure of chatting with Carole MacDonald, the visionary behind some of Paso Robles’ most beloved dining experiences. Carole is the proprietor, along with her husband and Chef Santos MacDonal, of the iconic Il Cortile, a restaurant that has become a staple in Paso’s culinary scene, offering an authentic taste of Italy right in the heart of wine country. But Carole and Santos have another dining hotspot up their sleeve. They recently opened Parchetto, a fresh and exciting new dining spot that promises to bring even more flavor to Paso.
For more about these incredible dining destinations and to plan your next visit to Paso Robles, make sure to check out Il Cortile at ilcortileristorante.com and Parchetto at parchettopaso.com. And as always, for all things Paso—where to eat, stay, and explore—head over to Travel Paso website for more information: Travel Paso
Where Wine Takes You (WWTY) is produced by Paso Wine. WWTY is recorded, edited, produced, and hosted by Adam Montiel. Follow Adam on Instagram @AdamOnTheAir and check out his daily podcast Up + Adam as well as The Pour with Adam Montiel. Connect with Adam and lean more on AdamMontiel.com
For the latest in Paso Robles Wine Country, check out PasoWine.com and follow on
Instagram @PasoWine. Download the free Paso Wine App as your guide to all things
wine country.
Original music on WWTY, “Good Company,” performed by Moonshiner Collective.
©2024 Where Wine Takes You, All Rights Reserved.
🍇 Where Wine Takes You – Episode Highlights 🍷
In this episode of “Where Wine Takes You,” we return from a vibrant journey through France with Cork and Cruise, and dive into conversations with Paso Robles’ own Bret Urness of Levo Wine and Jacob Toft of Jacob Toft Wines. Both vintners share insights from their Tin City-based operations, blending local terroir with innovative winemaking techniques. Check out Levo Wine and Jacob Toft Wines. We also spotlight Hambly Farms in our Travel Paso segment, exploring their sustainable lavender products and community-focused initiatives. Learn more about local attractions at Travel Paso.
Don’t miss out on staying informed about all things Paso Robles through Paso Wine.
Don’t forget to visit travelpaso.com for everything you need before your next trip to Paso. Want to know what’s happening around town? Looking for pet-friendly places to stay? Curious about Sensorio? TravelPaso.com is your go-to resource. Check it out and plan your perfect Paso getaway.
Visit the Travel Paso website for more information: Travel Paso
Where Wine Takes You (WWTY) is produced by Paso Wine. WWTY is recorded, edited, produced, and hosted by Adam Montiel. Follow Adam on Instagram @AdamOnTheAir and check out his daily podcast Up + Adam as well as The Pour with Adam Montiel. Connect with Adam and lean more on AdamMontiel.com
For the latest in Paso Robles Wine Country, check out PasoWine.com and follow on
Instagram @PasoWine. Download the free Paso Wine App as your guide to all things
wine country.
Original music on WWTY, “Good Company,” performed by Moonshiner Collective.
©2024 Where Wine Takes You, All Rights Reserved.
🍇 Where Wine Takes You – Episode Highlights 🍷
Welcome to another exciting episode of “Where Wine Takes You”! Today, we have a special show lined up as we celebrate the 2024 San Luis Obispo County Wine Industry Awards. These awards honor the dedication, innovation, and leadership within our local wine community, and we have the privilege of speaking with some of the esteemed winners.
First up, we have Niels and Bimmer Udsen from Castoro Cellars, the recipients of the Wine Grape Grower of the Year award. Castoro Cellars, founded in 1983, is a cornerstone of the Paso Robles wine region. Known for their commitment to sustainable and organic farming, Niels and Bimmer have cultivated over 1,400 acres of certified organic vineyards.
Next, we welcome McPrice Myers, the Winemaker of the Year. McPrice Myers Wines has gained acclaim for its bold and expressive wines, reflecting McPrice’s dedication to the craft. McPrice’s journey in winemaking is marked by a passion for quality and a relentless pursuit of perfection, earning him this well-deserved recognition.
Joining us as well is Molly Scott from JUSTIN Vineyards & Winery, honored as the Wine Industry Person of the Year. JUSTIN Vineyards & Winery is synonymous with luxury and quality in Paso Robles. Molly Scott’s leadership and vision, and efforts in marketing, community involvement, and dedication to the craft have solidified her position as a key figure in the wine industry.
