Cecily Ray • June 14, 2024

Why Choose Paso Robles Wine Country?

Why choose Paso Robles Wine Country? With California having nearly 150 American Viticultural Areas (AVAs), there are some choices in which wine country you should visit next. Whether you are returning or looking to discover a new area, Paso Robles is a beautiful wine country not to be missed!

A collage of photos of people, food, wine barrels, and a windmill.

Wine Varietals In Paso Robles
Cabernet Sauvignon is king in Paso Robles, but the wine country also offers many varieties such as Rhones, Pinot Noir, Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, exciting blends, and historical Zinfandel. Paso Robles grows 60 varieties of wine grapes! That is correct, 6-0, which means you can enjoy many styles of wine. This variety in wine is perfect for specific and adventurous palates. No matter who is a part of your group, you can find a winery that specializes in something for each person. Cabernet Sauvignon is our flagship wine at Parrish Family Vineyard but we serve other estate wines like Sauvignon Blanc, Grenache Rosé, Bordeaux blends, Zinfandel, and Cabernet Franc.

A collage of pictures including vineyard views, grapes, and a person holding a bunch of grapes in their hands.

Paso Robles can offer a range of wines because of the 11 sub-AVAs, which each have varying microclimates, soils, and topographies (hills to flats). The varying terriors cultivate different grape varieties and create diverse characteristics in the grapes, for instance, cool vs. warm styles. The variety of grapes then gives winemakers the ability to make not only different wine varietals but also various styles of wine.

To learn more, click these links varieties and geography.

A collage of photos of people, bottles of wine, and a glass of wine.

Family and Boutique Wineries in Paso Robles
In Paso Robles Wine Country, we are primarily family and boutique wineries. Approachability and unique experiences are at your fingertips. You may be able to do a private tour with an owner who will share many behind-the-scenes stories, or the server pouring the wine is a family member with a generational passion for wine.

Not only will family and boutique wineries deliver memories that will create an impression, but they will also offer access to new wines. Wineries at this scale may not be in BevMo, so you will discover gems that excite your palate.

A collage of photos shows a golden gate bridge, a vineyard, a table with wine glasses, and an airplane.

Wine Country in Central California
Paso Robles is considered a part of the Central Coast in California. With the Central location, Paso Robles is halfway between Los Angeles and the Bay Area making it very accessible. Paso Robles is a perfect rendezvous to meet friends and family as you can easily access U.S. 101 and Hwy 46. You can even make Paso Robles a stop on a Pacific Coast Highway (Hwy 1) road trip, which features stunning views of the California coastline.

If you prefer flying, Paso Robles is 30 minutes from the regional airport in San Luis Obispo. The San Luis Obispo Airport (SBP) has direct flights from big cities such as Los Angeles, San Diego, San Francisco, Seattle, Las Vegas, Phoenix, Denver, and Dallas. Traveling to Paso Robles has only been made easier with the additional flights to SBP over the last few years.

A collage of photos shows a birdhouse, a house, a field of flowers, and a tractor.

Sustainable Winegrowing
Our Paso Robles wine region features rolling green hills in the Spring but Paso is becoming green year-round with many wineries pioneering sustainable practices. Many grape growers focus on organic, biodynamic, and regenerative farming. Many wineries are installing solar panels to shrink their carbon footprint.

At Parrish Family Vineyard, we focus on being eco-friendly in the winery and vineyards. In the vineyards, we have always focused on using organic compost to enrich the soil and naturally give nutrients to the vines to create quality fruit. We also plant diverse cover crops in the rows to naturally control weeds. At our Creston and Adelaida vineyards, we installed solar to reduce our carbon footprint to zero in operating our AG pumps and buildings. At our winery, our state-of-the-art water treatment system recycles water for vineyard irrigation with non-detectable nitrogen.

A collage of four pictures of a vineyard with a dog in the background.

