Thursday Virtual Happy Hour: The Paso Robles AVA
Details
Paso Robles is a large winegrowing area at the southern end of California's Central Coast region. At 666,500 acres (270,000ha) the official Paso Robles AVA is among California's very largest; it effectively covers the northern half of San Luis Obispo County. Viticulture here dates back to the late 18th Century, when the first wine grapes (most likely of the Mission variety) were planted by Spanish missionaries. The first commercial winery was established in 1882, incorporating the region's earliest Zinfandel vines.
Today, wine from Paso Robles wines are typified by rich, ripe reds based on warm-climate varieties such as Zinfandel, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and the Rhone Valley trio Grenache, Syrah and Mourvedre. The majority are made from these warm-climate varieties but Pinot Noir and Chardonnay are also found, mostly in the very coolest vineyards of the region.
The AVA's northern limit is marked by the county line with Monterey County, from where it stretches southwards along the Salinas river valley for about 35 miles (55km). It stops just short of San Luis Obispo city, just on the other side of which lies the Edna Valley and Arroyo Grande Valley AVAs. Its western edge is defined by the Santa Lucia coastal mountains, beyond which lies the Pacific coastline. In 2013, proposals to create specific sub-AVAs in Paso Robles were ratified and the region was divided into 11 designated appellations.
We have a choice of videos to watch including:
- https://youtu.be/EhU3_7LF6AQ?si=X9QFVo1YKkJjX0FX - Paso Robles Wine: Everything You Need to Know - Wine Folly (8:41)
- https://youtu.be/P9FpPvTVHrA?si=kS65ZwwsQpZTCxSi - Paso Robles, California (full episode) - "V is for Vino" (28:38)
- https://youtu.be/eMmerSWSrAc?si=TDYoGS8oDUm7qFim - Paso Robles Wine - The Unknown Winecaster (7:26)
So, pick up a bottle and watch a couple of videos. Let us know what you’re drinking and eating, and, if possible, the region from which your wine comes. Do you have any comments (positive or negative) about the videos? And, as always, tell us what’s going on in your life - what's happening with you, how you're feeling about things, updates, successes, challenges - as much or as little as you’re willing to disclose. We are in this together. And - thank goodness - we have wine!
Cheers!!