Love me some&nbsp;Paso! Located in the heart of California&#39;s Central Coast wine region,&nbsp;Paso&nbsp;Robles is a hidden gem for wine enthusiasts and food lovers alike. With its diverse array of wineries and charming tasting rooms, this scenic destination offers an unforgettable experience for visitors.

When it comes to wineries,&nbsp;Paso&nbsp;Robles has something for everyone. Whether you prefer large-scale operations or boutique vineyards, there are plenty of options to explore. Let&#39;s take a closer look at some of the standout wineries in the area.

For those who appreciate the big names in the industry, Justin is a must-visit. Known for their exceptional cabs and blends, Justin offers a fantastic tasting experience and even boasts an on-site restaurant. Keep in mind that Justin is located in the corner of the&nbsp;Paso&nbsp;wine region, so plan your visit accordingly.

Another noteworthy winery is Daou, a relative newcomer that has quickly made a name for itself. Situated atop a picturesque hill, Daou&#39;s tasting room offers breathtaking views of the surrounding hills of&nbsp;Paso. Their range of blends and price points ensures there&#39;s something for every palate.

If you&#39;re looking for a winery with a long-standing reputation, J Lohr is a great option. However, while their wines are of high quality, the tasting room experience may not be as exceptional as some of the other choices.

The established wineries in&nbsp;Paso&nbsp;Robles also deserve a special mention. L&#39;Aventure, led by a French winemaker, has been producing some of the finest Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah blends in the region for years. Their Estate Cuvee is considered a benchmark of&nbsp;Paso&#39;s winemaking excellence.

Tablas Creek, owned by the renowned Chateau Beaucastel, is another standout in the region. As a pioneer of the California Rhone Ranger movement, Tablas Creek offers an impressive range of Rhone-style whites and reds. Their outdoor patio tasting experience is delightful.

Turley Winery, famous for their Zinfandel, provides a more understated tasting experience. If you&#39;re a fan of Zinfandel, it&#39;s a must-visit destination.

For a more intimate experience,&nbsp;Paso&nbsp;Robles&#39; boutique wineries truly shine. Villa Creek, helmed by winemaker Chris Chery, offers a hip and comfortable tasting room where you can enjoy their exceptional Syrah and Rhone-style wines. Law, with its modern building perched on a cliff, provides stunning views along with their remarkable Syrah and Cabernet blends.

Denner is another boutique winery worth visiting. Their wines, particularly the Ditch Digger and Dirt Worshipper, are nothing short of amazing. And if you&#39;re looking for an up-and-coming hot spot, My Favourite Neighbor is gaining popularity among wine enthusiasts.

Other notable wineries that people enjoy include Peachy Canyon, Adelaida, Eberle, Tobin James, and Clos Selene. While Saxum offers some of the best wines in the region, unfortunately, their tasting room is not open to the public, as they focus on their James Berry vineyard.

One unique area to explore in&nbsp;Paso&nbsp;Robles is Tin City. It&#39;s a vibrant hub where wineries lease space for winemaking, storage, and tasting rooms. This &quot;start-up&quot; zone provides an opportunity to discover up-and-coming wineries. Nicora is a personal favorite, known for their fantastic Syrah and the ability to source high-quality grapes from various producers and regions. Benom is also highly recommended in Tin City.

When it&#39;s time to indulge in culinary delights,&nbsp;Paso&nbsp;Robles won&#39;t disappoint. Somm&#39;s Kitchen, run by Master Sommelier Ian, offers an exclusive dining experience where food is expertly paired with exceptional wines. For delicious Italian cuisine, Il Cortile is a fantastic choice. And if you&#39;re in the mood for fresh Mexican flavors, Fish Gaucho won&#39;t disappoint.