We also pay tribute to Mike English, the posthumous recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award. Mike was the visionary behind Tin City, a vibrant community of wineries, breweries, and artisan producers in Paso Robles. His legacy continues to inspire and influence the local wine scene, fostering a spirit of innovation and collaboration.
We’re also joined by Joel Peterson, the executive producer of this show and the executive director for Paso Wine, who will jump in here and there.
Today’s episode was recorded at the beautiful Venteux Vineyards. I want to extend a heartfelt thank you to them for their hospitality. Venteux Vineyards also hosts a fantastic Friday night concert series every week through October, featuring great live music, delicious food, beautiful views everywhere you look, and great people. Congratulations to them on winning two double golds and a best in class for their Cabernet at the Central Coast Wine Competition! For more information, check them out at venteuxvineyards.com.
Travel Paso Spotlight: We’re featuring Edible Magazine and their Summer House. Edible Magazine is a fantastic resource for discovering the culinary and wine delights of our region. Their Summer House is a celebration of local flavors, showcasing the best of what San Luis Obispo has to offer. For more information, visit Edible San Luis Obispo.
Don’t miss out on staying informed about all things Paso Robles through Paso Wine.
Don’t forget to visit travelpaso.com for everything you need before your next trip to Paso. Want to know what’s happening around town? Looking for pet-friendly places to stay? Curious about Sensorio? TravelPaso.com is your go-to resource. Check it out and plan your perfect Paso getaway.
Visit the Travel Paso website for more information: Travel Paso
🇫🇷 For any all info on our cruise to France in August – visit www.CorkandCruise.com
Where Wine Takes You (WWTY) is produced by Paso Wine. WWTY is recorded, edited, produced, and hosted by Adam Montiel. Follow Adam on Instagram @AdamOnTheAir and check out his daily podcast Up + Adam. Connect with Adam and lean more on AdamMontiel.com
For the latest in Paso Robles Wine Country, check out PasoWine.com and follow on
Instagram @PasoWine. Download the free Paso Wine App as your guide to all things
wine country.
Recording equipment for WWTY was transported in suitcases provided by Fly with Wine.
Use the Promo Code ADAM20 – save 20% off everything you buy AND Free Shipping!
Original music on WWTY, “Good Company,” performed by Moonshiner Collective.
©2024 Where Wine Takes You, All Rights Reserved.
🍇 Where Wine Takes You – Episode Highlights 🍷
In this episode of ‘Where Wine Takes You,’ host Adam Montiel dives deep into the rich heritage and untold stories of Paso Robles with two legendary winemakers. Broadcasting from the heart of Midnight Cellars, Adam is joined by Rich Hartenberger, owner and winemaker of Midnight Cellars, and his longtime friend, Norm Benson of Level 3 Wines. Rich and Norm, affectionately known as Richie and Normie, have been neighbors and friends for decades, sharing a unique bond and countless adventures. From the early days of winemaking in Paso to their enduring friendship, this conversation is packed with fascinating insights and entertaining tales.
Later in the show, don’t miss our Travel Paso Spotlight featuring Luke Udsen of Castoro Cellars, Bethel Road Distillery, and the Whalerock Music Festival. Luke shares all the details about this two-day event set amidst the stunning organic vineyards of Castoro Cellars. The Whalerock Music Festival offers great music, a vibrant atmosphere, and plenty of activities, making it a must-visit for music and wine enthusiasts alike. Learn about the unique offerings of the festival and the passion behind the Udsen family’s commitment to organic farming and great music.
Don’t miss out on staying informed about all things Paso Robles through Paso Wine.
Don’t forget to visit travelpaso.com for everything you need before your next trip to Paso. Want to know what’s happening around town? Looking for pet-friendly places to stay? Curious about Sensorio? TravelPaso.com is your go-to resource. Check it out and plan your perfect Paso getaway.
