Where Wine Takes You - A Paso Wine Podcast

PODCAST · arts

Where Wine Takes You - A Paso Wine Podcast

Keeping it real with owners, winemakers, growers and personalities as they discuss the places and wines that have shaped the Paso Robles Wine Region

  1. 168

    Ep 169: New Tasting Rooms in Paso – Featuring V1NO JUAN | Hawks Hill Ranch Winery | Boutz Cellars

    🍇 WHERE WINE TAKES YOU – EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS 🍷 In this episode of Where Wine Takes You, Adam hangs with three guests who are helping shape the next wave of Paso Robles wine culture, not just through the wines they make, but through the new spaces and experiences they’re building. First up is Juan M. Contreras, owner and winemaker of V1NO JUAN, whose story might be one of the purest Paso stories out there. Juan came to the United States from Mexico in the early ‘90s, started working in the vineyards, moved into the cellar at Robert Hall, and spent more than two decades learning every side of the business before opening his own tasting room across from the downtown Paso park. Alongside his wife and kids, Juan is now crafting bold Paso reds, rosé, Sauvignon Blanc, and Bordeaux blends rooted in hard work, family, and legacy. Then there’s Kit Kuyper of Hawks Hill Ranch, farming some wildly diverse and rugged terrain in the Adelaida District. Massive elevation swings, Rhône varietals, grower-first philosophy, and guidance from winemaker Don Burns of Turtle Rock Vineyard all come together in a project focused on expressing Paso in its own authentic voice. Kit also shares stories about balancing wine life between Paso, Chicago, and Portugal, plus a hilarious detour into bidet culture that absolutely stays in the episode. And returning to the show is James Boutzoukas of Boutz Cellars, who continues pushing the envelope with Greek varietals grown right here in Paso Robles. Inspired by generations of family winemaking traditions in Greece, James and his family are planting and producing wines from grapes like Assyrtiko, Moschofilero, Xinomavro, Agiorgitiko, and more, proving Paso’s versatility might be even broader than we thought. One of the coolest parts of this story? Kit and James now share a tasting room space together, a very Paso-style collaboration rooted in community over competition. Later in the show, Adam catches up with Jill Alexander from the Paso Market Walk in this episode’s Travel Paso Spotlight. From live music nights and outdoor patios to boutique shopping, incredible food, coffee, wine, and the ultra-modern Lofts at Market Walk, the conversation highlights why this growing hub has become one of the coolest gathering places in Paso Robles. 🍷 FEATURED GUESTS + LINKS • V1NO JUAN Official Website • @v1nojuan on Instagram • Hawks Hill Ranch Official Website • @hawkshillranch on Instagram • Boutz Cellars Official Website • @boutz_cellars on Instagram 🌴 TRAVEL PASO SPOTLIGHT • Paso Market Walk Official Website • @pasomarketwalk on Instagram 🎯 PLAN YOUR NEXT PASO GETAWAY TravelPaso.com PASO WINE WIRE THIS WEEK: 🍷 Le Vigne Winery Named U.S. Winery of the Year at the 2026 London Wine Competition The Paso Robles winery earned four gold medals, including honors for its Acquarello Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve. 🔗 Paso Robles Daily News – Le Vigne Winery Wins Top Honors 🌎 Paso Robles Wine Month Launches Nationally Paso takes center stage nationwide with retail partnerships, AI wine pairing tools, restaurant activations, and travel giveaways aimed at introducing the next generation to Paso wine country. 🔗 WineBusiness – Paso Robles Wine Month Launches Nationally 🎉 Paso Wine Fest Weekend Is Here Paired Paso, the Grand Tasting, Sparkling Paso, and a full weekend of events are ready to take over wine country. 🔗 Paso Wine Fest Official Site 🎧 SUBSCRIBE & FOLLOW If you love Where Wine Takes You, make sure to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with your favorite wine-loving humans. 🎉 PASO WINE FEST WEEKEND MAY 15-17 Paso Wine Fest and Paired Paso One of the region’s premier events featuring winemakers and chefs, including Adam as a judge https://pasowine.com/consumer_events/paired-paso/ Sparkling Paso A must for bubble lovers, showcasing sparkling wines from across the region https://pasowine.com/consumer_events/sparkling-paso/ 🎯 Plan your next Paso Robles getaway at travelpaso.com 🎧 Subscribe & Follow Love Where Wine Takes You? Leave a review, subscribe, and share it with a fellow wine (or Paso) lover. 🎙️ Credits Executive Producer: Joel Peterson + Paso Wine Associate Producer: Krista Smith Recorded, edited, hosted by Adam Montiel Follow Adam: @AdamOnTheAir Explore all things Adam: AdamMontiel.com Listen to Adam’s other shows: Up + Adam (daily) and The Pour (wine & more, travel, culture) Learn more, connect, or say hey at AdamMontiel.com/connect 🎵 Original music by Moonshiner Collective 📱 Download the Paso Wine App 🍷 Plan your trip at PasoWine.com and follow @PasoWine 🎯 Plan your next Paso Robles getaway at travelpaso.com 🎧 Subscribe & Follow If you love Where Wine Takes You, make sure to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with your favorite wine or Paso lover.  ©2026 Where Wine Takes You, All Rights Reserved.  

  2. 167

    Ep 168: May is Paso Wine Month – Featuring Paso CAB Collective | LXV Wine

    🍇 Where Wine Takes You – Episode Highlights 🍷 In this episode of Where Wine Takes You, Adam Montiel sits down with the driving force behind one of the most ambitious initiatives Paso Robles has ever launched, Paso Wine Month. Leading the charge is Linda Sanpei of the Paso Robles CAB Collective, the architect behind this national campaign set to roll out in May 2026. Joined by Krista Smith of the Paso Robles Wine Country Alliance and Neeta Mittal of LXV Wine, the conversation explores how Paso is rethinking the way people discover and connect with wine. Paso Wine Month is a first-of-its-kind, retail-driven movement designed to meet the next generation of wine drinkers where they are. Through food, culture, technology, and storytelling, the campaign brings Paso beyond the tasting room and into everyday life. Think AI-powered taste matching, chef-driven recipes, in-store experiences, and a national sweepstakes that could bring new visitors straight to Paso Robles Wine Country. This episode is about more than wine. It is about connection over consumption. Discovery over intimidation. And a region that is not waiting for the future, but building it. In the Travel Paso Spotlight, Adam connects with Lynette Sonne of FarmsteadED to highlight Open Farm Days, a hands-on experience that takes you beyond the tasting room and into the farms, ranches, and roots of Paso. 🍷 FEATURED IN THIS EPISODE Paso Wine Month 🔗 https://pasowine.com/wine-month/ 📸 https://www.instagram.com/pasorobleswinemonth/ LXV Wine 🔗 https://lxvwine.com 📸 https://www.instagram.com/lxvwine/ Paso Robles CAB Collective 🔗 https://pasoroblescab.com 📸 https://www.instagram.com/pasoroblescab/ Paso Robles Wine Country Alliance 🔗 https://pasowine.com 📸 https://www.instagram.com/pasowine/ 🌐 PASO WINE WIRE Paso Wine Meets the Festival Crowd Paso Robles CAB Collective wineries take the stage as the exclusive wine sponsor of Shabang Music and Arts Festival, May 2 to 3, 2026. A major step in bringing Paso wine to a new generation of consumers. 🔗 https://www.winebusiness.com/news/article/316503 Wine 4 Paws Returns April 25 to 26 More than 75 wineries and local businesses donate proceeds to Woods Humane Society. A feel-good weekend where wine lovers and pet lovers come together. 🔗 https://www.wine4paws.com White Wine Invitational August 1 Paso’s white wines take the spotlight with more than 20 wineries showcasing the diversity and creativity of the region. 🔗 https://pasoroblesdailynews.com/white-wine-invitational-returns-to-paso-robles-aug-1/219760/ 🌴 TRAVEL PASO SPOTLIGHT FarmsteadED Open Farm Days June 19 to 21 Explore Paso from the ground up. Meet farmers, visit ranches, and experience the agricultural side of the region through tours, tastings, and workshops. Free to attend with registration. 🔗 https://www.farmsteaded.com/openfarmdays 📸 https://www.instagram.com/farmsteaded/   🎉 PASO WINE FEST WEEKEND MAY 15-17 Paso Wine Fest and Paired Paso One of the region’s premier events featuring winemakers and chefs, including Adam as a judge https://pasowine.com/consumer_events/paired-paso/ Sparkling Paso A must for bubble lovers, showcasing sparkling wines from across the region https://pasowine.com/consumer_events/sparkling-paso/ 🎯 Plan your next Paso Robles getaway at travelpaso.com 🎧 Subscribe & Follow Love Where Wine Takes You? Leave a review, subscribe, and share it with a fellow wine (or Paso) lover. 🎙️ Credits Executive Producer: Joel Peterson + Paso Wine Associate Producer: Krista Smith Recorded, edited, hosted by Adam Montiel Follow Adam: @AdamOnTheAir Explore all things Adam: AdamMontiel.com Listen to Adam’s other shows: Up + Adam (daily) and The Pour (wine & more, travel, culture) Learn more, connect, or say hey at AdamMontiel.com/connect 🎵 Original music by Moonshiner Collective 📱 Download the Paso Wine App 🍷 Plan your trip at PasoWine.com and follow @PasoWine 🎯 Plan your next Paso Robles getaway at travelpaso.com 🎧 Subscribe & Follow If you love Where Wine Takes You, make sure to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with your favorite wine or Paso lover.  ©2026 Where Wine Takes You, All Rights Reserved.  

  3. 166

    EP 167: ROC – Roots, Responsibility & Future of Farming – Featuring Halter Ranch Vineyard | Booker Vineyard

    🍇 WHERE WINE TAKES YOU – EPISODE 167 🍷 ROC PART 3: ROOTS, RESPONSIBILITY & THE FUTURE OF FARMING In this episode of Where Wine Takes You, Adam closes out the three-part deep dive into Regenerative Organic Certified (ROC) farming with two powerhouse voices helping lead the movement in Paso Robles. First up is Hilary Graves of Booker Vineyard, grower, educator, vineyard strategist, and one of the most respected minds in California viticulture. Hilary shares why ROC matters, how farmers can help capture carbon, and why consumers hold more power than they realize every time they shop or order wine. Then Adam welcomes Kevin Sass, veteran winemaker of Halter Ranch, whose decades of Paso experience meet one of the region’s most stunning estates. Kevin breaks down what certification means, why transparency matters, how Halter balances multiple vineyards across states, and yes… why planes literally land at the winery. This episode goes beyond buzzwords and into the real questions: How do we farm better? How do we support workers better? How do we leave land better than we found it? And if Paso Robles is going to lead the wine world in something… this feels like a damn good place to start. 🌿 TRAVEL PASO SPOTLIGHT Before your next Paso getaway, start here: https://travelpaso.com Later in the show, Adam checks in with Jeffry Weisinger, Interim Executive Director of Paso Main Street, and owner of local favorite Jeffry’s Wine Country BBQ. They talk about the upcoming Paso Robles Olive & Lavender Festival on May 9th, a downtown celebration of local olive oils, lavender goods, shopping specials, food, cocktails, and community spirit. The event also serves as the largest annual fundraiser for Paso Main Street, helping support treasured traditions like Santa in the Park, Teddy Bear Tea, Elegant Evening, and more. 🎉 EVENT LINKS Paso Robles Olive & Lavender Festival – May 9 https://pasoroblesdowntown.org/downtown-event/paso-robles-olive-festival-lavender-festival-may-9th/ 🍷 FEATURED GUEST LINKS Booker Vineyard – https://www.bookerwines.com • IG: https://www.instagram.com/bookervineyard/ Halter Ranch – https://www.halterranch.com • IG: https://www.instagram.com/halterranch/ Paso Main Street / Downtown Paso Robles – https://pasoroblesdowntown.org • IG: https://www.instagram.com/prmainstreet/ Jeffry’s Wine Country BBQ – Downtown Paso Robles 🌐 PASO WINE WIRE 🏰 The Anderson Paso Opens Restaurant Doors The “first castle on the right” on Highway 46 West debuts its new restaurant, cocktail bar, and hospitality concept. 🔗 https://www.winebusiness.com/news/article/316431 🤝 Chefs Helping Chefs Supports Baby Saoirse McCabe A sold-out Central Coast fundraiser rallied chefs, wineries, and hospitality leaders in support of the McCabe family during baby Saoirse’s cancer fight. ❤️ DONATE TO SUPPORT SAOIRSE MCCABE GoFundMe: Support Saoirse’s Journey – Hope & Healing Ahead 🔗 https://gofundme.com/f/support-saoirses-journey-hope-and-healing-ahead Fiscal Sponsor EIN: 77-0206822 🍑 Peachy Canyon Names Paul Sowerby General Manager Paso veteran Paul Sowerby steps into leadership at one of the region’s most iconic family wineries. 🔗 https://www.winebusiness.com/news/article/316647 🌱 LEARN MORE ABOUT ROC 🔗 https://pasowine.com/grower_certification/regenerative-organic-certified/ 🔗 https://regenorganic.org 🎉 PASO WINE FEST WEEKEND MAY 15-17 Paso Wine Fest and Paired Paso One of the region’s premier events featuring winemakers and chefs, including Adam as a judge https://pasowine.com/consumer_events/paired-paso/ Sparkling Paso A must for bubble lovers, showcasing sparkling wines from across the region https://pasowine.com/consumer_events/sparkling-paso/ 🎯 Plan your next Paso Robles getaway at travelpaso.com 🎧 Subscribe & Follow Love Where Wine Takes You? Leave a review, subscribe, and share it with a fellow wine (or Paso) lover. 🎙️ Credits Executive Producer: Joel Peterson + Paso Wine Associate Producer: Krista Smith Recorded, edited, hosted by Adam Montiel Follow Adam: @AdamOnTheAir Explore all things Adam: AdamMontiel.com Listen to Adam’s other shows: Up + Adam (daily) and The Pour (wine & more, travel, culture) Learn more, connect, or say hey at AdamMontiel.com/connect 🎵 Original music by Moonshiner Collective 📱 Download the Paso Wine App 🍷 Plan your trip at PasoWine.com and follow @PasoWine 🎯 Plan your next Paso Robles getaway at travelpaso.com 🎧 Subscribe & Follow If you love Where Wine Takes You, make sure to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with your favorite wine or Paso lover.  ©2026 Where Wine Takes You, All Rights Reserved.  