Paso&nbsp;Robles truly is a wine lover&#39;s paradise. So, grab a map, plan your route, and embark on a journey to explore the diverse wineries and exceptional dining options that await you. Whether you prefer the renowned names, the boutique gems, or the innovative spaces in Tin City,&nbsp;Paso&nbsp;Robles has something to offer every wine enthusiast. Cheers and enjoy your&nbsp;PasoRobles adventure!

Mike Parker

Love me some Paso! Located in the heart of California's Central Coast wine region, Paso Robles is a hidden gem for wine enthusiasts and food lovers alike. With its diverse array of wineries and charming tasting rooms, this scenic destination offers an unforgettable experience for visitors.

Come discover Paso Robles hidden gems for Wine and Food Enthusiasts

Wines from grapes grown in higher altitude areas with cooler climate has become quite the trend recently. This specific growing environment gives intense flavor but elegance and freshness to the final wines. To highlight and champion these conditions more and more winemakers are starting to use alto as a marketing and labelling term to show their grapes were grown in high altitude vineyards.

Decoding the wine label: Alto

Brut is a word often seen on labels for different kinds of sparkling wine. As you may have discovered when drinking these wines, it indicates that the wine is dry, meaning there is no perceived sweetness in the wine. But how about Extra Brut or Dry, what do they mean and are they the same as Brut?

Decoding the wine label: Brut

Semi-sweet Riesling, a type of wine falling out of style. It’s a shame, since these wines are perfect to pair with flavorful cuisines like Asian or Mexican, or simply drink as they come under the summer sun. The higher level of sugar left in the wine also means that the alcoholic fermentation was stopped before finishing, providing a wine with lower alcohol level and therefor easier grabbing a second glass of.

Decoding the wine label: Spätlese

Have you ever heard the word Xinomavro? Most have not. It is however a word on many sommeliers’ lips today, as it happens to be considered the grape variety with the highest quality in Greece, and one that is trending at the moment. The fact that Greece have been making wine for a long time comes as no surprise, but they have never exported an amount to make sure wine lovers around the globe tried it. With the growing wine tourism many have discovered these wines and are serving them in wine bars and restaurants in many countries today.

Decoding the wine label: Xinomavro

Chianti Classico, Valpolicella Classico, Soave Classico… Why do all these Italian wine regions have the Classico addendum and what does it mean? What is the difference for wines labeled as Classico?

Classico is a wine term in Italy seen on a few wine labels and it indicates that the wine’s from the historic center of the region, the heart. Using Chianti and Chianti Classico and their Sangiovese-based red wines as an example, Chianti is a rather large wine district within the Tuscany region. Chianti Classico is located withing Chianti as the central part and the one that originally existed. Back then this smaller region was actually called Chianti, but as the region grew the quality of the wine plummeted and the well-known characteristics of these red wines were watered down. The reputation took a hit and sales diminished. Eventually this led to the creation of Chianti Classico, which would be drawn from the original Chianti borders to recover the typicity of these wines. Today the quality of both Chianti and Chianti Classico have risen a lot due to modern techniques and knowledge about pruning, planting and temperature control in the winery.

Decoding the wine label: Classico

In the rarefied world of fine wine, where bottles can command prices equivalent to luxury cars, authenticity is everything. Laurent Ponsot's gripping memoir "FBI: Fake Bottle Investigation" reads more like a high-stakes thriller than a traditional wine book, chronicling his relentless pursuit of one of the wine world's most infamous counterfeiters, Rudy Kurniawan.

From Burgundy's Vineyards to the FBI's Most Wanted: A Winemaker's Quest for Justice

Chablis – one of the more popular styles of wine today and a region known by many. Most are familiar with the word Chablis and the light, fresh white wine with a touch of minerality it brings. Even though it’s a renowned wine, few knows what it really is.

Decoding the wine label: Chablis

Many grape varieties around the world of wine have names local to the region or country they’re grown in, even though they’re exactly the same. The most famous example would be Syrah in France where the same grape is named Shiraz in Australia. Another variety with two names is Pinot Grigio, or Pinot Gris.

