For this installment of Wine Information, I’ve chosen small Paso Robles wineries that make fewer than 2,000 cases of wine.

I love them all – the big, the medium, the small wineries. But like any newcomer to a field, I am slowly discovering which ones pull me in repeatedly. It is the small ones. Maybe I sense in them – in their owners, winemakers, often the same person – a kindred spirit. A desire to make something different, a work of art, which, unrecognized on the big world stage, is still loved by the few who happen by it.

Winemakers of the small Paso Robles wineries I have spoken to on the phone say that making wines in small lots allows them to be creative. Even within the same blend, they can change the percentages of the grapes they use. They can experiment till their palate finds the perfect balance. And then there are the grapes that enjoy very small acreage statewide. Since there aren’t enough of these fruit to go around, the big wineries typically stay away from them.

Unusual grapes

And so, for this listing, I created my own term unusual grapes. While each of these wineries is unusual in its own way, I’ve flagged the ones that offer wines made from grapes that I’d never heard of! I also noticed, as I created this list, going through each website, talking to as many people as possible, that these wineries in Paso Robles make many blends in the Rhone and Bordeaux styles. They invite you to a taste of Europe in sunny California.

If you are planning a visit to any of these Paso Robles wineries, please note that because many of them are off the beaten track, literally (as well as figuratively), cell phone coverage is spotty. Make sure you call ahead of time for precise driving directions or carry a detailed paper map. Remember those? Unsurprisingly, GPS can be misleading. Plan ahead, since some wineries don’t have a contact telephone number and email is the only way of communication.

Alta Colina Wines
Th – Mon, 11 – 4
805 227-4191
www.altacolinawine.com

Ascension Cellars
No tasting room, but offer tours at certain times of year
Rhone and Bordeaux-style wines
805 296-7520
www.ascensioncellars.com

Asuncion Ridge Vineyards & Inn
Open Sun – Thu, Noon -6; Fri – Sat, Noon 08; private tastings by appointment
805 237-1425
www.asuncionridge.com

Bon Niche Cellars
Tastings by appointment
805 286-7798
www.bonniche.com

Brecon Estate
Open daily, 11 – 5
Wine and cheese, outside picnic area, inside table available
805 239-2200
www.breconestate.com

Brian Benson Cellars
Open Fri – Sun, 11 – 5
805 296-9463
www.brianbensoncellars.com

Caliza Winery
Rhone varietals
Open Fri – Sun, 11 -4
805 237-1480
www.calizawinery.com

Cass Vineyard & Winery
Open daily, 11 – 5
Café open daily at the same time as the tasting room. Reservations for parties of 6 or more. For larger groups, private room available with limited gourmet food menu.
Picnic area available
805 239-1730
www.casswines.com

Clavo Cellars
Open Sun – Fri, Noon – 5; Sat, 11 -6
Unusual grape: Vermentino
Picnic area available
805 226-0174
www.clavocellars.com

Copia Vineyards
Very small, under 200 cases
Open Fri- Sat, 1 – 7; Sun, 1-5
805 237-0799
www.copiavineyards.com

Cromavera Wines
Spanish varietals, such as albariño and tempranillo
Thu, Noon – 5; Fri – Sat, Noon – 6; Sun –Mon, Noon – 5
805 946-1685
www.cromavera.com

Cutruzzola
Open daily, 11 – 5
Allow you to bring your own cheese and charcuterie, but do not offer for purchase
805 927-2670
www.cutruzzolavineyards.com

Diablo Paso
Spanish varietals
Open Thu – Sat, 1 – 9; Sun – Mon, 1 – 6.
Tasting room in downtown Paso Robles
805 975-6185 mobile
www.diablopasowines.com

Dilécta wines
Rhone-style wines
By appointment only
Picnic area available
805 369-9129
www.dilectawines.com

Dubost Ranch
Open daily, 11 -5
Unusual grapes: Carménère, négrette
Picnic area available, as in under 200-year-old oaks and on a rock patio
About a 25-minute drive from downtown Paso Robles
805-226-8463
www.dubostwine.com

Écluse Wines
Rhone and Bordeaux styles
Open Fri – Sun, 11 -4
Picnic area available
805 238-4999
www.eclusewines.com

Four Lanterns Winery
Rhone and Bordeaux styles
Open winter: Thu – Mon, 11 – 5; summer, every day, 11 – 5
Picnic area available
Cheese and charcuterie available
Offers farmhouse rental
805 226-5955
www.fourlanternswinery.com

Frolicking Frog
Open Thu, 1 – 5; Fri, 1 – 6; Sat, 1 – 5
805 466-0779
www.Frolickingfrogwine.com

