The Grape Juice Plus Wine Tasting Group headed south for the weekend to attend the 19th Annual Paso Robles Wine Festival on Saturday and Sunday, May 19 and 20 in beautiful San Luis Obispo County. Saturday's event is the largest outdoor winetasting in California. Local wineries set-up tasting booths all around Downtown City Park from noon to 5:00pm allowing approximately 15,000 visitors to sample the award-winning wines of the area. Tickets cost $25 each, and got you eight tastings and a commemorative wine glass. On Sunday, the wineries held special events at their tasting rooms with food, music, barrel samples, and vineyard tours.

We started off Saturday morning with breakfast at Kelly's, where we sat outside and enjoyed the beginings of what would be a warm day. Once at the park, camp was strategically set-up in a sunny spot that would become shade later in the afternoon. Then we got our commemorative tasting glasses and shiny orange wrist bands. For our initial round-robin tasting we chose Pipestone Vineyards. We warmed-up our tastebuds on their 2000 Viognier, and 1999 Syrah and 'Melange' table wine. The group then moved one booth over to Opolo Vineyards. This was their first release, and consisted of a 1999 Sangiovese, Syrah, and Zinfandel, as well as a 2000 Muscat Canelli. The consensus was that they were the best of the new wineries. After walking around the end of park, the group came upon York Mountain Winery, a favorite from the previous year's festival. Unfortunately, they didn't bode so well this year. They were pouring their 1996 Cabernet Sauvignon, 1997 Pinot Noir, 1999 Chardonnay, and 1998 Black Muscat, which was the best of the lot. The group shifted across the sidewalk to the Garretson Wine Company, another one of the new wineries this year. The two wines they served were their 'The Celeidh' dry rose and 'Glimigrim' red table wine, both blended from the Rhone-varietals that are their trademark. After returning to camp for a spell, we decided to journey to the other end of the park. On the way, we were side tracked at the Paso Robles Vintners and Growers Association tent to get temporary tatoos of the festival logo put on our bodies. All except the Chads, who don't believe in body art. Once on the other side of the fountain, we came upon the booth for Pretty-Smith Vineyards & Winery. A few of the group sampled the 1998 Cabernet Sauvignon, which falls under their Mission View label, and the 1999 Fume Blanc and Chardonnay. The Fume Blanc is their signature wine, and a good choice for it. Winding our way down the sidewalk, the group arrived at Wild Horse Winery & Vineyards, who is not only known for consistently good wine, but for usually having many different and unique varietals. Positive comments were given across the board for their 1999 Pinot Grigio, Pinot Blanc, Pinot Noir, and 'Unbridled' Chardonnay, 1998 Merlot, 2000 Malvasia Bianca, and 1998 Syrah and 1999 Viognier, which fall under their Equus label. Some of the members even went and experienced the 'Wild Zone' mist sprayers to suppress the heat of the day. Next stop was Treana, a boutique winery that produces a white table wine and a red table wine. They recently closed the tasting room at their winery, due to their international notoriety. As a follow-up, we turned around and walked to the Tobin James Vineyard booth, where they were celebrating their 'Liquid Love.' Known for their wild west image and the creative names they dub their wines, they're just a fun winery. The group was served the 'Dreamweaver' sparkling wine, 1998 'Renegade' Zinfandel and 'Legacy' Cabernet Sauvignon, 2000 'Radiance' Chardonnay, and 1999 Late Harvest Zinfandel. Ohhh, those dessert wines. At this point, it was time for Grape Juice Plus to buy more tasting tickets, for they were running low. Once again sporting a pocket full of tastings, we made our way back towards camp, stopping at Grey Wolf Cellars on the way, where the ladies of the group turned on the charm with the servers and managed to get numerous free tastings, while the guys could only stand and watch. Some of their standouts were the Reserve Zinfandel, 'Family Meritage', 'Alpha' Cabernet Sauvignon, and the 1998 'Zinful Cab.' When we finally made it back to camp, the shade had already started to move in, as well as the people around us. From here on out it pretty much became a free-for-all as far as what booth the group went to. Some went here, some went there, some went back to get more. Other wineries that were sampled were Penman Springs Vineyard, Coyote Creek Vineyard, and Fratelli Perata. Some wines that gained favor were the 1999 'Tears of Dew' Late Harvest Muscat Canelli at EOS Estate Winery, and the 1999 'Silver Nector' Semillion & Muscat blend at Chumeia Vineyards. As the festival wound down, the group finally used up their tasting tickets, which was harder than it should've been, packed up their belongings, and headed out on the fifteen block walk back to the Travelodge. After arriving back at the hotel, we dropped of our things and walked another block to Senor Sancho's Mexican Restaurant & Bar, an establishment that pride's itself on serving 'no cat tacos.' Some margaritas and lobster tacos later, it was time to go back to our respective lodgings and rest up for the next day.