Decoding the wine label: Pinot Grigio

Have you ever seen the term sur lie on a wine label? It’s not a grape and not a wine region, but a winemaking method used to give certain styles of white wine a rounder texture and a more complex flavor profile.

Decoding the wine label: Sur lie

LAVO Italian Restaurant

Camila Alvarez

Lavo

Lavo

RT: Hello and Welcome to CorkRules!&nbsp;

A podcast where we review a Wine List from your favorite restaurants. I&rsquo;m your host Robert Tas along with Camila Alvarez, wine sommelier and consultant.

Bonjour Camila,&nbsp;it&rsquo;s great to have you join our CorkRules Family from Paris!

CA: Hello Robert!

RT: Before we jump in, let&rsquo;s talk about CorkRules.

We created CorkRules to demystify wine list&rsquo;s because we know from experience, that sometimes wine lists can be intimidating, and even a little daunting.

Our aim is to help prepare you to navigate that list, find those hidden gems, value wines or that special bottle that will take your dining experience over the top.

RT:&nbsp;So, sit back and listen as we review your favorite wine list.

RT: Today we are talking about LAVO New York a restaurant and hopping nightclub with an amazing vibe and scene. Energy is high but so are the food and wine. &nbsp;

Camila&nbsp;I can&rsquo;t wait to hear what do you think of their extensive wine list?

CA: What a beautiful wine list from the sommelier selection to the very amazing sparkling and champagne selection. This wine list is just well developed, with good brands and vintages wines. Ideal place to try wines from every country and different styles.

RT: That&rsquo;s really great, as you looked the list did you see anything jump out at you?

This wine menu has a particularity different from the other menus, it offers the possibility to taste different types of sparkling wines. That&#39;s why I would start with a sparkling wine from Italy.

First option to taste is &lsquo;the Franciacorta&rsquo; from Ca&rsquo; del Bosco in Lombardia. This sparkling wine made by &ldquo;classic method&rdquo;; it is a very similar method to the champagne traditional method. The bubbles are elegant, with freshness. This is called &ldquo;the champagne from Italy&rdquo;, and Ca&rsquo; del Bosco is one of the first wineries doing the Franciacorta.

RT: Ooohh those sound great.

So, Camila, their list seems to have lots of ways we could go but was there anything that you would say is a &ldquo;must-try&rdquo;?

CA: This wine list gives us the possibility to taste wines from regions that are not so common to taste like Wachau region in Austria.

The most famous Austrian grape variety is the Gruner veltliner.

My suggestions is to try the Gruner veltliner from Nikolaihof Hefeabzug 2015 from the Wachau area.

Magnifique acidity with notes of citrus, white pepper and some watermelon aromas.

RT: Thanks for the primer

CA: Amazing country to try and the region also because it is not easy to find it.

So, this list has so many great choices, what other wines would you suggest for our second or third course?

CA: &nbsp;HARLAN State 2012 and from Lebanon Ch&acirc;teau Musar 1999.

Harlan state is an icon from Napa Valley, it is a bordelaise style, full bodied with some notes of cherry, ripen fruits, elegance and body. It is a good wine for aging.

On the other side, I choose another full-body red wine but from Lebanon, Chateau Musar is one of the most famous wineries and produces excellent wines. Ch&acirc;teau Musar 1999 is a full-body wine made by cabernet sauvignon, cinsault and Carignan; the aromas are still there baked fruit and little bit spicy aromas.

Good pairing for these wines: mature cheese, stakes. Also &ldquo;from the grill&rdquo; are great pairing with these wines.

RT: Ooh, Terrific.

Camila, speaking of price, sometimes people have a budget in mind..&nbsp; any other great value wines you&rsquo;d point us too?&nbsp;

&nbsp;

CA: Some great value wines like the ros&eacute; French wines grenache from the south of France is one of my favorite grape varieties. Easy to pair with tapas, for example, the Ch&acirc;teau Minuty &ldquo;M&rdquo; 2020, salmon colour with aromas of red fruits, and delicate freshness.