Furthermore, the Parrish Family gave a portion of the Adelaida vineyard to the county of San Luis Obispo to restore an onsite creek to its native vegetation. Restoring the vegetation has slowed the creek's flow in the Winter by assisting in erosion control and replenishing the aquifer beneath the area. At Parrish, we do a lot for sustainability but several other wineries and vineyards are taking similar action to preserve our precious environment.

A collage of photos including a Welcome To Paso Robles sign, grapes, and wine barrels.

Historical Wine Region
Paso Robles may be new to you, but it is an established wine region with a grape history. The first grapes were planted in 1882, but it wasn't until the 1920s that vineyards flourished in the Paso Robles area. Zinfandel was one widely planted variety that still holds a place in the hearts of many wineries. That is how Parrish Family Vineyard’s history began as David Parrish's grandfather came to the area in the 1920s from Fresno, California. He planted and grew over 740 acres of grapes, including Zinfandel, in the neighboring area of Atascadero.

To become more enriched in our history, view more here.

A collage of images including coffee, tea, and cocktails.

More than Just Wine
Being a wine region we will always promote wine, but even the wine industry appreciates other craft beverages. Paso Robles offers great options for those seeking breweries, distilleries, and coffee roasters. Therefore, a weekend itinerary can include wine, beer, ciders, spirits, and coffee. We highly recommend booking with a Paso Robles tour company to assist in itinerary creation and navigation.

A collage of pictures of different types of food.

Foodies
Paso Robles offers Michelin-star restaurants to quaint local hangs for those seeking to enjoy delicious food while in wine country. Our darling Downtown offers a selection of well-appointed restaurants and eateries from Italian, French, elevated Mexican, Farm to Table, Fusion, Soul, and Vegan. You can also find delicious eats in the Paso Robles Market Walk and Tin City area.

The Central Coast is a cornucopia of farms, ranches, groves, and orchards. You can find local vegetables, fruits, nuts, cheeses, meats, vinegar, and olive oil. Also, being along the coast you can find local seafood like oysters, fish, and harvested seaweed. Visit one of the wonderful farmer’s markets to find these local treats.

A collage of photos including seaside, a reflection of a lady taking a picture in sunglasses, and hillside.

Coastal Influence
As we have alluded, Paso Robles is near the coast which influences our grapes as well as makes our area a well-rounded travel destination. We are a 20-30 minute drive from the blue waters of the Pacific Ocean. Visitors can spend a few days in Paso Robles Wine Country and then venture to the coast for various activities. Our coastline features beautiful beaches and quaint towns with perfect spots for hiking, surfing, kayaking, wildlife watching, and visiting historic monuments like Hearst Castle. We recommend first stopping in Paso Robles to pick wines for your coastal adventures!

A collage of pictures including a man pouring a glass of wine, people cheering with wine, and a set table.

Paso Robles Festivals & Events
Paso Robles offers various festivals and events throughout the year for wine enthusiasts and those with varying interests in music, crafts, lavender, olive oil, cars, and cycling. Visitors can plan a wine-country trip alongside a fun festival to deepen their understanding of what makes Paso Robles, Paso.

We highly recommend visiting around the first few weeks of December to enjoy the annual Vine Street Victorian Showcase, which has graced the town for almost 40 years. The walking event features singing, dancing, notable characters (Scrooge and Santa), treats, and local goodwill to bring holiday cheer and a sense of small-town charm to your heart.

A collage of pictures of dogs, including one wearing a red bandana.

Dog Friendly Wineries & More
Last but not least, Paso Robles Wine Country is paw-rific! Many of the wineries allow furry friends to join wine excursions and multiple hotels offer accommodations for you and your pups. We love dogs so much that many local businesses host an annual fundraising event, Wine4Paws, supporting our local Woods Humane Society.

Prior to visiting, we still recommend that you check business guidelines to create a seamless trip for you and your dog. At Parrish Family Vineyard, we welcome friendly dog patrons and serve fresh water as well as treats on our porch overlooking the vineyard. Idyllic for all involved.

Parrish Family tasting room, a white building, in the middle of a vineyard.