Visit the Travel Paso website for more information: Travel Paso
🇫🇷 For any all info on our cruise to France in August – visit www.CorkandCruise.com
Where Wine Takes You (WWTY) is produced by Paso Wine. WWTY is recorded, edited, produced, and hosted by Adam Montiel. Follow Adam on Instagram @AdamOnTheAir and check out his daily podcast Up + Adam. Connect with Adam and lean more on AdamMontiel.com
For the latest in Paso Robles Wine Country, check out PasoWine.com and follow on
Instagram @PasoWine. Download the free Paso Wine App as your guide to all things
wine country.
Recording equipment for WWTY was transported in suitcases provided by Fly with Wine.
Use the Promo Code ADAM20 – save 20% off everything you buy AND Free Shipping!
Original music on WWTY, “Good Company,” performed by Moonshiner Collective.
©2024 Where Wine Takes You, All Rights Reserved.
🍇 Where Wine Takes You – Episode Highlights 🍷
In this episode of “Where Wine Takes You,” host Adam Montiel delves into the world of Caliza and End of the Day Wines. We have an exciting lineup featuring Carl Bowker, the visionary owner, along with his talented winemaking team: Josh Harp and Allie Donegan. Get the inside scoop on their latest ventures, including big news about Carl’s west side estate on Anderson Road and potential plans for a new tasting room. Find out more about their incredible wines at Caliza Winery.
In our Travel Paso Spotlight, Adam chats with Ty Lewis, the city manager of Paso Robles, about the upcoming 4th of July celebration at Barney Schwartz Park. Learn more about this spectacular event and what makes it a must-attend celebration for the community. Check out more details at Travel Paso and Paso Robles City.
Don’t miss out on staying informed about all things Paso Robles through Paso Wine.
Don’t forget to visit travelpaso.com for everything you need before your next trip to Paso. Want to know what’s happening around town? Looking for pet-friendly places to stay? Curious about Sensorio? TravelPaso.com is your go-to resource. Check it out and plan your perfect Paso getaway.
Visit the Travel Paso website for more information: Travel Paso
🇫🇷 For any all info on our cruise to France in August – visit www.CorkandCruise.com
Where Wine Takes You (WWTY) is produced by Paso Wine. WWTY is recorded, edited, produced, and hosted by Adam Montiel. Follow Adam on Instagram @AdamOnTheAir and check out his daily podcast Up + Adam. Connect with Adam and lean more on AdamMontiel.com
For the latest in Paso Robles Wine Country, check out PasoWine.com and follow on
Instagram @PasoWine. Download the free Paso Wine App as your guide to all things
wine country.
Recording equipment for WWTY was transported in suitcases provided by Fly with Wine.
Use the Promo Code ADAM20 – save 20% off everything you buy AND Free Shipping!
Original music on WWTY, “Good Company,” performed by Moonshiner Collective.
©2024 Where Wine Takes You, All Rights Reserved.
🍇 Where Wine Takes You – Episode Highlights 🍷
Welcome back, wine lovers! We are live at Wine Fest for part two of our very first live podcast for “Where Wine Takes You.” If you thought last week with celebrity chef Tyler Florence, Audrey from Epoch, and Jessica from J. Lohr was wild, buckle up because this week is even rowdier! We’re kicking things off with Don from Turtle Rock, Kit from Hawks Hill, and Jay and Mary Ann Erdos from Cork and Cruise. By the way, there’s still a chance for you to join us in France this August—links below.
Next, we have a lively group celebrating Paso Wine Fest live. We’ve got Austin Hope of Hope Family Wines, Janell Dusi of J Dusi Wines, Billy Grant of MacPrice Myers, and Joe Barton of Barton Family Wines and the distillery Grape and Grains. Let’s dive right into it… Lord have mercy!
This is live, this is week two, and it’s going to be wilder and more lively than our regular episodes. It’s an extra episode, so have fun with it!
Travel Paso Spotlight: Recently, Adam hosted the Travel Paso Roundup, celebrating the unsung heroes of our hospitality industry. From the friendly faces at the wineries to the dedicated staff at the hotels, these individuals are the backbone of our tourism industry. It’s fantastic to see Travel Paso putting them in the spotlight.
Don’t forget to visit travelpaso.com for everything you need before your next trip to Paso. Want to know what’s happening around town? Looking for pet-friendly places to stay? Curious about Sensorio? TravelPaso.com is your go-to resource. Check it out and plan your perfect Paso getaway.