HammerSky Vineyards & Inn
Open daily, except Wednesday, 11 – 5
Bordeaux wines
Picnic area available
Farmhouse rental available
805 239-0930
www.hammersky.com

Harmony Cellars
Open daily, 10 – 5, except June –August when open 10 – 5:30
Cheese and charcuterie, olives, chocolate. Order 24 hours in advance.
805 927-0256
www.harmonycellars.com

Hoyt Family Vineyards
Cheese and crackers
Picnic area available
310 457-3832
www.hoytfamilyvineyards.com

Hug Cellars
Open Thu – Mon, 11 – 5
805 226-8022
www.hugcellars.com

Jada Vineyard & Winery
Open daily, 11 – 4:45
Rhone and Bordeaux styles
Wine and cheese pairing. To reserve a table on the deck, call ahead
805 226-4200
www.jadavineyard.com

Kaleidos
Open Fri- Sun, 11 – 5
805 226-0828
www.kaleidoswine.com

Leverage
Rhone-style wines
Tasting by appointment
805 619-8466
www.leveragewines.com

Levo
Thu – Sun, 11 – 4; private tastings, Mon – Thu
208 631-1612
www.levowine.com

Lone Madrone
Unusual grapes: Counoise, picpoul, tannat
Open daily, 10:30 – 5; private tastings by appointment
Picnic area available
805 238-0845
www.lonemadrone.com

Lusso Della Terra
Open Mon, 3 – 6; Tu – Wed, by appointment; Thu 3 – 7; Fri, 3 – 8; Sat, 12:30 – 9; Sun, 12:30 – 6
Cheese and meat platters
805 712-8883
www.ldtcellars.com

LXV
Open Thu – Mon, Noon – 7; Tu – Wed, Noon – 5
Spice pairings by appointment
805 296-1902
www.lxvwine.com

MCV
Open daily 11 – 6
Patio overlooking the ocean; can bring picnic
About a 40 min drive from downtown Paso Robles
Unusual grapes: Tannat, torrontes
805 712-4647
www.mcvwines.com

Michael Gill Cellars
Open Fri – Sun, 11 – 5 and by appointment
Rhone wines and others
Unusual grape varieties: Alicante bouschet, counoise, vermentino
Vineyard Cottage rental available
805 239-1668
www.gillcellars.com

Nicora
Rhone wines
Tastings by appointment, Thu – Sun
805 400-0039
www.nicorawine.com

Onx
Spanish, Italian, Bordeaux, and Rhone
Vineyard tours by appointment, picnic area available with purchase
Tasting room: Thu – Mon, 10 -4
805 434-5607
www.onxwines.com

Oso Libre
Open daily, except Tu, 11 – 5
Picnic area available through reservation
805 238-3378
www.osolibre.com

Paix sur terre
Fri – Sat by appointment
Rhone style
Unusual: Ugni blanc
805 234-4408
www.paixsurterrewines.com

Pelletiere Estate
Open daily, except Tu, Wed, 11 -5
Italian-style wines
Unusual wines: Lagrein, tievoli
Farmhouse available for rent
805 239-9432
www.pelletiere.com

Powell Mountain Cellars
Rhone, Bordeaux
Open Mon – Thu by appointment; Fri Noon – 5; Sat 11 -5; Sun 11 -4
Picnic area available
In the Tin City area.
805 434-8097
www.powellmountaincellars.com

Ranchita Canyon Vineyard
Open Thu – Mon, 11 – 5 or by appointment
805 467-9448
www.ranchitacanyonvineyard.com

Rendarrio Vineyards
Rhone style
Open Fri – Sun, 11:30 – 5
805 610-7659
https://rendarrio.com

RNEstate Vineyard
Rhone, Bordeaux and Burgundy
Tastings by appointment only
Picnic area available
805 610-9802
www.rnestate.com

Rockin’ R Winery
Open Fri – Sun, 11 – 5; Mon by appointment. Upcoming holidays open every day
805 835-8529
www.rockinrwinery.com

Sculpterra Winery
Bordeaux and Rhone blends. Varietals
Open daily, 10 -5
Sculpture garden open to visitors
Cheese and charcuterie
Picnic area available
805 226-8881
www.sculpterra.com

Seven Oxen Estate Wines
Rhone style. Unusual grapes: Tannat
Open Sun – Mon, Noon -4; Wed, Noon -4; Thu – Sat, Noon – 5
Tasting Bar at Thomas Hill Organics Restaurant in downtown Paso Robles
Wine and cheese tasting; food available until 3:00 p.m.
www.sevenoxen.com

The Farm Winery
Tastings by appointment at the wine bar, 15C Wine.
Mon – Thu, 11 – 9; Fri-Sat, 11 -10.
805 434-1554
www.thefarmwinery.com

Photo credit: Randy Andy