Time to start planning your next wine trip to Paso Robles Wine Country and we hope that you will add Parrish Family Vineyard to the itinerary as we offer estate wines, house-made food offerings, and beautiful vineyard views in our Ranch house. Book your next visit here!

Download the Paso Robles Wine Country Map

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Special: Raise a Glass, Mustangs!

By Parrish Team • May 16, 2025

Class of 2025 Grads can receive a glass of wine & a BLTA through the month of June! *Must be 21+ with ID and have student ID

Bud Break in the Vineyard

By Cecily Ray • May 1, 2025

Spring is a beautiful time of year to visit Paso Robles and the Parrish Family Vineyard tasting room at 3590 Adelaida Road, Paso Robles, CA. This time of year you will see bud break and the beginning of the year's growing season. Learn more about this special time.

Three bottles of parrish wine are sitting on a wooden table

Why Choose a 5-Year-Old Cabernet Sauvignon Over a 2-Year-Old?

By David Parrish • March 28, 2025

Here, we explore why a 5-year-old Cabernet Sauvignon offers a drinking experience that surpasses its younger counterparts.

Cabernet Sauvignon being poured from one glass to another in front of wine barrels.

The Role Of Barrels In Winemaking

By Cecily Ray • December 15, 2024

There are a lot of options and factors that make barrel decisions complex for the winemaker. It is an important decision as the chosen vessel will direct the structure and flavor profile of the wine.

Three images next to each other - winemaker, the view of the winery from a distance, and a close-up of grapes.

How was Harvest 2024?

By Cecily Ray • November 25, 2024

The 2024 vintage was a hot vintage with an extremely warm and long Summer in Paso Robles. We began harvest on August 30th with our Sauvignon Blanc and completed harvest on October 16th with Petite Sirah and Grenache. To give us a little more insight, we caught up with Winemaker, Cody Alt to learn more about the vintage. How did the hot weather impact the harvest? Cody: It was reminiscent of the 2022 vintage. Our yields were lower for us as well as most of Paso Robles. David said it is not uncommon for vines to auto-regulate after a high-yield year. Last year (2023) we had a much milder Summer and a cool Fall, which increased our yield.

A bottle of parrish petit verdot wine is sitting on a table

New Release the 2020 Petit Verdot

By Parrish Team • November 11, 2024

Our 2020 Petit Verdot is a bold and expressive wine, showcasing the full intensity of this distinctive varietal.