  4. 165

    Ep 166: Paso Leads in Regenerative Organic Certified – Featuring Robert Hall Winery | Le Cuvier Winery

    🍇 Where Wine Takes You – Episode Highlights 🍷 This episode of Where Wine Takes You is Part Two of our Regenerative Organic Certified (ROC) series, diving deeper into one of the most important movements shaping the future of wine. After last week’s conversation with Jason Haas and Chris Cherry, Adam continues the journey with two winemakers leading the charge in Paso Robles. Adam sits down with Clay Selkirk of Le Cuvier Winery and Amanda Gorter of Robert Hall Winery, two voices from very different backgrounds, united by a shared commitment to regenerative farming. Clay reflects on carrying forward the legacy of Paso legend John Munch, while Amanda breaks down how regenerative practices are showing measurable results in the vineyard and in the glass. From soil health and climate resilience to transparency in winemaking, this conversation brings ROC out of theory and into reality. Later in the episode, Adam highlights one of the most unique ways to explore Paso wine country in the Travel Paso Spotlight, 3rd Wheel Tours. Think sidecars, tuk-tuks, and a fully guided experience where you don’t have to drive, just sit back and enjoy the ride through vineyards and boutique wineries. And in Paso Wine Wire, there’s no shortage of local buzz, from a major expansion at Allegretto Vineyard Resort, to community-driven events like Paso Wine Fanatics and Soup & Syrah, and a meaningful moment as Vine Cycle Tours looks for its next owner after building a beloved local experience. 🍷 FEATURED GUESTS Le Cuvier Winery 🔗 https://www.lcwine.com/ 📱 https://www.instagram.com/lecuvierwinery/ Robert Hall Winery 🔗 https://www.roberthallwinery.com/ 📱 https://www.instagram.com/roberthallwinery/ 🌐 PASO WINE WIRE Allegretto Vineyard Resort Expansion Approved A major expansion including a spa hotel, restaurant, and conference center signals Paso’s continued rise as a luxury wine destination. 🔗 https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/luxury-slo-county-resort-adding-120000653.html Paso Wine Fanatics Event A stacked weekend of winemakers, food, music, and community featuring Caliza, Loma Seca, Alta Colina, Guyomar, and Turtle Rock. 🔗 https://pasorobleswinefanatics.com/pages/events Soup & Syrah Festival (April 12) An afternoon of wine, food, and community benefiting Jack’s Helping Hand. 🎟 Use code VTR for 35% off tickets 🔗 https://pasoroblesdailynews.com/soup-and-syrah-festival-benefits-programs-for-children-with-special-needs/219172/ 🔗 https://soupnsyrah.wixsite.com/soup Vine Cycle Tours For Sale A Paso favorite e-bike vineyard tour business is looking for its next chapter. Includes bikes, van, and full brand platform. 📩 [email protected] 🔗 https://www.bizben.com/business-for-sale/paso-robles-electric-bike-vineyard-tour-and-rental-business-7796971 🔗 https://www.vinecycletours.com/about-us 🌴 TRAVEL PASO SPOTLIGHT 3rd Wheel Tours A one-of-a-kind guided wine country experience featuring sidecars and tuk-tuks, no driving required. 🔗 https://thirdwheeltours.com 🌱 LEARN MORE ABOUT ROC 🔗 https://pasowine.com/grower_certification/regenerative-organic-certified/ 🔗 https://regenorganic.org 🎉 PASO WINE FEST WEEKEND MAY 15-17 Paso Wine Fest and Paired Paso One of the region’s premier events featuring winemakers and chefs, including Adam as a judge https://pasowine.com/consumer_events/paired-paso/ Sparkling Paso A must for bubble lovers, showcasing sparkling wines from across the region https://pasowine.com/consumer_events/sparkling-paso/ 🎯 Plan your next Paso Robles getaway at travelpaso.com 🎧 Subscribe & Follow Love Where Wine Takes You? Leave a review, subscribe, and share it with a fellow wine (or Paso) lover. 🎙️ Credits Executive Producer: Joel Peterson + Paso Wine Associate Producer: Krista Smith Recorded, edited, hosted by Adam Montiel Follow Adam: @AdamOnTheAir Explore all things Adam: AdamMontiel.com Listen to Adam’s other shows: Up + Adam (daily) and The Pour (wine & more, travel, culture) Learn more, connect, or say hey at AdamMontiel.com/connect 🎵 Original music by Moonshiner Collective 📱 Download the Paso Wine App 🍷 Plan your trip at PasoWine.com and follow @PasoWine 🎯 Plan your next Paso Robles getaway at travelpaso.com 🎧 Subscribe & Follow If you love Where Wine Takes You, make sure to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with your favorite wine or Paso lover.  ©2026 Where Wine Takes You, All Rights Reserved.  

  5. 164

    Ep 165: You Down with ROC, Yeah You Know Me – Featuring Tablas Creek | Maha Estate

    🍇 Where Wine Takes You – Episode Highlights 🍷 Today, we’re talking about dirt. Not just any dirt, but living soil. The kind that breathes, holds water, stores carbon, and might just be the difference between surviving the next 50 years or not. Because right now, something big is happening in Paso Robles. If you haven’t heard the term yet, you’re about to hear it a lot more. Regenerative Organic Certified. ROC. And here’s the thing. This isn’t a buzzword. This isn’t marketing. This is a full-on shift in how we farm, how we think, and how we take care of the land. And Paso is leading that charge on a global level. In this episode, Adam sits down with two of Paso Robles’ most forward-thinking minds, Jason Haas of Tablas Creek Vineyard and Cris Cherry of Villa Creek and MAHA Estate, to kick off a special series exploring the future of farming and wine. This isn’t just about what’s in your glass. It’s about what’s happening beneath it. Soil health, farmworker fairness, and animal welfare, the pillars of ROC, are reshaping how wine is grown. Jason breaks it down in a way that actually makes sense, farming not just to sustain, but to improve the land and community. Cris brings the real-world perspective, sharing what it looks like to live this every day at MAHA Estate, from sheep in the vineyard to the economics of doing things the right way. Together, they unpack why this matters now more than ever, and how regenerative farming could be a key piece in the future of agriculture. You’ll also hear how Paso has quietly become a global epicenter for regenerative viticulture, with wineries like Tablas Creek, MAHA Estate, Booker, Halter Ranch, and others helping push the industry forward. Later in the show, Adam heads just off Highway 101 for a Travel Paso Spotlight on Firestone Walker Brewing Company, where beer, food, and community collide. With the Firestone Walker Invitational Beer Fest celebrating 30 years, plus a can’t-miss block party open to the public, it’s a perfect reminder that Paso is more than just wine, it’s an experience. 🍷 FEATURED GUESTS Tablas Creek Vineyard (Jason Haas) 🌐 https://tablascreek.com 📸 https://www.instagram.com/tablascreek/ MAHA Estate / Villa Creek (Cris Cherry) 🌐 https://www.villacreekwine.com 📸 https://www.instagram.com/villacreekcellars/ 🌐 PASO WINE WIRE Paso Wine Fanatics Annual Tasting at Caliza Winery One of the most passionate wine communities in the country is bringing the heat this spring. Owner-poured wines, gourmet food, live music, and Adam co-hosting. 🔗 https://pasorobleswinefanatics.com/pages/events Soup & Syrah Festival (April 12, Templeton) Comfort food meets Rhône magic, all benefiting Jack’s Helping Hand. 🔗 https://pasoroblesdailynews.com/soup-and-syrah-festival-benefits-programs-for-children-with-special-needs/219172/ Robert Hall Launches ROC Wines at Whole Foods A major milestone. Regenerative organic wines are hitting national retail shelves, and Paso’s impact just went mainstream. 🌴 TRAVEL PASO SPOTLIGHT Firestone Walker Brewing Company 🌐 https://www.firestonewalker.com Plan your trip → https://travelpaso.com 🌱 LEARN MORE ABOUT ROC 🔗 https://pasowine.com/grower_certification/regenerative-organic-certified/ 🔗 https://regenorganic.org 🎉 PASO WINE FEST WEEKEND MAY 15-17 Paso Wine Fest and Paired Paso One of the region’s premier events featuring winemakers and chefs, including Adam as a judge https://pasowine.com/consumer_events/paired-paso/ Sparkling Paso A must for bubble lovers, showcasing sparkling wines from across the region https://pasowine.com/consumer_events/sparkling-paso/ 🎯 Plan your next Paso Robles getaway at travelpaso.com 🎧 Subscribe & Follow Love Where Wine Takes You? Leave a review, subscribe, and share it with a fellow wine (or Paso) lover. 🎙️ Credits Executive Producer: Joel Peterson + Paso Wine Associate Producer: Krista Smith Recorded, edited, hosted by Adam Montiel Follow Adam: @AdamOnTheAir Explore all things Adam: AdamMontiel.com Listen to Adam’s other shows: Up + Adam (daily) and The Pour (wine & more, travel, culture) Learn more, connect, or say hey at AdamMontiel.com/connect 🎵 Original music by Moonshiner Collective 📱 Download the Paso Wine App 🍷 Plan your trip at PasoWine.com and follow @PasoWine 🎯 Plan your next Paso Robles getaway at travelpaso.com 🎧 Subscribe & Follow If you love Where Wine Takes You, make sure to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with your favorite wine or Paso lover.  ©2026 Where Wine Takes You, All Rights Reserved.  