Visit the Travel Paso website for more information: Travel Paso
A special thank you to Travel Paso for illuminating these local gems. For more travel inspiration and insider tips, head over to Travel Paso. Dive into the world of wine and art, and let Where Wine Takes You be your guide to unforgettable experiences.
🇫🇷 For any all info on our cruise to France in August – visit www.CorkandCruise.com
Where Wine Takes You (WWTY) is produced by Paso Wine. WWTY is recorded, edited, produced, and hosted by Adam Montiel. Follow Adam on Instagram @AdamOnTheAir and check out his daily podcast Up + Adam.
For the latest in Paso Robles Wine Country, check out PasoWine.com and follow on
Instagram @PasoWine. Download the free Paso Wine App as your guide to all things
wine country.
To plan your stay in Paso Robles, check out Travel Paso and follow them on Instagram
@TravelPaso.
Recording equipment for WWTY was transported in suitcases provided by Fly with Wine.
Original music on WWTY, “Good Company,” performed by Moonshiner Collective.
©2024 Where Wine Takes You, All Rights Reserved.
🍇 Where Wine Takes You – Episode Highlights 🍷
Welcome to a special episode of “Where Wine Takes You,” recorded live from the vibrant and energetic Wine Fest that took place on May 18th. Join us as we relive the highlights of this amazing event and talk to some incredible guests who made it truly unforgettable.
Segments:Segment 1: Tyler Florence – Masters of Fire Event We kick off the episode with celebrity chef Tyler Florence, who was in town for his spectacular Masters of Fire event. Tyler shares his experiences, his passion for cooking with fire, and why he loves Paso Robles.
Special Drop-In: Joel Peterson, Executive Producer of “Where Wine Takes You” and Executive Director of Paso Wine, joins us for a quick chat. Joel provides insider insights and shares some of the best moments from the Wine Fest.
Segment 2: Epoch and J.Lohr – In our second segment, we are joined by Audrey Tito, Director of Distribution of Epoch Estate Wines, and Jessica Kollhoff, Director of Hospitality and Direct Sales for J.Lohr Vineyards. They talk about their roles, the success of the Wine Fest, and what makes Paso Robles a premier destination for wine lovers. Chris Taranto, Communication Director of Paso Wine, also drops in for a fun chat.
Travel Paso Spotlight: Colleen Borojorques – California Mid State Fair In our Travel Paso Spotlight, we have an engaging conversation with Colleen Borojorques, the CEO of the California Mid State Fair. Colleen discusses what makes the Mid State Fair a staple event in the community and gives us a sneak peek into what to expect this year.
Visit the Travel Paso website for more information: Travel Paso
A special thank you to Travel Paso for illuminating these local gems. For more travel inspiration and insider tips, head over to Travel Paso. Dive into the world of wine and art, and let Where Wine Takes You be your guide to unforgettable experiences.
🇫🇷 For any all info on our cruise to France in August – visit www.CorkandCruise.com
Where Wine Takes You (WWTY) is produced by Paso Wine. WWTY is recorded, edited, produced, and hosted by Adam Montiel. Follow Adam on Instagram @AdamOnTheAir and check out his daily podcast Up + Adam.
For the latest in Paso Robles Wine Country, check out PasoWine.com and follow on
Instagram @PasoWine. Download the free Paso Wine App as your guide to all things
wine country.
To plan your stay in Paso Robles, check out Travel Paso and follow them on Instagram
@TravelPaso.
Recording equipment for WWTY was transported in suitcases provided by Fly with Wine.
Original music on WWTY, “Good Company,” performed by Moonshiner Collective.
©2024 Where Wine Takes You, All Rights Reserved.
🍇 Where Wine Takes You – Episode Highlights 🍷
Welcome to another exciting episode of “Where Wine Takes You.” In this episode, titled “High Hopes, Higher Wines: The Heights of Adelaida District,” Adam Montiel takes you on an incredible journey through the beautiful Adelaida District in Paso Robles. Joining him are two exceptional guests, Steve Beck from Loma Seca Vineyards and Drew Nenow from Nenow Family Wines and ONX Wines.