Cabernet Sauvignon Pairing

By Cecily Ray • November 7, 2024

Looking for a cooler season red wine? Look no further, the 2019 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon is a lux red wine that will grace and impress your holiday occasions. I may be partial, but this Cabernet Sauvignon is my favorite wine on the wine tasting flight. Cabernet Sauvignon Tasting Notes The 2019 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon has delicious notes of black cherry, blackberry, chocolate, coffee, and a dash of nutmeg. This wine can stand alone without food, but it is a perfect wine to pair with meat, or hearty vegetables like mushrooms and cauliflower. Wine & Food Pairing There is a traditional food pairing philosophy that teaches red wine with red meat and white wine with white meat. Those pairings can absolutely work and if you are just starting in wine and food pairings it can be a good starting point. That being said, they are not absolute rules that should restrict you. There are so many wine varietals, blends, and styles of winemaking that not every red wine will show best with a red meat, but instead fish and chicken. Pairings depend greatly on the wine and the aromas and tasting notes you get from it. Another important note is that spices and herbs can move proteins and produce in various directions. Meat, vegetables, and fruits obviously have their own flavors, but overall spices and herbs can direct the flavors. For instance, the right spice rub can move lighter proteins and vegetables to pair with a bigger red wine like Cabernet Sauvignon. Recently, we had a Skillet Mexican Brownie with Vanilla Ice Cream and a Coffee Caramel. This delicious dessert went beautifully with the Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon. This was somewhat of a surprise as normally sugar is an adversary to red wines, but what made this Mexican cocoa brownie sing with the Reserve Cab was the spices. We added chili powder and cinnamon to the cocoa, which marries with the baking spice notes found in Cabernet Sauvignon. And then the coffee caramel and vanilla ice cream met the notes imparted by the barrels chosen to age the Cabernet. Spices can steer food pairings. Cabernet Sauvignon Food Pairing At Parrish Family Vineyard, we love coffee. There is a lot of coffee that powers our team behind the scenes - from the winery to the tasting room and especially the kitchen. Not only do we love drinking coffee, but my husband Ethan and I love to use coffee to make rubs for our meats. The coffee adds a depth of flavor due to its acidity, smokiness, nuttiness, and chocolate notes. This ingredient can help proteins pair with red wines like Cabernet Sauvignon. We came up with a coffee rub that can be used for any protein or hearty vegetable that can then be paired with our beautiful 2019 Reserve Cab. We hope this flexible spice blend can inspire your next pairing. Coffee Rub Recipe 1 Tbsp Freshly Ground Coffee, Fine 1 Tbsp Paprika 1/2 Tbsp Coriander Powder 2 Tsp Dried Basil 1/2 Tsp Mustard Powder 1 Tsp Onion Powder 1 Tsp Garlic Powder 2 Tsp Salt Finely ground coffee. Once you have the coffee ground, pour into a bowl and whisk together the rest of the ingredients. To make the overall rub more fine, you could ground all together in a spice grinder, or a powerful blender. Use the rub on your choice of meat or hearty vegetable. For meat, put the rub on the night before serving, or at the latest 3 hours before cooking. For vegetables, add the rub 1 hour before. Notes: You can sub the herbs for other preferred herbs. Smoked paprika could be used for a more smoky rub. This rub can be made in large quantities and stored in an airtight container for future use. DIY Christmas gifts anyone? Get some cute jars, ribbon, and tags to give these out to loved ones.

A bottle of Parrish wine sits next to a plate of food

Cabernet Franc Paired with an Easy Appetizer

By Cecily Ray • October 28, 2024

Need an easy wine and food pairing? The holiday season is fast approaching, which can drive any cook crazy. The mess. The various palates and food needs. The dirty kitchen with the mound of dishes. The too many cooks in the kitchen. We can console each other as holiday cooking can be overwhelming. But here's an easy appetizer to pair with our 2020 Cabernet Franc. Cabernet Franc Tasting Notes The Cabernet Franc is a wonderful variation from its relative, Cabernet Sauvignon. It features a lighter body and lovely red fruit notes. Our 2020 Cabernet Franc is medium-bodied with notes of leather, cranberry, pomegranate, and red cherry. It has a good balance of earthy and fruit.

A bottle of parrish wine is in a bucket of ice

Rosé Food Pairing for Fall

By Cecily Ray • October 23, 2024

We all know that rosé is perfect for a day by the pool, but it shouldn't be left till the warmer months return. Rosé has a place in the Fall and Winter months alongside the holidays.

A bunch of grapes hanging from a vine with green leaves.

Cabernet Sauvignon: Quick Look

By Parrish Team • October 17, 2024

The Cabernet Sauvignon Grape Cabernet Sauvignon is the king of grapes and one of the most recognized red wine grape varieties. California's Paso Robles Wine Country has Cabernet widely planted making up 39% of the region's vineyards. The grape initially attracted attention in its homeland, Bordeaux, for its ability to blend with Merlot and Cabernet Franc. Today the grape produces some of the best wines in the world. Cabernet Sauvignon is easy to age because it’s a full-bodied wine with medium-high tannins and acidity. To balance this, oak barrels are used during fermentation making the wine feel softer. Common tasting notes include black currant, green bell pepper, graphite, dark chocolate, and cedar. The oak barrels bring out flavors of vanilla and baking spices. In the vineyard, it is important to harvest Cabernet Sauvignon at the right moment. Too early will make the wine have almost vegetable-inspired flavors. Too late of a harvest creates a jammy or stewed black currant mouthfeel. Young California Cabernets are fruit-forward while older, aged Cabernets have more tobacco notes. Cabs age very well at ten-plus years. It is a personal preference whether to age a Cabernet Sauvignon in your library or enjoy it now.