  6. 163

    Ep 164: Exploring the Creston District Sub AVA – Featuring Ella’s Vineyard | Defiance Vineyard

    🍇 Where Wine Takes You – Episode Highlights 🍷 In this episode of Where Wine Takes You, Adam heads east into one of Paso Robles’ most quietly compelling sub-AVAs, the Creston District. It’s a place that doesn’t shout for attention, but once you find it, it sticks with you. Adam sits down with Erin Faulkner, co-owner of Defiance Vineyard, and Josh Morris, owner and winemaker of Ella’s Vineyard, two producers carving out their own identities in a part of Paso defined by elevation, wind, and independence. Erin shares the story behind Defiance, a true family-built operation that started from raw land and evolved into a Bordeaux-focused program rooted in intention and individuality. Josh brings a different lens with Ella’s Vineyard, leaning into Italian varietals, concrete fermentation, and a hospitality-driven experience that reflects both precision and personality. Together, the conversation dives into what makes Creston different, not just in terroir, but in mindset. A place where winemakers aren’t following a template, they’re building their own. Later in the show, Adam shifts from quiet vineyard hills to center stage, catching up with Manuel Barba from the Vina Robles Amphitheatre. They talk about the upcoming concert season, evolving guest experiences, and why this venue continues to be one of the most unique places to see a show on the Central Coast. 🍷 FEATURED GUESTS & WINERIES Defiance Vineyard • Website: https://www.defiancevineyard.com/ • IG: https://www.instagram.com/defiancevineyard/ Ella’s Vineyard • Website: https://www.ellasvineyard.com/ • IG: https://www.instagram.com/ellasvineyard Learn more about the Creston District AVA • https://pasowine.com/creston-district-2/ • https://paso.guides.winefolly.com/regions/ 🌐 PASO WINE WIRE Opolo Vineyards Releases Second Vintage of Vranac America’s only varietal bottling of this bold Balkan grape returns with its 2022 vintage, a unique Paso take on a Montenegrin classic. 🔗 https://www.winebusiness.com/news/article/315639 Solterra Strategies & Sensorio Win Visit California Poppy Award A major win for local storytelling and tourism marketing, highlighting Paso’s growing presence on a statewide stage. 🔗 https://www.winebusiness.com/news/article/315619 Halter Ranch Earns Glyphosate Residue Free Certification A first for Paso Robles, signaling a deeper push toward transparency and sustainability in the vineyard and in the bottle. 🔗 https://www.winebusiness.com/news/article/315631 🌅 TRAVEL PASO SPOTLIGHT Vina Robles Amphitheatre One of the Central Coast’s premier live music venues, offering an intimate, high-quality concert experience right in the heart of wine country. Website: https://www.vinaroblesamphitheatre.com • IG: https://www.instagram.com/vinaroblesamphitheatre   🎉 PASO WINE FEST WEEKEND MAY 15-17 Paso Wine Fest and Paired Paso One of the region’s premier events featuring winemakers and chefs, including Adam as a judge https://pasowine.com/consumer_events/paired-paso/ Sparkling Paso A must for bubble lovers, showcasing sparkling wines from across the region https://pasowine.com/consumer_events/sparkling-paso/ 🎯 Plan your next Paso Robles getaway at travelpaso.com 🎧 Subscribe & Follow Love Where Wine Takes You? Leave a review, subscribe, and share it with a fellow wine (or Paso) lover. 🎙️ Credits Executive Producer: Joel Peterson + Paso Wine Associate Producer: Krista Smith Recorded, edited, hosted by Adam Montiel Follow Adam: @AdamOnTheAir Explore all things Adam: AdamMontiel.com Listen to Adam’s other shows: Up + Adam (daily) and The Pour (wine & more, travel, culture) Learn more, connect, or say hey at AdamMontiel.com/connect 🎵 Original music by Moonshiner Collective 📱 Download the Paso Wine App 🍷 Plan your trip at PasoWine.com and follow @PasoWine 🎯 Plan your next Paso Robles getaway at travelpaso.com 🎧 Subscribe & Follow If you love Where Wine Takes You, make sure to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with your favorite wine or Paso lover.  ©2026 Where Wine Takes You, All Rights Reserved.  

  7. 162

    Ep 163: Atascadero: Paso Wine’s Next Scene – Featuring Marin’s Vineyard | Ruby Cellars

    🍇 Where Wine Takes You Episode Highlights 🍷 In this episode, Adam heads just south of Paso Robles into Atascadero, a town that is quickly becoming one of the most exciting new pockets of the Central Coast wine scene. Adam sits down with Ryan Kirkpatrick of Ruby Cellars and Marin Wolgamott of Marin’s Vineyard, two winemakers with very different paths but a shared belief in what Atascadero is becoming. Ryan, born and raised in Atascadero, brings a family legacy forward while evolving Ruby Cellars into a more expressive, story-driven brand. His work spans Bordeaux blends, experimental wines, and a growing passion for dessert wines that continues to shape the winery’s future. Marin, a rising winemaker and entrepreneur, is building something uniquely her own. From her aromatic Viognier-based pét-nat to a welcoming tasting room that reflects her personality and perspective, her approach is intentional, fresh, and deeply personal. Together, they represent a new wave of Paso-adjacent energy rooted in community, creativity, and a willingness to take risks. Later in the show, Adam connects with David Morneau of Paso Robles Inn, diving into the transformation of this historic property. The conversation explores the reopening of Cattlemen’s Bar, the upcoming rooftop concept Salina, and a new restaurant called The Pass created in collaboration with Chef Charlie Palmer. 🌐 PASO WINE WIRE (WHAT’S HAPPENING NOW) Calcareous Vineyard celebrates 25 years A major milestone for one of Paso’s iconic estates. The winery is marking the occasion with a renovated tasting room, elevated hospitality, and a full calendar of events throughout the year. It’s a reminder that Paso’s early visionaries are still pushing forward. 🔗 https://pasoroblesdailynews.com/winery-celebrates-25-years-with-tasting-room-renovation/218561/ Firestone Walker releases Sunglider Golden Lager This new seasonal beer is more than just a crisp, easy drinker. It highlights California-grown ingredients and the brewery’s sustainability efforts, from solar energy to water recycling. A look at how Central Coast producers are thinking long-term. 🔗 https://pasoroblesdailynews.com/firestone-walker-releases-new-sunglider-golden-lager-brewed-with-california-barley/218546/ Lohr refreshes its Seven Oaks Cabernet One of the most recognizable Paso wines gets a label update that puts Paso Robles front and center. It reflects how far the region has come, from a growing area to a nationally recognized Cabernet destination. 🔗 https://www.winebusiness.com/news/article/315407 🍷 FEATURED IN THIS EPISODE Ruby Cellars https://rubycellars.com Instagram https://www.instagram.com/rubycellars/ Marin’s Vineyard https://www.marinsvineyard.com/ Instagram https://www.instagram.com/marinsvineyard/ 🏨 TRAVEL PASO SPOTLIGHT Paso Robles Inn A historic property in the heart of downtown Paso undergoing a major transformation, including new culinary concepts and refreshed guest experiences. https://pasoroblesinn.com/ Cattlemen’s Bar A revived local institution rooted in Paso’s ranching history. Think strong drinks, community energy, and a true Central Coast vibe. https://www.cattlemenspaso.com/ 🎉 PASO WINE FEST WEEKEND MAY 15-17 Paso Wine Fest and Paired Paso One of the region’s premier events featuring winemakers and chefs, including Adam as a judge https://pasowine.com/consumer_events/paired-paso/ Sparkling Paso A must for bubble lovers, showcasing sparkling wines from across the region https://pasowine.com/consumer_events/sparkling-paso/ 🎯 Plan your next Paso Robles getaway at travelpaso.com 🎧 Subscribe & Follow Love Where Wine Takes You? Leave a review, subscribe, and share it with a fellow wine (or Paso) lover. 🎙️ Credits Executive Producer: Joel Peterson + Paso Wine Associate Producer: Krista Smith Recorded, edited, hosted by Adam Montiel Follow Adam: @AdamOnTheAir Explore all things Adam: AdamMontiel.com Listen to Adam’s other shows: Up + Adam (daily) and The Pour (wine & more, travel, culture) Learn more, connect, or say hey at AdamMontiel.com/connect 🎵 Original music by Moonshiner Collective 📱 Download the Paso Wine App 🍷 Plan your trip at PasoWine.com and follow @PasoWine 🎯 Plan your next Paso Robles getaway at travelpaso.com 🎧 Subscribe & Follow If you love Where Wine Takes You, make sure to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with your favorite wine or Paso lover.  ©2026 Where Wine Takes You, All Rights Reserved.  

  8. 161

    Ep 162: Wine Country for Everyone: Family Friendly Wineries – Featuring Glunz Family Winery | Dark Star Cellars

    🍇 Where Wine Takes You – Episode Highlights 🍷 In this episode of Where Wine Takes You, Adam Montiel sits down with Michael Emlie of Dark Star Cellars and brothers Matt and Steve Glunz of Glunz Family Winery & Cellars for a conversation about something Paso Robles does especially well, family-friendly wine country. Recorded at Lobro Studios, the conversation flows the way great wine conversations should, with glasses on the table, stories in the air, and a few laughs along the way. Michael Emlie shares the classic Paso story of how a longtime Los Angeles attorney fell in love with Paso Robles while visiting for Wine Fest and eventually traded courtrooms for barrels when he purchased Dark Star Cellars. Over a decade later, Dark Star remains one of Paso’s most relaxed and welcoming spots, a place where guests can enjoy great wine while kids, dogs, and friends all feel right at home. Adam is also joined by Matt and Steve Glunz, part of a family wine legacy that stretches back to 1888 Chicago, when their ancestor Louis Glunz opened a wine and spirits shop that would eventually grow into one of the country’s longest-running family wine businesses. Today the brothers continue that legacy in Paso Robles, producing wines at Glunz Family Winery & Cellars, located along Highway 46 East just outside town. Together, the group explores the idea that Paso Robles wine country can be both world-class and welcoming, where incredible wines, heritage vineyards, and family-owned wineries coexist with picnic tables, dogs underfoot, and kids running around the property. Later in the show, Adam connects with Corey Jordan, founder of Libretto, an intimate live music venue in downtown Paso Robles that has quickly become a cultural gem in wine country. Corey shares the story behind Libretto’s incredible Steinway concert grand piano, the world-class musicians performing in the space, and the upcoming inaugural Paso Robles Jazz Festival, a three-day event that will bring Grammy-winning jazz artists to Paso and culminate with a spectacular performance at Sensorio’s Field of Lights. 🍷 Featured Guests • Dark Star Cellars – Paso Robles https://www.darkstarcellars.com/ Instagram: @darkstarcellars • Glunz Family Winery & Cellars – Paso Robles https://www.glunzfamilywinery.com/ Instagram: @glunzfamilywinery 🌴 Travel Paso Spotlight • Libretto – Live Music Venue https://www.librettopaso.com/ Instagram: @librettopaso • Paso Robles Jazz Festival (Inaugural 2026) https://www.pasoroblesjazzfest.com/ 🌐 Paso Wine Wire 46 West Revives Paso Zinfandel Festival The wineries of 46 West are bringing back Zinfest Weekend, celebrating Paso’s heritage grape with a grand tasting at Castoro Cellars and events throughout the weekend. Tickets & Info: https://my805tix.com/e/zinfest-weekend-2026 https://46west.wine/ McPrice Myers Wines Launches Student Tasting Program College students 21+ can now enjoy a $10 tasting flight — helping open the door for the next generation of wine lovers and industry professionals. Read more: https://pasoroblesdailynews.com/paso-robles-winery-launches-discounted-tastings-for-college-students/218705/ California Mid-State Fair Opens Home Brewing & Winemaking Competitions Local makers can enter beer, cider, perry, and wine for judging as part of the fair’s long-running traditions. Details: https://pasoroblesdailynews.com/california-mid-state-fair-opens-entries-for-home-brewing-competitions/218482/ Remembering Jake Beckett of Peachy Canyon Winery A moving tribute from writer R.H. Drexel honoring the life and legacy of Jake Beckett. Read the piece: https://jebdunnuck.com/2026/03/r-h-drexel-a-wise-man-makes-his-own-luck-remembering-jake-beckett-of-peachy-canyon-winery/ 🎯 Plan your next Paso Robles getaway at travelpaso.com 🎧 Subscribe & Follow Love Where Wine Takes You? Leave a review, subscribe, and share it with a fellow wine (or Paso) lover. 🎙️ Credits Executive Producer: Joel Peterson + Paso Wine Associate Producer: Krista Smith Recorded, edited, hosted by Adam Montiel Follow Adam: @AdamOnTheAir Explore all things Adam: AdamMontiel.com Listen to Adam’s other shows: Up + Adam (daily) and The Pour (wine & more, travel, culture) Learn more, connect, or say hey at AdamMontiel.com/connect 🎵 Original music by Moonshiner Collective 📱 Download the Paso Wine App 🍷 Plan your trip at PasoWine.com and follow @PasoWine 🎯 Plan your next Paso Robles getaway at travelpaso.com 🎧 Subscribe & Follow If you love Where Wine Takes You, make sure to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with your favorite wine or Paso lover.  ©2026 Where Wine Takes You, All Rights Reserved.    