Steve Beck shares his inspiring journey from a government research scientist to a passionate vineyard owner. At Loma Seca Vineyards, nestled high at 1,850 feet above sea level, Steve’s dedication to dry-farmed, organic viticulture is evident in every bottle. Learn more about Steve’s journey and the unique terroir of Loma Seca Vineyards
Drew Nenow, the talented winemaker behind Nenow Family Wines and ONX Wines, discusses his family’s deep-rooted love for wine and their commitment to quality. Drew’s expertise and passion shine through in every wine he crafts. Discover more about Drew and his exceptional wines at Nenow Family Wines and ONX Wines
In the Travel Paso Spotlight, Adam chats with Angela McKee, General Manager of the Best Western Black Oak in Paso Robles. Angela shares the rich history of this beloved hotel, which has been a staple in Paso Robles for over 60 years. The Best Western Black Oak offers a unique and welcoming experience for all its guests. For more information, visit Best Western Black Oak
A special thank you to Travel Paso for illuminating these local gems. For more travel inspiration and insider tips, head over to Travel Paso. Dive into the world of wine and art, and let Where Wine Takes You be your guide to unforgettable experiences.
🇫🇷 For any all info on our cruise to France in August – visit www.CorkandCruise.com
Where Wine Takes You (WWTY) is produced by Paso Wine. WWTY is recorded, edited, produced, and hosted by Adam Montiel. Follow Adam on Instagram @AdamOnTheAir and check out his daily podcast Up + Adam.
For the latest in Paso Robles Wine Country, check out PasoWine.com and follow on
Instagram @PasoWine. Download the free Paso Wine App as your guide to all things
wine country.
To plan your stay in Paso Robles, check out Travel Paso and follow them on Instagram
@TravelPaso.
Recording equipment for WWTY was transported in suitcases provided by Fly with Wine.
Original music on WWTY, “Good Company,” performed by Moonshiner Collective.
©2024 Where Wine Takes You, All Rights Reserved.
🍇 Where Wine Takes You – Episode Highlights 🍷
Part 2 of our 100th episode of “Where Wine Takes You,” a milestone celebration that takes us deep into the heart of Paso Robles wine country. In this special edition, host Adam Montiel is joined by two of the region’s legendary figures, Tobin James and Gary Eberle. Recorded in the captivating caves of Eberle Winery, this episode is not just a look back at the fascinating stories and significant moments that have shaped Paso Robles into a premier wine destination but also a tasting of a very rare vintage—a wine made collaboratively by Toby and Gary in the early days of their careers.
It’s a fitting way to celebrate the 100th episode, bringing together voices that have not only witnessed but also steered the evolution of Paso Robles wine.
In our “Travel Paso Spotlight,” we chat with KImberly Walker, of Nomada. They are behind some of the central coast’s sexiest and most comfortable accommodations from Los Alamos (Skyview), to Paso (The Farmhouse Inn). They are about to debut their newest property years in the making May 15. Introducing, River Lodge Paso. This mid-century-modern old school motor lodge has all the throwback and retro charm of old roadside Americana. Laden with chic and comfy amenities, including a 21+ over pool with a cocktail bar attached is sure to be the talk of Paso this summer, and beyond!
Check out The River Lodge Paso HERE
To Win VIP Tickets for Paso Wine Fest Saturday Grand Tasting, comment ‘WWTY’ on the Paso Wine’s Wine Fest post HERE
PASO WINE FEST MASTERS OF FIRE info:
Event Details:
Featured Chefs:
What to Expect:
Attendees will enjoy an all-you-can-eat barbecue experience, tasting and voting on dishes prepared live by the chefs. In addition to savoring these culinary creations, guests can sample wines from notable Paso Robles wineries such as Barton Family Wines, DAOU Family Estates, and JUSTIN Vineyards & Winery, among others.
Competition Stakes:
The winner of the evening will receive a $5,000 cash prize, a commemorative plaque, and a spot in the National Masters of Fire Finale for a chance to win an additional $25,000.
Special Filming:
This event will also serve as a setting for a non-airing Food Network pilot, potentially setting the stage for a new television series.
Tickets and More Information:
Secure your spot and witness culinary history by visiting Paso Wine
A special thank you to Travel Paso for illuminating these local gems. For more travel inspiration and insider tips, head over to www.travelpaso.com. Dive into the world of wine and art, and let Where Wine Takes You be your guide to unforgettable experiences.
