Saturday, September 14, 2013

Top Wine Destinations: Paso Robles Wineries

By Chris Werner


Not far from the Hearst Castle off of Hwy 101 sits the wine town of Paso Robles. With over 200 wineries, here are some of my favorite picks.

Found in the western part of Paso Robles, Adelaida Cellars Inc spans across the 145 acres that includes five distinctly specialty vineyards that has consistently been a favorite wine places in California. With the help of the amazing climate provided by the Pacific Ocean, slopes and chalk rock limestones, Adelaida has progressed amazingly. In 2010, it has receive acclaim for its use of sustainable energy and resources in wine production.

Leading the pack is the Hoffman Mountain Ranch. Among the wineries in Paso Robles, this one has specialized in Burgundian varieties. Starting their operations in 1964, it uses its own locally grown wine grapes in producing the best Pinot Noir in the area. Even though their supply is not that much compared to the others, each sip is packed full of smooth and vibrant flavors.

Anna's Estate Vineyard was primarily an experiment before it realized that their operations is reliable and has the potential to succeed. Clone and rootstock is integration in making their wines and in turn, it has given all their blends this specific essence that has caught everyone's attention. They are very well-known for their earthy and chocolate-y flavor. Named after Elizabeth Van Steenwyk's grandmother, their Syrah wine is their specialty.

The only one that does dry farming in Adelaida Cellars Inc. is Michael's Estate Vineyards. It takes advantage of its inimitable extracts and incorporates it into making their wines. Surrounded by sloping terrains, it is able to grow wine grapes and turn it into fine-tasting wine. They are specially known for their Zinfadels and has continuously been a favorite among wine lovers.

Famous for their Cabernet Sauvignon, you may never guess that Viking Estate Vineyard just began in 2007. The terrain where it is on may be challenging to planting wine grapes. To compensate for it, they concentrated on certain varieties of wine such as Cabernet Franc, Malbec, Petit Verdot, Syrah as well as Cabernet Sauvignon. By doing this, their wines are of high-standard and caused people to flock to their estate to taste it.

The Bobcat Crossing Estate Vineyard is characterized by its unique type of soil. Their sandy loam soil is able to grow Portuguese crops such as Touriga Nacional, Tinto Cao and Souzoa, and Muscat Blanc. Touriga Nacional is, like the others, a single-grape blend and has this amazing fruity and acidic flavor that has captivated everyone from wine lovers to tourists alike. With the amazing management of Don Van Steenwyk, it has become well-respected among other proprietors of wine.




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