  9. 160

    EP 161: Paso AVA Series: The Willow Creek District – Featuring Caliza Winery | Jack Creek Cellars

    🍇 Where Wine Takes You – Episode Highlights 🌊🐎 In this episode of Where Wine Takes You, Adam sits down with two Westside Paso farmers who bet on place and trusted the dirt beneath their feet.  Carl Bowker of Caliza Winery and John Lemstra of Jack Creek Cellars join the show to talk about the power, elegance and diurnal magic of the Willow Creek District AVA, one of Paso Robles’ most compelling sub appellations. From ripping out 30 acres of Pinot and Chardonnay to replant Rhône varieties. From 4,000 cow dairy mornings in Tulare to cool climate Pinot Noir near York Mountain. This episode is about conviction, farming and crafting wines with both restraint and presence. 🍷 Featured Guests Carl Bowker Caliza Winery Estate driven Rhône varietals rooted in limestone soils. Celebrating 20 harvests and a new estate location on Peachy Canyon Road. https://www.calizawinery.com 2570 Peachy Canyon Rd, Paso Robles End of the Day Tasting Room Tin City, Paso Robles John Lemstra Jack Creek Cellars Former dairy farmer turned Pinot Noir specialist farming one of the coolest pockets of the Willow Creek District. https://www.jackcreekcellars.com 5265 Jack Creek Rd, Templeton 🏔️ About the Willow Creek District AVA Established 2014 Elevation ranges roughly 900 to 1,900 feet Approximately 1,400 planted vineyard acres Significant diurnal shift driven by Templeton Gap influence Limestone and shale based soils Known for Rhône varieties, structured Syrah, Grenache, Mourvèdre and distinctive Pinot Noir Learn more https://pasowine.com/willow-creek-district/ 🍷 Wines Discussed From Caliza Winery: Azimuth GSM blend 100 percent Syrah Cohort Cab and Petit Sirah driven blend Estate Grenache Concrete Grenache End of the Day Albariño End of the Day Graciano From Jack Creek Cellars: Concrete Chardonnay Estate Pinot Noir 100 percent Mourvèdre Petit Sirah The Straight and Narrow GSM blend 📰 Paso Wine Wire Hawks Hill Ranch and Boutz Cellars now share a tasting room inside a heritage barn overlooking the Adelaida District. A Westside collaboration bringing estate Rhône wines and Greek varietals together under one roof. https://www.hawkshillranch.com https://www.boutzcellars.com Wine 4 Paws returns April 25 and 26 benefiting Woods Humane Society. Participating wineries and businesses across SLO County donate 10 percent of sales for the weekend. Since 2009 the event has raised more than 750,000 dollars for homeless pets. https://wine4paws.com McPrice Myers Wines collaborates with Hog Island Oyster Co. on Sea Legacy, a limited 100 percent Clairette Blanche release benefiting the White Abalone Project. https://mcpricemyers.com 🌴 Travel Paso Spotlight Rhone Rangers March 20 and 21 Adam connects with Kim Murphy Rodriguez, Executive Director of Rhone Rangers, to preview their upcoming event celebrating American grown Rhône varieties. Seminars. Tastings. Winemaker panels. Rhône education at its best. https://rhonerangers.org Planning a weekend around it Start here: https://travelpaso.com 🎉 Paso Wine Fest Paso Wine Fest returns May 15 through 17. Locals Only Grand Tasting tickets at $99 are available through February 28 to San Luis Obispo County residents. In-person purchase required. 🔗 https://pasowine.com/ 🎟️ Win a pair of tickets at 🔗 https://adammontiel.com/ 🎯 Plan your next Paso Robles getaway at travelpaso.com 🎧 Subscribe & Follow Love Where Wine Takes You? Leave a review, subscribe, and share it with a fellow wine (or Paso) lover. 🎙️ Credits Executive Producer: Joel Peterson + Paso Wine Associate Producer: Krista Smith Recorded, edited, hosted by Adam Montiel Follow Adam: @AdamOnTheAir Explore all things Adam: AdamMontiel.com Listen to Adam’s other shows: Up + Adam (daily) and The Pour (wine & more, travel, culture) Learn more, connect, or say hey at AdamMontiel.com/connect 🎵 Original music by Moonshiner Collective 📱 Download the Paso Wine App 🍷 Plan your trip at PasoWine.com and follow @PasoWine 🎯 Plan your next Paso Robles getaway at travelpaso.com 🎧 Subscribe & Follow If you love Where Wine Takes You, make sure to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with your favorite wine or Paso lover.  ©2026 Where Wine Takes You, All Rights Reserved.  

  10. 159

    Ep 160: Paso Wine by the Sea – Featuring Absolution Cellars | Hearst Ranch Winery

    🍇 Where Wine Takes You – Episode Highlights 🌊🐎 In this coastal-meets-cowboy episode of Where Wine Takes You, Adam heads west, all the way to the waterline, for a conversation about tasting rooms by the ocean and how proximity to the Pacific changes the wine experience. First up, Soren Christensen, winemaker for Hearst Ranch Winery, shares what it is like pouring wine across the street from Hearst Castle in San Simeon. With 25 Paso harvests under his belt, including time at Hope Family Wines and Alta Colina, Soren talks about legacy, instinct, and crafting wines worthy of the Hearst name. From Rhône varieties to Bordeaux blends, and even a run-in with ranch longhorns, Soren brings grounded Paso wisdom with an ocean view. Then meet Dirk Neumann, owner and winemaker of Absolution Cellars in Morro Bay. A second-career winemaker who packed up South Florida and moved west without a master plan, Dirk now produces limited-production, single-vineyard wines from across the Central Coast. His tasting room on the Morro Bay Embarcadero offers albariño, tempranillo, tribiano, and more, often with sea otters floating by outside the patio. It is Old World philosophy, New World creativity, and a whole lot of coastal energy. Later in the show, Adam connects with Tami Rodman and Ashley Hallinan of the Pacific Coast Cutting Horse Association. From lightning-fast turns to “cow sense,” they break down the adrenaline and heritage behind the sport of cutting. The 2026 PCCHA Trainers Gold Club Roundup runs March 3 through 8, a major event showcasing elite horses, riders, and more than one million dollars in purses across premier competitions. This episode explores what happens when wine meets water and when Western heritage meets modern Paso culture. 🍷 Featured Wineries Hearst Ranch Winery San Simeon Tasting Room across from Hearst Castle 🔗 https://www.hearstranchwinery.com/ 📸 IG: @hearstranchwinery Absolution Cellars Morro Bay Embarcadero Tasting Room 🔗 https://www.absolutioncellars.com/ 📸 IG: @absolutioncellars 🌐 PASO WINE WIRE Hope Family Wines Installs Major Rooftop Solar Array 1,500 solar panels now offset 60 percent of the winery’s energy use, marking another major sustainability milestone. 🔗 https://pasoroblesdailynews.com/paso-robles-winery-installs-major-rooftop-solar-array/218162/ Robert Hall Winery Marks One-Year Anniversary of Regenerative “One Block Challenge” A 40-acre side-by-side regenerative viticulture study continues to position Paso as a leader in climate-smart farming. 🔗 https://www.winebusiness.com/news/article/313815 Celebration of Life for Jake Beckett of Peachy Canyon Winery Honoring the legacy of a multi-generational Paso wine leader. 🔗 https://pasoroblesdailynews.com/celebration-of-life-honors-the-legacy-of-jacob-jake-russell-beckett/217825/ 🐎 Travel Paso Spotlight Pacific Coast Cutting Horse Association 🔗 https://pccha.com/ 📅 2026 PCCHA Trainers Gold Club Roundup, March 3 through 8 🔗 Event Info: https://pccha.com/shows.asp?id=75 🎉 Paso Wine Fest Paso Wine Fest returns May 15 through 17. Locals Only Grand Tasting tickets at $99 are available through February 28 to San Luis Obispo County residents. In-person purchase required. 🔗 https://pasowine.com/ 🎟️ Win a pair of tickets at 🔗 https://adammontiel.com/ 🎯 Plan your next Paso Robles getaway at travelpaso.com 🎧 Subscribe & Follow Love Where Wine Takes You? Leave a review, subscribe, and share it with a fellow wine (or Paso) lover. 🎙️ Credits Executive Producer: Joel Peterson + Paso Wine Associate Producer: Krista Smith Recorded, edited, hosted by Adam Montiel Follow Adam: @AdamOnTheAir Explore all things Adam: AdamMontiel.com Listen to Adam’s other shows: Up + Adam (daily) and The Pour (wine & more, travel, culture) Learn more, connect, or say hey at AdamMontiel.com/connect 🎵 Original music by Moonshiner Collective 📱 Download the Paso Wine App 🍷 Plan your trip at PasoWine.com and follow @PasoWine 🎯 Plan your next Paso Robles getaway at travelpaso.com 🎧 Subscribe & Follow If you love Where Wine Takes You, make sure to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with your favorite wine or Paso lover.  ©2026 Where Wine Takes You, All Rights Reserved.  

  11. 158

    Ep 159: Paso AVA Series – The Adelaida District – Featuring Kiamie Wine Cellars | Ciento Cellars

    🍇 Where Wine Takes You – Episode 159  We’re kicking off a brand-new Where Wine Takes You series spotlighting the 11 sub-AVAs of Paso Robles, and first up: the iconic, elevated, ‘limestone’-rich Adelaida District. Host Adam Montiel is joined by: Dave & Antonia Carpenter – Founders of Ciento Cellars, a bold, family-run label rooted in the hills of Adelaida Aram Deirmenjian – Co-owner of Kiamie Wine Cellars, known for killer blends sourced from top westside growers like Halter Ranch and Glunz Together, they talk terroir, winemaking dreams, and what makes this high-elevation zone truly one-of-a-kind. Also in this episode: 📰 Paso Wine Wire 🏆 Brian & Stephy Terrizzi of Giornata Wines + Etto Pastificio named 2025 Paso Robles Wine Industry Persons of the Year Read More 📺 Vanderpump Rules films in Paso. Rava Wines was featured this week, and Tobin James Cellars is next. Episode Coverage 🍇 Tablas Creek Vineyard announces new winemaking leadership Read Story 🌴 Travel Paso Spotlight: Paso Robles Distillery Trail We’re joined by Kathleen Naughton, Project Coordinator of the Paso Robles Distillery Trail, to talk: 🍸 From the Barrel — secret-location, speakeasy-style event (March 30, 2024) 🥃 Copper Card — one tasting at every distillery on the trail for a full year 🔥 Distillery Trail Weekend — coming August 2024 Join the waitlist or learn more: pasoroblesdistillerytrail.com 🎯 Plan your next Paso Robles getaway at travelpaso.com 🎧 Subscribe & Follow Love Where Wine Takes You? Leave a review, subscribe, and share it with a fellow wine (or Paso) lover. 🎙️ Credits Executive Producer: Joel Peterson + Paso Wine Associate Producer: Krista Smith Recorded, edited, hosted by Adam Montiel Follow Adam: @AdamOnTheAir Explore all things Adam: AdamMontiel.com Listen to Adam’s other shows: Up + Adam (daily) and The Pour (wine & more, travel, culture) Learn more, connect, or say hey at AdamMontiel.com/connect 🎵 Original music by Moonshiner Collective 📱 Download the Paso Wine App 🍷 Plan your trip at PasoWine.com and follow @PasoWine 🎯 Plan your next Paso Robles getaway at travelpaso.com 🎧 Subscribe & Follow If you love Where Wine Takes You, make sure to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with your favorite wine or Paso lover.  ©2026 Where Wine Takes You, All Rights Reserved.  