🇫🇷 For any all info on our cruise to France in August – visit www.CorkandCruise.com
🎟️ Paso Wine Fest Tickets Now Available!
Don’t miss the opportunity to indulge in the Paso Wine Fest on Saturday, May 18, at the Paso Robles Event Center. With over 100 wineries and delectable food offerings, this event grows each year. Local residents can grab tickets for just $99 until February 29. Visit www.pasowinefest.com for more details and secure your spot at this extraordinary celebration of Paso wine.
Where Wine Takes You (WWTY) is produced by Paso Wine. WWTY is recorded, edited, produced, and hosted by Adam Montiel. Follow Adam on Instagram @AdamOnTheAir and check out his daily podcast Up + Adam.
For the latest in Paso Robles Wine Country, check out PasoWine.com and follow on
Instagram @PasoWine. Download the free Paso Wine App as your guide to all things
wine country.
To plan your stay in Paso Robles, check out Travel Paso and follow them on Instagram
@TravelPaso.
Recording equipment for WWTY was transported in suitcases provided by Fly with Wine.
Original music on WWTY, “Good Company,” performed by Moonshiner Collective.
©2024 Where Wine Takes You, All Rights Reserved.
🍇 Where Wine Takes You – Episode Highlights 🍷
Welcome to the 100th episode of “Where Wine Takes You,” a milestone celebration that takes us deep into the heart of Paso Robles wine country. In this special edition, host Adam Montiel is joined by two of the region’s legendary figures, Tobin James and Gary Eberle. Recorded in the captivating caves of Eberle Winery, this episode is not just a look back at the fascinating stories and significant moments that have shaped Paso Robles into a premier wine destination but also a tasting of a very rare vintage—a wine made collaboratively by Toby and Gary in the early days of their careers.
As we delve into the histories of Tobin James Cellars and Eberle Winery, we also explore the pivotal role these pioneers played in developing the Paso Robles AVA. The conversation is rich with anecdotes, insights, and a shared passion for winemaking that is as palpable as the wine itself. It’s a fitting way to celebrate the 100th episode, bringing together voices that have not only witnessed but also steered the evolution of Paso Robles wine.
In our “Travel Paso Spotlight,” we chat with Lindsey Roberts, Director of Marketing of the Paso Robles Inn. Lindsey shares exciting details about the inn’s comprehensive renovation, which promises to enhance the charm and comfort of this historic property.
To Win VIP Tickets for Paso Wine Fest Saturday Grand Tasting, comment ‘WWTY’ on the Paso Wine’s Wine Fest post HERE
PASO WINE FEST MASTERS OF FIRE info:
Event Details:
Featured Chefs:
What to Expect:
Attendees will enjoy an all-you-can-eat barbecue experience, tasting and voting on dishes prepared live by the chefs. In addition to savoring these culinary creations, guests can sample wines from notable Paso Robles wineries such as Barton Family Wines, DAOU Family Estates, and JUSTIN Vineyards & Winery, among others.
Competition Stakes:
The winner of the evening will receive a $5,000 cash prize, a commemorative plaque, and a spot in the National Masters of Fire Finale for a chance to win an additional $25,000.
Special Filming:
This event will also serve as a setting for a non-airing Food Network pilot, potentially setting the stage for a new television series.
Tickets and More Information:
Secure your spot and witness culinary history by visiting Paso Wine
A special thank you to Travel Paso for illuminating these local gems. For more travel inspiration and insider tips, head over to www.travelpaso.com. Dive into the world of wine and art, and let Where Wine Takes You be your guide to unforgettable experiences.
🇫🇷 For any all info on our cruise to France in August – visit www.CorkandCruise.com
🎟️ Paso Wine Fest Tickets Now Available!
Don’t miss the opportunity to indulge in the Paso Wine Fest on Saturday, May 18, at the Paso Robles Event Center. With over 100 wineries and delectable food offerings, this event grows each year. Local residents can grab tickets for just $99 until February 29. Visit www.pasowinefest.com for more details and secure your spot at this extraordinary celebration of Paso wine.
Where Wine Takes You (WWTY) is produced by Paso Wine. WWTY is recorded, edited, produced, and hosted by Adam Montiel. Follow Adam on Instagram @AdamOnTheAir and check out his daily podcast Up + Adam.
