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

Oceana

Michaela Quinlan

Music Intro:

RT: Hello and Welcome to CorkRules!&nbsp;

A podcast where&nbsp;we review a Wine List from your favorite restaurants. I&rsquo;m your host Robert Tas along with Michaela Quinlan, Certified Sommelier.

Hello Michaela,&nbsp;it&rsquo;s great to be back together for another episode.

MQ: Hi 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 when we get that list handed to us, well&hellip; it can be intimidating, and even a little daunting. Our aim is to help prepare you to navigate that list, find those hidden gems, or value wines or that special bottle that will take your dining experience over the top.

RT:&nbsp;So, today we are talking about Oceana. If you are near Rockefeller Center and craving critically acclaimed seafood, Oceana is for you&hellip;not to mention their astounding wine list.

Michaela, I can&rsquo;t wait to hear what do you think of their wine list?

MQ: I was sidetracked by their cocktail list, which should always receive attention.

RT: It&rsquo;s always nice to start the night with something, what&rsquo;s your beverage of choice?

MQ:&nbsp;

RT: For me I&rsquo;m old school so an old fashioned but we digress.

MQ: Alright, Now, back to wine! They feature several standouts from around the globe. I was also taken by their half-bottle list. This is a wonderful option when there may be different palates at the table.

RT: That&rsquo;s really great, very unusual for a restaurant to have that many great &frac12; bottles. &nbsp;As you looked at the list did you see anything jump out at you?

MQ: Let&rsquo;s begin in Spain with the Valtea Albarino from Rias Biaxis. Rias Baixas is located just north of the Portugal border in Galicia. Albarino is a perfect pairing for all things seafood, due to its acidity, fresh grapefruit, citrus, and salinity. Think of it as a&nbsp; fuller-bodied Sauvignon Blanc with a touch more melon.

RT: That&rsquo;s a. nice start for sure.

So Michaela, their list has some many great choices, it&rsquo;s hard to get my arms around it, it&rsquo;s 33 pages. was there anything that you would say is a &ldquo;must-try&rdquo;?

MQ: Of course. Let&rsquo;s stay in Spain, and head over to Ribeira Sacra, still in the Galicia province. I would try the Don Bernadino Mencia. Mencia is a medium-bodied red grape, with aromas of pomegranate and cherry, along with a hint of licorice and pepper on the finish. This is where any pairing of herbs and root vegetables would be a perfect fit.

RT: Love that call. So as I start thinking about my second course maybe some raw bars item, I think we&rsquo;re going to need a bottle, where would you guide us?

MQ: Yes, yes. Let&rsquo;s head to France. To Burgundy of course, to try the Christian Simone Petit Chablis 2017. Petit Chablis is the appellation located around the town of Chablis in Burgundy and is 100% Chardonnay. This Chardonnay also has high acidity, making it a perfect pairing for richer dishes such as chowders, raw fish, and sushi. Certainly a crowd-pleaser.

RT: That sounds yum, I love Chablis. &nbsp;Michaela, this wine list has something for everyone, any great value wine jump out at you?

MQ: I have spotted a few wonderful value wines to pair with the incredible Oceana menu. The first being Gadais Muscadet from the Loire Valley of France. Muscadet, a dry, light, crisp, white wine is perfect for all things raw bar! Oysters, you name it, and this is your selection. Muscadet is also a wonderful wine to sip on and enjoy as you peruse the menu.

Another favorite, and keeping it local, is the Blaufrankisch, from Red Tail Ridge in the Finger Lakes of NY. Blaufrankisch, not only is it fun to say, but it is a dark-skinned grape originating in Austria. Back to those bright tannins, blackberry, and black cherry, this is a wonderful pairing for smoked dishes.

RT: Sounds yum. NY sure has some great wineries.

MQ: Absolutely!

RT: Now Michaela, what if I have a big team dinner or special occasion where we want to take it up a notch?

MQ: Of course. A personal favorite, and eternal California Cabernet Sauvignon classic, the Groth Vineyard Reserve 2015 from the Oakville district of Napa Valley will never disappoint. The smooth tannins, rich red berries, and a hint of vaNULLla from its time in oak barrels will win over any client or add to any celebration.

RT: Michaela, thank you so much for all your great suggestions and helping us navigate Oceana&rsquo;s wine list. I can&rsquo;t wait to go try them myself. &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.

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BRAT

Bocca di Lupe

Gap Weekend: A Film Shoot in Wine Country

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Alba

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Matteos Ristorante Italiano

Matteo's

AXR is a small, family-owned winery located in the heart of Napa Valley. We specialize in producing high-quality, small-batch wines that showcase the unique terroir of the region.

New American farm-to-table fine dining restaurant in a woodsy-chic 1700s barn with an open kitchen.

Craft

Craft L.A.

Barbrix

Wally's

The Belvedere

Spago Las Vegas by Wolfgang Puck

Spago

Jeune Et Jolie

Cucina Urbana

Rossoblu

Petit Trois

Cowboy Star

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

Sylvan Table Restaurant

Valdo

Numero 1 Spumante Extra Dry NV

Blend

Veneto, Italy

Casal Garcia

Vinho Verde 2019

Trajadura

Vinho Verde, Portugal

Centorri

Moscato di Pavia 2021

Moscato Bianco

Lombardia, Italy

Cantina Zaccagnini

Il Vino dal Tralcetto Montepulciano d'Abruzzo 2019

Montepulciano

Abruzzo, Italy

Peninsula

Shady Lane Riesling Sparkling, USA, Michigan, Leelanau 2020

Riesling

USA

Angoris Villa Locatelli Sauvignon Blanc Friuli Isonzo 2021

Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Italy

Zantho

Gruner Veltliner 2020

Gruner Veltliner

Burgenland, Austria

Shady Lane

Semi-Dry Riesling 2019

Riesling

USA

California Landscape

The Rock Cabernet Sauvignon 2020

Cabernet Sauvignon

Lodi, USA

Stoller Family Estate

Chardonnay 2021

Chardonnay

Dundee Hills, USA

Pascual Toso

Reserva Malbec (Barrancas Vineyards) 2021

Malbec

Mendoza, Argentina

Inwinectus

Syrah Rose 2020

Shiraz/Syrah

Pays d'Oc, France

Te Pā

Sauvignon Blanc 2021

Sauvignon Blanc

Marlborough, New Zealand

Benton-Lane

Pinot Noir 2020

Pinot Noir

Oregon, USA

San Felice

Chianti Classico 2019

Sangiovese

Chianti, Tuscany, Italy