  12. 157

    EP 158: Paso Wine Industry Persons of the Year – Brian & Stephy Terrizzi of Giornata & Etto Pastificio

    🍇 Where Wine Takes You – Episode 158:  This episode celebrates two people who define what Paso Robles is all about — Brian and Stephy Terrizzi, this year’s Paso Wine Industry Persons of the Year. Brian and Stephy are the powerhouse duo behind Giornata Wines and Etto Pastificio, both based in Paso’s Tin City. Together, they’ve blended Old World Italian sensibility with the creative pulse of Paso — crafting wines that rival the best of Italy and pasta that’s become a staple from local kitchens to Michelin-level restaurants. We talk about their path from Fresno State to Italy, how they built two thriving brands rooted in authenticity, and how they’ve made community impact part of their business — including thousands of pasta meals donated to local schools. 🍝 FEATURED GUESTS Brian & Stephy Terrizzi — Owners of Giornata Wines & Etto Pastificio Giornata Wines Etto Pastificio 📍 Tin City, Paso Robles, CA 📸 Instagram: @giornatawines | @ettopastificio 🌟 TRAVEL PASO SPOTLIGHT Our spotlight this episode shines on Branden Cancino, President of the Downtown Paso Wine District and Tasting Room Manager at Tank Garage Winery. Branden shares how Paso’s downtown tasting scene has evolved into one of California’s most exciting wine destinations — and gives us a look at their upcoming February 28 event, bringing together 20+ wineries, food, and live music. 🎟️ Tickets & info → DowntownWineDistrictPaso.com | ThePasoVibe.com ✨ Plan your next trip → TravelPaso.com 📰 PASO WINE WIRE Paso Robles Wine Month goes national (May 2026) — A collaboration between the Paso Robles CAB Collective, Paso Wine Country Alliance, and Travel Paso bringing Paso to new audiences nationwide. Learn more → PasoRoblesWineMonth.com Paso Robles makes East Coast headlines — Nantucket Magazine calls Paso “The Classic American Wine Story,” celebrating its pioneer roots and terroir diversity. Paso Wine 2025 DTC Report — Paso held strong with just a 2% dip in direct-to-consumer sales versus 6% statewide, proving the region’s loyal following. Read more → PasoWine.com 🎟️ EVENTS & LINKS Paso Wine Fest 2026 → May 15–17, 2026 🎫 Locals Only tickets available through Feb 28 for $99 Buy in person at the Paso or SLO Chamber of Commerce with local ID. Full details → PasoWine.com 🎯 Plan your next Paso Robles getaway at travelpaso.com 🎧 Subscribe & Follow Love Where Wine Takes You? Leave a review, subscribe, and share it with a fellow wine (or Paso) lover. 🎙️ Credits Executive Producer: Joel Peterson + Paso Wine Associate Producer: Krista Smith Recorded, edited, hosted by Adam Montiel Follow Adam: @AdamOnTheAir Explore all things Adam: AdamMontiel.com Listen to Adam’s other shows: Up + Adam (daily) and The Pour (wine & more, travel, culture) Learn more, connect, or say hey at AdamMontiel.com/connect 🎵 Original music by Moonshiner Collective 📱 Download the Paso Wine App 🍷 Plan your trip at PasoWine.com and follow @PasoWine 🎯 Plan your next Paso Robles getaway at travelpaso.com 🎧 Subscribe & Follow If you love Where Wine Takes You, make sure to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with your favorite wine or Paso lover.  ©2025 Where Wine Takes You, All Rights Reserved.  

  13. 156

    Ep 157 – Part 2 | 20 Years of Torrin Wines: From Helping Others to Holding His Own

    🍇 Where Wine Takes You – Episode 156:  Part 2: 20 Years of Torrin: From Helping Others to Holding His Own  In this follow-up to our deep dive with Scott and Viquel Hawley of Torrin, Adam picks up right where we left off. More stories from 20 vintages of balance, grit, and staying true to their winemaking vision and their family. If you loved Part 1, this pour is even deeper. • Torrin Wines: torrinwines.com • IG: @torrinwines 🎯 Travel Paso Spotlight This week’s spotlight takes us to Willow Creek Distillery, located at Opolo Vineyards. Head Distiller Kevin Coulton joins Adam to talk about the art of small-batch spirits, how Opolo’s wines inspired the distillery’s unique approach, and what makes their Paso-grown ingredients so special. They also unveil their brand new gin — a fresh expression of Paso in a bottle. Plan your trip at travelpaso.com 📰 PASO WINE WIRE • Remembering Jake Beckett The Paso Robles wine community is mourning the sudden loss of Jake Beckett, beloved GM of Peachy Canyon Winery and son of founders Doug and Nancy Beckett. Jake was instrumental in running day-to-day operations while his brother Josh built out Thibido and Écluse. His passion, warmth, and leadership left a lasting mark on West Side Paso. 🔗 Family Statement • Paso Wine Fest 2026 — Locals Only Ticket Window Now Open San Luis Obispo County residents can lock in early-bird Grand Tasting tickets for just $99 through Feb. 28. Tickets must be purchased in person at the Paso or SLO Chamber of Commerce with a valid local ID. 🔗 PasoWine.com • Hope Family Wines Named Official Wine of Vina Robles Amphitheatre The 2026 concert season at Vina Robles will feature wines exclusively from the Austin Hope portfolio, including Treana, Liberty School, and more. Club members will enjoy early ticket access and special perks. 🔗 Read the story 🎧 Subscribe & Follow Love Where Wine Takes You? Leave a review, subscribe, and share it with a fellow wine (or cocktail) lover. 🎙️ Credits Executive Producer: Joel Peterson + Paso Wine Associate Producer: Krista Smith Recorded, edited, hosted by Adam Montiel Follow Adam: @AdamOnTheAir Explore all things Adam: AdamMontiel.com Listen to Adam’s other shows: Up + Adam (daily) and The Pour (wine & more, travel, culture) Learn more, connect, or say hey at AdamMontiel.com/connect 🎵 Original music by Moonshiner Collective 📱 Download the Paso Wine App 🍷 Plan your trip at PasoWine.com and follow @PasoWine 🎯 Plan your next Paso Robles getaway at travelpaso.com 🎧 Subscribe & Follow If you love Where Wine Takes You, make sure to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with your favorite wine or Paso lover.  ©2025 Where Wine Takes You, All Rights Reserved.  

  14. 155

    Ep 156: 20 Years of Torrin: From Helping Others to Holding His Own (Part 1)- Featuring Torrin Wines

    🍷 Where Wine Takes You – Episode 156:  20 Years of Torrin: From Helping Others to Holding His Own 🍇 In this episode of Where Wine Takes You, Adam sits down with one of Paso’s most respected and quietly legendary winemaking couples, Scott and Viquel Hawley of Torrin Wines, as they mark their 20th vintage. From their landlocked beginnings between Booker and L’Aventure to becoming one of Paso’s benchmark brands, the Hawleys share their winemaking philosophy, what balance means to them, and the soulful evolution of their wines. They even open a bottle of their very first vintage — 2006 — and talk about what’s changed, what hasn’t, and how Torrin continues to define West Side Paso. In the Paso Wine Wire, Adam reflects on the sudden loss of Jake Beckett of Peachy Canyon, and honors his impact on Paso wine. Plus, a locals-only deal for Paso Wine Fest 2026, and Hope Family Wines takes center stage as the new official wine of Vina Robles Amphitheatre. This episode’s Travel Paso Spotlight features the newly renovated Bellesera Hotel, now part of the Hilton Tapestry Collection. Adam chats with GM Benny Cendali about the hotel’s full transformation, new dining direction, and why Bellesera is a true local-meets-luxury experience for visitors and staycationers alike. • Torrin Wines: torrinwines.com • IG: @torrinwines 🎯 Travel Paso Spotlight • Bellesera Hotel: belleserapasorobles.com • Enoteca: Dining at Bellesera • Plan your trip: travelpaso.com 📰 PASO WINE WIRE • Remembering Jake Beckett The Paso Robles wine community is mourning the sudden loss of Jake Beckett, beloved GM of Peachy Canyon Winery and son of founders Doug and Nancy Beckett. Jake was instrumental in running day-to-day operations while his brother Josh built out Thibido and Écluse. His passion, warmth, and leadership left a lasting mark on West Side Paso. 🔗 Family Statement • Paso Wine Fest 2026 — Locals Only Ticket Window Now Open San Luis Obispo County residents can lock in early-bird Grand Tasting tickets for just $99 through Feb. 28. Tickets must be purchased in person at the Paso or SLO Chamber of Commerce with a valid local ID. 🔗 PasoWine.com • Hope Family Wines Named Official Wine of Vina Robles Amphitheatre The 2026 concert season at Vina Robles will feature wines exclusively from the Austin Hope portfolio, including Treana, Liberty School, and more. Club members will enjoy early ticket access and special perks. 🔗 Read the story 🎧 Subscribe & Follow Love Where Wine Takes You? Leave a review, subscribe, and share it with a fellow wine (or cocktail) lover. 🎙️ Credits Executive Producer: Joel Peterson + Paso Wine Associate Producer: Krista Smith Recorded, edited, hosted by Adam Montiel Follow Adam: @AdamOnTheAir Explore all things Adam: AdamMontiel.com Listen to Adam’s other shows: Up + Adam (daily) and The Pour (wine & more, travel, culture) Learn more, connect, or say hey at AdamMontiel.com/connect 🎵 Original music by Moonshiner Collective 📱 Download the Paso Wine App 🍷 Plan your trip at PasoWine.com and follow @PasoWine 🎯 Plan your next Paso Robles getaway at travelpaso.com 🎧 Subscribe & Follow If you love Where Wine Takes You, make sure to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with your favorite wine or Paso lover.  ©2025 Where Wine Takes You, All Rights Reserved.  

  15. 154

    Ep 155 In Good Spirits: The Proof is in Paso – Featuring Donati Family Vineyard | Re:Find Distillery

    🍸 Where Wine Takes You – Episode 155: “A Spirited Start to 2026” 🥃 In this episode of Where Wine Takes You, Adam kicks off the new year with a deep pour into Paso’s cocktail and distillery scene. He’s joined by Alex and Monica Villicana, founders of Re:Find Distillery, who pioneered Paso’s sustainable spirits movement using free-run wine juice, aka saignée, to create premium vodka, gin, and more. Also in the mix is Briana Heywood, head winemaker and distiller at Donati Family Vineyard, who brings her deep winemaking chops to both wine and spirits production. Together, they talk trends, challenges, and what it means to distill with purpose in a wine-first town. In the Paso Wine Wire, Adam recaps a rain-drenched but spirited New Year’s Eve celebration in Downtown Paso, where he emceed under the stars and met amazing fans of the show (shout out to Angie & Eric from San Jose and Kim & Brett from Redondo Beach). He also pays tribute to the legendary Norma Moye, who recently passed away at 92 and leaves behind an unmatched legacy of civic love and downtown revitalization. Plus, big changes at Villa San Juliette Winery, where the celeb ownership era ends and a new chapter begins with Continental Vineyards. This episode’s Travel Paso Spotlight features two of Paso’s coolest hidden gems: the candlelit speakeasy 1122, recently named one of the world’s best, and The Remedy, a tucked-away cocktail bar inside The Alchemists’ Garden. Adam shares a special recorded convo with Tony Bennett, co-owner of The Remedy, about creating intimate cocktail experiences with soul. • Re:Find Distillery: refinddistillery.com • IG: @refinddistillery • Donati Family Vineyard: donatifamilyvineyard.com • Donati Spirits: donatispirits.com • IG: @donatifamilyvineyard 🎯 Travel Paso Spotlight • The Remedy: theremedyca.com • The Alchemists’ Garden: alchemistsgarden.com • 1122 Speakeasy: eleven-twentytwo.com • Plan your trip: travelpaso.com 📰 PASO WINE WIRE • Paso Rings in 2026 Downtown — Rain, live music, and major vibes 🔗 Event Recap • Norma Moye Remembered — Civic matriarch, downtown champion 🔗 Tribute Story • Villa San Juliette Winery Sold — Celebrity era ends, new vision begins 🔗 Ownership Change 🎧 Subscribe & Follow Love Where Wine Takes You? Leave a review, subscribe, and share it with a fellow wine (or cocktail) lover. 🎙️ Credits Executive Producer: Joel Peterson + Paso Wine Associate Producer: Krista Smith Recorded, edited, hosted by Adam Montiel Follow Adam: @AdamOnTheAir Explore all things Adam: AdamMontiel.com Listen to Adam’s other shows: Up + Adam (daily) and The Pour (wine & more, travel, culture) Learn more, connect, or say hey at AdamMontiel.com/connect 🎵 Original music by Moonshiner Collective 📱 Download the Paso Wine App 🍷 Plan your trip at PasoWine.com and follow @PasoWine 🎯 Plan your next Paso Robles getaway at travelpaso.com 🎧 Subscribe & Follow If you love Where Wine Takes You, make sure to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with your favorite wine or Paso lover.  ©2025 Where Wine Takes You, All Rights Reserved.