For the latest in Paso Robles Wine Country, check out PasoWine.com and follow on
Instagram @PasoWine. Download the free Paso Wine App as your guide to all things
wine country.
To plan your stay in Paso Robles, check out Travel Paso and follow them on Instagram
@TravelPaso.
Recording equipment for WWTY was transported in suitcases provided by Fly with Wine.
Original music on WWTY, “Good Company,” performed by Moonshiner Collective.
©2024 Where Wine Takes You, All Rights Reserved.
🍇 Where Wine Takes You – Episode Highlights 🍷
In today’s episode of WWTY, Adam is joined by celebrity chef Tyler Florence to discuss the thrilling Masters of Fire event. They’ll dive into Tyler’s journey to Paso Wine Country for the first-ever Masters of Fire competition, exploring what inspired this unique celebration of live-fire cooking and local flavors.
As part of the launch of his 17th cookbook, ‘American Grill’ Tyler Florence is traveling across the country, hosting these unique culinary contests. Each regional event not only showcases local talent but also emphasizes the integration of local flavors into classic barbecue techniques.
Tune in to hear all about the culinary showdown and Tyler’s passion for blending traditional barbecue techniques with innovative culinary concepts.
Event Details:
Featured Chefs:
What to Expect:
Attendees will enjoy an all-you-can-eat barbecue experience, tasting and voting on dishes prepared live by the chefs. In addition to savoring these culinary creations, guests can sample wines from notable Paso Robles wineries such as Barton Family Wines, DAOU Family Estates, and JUSTIN Vineyards & Winery, among others
Competition Stakes:
The winner of the evening will receive a $5,000 cash prize, a commemorative plaque, and a spot in the National Masters of Fire Finale for a chance to win an additional $25,000.
Special Filming:
This event will also serve as a setting for a non-airing Food Network pilot, potentially setting the stage for a new television series.
Tickets and More Information:
Secure your spot and witness culinary history by visiting Paso Wine
A special thank you to Travel Paso for illuminating these local gems. For more travel inspiration and insider tips, head over to www.travelpaso.com. Dive into the world of wine and art, and let Where Wine Takes You be your guide to unforgettable experiences.
🇫🇷 For any all info on our cruise to France in August – visit www.CorkandCruise.com
🎟️ Paso Wine Fest Tickets Now Available!
Don’t miss the opportunity to indulge in the Paso Wine Fest on Saturday, May 18, at the Paso Robles Event Center. With over 100 wineries and delectable food offerings, this event grows each year.
Where Wine Takes You (WWTY) is produced by Paso Wine. WWTY is recorded, edited, produced, and hosted by Adam Montiel. Follow Adam on Instagram @AdamOnTheAir and check out his daily podcast Up + Adam.
For the latest in Paso Robles Wine Country, check out PasoWine.com and follow on
Instagram @PasoWine. Download the free Paso Wine App as your guide to all things
wine country.
To plan your stay in Paso Robles, check out Travel Paso and follow them on Instagram
@TravelPaso.
Recording equipment for WWTY was transported in suitcases provided by Fly with Wine.
Original music on WWTY, “Good Company,” performed by Moonshiner Collective.
©2024 Where Wine Takes You, All Rights Reserved.
🍇 Where Wine Takes You – Episode Highlights 🍷
Today we are talking about fresh pours in newer tasting room finds in Paso Wine County. We meet two great winemakers repping their own brands today that are unique, but share some really interesting paths and experiences, and are both really worth checking out.
We tape the show at Cairjn Wine Cellars. They are on Paso’s east side and have an industrial chic, and comfortable vibe with amazing wines produced by Andy Neja. He and his wife run the brand and offer tastings by appointment.
Joining Andy and I is Brian Farrell Jr., winemaker of Caelesta. Their tasting room is located on their estate where they farm vineyards for their brand, and grow for others as well. They also have a unique truffle experience they offer that I’m not sure you can do anywhere else. You can go on truffle hunts on their estate and find your very own truffles.
Explore Cairjn Wines HERE
Explore Caelesta Wines HERE
Don’t miss the Travel Paso spotlight shining bright on SLO Film Fest!