RT: Now Camila, what if I have a big client dinner or special occasion where I want to take it up a notch?

CA: For an old world wine perspective Ermitage &ldquo;Le Pavillon&rdquo; 2013 from Chapoutier, syrah at its best.

Licorice, prune and plum. This wine is good for aging, full body with rich aromas from tabac due to the aging in oak during 18 to 30 months and still the licorice there.

This wine is made in biodynamic, what does it means that they respect the soil, the vine and the lunar calendar as in the past. A full respect for the terroir and one of the most famous producers in C&ocirc;te du Rh&ocirc;ne.

RT: Oh that&rsquo;s great!

CA: Amazing wine to try the classic syrah.

RT: Cabs are always a good call for me, especially with meats/steaks. &nbsp;

CA: I 100 percent agree

RT: Camila Thank you so much for all your great suggestions and helping us navigate Lavo New York Wine List. I can&rsquo;t wait to go back and try your great suggestions.&nbsp; &nbsp;

To our audience, thank you all for joining us here on CorkRules.

If you would like us to review one of your favorite restaurants, please send us email to: <a href="mailto:Info@corkrules.Com">Info@corkrules.com</a> or visit our web website where we have a request form available and we will do our best to get it in the queue as quickly as possible.

We are looking forward to being with you on another CorkRules episode soon. In the meantime, please check out our website for other episodes of your favorite restaurant wine lists.&nbsp;

And finally, drink what you love and please make sure you drink responsibly.

Thank you.

&nbsp;

BRAT

Bocca di Lupe

Gap Weekend: A Film Shoot in Wine Country

Alba Restaurant

Alba

10 Greek Street

L'Auberge Chez Francois

Andrew Edmunds

Salt Seafood and Oyster Bar

Matteos Ristorante Italiano

Matteo's

Domaine Bailly Reverdy is a family-owned winery located in the heart of Sancerre in the Loire Valley. The winery has been producing exceptional wines for over three centuries, and is known for its commitment to quality and tradition.

Relaxed cafe serving an eclectic menu of modern international cuisine & a noted brunch on Sundays.

The American Express Centurion Global Lounge Network

homepage

CorkRules application allows you to discover wines at your favorite restaurants, learn with friends and be confident with price transparency. Order wine with confidence at restaurants and retailers. Get personalized recommendations. #DrinkWhatYouLove

Balan's

Lugny

Cave, Cremant de Bourgogne, Rose NV

Bourgogne, Burgundy, France

Perrier-Jouët

Grand Brut Champagne NV

Chardonnay

Champagne, France

Perrier Jouet

Belle Epoque Rose 2012

Champagne, France

Cakebread

Cabernet Sauvignon NV

Cabernet Sauvignon

California, USA

Caymus

Cabernet Sauvignon 2019

Cabernet Sauvignon

California, USA

Opus One

Opus One 2017

Blend

California, USA

Jean-Louis Chavy

Puligny-Montrachet 2016

Chardonnay

Burgundy, France

Perrier-Jouët

Blason Rose Brut Champagne NV

Blend

Champagne, France

Antinori

Castello della Sala Bramito Chardonnay NV

Chardonnay

Umbria, Italy

Vieux Lazaret

Chateauneuf-du-Pape, Blanc NV

Chateauneuf-du-Pape, Rhone, France

l'Hospitalet (Gerard Bertrand), La Clape NV

Languedoc, France

Dom Perignon

Luminous Rose 2006

Champagne, France

La Crema

Sonoma Coast Chardonnay NV

Chardonnay

California, USA

Epoque

Perrier Jouet, Belle, Luminous 2012

Champagne, France

La Crema

Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir NV

Pinot Noir

California, USA