  16. 153

    Ep 154: West of Hell’s Kitchen – Featuring Jada Vineyard & Winery

    🍇 Where Wine Takes You – Episode Highlights 🍷 In this episode of Where Wine Takes You, Adam sits down with Nate Hall, head winemaker at Jada Vineyard & Winery in the Willow Creek District of Paso Robles. Nate didn’t grow up in the wine world. He studied ecology and marine biology at Cal Poly, then taught high school and did environmental research before answering the call of the cellar. After learning the ropes at places like Sextant and Kukkula, Nate joined Jada in 2017 and was named Head Winemaker in 2024, bringing a fresh, soil-first focus to their Rhône-style and Bordeaux-inspired program. And while Nate is shaping the future of Jada, the roots go back to one of Paso’s most respected names. Scott Hawley was Jada’s original consulting winemaker, helping launch their estate program and set the tone for what the vineyard would become. Later in the show, Adam makes a spontaneous call to Scott. A real, unfiltered convo that captures what makes Paso tick. Community, mentorship, and the magic that happens when the right people show up. In this episode’s Travel Paso Spotlight, Adam shines a light on Studios on the Park, the creative heart of downtown Paso Robles. This isn’t just a gallery. It’s a working art space where you can watch painters, sculptors, and makers do their thing in real time. Founded by artist Anne Laddon, Studios is all about access, connection, and community. The perfect artistic pairing to wine country vibes. Jada Vineyard & Winery: jadavineyard.com • IG: @jadawinery • Torrin Wine (Scott Hawley cameo): torrinwine.com Studios on the Park: studiosonthepark.org • IG: @studiospr PASO WINE WIRE: CJ Gormley Named Paso’s 2025 Hospitality Star Hope Family Wines’ national brand ambassador is recognized by the Paso Robles Wine Country Alliance for his hospitality leadership and ability to light up every room. 🔗 Read More Remembering Winemaker Christian Roguenant (1959–2025) The Central Coast sparkling wine pioneer, mentor, and musician leaves a lasting legacy. Celebration of Life is January 9, 2026. 🔗 Obituary 🔗 Tribute Article Vineyard Team Recaps 2025 Milestones SIP Certified hits 41,000 acres across CA, OR, and MI. Sustainable Ag Expo celebrates 20 years with 479 attendees and 80+ hours of education. 🔗 WineBusiness Story 🔗 Vineyard Team Website New Year’s Eve in Paso — Hosted by Adam Montiel Live music, food trucks, bonfire, and a 9 PM countdown in Downtown Paso’s City Park. 🔗 Event Info 🎉 Win an overnight stay at Paso Robles Inn and NYE dinner — enter now at adammontiel.com 🎯 Plan your next Paso Robles getaway at travelpaso.com 🎧 Subscribe & Follow If you love Where Wine Takes You, make sure to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with your favorite wine lover. Where Wine Takes You is Executive Produced by Joel Peterson and Paso Wine Associate Producer: Krista Smith Recorded, edited, produced, and hosted by Adam Montiel 📱 Download the free Paso Wine App — your ultimate guide to wine country. For the latest in Paso Robles Wine Country, check out PasoWine.com and follow @PasoWine Follow Adam on IG → @AdamOnTheAir Listen to Adam’s other shows: Up + Adam (daily) and The Pour (wine, travel, culture) Learn more, connect, or say hey at AdamMontiel.com 🎵 Original music by Moonshiner Collective If you love Where Wine Takes You, subscribe, leave a review, and share it! ©2025 Where Wine Takes You, All Rights Reserved.  

  17. 152

    Ep 153 – Harvest Wrap Up: The Long Game & The Leap – Featuring Oso Libre Winery | Shadow Run Vineyards

      🍇 Where Wine Takes You – Episode Highlights 🍷 In this episode of Where Wine Takes You, Adam sits down with two winemakers that have stepped into new chapters: Aaron Hunt of Shadow Run Vineyards and Michael Barretto of Oso Libre Winery. The conversation uncorks harvest reflections, the transition from family stewardship to full ownership, and what it means to go from the cellar to the boardroom. Aaron shares how taking over Shadow Run has reshaped his vision, while Michael opens up about becoming a partner at Oso Libre after years of hands-on hustle. Later, we spotlight Allegretto Vineyard Resort and their upcoming 12 Days of Festive Celebration, a magical holiday experience wrapped in wine country luxury. GUEST LINKS • Shadow Run Vineyards: shadowrunvineyards.com • IG: @shadowrunvineyards • Oso Libre Winery: osolibre.com • IG: @osolibrewinery TRAVEL PASO SPOTLIGHT • Allegretto Vineyard Resort: allegrettovineyardresort.com • IG: @allegrettoresort PASO WINE WIRE SOURCES • Thomas Hill Organics / Chef Mike Espy: GoFundMe – Support the Espy Family • Wine Country Christmas Market (Dec 7 @ McPrice Myers): Event Info • Caliza Winery’s New Location: Paso Robles Daily News 🎯 Plan your next Paso Robles getaway at travelpaso.com 🎧 Subscribe & Follow If you love Where Wine Takes You, make sure to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with your favorite wine lover. Where Wine Takes You is Executive Produced by Joel Peterson and Paso Wine Associate Producer: Krista Smith Recorded, edited, produced, and hosted by Adam Montiel 📱 Download the free Paso Wine App — your ultimate guide to wine country. For the latest in Paso Robles Wine Country, check out PasoWine.com and follow @PasoWine Follow Adam on IG → @AdamOnTheAir Listen to Adam’s other shows: Up + Adam (daily) and The Pour (wine, travel, culture) Learn more, connect, or say hey at AdamMontiel.com 🎵 Original music by Moonshiner Collective If you love Where Wine Takes You, subscribe, leave a review, and share it! ©2025 Where Wine Takes You, All Rights Reserved.  

  18. 151

    Ep 152 Like a Boss: From Reality TV to Reality Check – Featuring Vinyl Vineyards | Wine Boss

    🍇 Where Wine Takes You – Episode Highlights 🍷 In this episode of Where Wine Takes You, Adam sits down with three bold names shaking up Paso Robles: Tommy Booth of Wine Boss, and Dina & Jeff Hevert of Vinyl Vineyards. From Hollywood reality TV to rockstar collabs, this episode is a journey through reinvention, hustle, and the kind of creativity that makes Paso wine country unlike anywhere else. Recorded live at Lobro, the conversation dives into Tommy’s wild ride from Cal Poly viticulture student to crafting wine for Kevin Hart and Pepper, and how Jeff & Dina turned their passion for vintage trailers and music into a soulful, boutique vineyard experience. Later, we spotlight Tin City with Bri Brighlane, who shares what’s in store for the holidays at Paso’s urban wine collective with 44 creative producers packed into one unforgettable block. GUEST LINKS • Wine Boss: winebosspasorobles.com • IG: @wineboss_pasorobles • Vinyl Vineyards: vinylvin.com • IG: @vinylvineyards TRAVEL PASO SPOTLIGHT • Tin City: tincitypasorobles.com PASO WINE WIRE SOURCES • Jenny Heinzen Real Estate Feature: Paso Market Outlook 2025 • Grey Wolf Earthquake Story: The Tribune – SLO Earthquake 🎯 Plan your next Paso Robles getaway at travelpaso.com 🎧 Subscribe & Follow If you love Where Wine Takes You, make sure to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with your favorite wine lover. Where Wine Takes You is Executive Produced by Joel Peterson and Paso Wine Associate Producer: Krista Smith Recorded, edited, produced, and hosted by Adam Montiel 📱 Download the free Paso Wine App as your guide to all things wine country. For the latest in Paso Robles Wine Country, check out PasoWine.com and follow @PasoWine. Follow Adam on Instagram → @AdamOnTheAir Listen to Adam’s other shows: Up + Adam (daily podcast) and The Pour (wine, spirits, brews, lifestyle) Learn more, reach out, or connect at AdamMontiel.com 🎵 Original music by Moonshiner Collective If you love Where Wine Takes You, subscribe, leave a review, and share it! ©2025 Where Wine Takes You, All Rights Reserved.  

  19. 150

    Ep 151 Sip, Sleep, Repeat: Pondside Trailers & Pillow-Top Suites – Featuring SummerWood Inn & Winery | The Trailer Pond at Alta Colina

    🍇 Where Wine Takes You – Episode Highlights 🍷 This week on Where Wine Takes You, we’re exploring what happens when world-class wine meets next-level hospitality. Because in Paso Robles, where you lay your head after that last pour can shape the entire experience. Joining Adam are the dream team from SummerWood Winery & Inn: Winemaker Mauricio Marchant, Tasting Room & Wine Club Manager Margaret Shirley, and Inn Manager Angie Vazquez – alongside Maggie Tillman of Alta Colina Winery and the one-of-a-kind Trailer Pond glamping experience. This episode is a deep dive into how you sip and how you feel hospitality, and why the full wine country experience is worth getting right. It’s wine-story, and soulful-stay… straight from the source. 🍷 This episode features: Mauricio Marchant, Winemaker, SummerWood Winery • Margaret Shirley, Tasting Room & Wine Club Manager, SummerWood • Angie Vazquez, Inn Manager, SummerWood Inn • Maggie Tillman, HBIC, Alta Colina Winery & The Trailer Pond 🔗 Links SummerWood Winery & Inn • Alta Colina Winery • The Trailer Pond • Paso Robles Vacation Rentals – PasoStay • TravelPaso.com 📲 Follow on Instagram @summerwoodwinery • @altacolina • @thetrailerpond • @pasoroblesvacationrentals • @travelpaso 🧭 Travel Paso Spotlight Later in the episode, we spotlight Paso Robles Vacation Rentals, aka PasoStay.com, a locally owned service helping visitors book thoughtfully curated stays throughout Paso, from vineyard estates to charming downtown hideaways. Adam chats with Sandy Oneal about how the right place to stay can transform your trip. Originally founded by Kathy Bonelli with just a handful of properties over 20 years ago, Paso Robles Vacation Rentals now features more than 100 unique homes. The team partners with local property owners and works closely with community leaders and task forces to support the evolving landscape of vacation rentals in the region. 🎧 Subscribe & Follow If you love Where Wine Takes You, subscribe, leave a review, and share it with your favorite wine and travel junkies. Where Wine Takes You is Executive Produced by Joel Peterson and Paso Wine Associate Producer: Krista Smith Recorded, edited, produced, and hosted by Adam Montiel 📱 Download the free Paso Wine App 🔗 PasoWine.com 📸 Follow: @PasoWine, @AdamOnTheAir 🎙 Listen to Adam’s other shows: Up+Adam and The Pour 💻 Connect or reach out at AdamMontiel.com – Learn about Adam’s Breaking & Entering Christmas 🎵 Original music by Moonshiner Collective ©2025 Where Wine Takes You. All Rights Reserved.  

  20. 149

    Ep 150: Wine Life at the Intersection of Collaboration & Community – Featuring Gravesend | Cairjn Wine Cellars | STRAUSS

    🍇 Where Wine Takes You – Episode Highlights 🍷  Episode 150 turns a new page in Paso Robles. Adam sits down with the founders of Gravesend Paso, Matt Reese and Keith Robinson (also of Saint K Wines) along with Chef Amy Baer and rising winemaker Andy Neja of Cairjn Wine Cellars. We dig into why a name like Gravesend matters, how a kitchen is built entirely by women, how small lot winemaking finds new voice in Paso, and why hospitality is getting reimagined up and down Spring Street. Recorded at LoBro Studios in downtown Paso Robles. This episode features: • Matt Reese, Co-owner, Gravesend and Saint K Wines • Keith Robinson, Co-owner, Gravesend and Saint K Wines • Chef Amy Baer, Founder and Owner of Epicurean Santa Barbara and Executive Chef at Gravesend • Andy Neja, Owner and Winemaker at Cairjn Wine Cellars Links • Gravesend Paso • Saint K Wines • Cairjn Wine Cellars Follow on Instagram: Cairjn Wine Cellars → @cairjnwines Gravesend Wine Merchant & Eatery → @gravesendpaso Saint K Wines → @saintkwines  We also spotlight our unique partnership with Engelbert Strauss, the official workwear partner of Paso Robles Wine Country, and why it matters in the vineyard, the cellar, and beyond. I picked up the phone and spoke with Cris Cherry of Villa Creek & MAHA Estate and Janell Dusi of J Dusi Wines – two makers who know that craft isn’t just what happens in the glass, but who shows up in the fields, in the hands, in the gear. Their insights on harvest, community, and what it takes to make it count in Paso bring context to a partnership that’s built for the people doing the work. Paso Wine Wire • Garagiste Wine Festival returns Nov 7-8, in Paso Robles for its 15th anniversary → garagistefestival.com • Firestone Walker Brewing Company unveils a new CO2 recovery system in Paso Robles, expected to save four million pounds of emissions annually → firestonewalker.com • Ancient Peaks Winery hosted the 4th Annual Walk for Cancer at Santa Margarita Ranch → pasoroblespress.com Travel Paso Spotlight Later in the show we spotlight Taste! Craft Eatery in downtown Paso Robles, the same concept featured on Diners, Drive Ins and Dives. They offer over 60 mini dishes, sliders, mac and cheese, big flavor, and local wine pairing energy. • tastepasorobles.com   🎯 Plan your next Paso Robles getaway at travelpaso.com 🎧 Subscribe & Follow If you love Where Wine Takes You, make sure to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with your favorite wine lover. Where Wine Takes You is Executive Produced by Joel Peterson and Paso Wine Associate Producer: Krista Smith Recorded, edited, produced, and hosted by Adam Montiel 📱 Download the free Paso Wine App as your guide to all things wine country. For the latest in Paso Robles Wine Country, check out PasoWine.com and follow @PasoWine. Follow Adam on Instagram → @AdamOnTheAir Listen to Adam’s other shows: Up + Adam (daily podcast) and The Pour (wine, spirits, brews, lifestyle) Learn more, reach out, or connect at AdamMontiel.com 🎵 Original music by Moonshiner Collective If you love Where Wine Takes You, subscribe, leave a review, and share it! ©2025 Where Wine Takes You, All Rights Reserved.  