SLO FILM FESTIVAL: APRIL 25-30 2024 ENCORE MAY 1-5
A special thank you to Travel Paso for illuminating these local gems. For more travel inspiration and insider tips, head over to www.travelpaso.com. Dive into the world of wine and art, and let Where Wine Takes You be your guide to unforgettable experiences.
For any all info on our cruise to France in August – visit www.CorkandCruise.com
🎟️ Paso Wine Fest Tickets Now Available!
Don’t miss the opportunity to indulge in the Paso Wine Fest on Saturday, May 19, at the Paso Robles Event Center. With over 100 wineries and delectable food offerings, this event grows each year. Local residents can grab tickets for just $99 until February 29. Visit www.pasowinefest.com for more details and secure your spot at this extraordinary celebration of Paso wine.
Where Wine Takes You (WWTY) is produced by Paso Wine. WWTY is recorded, edited, produced, and hosted by Adam Montiel. Follow Adam on Instagram @AdamOnTheAir and check out his daily podcast Up + Adam.
For the latest in Paso Robles Wine Country, check out PasoWine.com and follow on
Instagram @PasoWine. Download the free Paso Wine App as your guide to all things
wine country.
To plan your stay in Paso Robles, check out Travel Paso and follow them on Instagram
@TravelPaso.
Recording equipment for WWTY was transported in suitcases provided by Fly with Wine.
Original music on WWTY, “Good Company,” performed by Moonshiner Collective.
©2024 Where Wine Takes You, All Rights Reserved.
In this exciting episode of Where Wine Takes You, host Adam Montiel dives into the dynamic world of couples who work together, serving up an engaging blend of passion and expertise. First up are Gayle and Curtis Hascall, a power duo redefining wine experiences. Gayle is the force behind Alba Provisions, crafting unforgettable retail winery boxes featuring delectable cheese and charcuterie spreads that can elevate any event, whether it’s an intimate vacation rental stay or a bustling gathering. Meanwhile, Curtis showcases his winemaking prowess at Shale Oak Winery on Paso’s West Side, bringing a unique flavor to the table. Then, Adam takes a stroll through the laid-back elegance of the ZANOLI Wines tasting room with Shelly and Jimmy Zanoli, where every visit feels like a warm welcome into a friend’s living room.
Don’t miss the Travel Paso spotlight shining bright on Paso Robles Art in the Park, a vibrant celebration of creativity set to take place on April 13-14 at the Downtown Paso Robles City Park. Join director Steve Powers in exploring the rich tapestry of artistic expression against the picturesque backdrop of Paso Robles. For more information on this not-to-be-missed event, visit www.pasoroblesartinthepark.com. And a special thank you to Travel Paso for illuminating these local gems. For more travel inspiration and insider tips, head over to www.travelpaso.com. Dive into the world of wine and art, and let Where Wine Takes You be your guide to unforgettable experiences.
For any all info on our cruise to France in August – visit www.CorkandCruise.com
🎟️ Paso Wine Fest Tickets Now Available! Don’t miss the opportunity to indulge in the Paso Wine Fest on Saturday, May 18, at the Paso Robles Event Center. With over 100 wineries and delectable food offerings, this event grows each year. Learn more and secure your spot at this extraordinary celebration of Paso wine.
Join us on this remarkable journey in the world of wine, where every sip tells a story and every guest brings a unique perspective. Cheers to where wine takes you! 🍷
Where Wine Takes You is executive produced by Paso Wine.
Get the new Paso Wine App in your smartphone’s app store. It’s free, there are zero ‘in-app’ purchases or upsells, and it’s a great resource before you make your next trip out. Let’s say you want a pet-friendly place that’s got live music and is open on Thursdays, the app can narrow down and filter anything you need. Get it HERE
For the latest in Paso Robles Wine Country, check out PasoWine.com and follow them on Instagram @PasoWine.
You can also check out Travel Paso HERE, and at TravelPaso.com
WWTY is recorded, edited, produced, and hosted by Adam Montiel. Follow Adam on Instagram @AdamOnTheAir.
Original music on WWTY, “Good Company”, performed by Moonshiner Collective.
You can listen to Adam’s new daily topical podcast called Up+Adam with Adam Montiel wherever you hear WWTY, check it out HERE and learn more at AdamMontiel.com
©2024 Where Wine Takes You, All Rights Reserved