We started off Sunday morning by packing our things into the vehicles and checking out of our rooms. The group's caravan headed out on Highway 46 East to the Arciero Vineyards. Outside the gift shop was a barrel tasting of Chardonnay & Cabernet Sauvignon being thieved by the winemaker. Inside, past the Arciero Racing Team's Indy-style cars and off-road truck, the tasting room offered a long list of wines from both the Arciero Estate Winery and EOS Estate Winery. Some of the wines sampled were the Chardonnay, Chenin Blanc, Nebbiolo, Sangiovese, and 'Arpeggio' from Arciero, and Reserve Chardonnay, Reserve Fume Blanc, and Petite Sirah from EOS. As well as the 'Tears of Dew' that was such a hit the day before. With the first winery of the day under our belt, we headed back to Highway 101 and went south to Wild Horse Winery & Vineyards. After getting our glasses, we walked over to one of the outside tasting tents to find the best crackers around, and another long list of wines. The mercury was rising as the group tasted the 1999 'Unbridled' Chardonnay, Orange Muscat, and Trousseau Gris, 1998 Negrette and 'Mistelle' Malvasia Bianca, 1996 Trousseau, no vintage Claret, the Cal Poly 1999 Chardonnay and 1998 Pinot Noir, and the Equus 1999 Viognier and 1998 Syrah. When pretty much everything on the wine list had been tasted, the group walked around to the back of the winery to place their orders. With the wine in the cars, it was time to drive to Grey Wolf Cellars to fill our bellies with wine and food. We were treated to grilled sausage, cheese, and bread and oil while enjoying the Chardonnay, 'Family Meritage,' Reserve Zinfandel, 'Alpha' Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and 1998 'Zinful Cab.' Lucy, the winery dog, wandered around picking-up fallen pieces of sausage and gathering praise from the visitors to the winery. Following the exchange of money for wine, the group restarted the convoy and, due to bad leadership, proceeded to get lost a couple of times while looking for Opolo Vineyards. After changing leaders and finding the winery, Grape Juice Plus was welcomed by a free pit-fire barbecue of slow-roasted tri-tip, chicken, and lamb. The tasting consisted of a 1999 Zinfandel, Syrah, and Sangiovese, and a 2000 Muscat Canelli, all of which were from the day before and well received. For our last winery of the day, we wound our way down the road to Justin Vineyards & Winery. Their lack of participation at Saturday's event in the park made us all eager to try this years releases. With San Luis Obispo Rugby Football Club member, Ross, guiding us through the tasting, the group sampled Chardonnay, Zinfandel, and Cabernet Sauvignon. The 1999 'Isosceles' and 'Justification' red table wines had not been bottled yet, but were standouts of the collection. As mid-afternoon approached, the group left for home, two by two, each with a fine new collection of mixed wine glasses.

Nicole, Adam, Michelle, Chad, Chad, Jill, & stranger enjoying the wines at Grey Wolf Cellars.

Here's everybody's thoughts on the day:



Spill the wine, Dig that girl
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