  21. 148

    Ep 149: Before the Buzz: Paso’s Tried and True Tasting Better than Ever – Featuring Caparone | RN Estate

    🍇 Where Wine Takes You – Episode Highlights 🍷 Two Paso originals, zero gimmicks. This week Adam sits down with Marc Caparone of Caparone Winery (owner/winemaker, founded 1979) and Roger Nicolas of RN Estate (owner/winemaker, launched 2000) to talk patience, classic craft, and why less can taste like more. We dig into moderate alcohols, neutral oak, and Italian/Bordeaux varieties that age into real conversations. Plus, a Travel Paso Spotlight on the Garagiste Wine Festival turning 15. Recorded at Timbre LoBro Studios, this episode features: • Marc Caparone — Owner/Winemaker, Caparone Winery • Roger Nicolas — Owner/Winemaker, RN Estate Vineyard & Winery We explore Caparone’s father-and-son “simple winery, complex wines” ethos and their pioneering work with Sangiovese, Nebbiolo, and Aglianico. Then we head to RN Estate’s hilltop lens on Paso: Bordeaux-inspired reds, finesse-first blending, and SRH Pinot Noir when the coast calls. If you’re chasing origin stories in the glass, start here. Paso Wine Wire Dream Big Darling opens 2026 FLOurish leadership track — six months of coaching, peer mentoring, and skill-building → https://dreambigdarling.org/flourish • Cambria Hotel Templeton–Paso Robles is now open at 1000 Las Tablas Rd, Templeton → https://www.choicehotels.com/cambria • National love for locals: Yes Cocktail Co. named #1 Best Craft Mixer Brand in USA TODAY 10Best; Allegretto Vineyard Resort ranked #3 Best Wine Country Hotel → https://www.yescocktailco.com • https://www.allegrettovineyardresort.com Travel Paso Spotlight We check in with Stewart McLennan, co-founder of the Garagiste Wine Festival, celebrating 15 years of discovery in Paso — small-lot producers, first-name energy, and the best place to stumble into your new favorite label. • Festival info & schedule → https://www.garagistefestival.com/paso-robles • Plan your trip → https://travelpaso.com 🎯 Plan your next Paso Robles getaway at TravelPaso.com Links & Follow Wineries • Cparone Winery (est. 1979) → https://www.caparone.com • RN Estate Vineyard & Winery (est. 2000) → https://www.rnestate.com 🎯 Plan your next Paso Robles getaway at TravelPaso.com 🎧 Subscribe & Follow If you love Where Wine Takes You, make sure to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with your favorite wine lover. Where Wine Takes You is Executive Produced by Joel Peterson and Paso Wine Associate Producer: Krista Smith Recorded, edited, produced, and hosted by Adam Montiel 📱 Download the free Paso Wine App as your guide to all things wine country. For the latest in Paso Robles Wine Country, check out PasoWine.com and follow @PasoWine. Follow Adam on Instagram → @AdamOnTheAir Listen to Adam’s other shows: Up + Adam (daily podcast) and The Pour (wine, spirits, brews, lifestyle) Learn more, reach out, or connect at AdamMontiel.com 🎵 Original music by Moonshiner Collective If you love Where Wine Takes You, subscribe, leave a review, and share it! ©2025 Where Wine Takes You, All Rights Reserved.

  22. 147

    Ep 148: Canopy Cowboys: Riding Ripeness & Harvest Hunches from Vintage 2025

    🍇 Where Wine Takes You – Episode Highlights 🍷  This week we saddle up with the Canopy Cowboys of Alterra Solutions — a vineyard management supergroup shaping some of the most coveted sites in Paso. We’re talking legacy, precision farming, and how to ride ripeness like a pro, and what Paso is learning from Harvest 2025, from the brightest minds farming it. Recorded at LoBro Studios in Paso Robles, this ep features: • Kevin Wilkinson (the thinker), founder & vineyard strategist • Lucas Pope (the kind & sensitive one), VP, sparkling evangelist, and co-founder of Haliotide Wines • Chris Hammell (token bad boy), vineyard whisperer (formerly Bien Nacido) We dig into Alterra’s 2025 rebrand from Coastal Vineyard Services and why it signals more than just a name change. It’s a full-circle moment for founder Kevin Wilkinson, who has spent decades shaping the region from behind the scenes. Lucas Pope shares his wild entry into farming, managing vineyards for Silicon Valley’s elite in the hills of Santa Cruz, and how that path eventually led to launching Haliotide, a sparkling wine project with his wife Nicole. Chris Hammell reflects on his years managing Bien Nacido Vineyard, and why his quiet, humble demeanor masks one of the most accomplished vineyard résumés on the West Coast. Paso Wine Wire • New Decemil Wine Lounge brings micro-estate Rhône energy to downtown Paso inside the 1888 Grangers Union Building → decemilwines.com • Garagiste Wine Festival turns 15 — Nov 7–8 at Paso Robles Event Center → garagistefestival.com • Opolo’s Harvest Grape Stomp Dinner is back Oct 17 — lamb roast, Balkan beats, and stomping galore → opolo.com Travel Paso Spotlight This week we check in to Hotel Cheval, the boutique gem of downtown Paso. GM Jayne Christman joins us to talk about warm service, world-class comfort, and what makes Cheval one of Paso’s most beloved places to stay. • Learn more: hotelcheval.com • Plan your trip: TravelPaso.com 🎯 Plan your next Paso Robles getaway at TravelPaso.com 🎧 Subscribe & Follow If you love Where Wine Takes You, make sure to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with your favorite wine lover. Where Wine Takes You is Executive Produced by Joel Peterson and Paso Wine Associate Producer: Krista Smith Recorded, edited, produced, and hosted by Adam Montiel 📱 Download the free Paso Wine App as your guide to all things wine country.   For the latest in Paso Robles Wine Country, check out PasoWine.com and follow @PasoWine. Follow Adam on Instagram → @AdamOnTheAir Listen to Adam’s other shows: Up + Adam (daily podcast) and The Pour (wine, spirits, brews, lifestyle) Learn more, reach out, or connect at AdamMontiel.com 🎵 Original music by Moonshiner Collective If you love Where Wine Takes You, subscribe, leave a review, and share it! ©2025 Where Wine Takes You, All Rights Reserved.  

  23. 146

    Ep 147: First Castle on the Right: The Drawbridge Between Craft & Collaboration – Featuring Fortress Custom Crush | The Anderson | Serial Wines

    🍇 Where Wine Takes You – Episode Highlights 🍷 This week we go inside the new life breathed into Paso’s ‘first castle on the right’, the newest hospitality power duo: Fortress Custom Crush (production, collaboration, small-lot craft) and The Anderson Paso (flexible hospitality and events next door). I’m joined by Jeremy Leffert (Fortress), Azurae Shults (The Anderson Paso), and Jeff Kandarian of Serial Wines to talk about harvest 2025, how resident winemakers sharpen each other, and all what we can expect when all the curtains are pulled back. We taste through Serial’s current lineup and dig into the drawbridge between craft and collaboration. Paso Wine Wire Linne Calodo stays “all in on Zin,” highlighting heritage sites and Willow Creek spice with 2023 releases Problem Child and Cherry Red. → linnecalodo.com Booker achieves CCOF organic certification in the winery, completing vine-to-bottle organic status. → Read: Paso Robles Daily News • Visit: bookerwines.com Robb Report spotlights Libretto as a downtown Paso jazz magnet built around a rare 2012 Steinway Model D. → Read: Robb Report • Visit: librettopaso.com Travel Paso Spotlight We’re shining the light on the Paderewski Festival in Paso Robles, November 6–9, 2025, a multi-day celebration of music and legacy. Build your weekend around the concerts, the wine, and the vibe. • Learn more: paderewskifest.com • Plan your trip: TravelPaso.com Special Mini-Segment A quick recognition of our partnership with Strauss, including a short chat with Henning Strauss on why supporting local storytelling matters to makers and travelers alike. 🎯 Plan your next Paso Robles getaway at TravelPaso.com 🎧 Subscribe & Follow If you love Where Wine Takes You, make sure to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with your favorite wine lover. Where Wine Takes You is Executive Produced by Joel Peterson and Paso Wine Associate Producer: Krista Smith Recorded, edited, produced, and hosted by Adam Montiel Download the free Paso Wine App as your guide to all things wine country. For the latest in Paso Robles Wine Country, check out PasoWine.com and follow @PasoWine. Follow Adam on Instagram → @AdamOnTheAir Listen to Adam’s other shows: Up + Adam (daily podcast) and The Pour (wine, spirits, brews, lifestyle) Learn more, reach out, or connect at AdamMontiel.com 🎵 Original music by Moonshiner Collective If you love Where Wine Takes You, subscribe, leave a review, and share it! Thank you. ©2025 Where Wine Takes You, All Rights Reserved.  

  24. 145

    Ep 146: Where the Wild Wines Are – Featuring Paix Sur Terre | Brecon | Cordant

    🍇 Where Wine Takes You – Episode Highlights 🍷 This week on Where Wine Takes You, we’re going Where the Wild Wines Are with three winemakers who represent the energy and evolution of Paso: Ryan Pease of Paix Sur Terre, Alex Kemp of Brecon Estate, and Ryker Wall of Cordant Winery. Ryan has carved out a cult following with Paix Sur Terre, crafting Rhône-driven wines that overdeliver in character and soul. Alex is leading the charge at Brecon, one of Paso’s most acclaimed tasting rooms, while also exploring his Grenache obsession through Terranean Wines. And Ryker is steering winemaking at Cordant, continuing its legacy of thoughtful, vineyard-driven blends, while building his personal project Idola Wines into something truly exciting. Together, we dig into what it means to make wine in Paso right now — the harvest surprises, the challenges, the camaraderie, and the creativity. You’ll hear stories that connect the dots between established brands and the next generation of labels that are quietly rising up in Paso. Paso Wine Wire Paso featured in Forbes: “Outstanding Cabernet Year” for 2025 — cooler weather + drought conditions could deliver one of Paso’s most exciting vintages yet. Sensorio issues global open call for new immersive art installations — artists, designers, and creators invited to light up Paso in new ways. California Wine Month — celebrating the $2.8 billion impact of wine and tourism on Paso and the many events happening across the state wrapping up September. Travel Paso Spotlight This week we’re shining the light on The Bovine Classic, Paso’s gravel cycling adventure happening October 25, 2025, that mixes endurance with pure SLO CAL beauty. Riders take on rugged vineyard trails, rolling hills, and backcountry routes that show off Paso in a whole new way. Last year I even got to call riders across the finish line, and the vibe was unreal, more a fun and memorable community festival than race. This year promises the same: world-class cycling, live music, food, and plenty of Paso wine and beer to keep the celebration rolling. Whether you’re a cyclist or just want to be part of the scene, it’s a can’t-miss weekend. 👉 Learn more and register: The Bovine Classic Featured Wineries this episode: Paix Sur Terre Brecon Estate Cordant Winery Terranean Wines Idola Wines 🎯 Plan your next Paso Robles getaway at TravelPaso.com 🎧 Subscribe & Follow If you love Where Wine Takes You, make sure to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with your favorite wine lover. Where Wine Takes You is Executive Produced by Joel Peterson and Paso Wine Associate Producer: Krista Smith Recorded, edited, produced, and hosted by Adam Montiel Download the free Paso Wine App as your guide to all things wine country.   For the latest in Paso Robles Wine Country, check out PasoWine.com and follow @PasoWine. Follow Adam on Instagram → @AdamOnTheAir Listen to Adam’s other shows: Up + Adam (daily podcast) and The Pour (wine, spirits, brews, lifestyle) Learn more, reach out, or connect at AdamMontiel.com 🎵 Original music by Moonshiner Collective If you love Where Wine Takes You, subscribe, leave a review, and share it! Thank you. ©2025 Where Wine Takes You, All Rights Reserved.  

  25. 144

    Ep 145: Still Pouring, Still Roaring: Opolo at 25, Still Making History

    🍇 Where Wine Takes You – Episode Highlights 🍷 This week we’re celebrating a Paso institution: Opolo Vineyards. Co-founder Rick Quinn joins me for a one-on-one conversation about 25 years of Opolo, how Paso has grown alongside them, and the historic debut of Vranac — a Balkan grape now officially recognized and bottled in the U.S. for the first time. We also check in with the latest Paso Wine Wire headlines, and in our Travel Paso Spotlight we turn the love toward Thomas Hill Organics, a restaurant and community hub that needs our support right now. Paso Wine Wire Paso Robles Wine Country Virtual Auction is live Sept. 15–20, with proceeds funding local student scholarships. Join the auction Alterra Solutions rebrands and expands: Kevin Wilkinson’s vineyard management firm takes on a new name and new horizons. Read more ONX Wines launches Sunprint, their first mentorship-driven chillable red. Learn more Travel Paso Spotlight This week we shine the light on Thomas Hill Organics, owned by Chefs Lisa and Mike. Mike is in the fight of his life against cancer, and Lisa is back in the kitchen while still holding everything together. Paso takes care of its own, so if you know them, love them, or just love good food, please show them support with a visit, a kind message, or by sharing their story. Visit Thomas Hill Organics Links + Resources Opolo Vineyards Paso Wine Virtual Auction Thomas Hill Organics   🎯 Plan your next Paso Robles getaway at TravelPaso.com 🎧 Subscribe & Follow If you love Where Wine Takes You, make sure to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with your favorite wine lover. Where Wine Takes You is Executive Produced by Joel Peterson and Paso Wine Associate Producer: Krista Smith Recorded, edited, produced, and hosted by Adam Montiel Download the free Paso Wine App as your guide to all things wine country.   For the latest in Paso Robles Wine Country, check out PasoWine.com and follow @PasoWine. Follow Adam on Instagram → @AdamOnTheAir Listen to Adam’s other shows: Up + Adam (daily podcast) and The Pour (wine, spirits, brews, lifestyle) Learn more, reach out, or connect at AdamMontiel.com 🎵 Original music by Moonshiner Collective If you love Where Wine Takes You, subscribe, leave a review, and share it! Thank you. ©2025 Where Wine Takes You, All Rights Reserved.  

  26. 143

    Ep 144: Rooted & Rising: Winemaker of the Year Molly Bohlman + Wine Grape Grower of the Year Aron Nevarez

    🍇 Where Wine Takes You – Episode Highlights 🍷 In this episode, Adam sits down with two of Paso’s freshest big winners — Winemaker of the Year and Wine Grape Grower of the Year — for a deep, soulful convo about hustle, heartbreak, harvest, and hope. Molly Bohlman, longtime winemaker at Niner Wine Estates, shares her journey from Midwest roots to SLO Coast Pinot royalty. Aron Nevarez, a fourth-generation land steward and head of viticulture at McPrice Myers, reflects on arriving in California at 15, learning English while working the vines, and becoming one of the most respected growers in Paso. This conversation, recorded at LoBro Studios in downtown Paso, honors legacy, labor, and the beautiful alchemy that happens between vine and wine. 🌐 PASO WINE WIRE — This Week’s Headlines: 1️⃣ JUSTIN Winery Powers Youth Basketball with 3Ball Academy JUSTIN Vineyards sponsors a free multi-week basketball training program for local youth athletes, led by Cal Poly Hall of Famer Mike Wozniak. Full Story » 2️⃣ Hope Family Wines Launches Game-Changing One-Liter Bottle Austin Hope’s flagship Cabernet is now in an innovative 1L format — perfect for restaurant pours and built for value. Read More » 3️⃣ Serial Wines Celebrates Fall with a National Sweepstakes + Harvest Events Big scores, big flavors, and their iconic Masquerade returns November 8. Explore Events & Sweepstakes » 4️⃣ Paso Wine Tasting Tour Heads to Fresno & Bakersfield Taste Paso from 50+ producers at two upcoming Central Valley events: Sept 5 – Bakersfield Tasting Tour » Sept 19 – Fresno Tasting Tour » TRAVEL PASO SPOTLIGHT: Meet Kimberly Walker, the vision behind two of Paso’s most stylish boutique stays — The Farmhouse and River Lodge. From curated design to next-level vibes, she’s redefining what it means to stay in Paso. 🎯 Plan your next Paso Robles getaway at TravelPaso.com 🎧 Subscribe & Follow If you love Where Wine Takes You, make sure to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with your favorite wine lover. Where Wine Takes You is Executive Produced by Joel Peterson and Paso Wine Associate Producer: Krista Smith Recorded, edited, produced, and hosted by Adam Montiel Download the free Paso Wine App as your guide to all things wine country.   For the latest in Paso Robles Wine Country, check out PasoWine.com and follow @PasoWine. Follow Adam on Instagram → @AdamOnTheAir Listen to Adam’s other shows: Up + Adam (daily podcast) and The Pour (wine, spirits, brews, lifestyle) Learn more, reach out, or connect at AdamMontiel.com 🎵 Original music by Moonshiner Collective If you love Where Wine Takes You, subscribe, leave a review, and share it! Thank you. ©2025 Where Wine Takes You, All Rights Reserved.  

  27. 142

    Ep 143: Paso Wine’s ‘Future 40’ from Wine Enthusiast Magazine

    🍇 Where Wine Takes You – Episode Highlights 🍷 Four women. One region. A future uncorked. In this episode of Where Wine Takes You, Adam sits down with four trailblazing Central Coast women named to Wine Enthusiast’s prestigious Future 40 list for 2025: Nancy Ulloa, the spiritual force behind Ulloa Cellars, whose winemaking blends energy, heritage, and healing intention • Neeta Mittal, co-founder of LXV Wine, redefining elegance through the sensual pairing of wine and spice • Katy Rogers & Tamara Bingham, the brand architects of Likely Story Strategies, helping wineries craft their voice and stand out in a crowded market Together in the studio, these innovators talk entrepreneurship, representation, identity, and what it means to shape the wine world on their own terms with Paso Robles as both canvas and catalyst. Paso Wine Wire Stories: Martinelli Vineyard Hits the Market Read the article McPrice Myers Opens New Estate Tasting Room in Adelaida Read more at mcpricemyers.com Autumn Soirée at Hotel SLO Set for October 12 More details here Travel Paso Spotlight: Discover the elevated charm of Hotel Ava, Paso’s newest luxury boutique hotel in the heart of downtown. With rooftop views, a saltwater pool, and culinary experiences led by Chef Julien Asseo and Beverage Director Lannon Rust, this is Paso from the top. hotelava.com Other Mentions: • LXV Wine – lxvwine.com • Ulloa Cellars – ullloacellars.com • Likely Story Strategies – likelystorystrategies.com     🎯 Plan your next Paso Robles getaway at TravelPaso.com 🎧 Subscribe & Follow If you love Where Wine Takes You, make sure to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with your favorite wine lover. Where Wine Takes You is Executive Produced by Joel Peterson and Paso Wine Associate Producer: Krista Smith Recorded, edited, produced, and hosted by Adam Montiel Download the free Paso Wine App as your guide to all things wine country.   For the latest in Paso Robles Wine Country, check out PasoWine.com and follow @PasoWine. Follow Adam on Instagram → @AdamOnTheAir Listen to Adam’s other shows: Up + Adam (daily podcast) and The Pour (wine, spirits, brews, lifestyle) Learn more, reach out, or connect at AdamMontiel.com 🎵 Original music by Moonshiner Collective If you love Where Wine Takes You, subscribe, leave a review, and share it! Thank you. ©2025 Where Wine Takes You, All Rights Reserved.  

  28. 141

    Ep 142: From Paso Robles Wine Fanatics to Family Legacies – Featuring Thibido and Ecluse

    🍇 Where Wine Takes You – Episode Highlights 🍷 In this episode of Where Wine Takes You, Adam Montiel brings together two voices that showcase the heart and soul of Paso Robles wine country in very different ways. First, Mike Adams, the founder of the Facebook group Paso Robles Wine Fanatics, joins the conversation. What started as a small place to swap tasting notes has grown into a digital community of nearly 25,000 members who share their Paso bottles, adventures, and recommendations every day. Also in studio is Josh Beckett, a name synonymous with Paso. His family launched Peachy Canyon back in the 1980s, he and his brother created Chronic Cellars, and now with his wife Gibsey, Josh is crafting estate wines at Thibido. Most recently, the couple took over one of Paso’s heritage brands, Ecluse Winery, continuing a story of legacy and reinvention that reflects Paso itself. Later in the show, our Travel Paso Spotlight shines on the Whale Rock Music & Arts Festival. Adam chats with Luke Udsen of Castoro Cellars about how this annual September celebration has grown into one of Paso’s most beloved events, blending music, art, food, wine, and community in a way only Paso can. In this week’s Paso Wine Wire, Adam shares some of the latest headlines from around the region: Tobin James Cellars – 30th Annual James Gang Festival March 20–21, 2026 — a milestone weekend of live music, dancing, Tobin James wines, barrel samples, and food from more than 20 chefs, all under 30,000 square feet of tented space. Paso Robles Wine Country Alliance Foundation Awards $18,000 in Scholarships Twelve local high school seniors received scholarships funded through the Paso Wine Virtual Auction, which returns September 15–20, 2025. LXV Wine + Ulloa Cellars Named to Wine Enthusiast’s Future 40 Neeta & Kunal Mittal of LXV and Nancy Gonzales of Ulloa Cellars were recognized among innovators shaping the future of wine in America. Stay tuned for a full episode featuring these Paso tastemakers. Whether it’s online communities, family wineries, or festivals that bring thousands together, this episode is all about connection — and how Paso keeps finding new ways to share its story. Links from this episode: Paso Robles Wine Fanatics (Facebook Group) Thibido Wines Ecluse Winery Whale Rock Music & Arts Festival Travel Paso     🎯 Plan your next Paso Robles getaway at TravelPaso.com 🎧 Subscribe & Follow If you love Where Wine Takes You, make sure to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with your favorite wine lover. Where Wine Takes You is Executive Produced by Joel Peterson and Paso Wine Associate Producer: Krista Smith Recorded, edited, produced, and hosted by Adam Montiel Download the free Paso Wine App as your guide to all things wine country.   For the latest in Paso Robles Wine Country, check out PasoWine.com and follow @PasoWine. Follow Adam on Instagram → @AdamOnTheAir Listen to Adam’s other shows: Up + Adam (daily podcast) and The Pour (wine, spirits, brews, lifestyle) Learn more, reach out, or connect at AdamMontiel.com 🎵 Original music by Moonshiner Collective If you love Where Wine Takes You, subscribe, leave a review, and share it! Thank you. ©2025 Where Wine Takes You, All Rights Reserved.  

  29. 140

    Ep 141: From Bordeaux to Paso & Back – Featuring Stephan Asseo (L’Aventure) + Eric Jensen (Booker) Live with Audience in Bordeaux

    🍇 Where Wine Takes You – Episode Highlights 🍷 This one’s not recorded in studio… or even in Paso. It’s recorded on a riverboat in Bordeaux, France – but don’t let the setting fool you. The soul of this episode is 100% Paso Robles. I sat down with two of the most influential winemakers in our region: Eric Jensen of Booker Wines and Stephan Asseo of L’Aventure Winery. Stephan left Bordeaux to escape the rules. Eric? He never followed them to begin with. Together, they’ve shaped not just vineyards, but a movement, redefining what’s possible in Paso and proving you don’t need permission to make great wine, just vision. We talk legacy, freedom, and what it feels like to sip wine in the place one of them left, and both outgrew. Plus: I catch up with Stacie Jacob of Travel Paso on how Paso wine is showing up in a major way in LA this summer, turning casual sippers into true believers. Let’s go. This… is Where Wine Takes You. 🎙️ GUESTS: Eric Jensen, Founder – Booker Wines Stephan Asseo, Founder – L’Aventure Winery Stacie Jacob, Executive Director – Travel Paso 🔗 RESOURCES & MENTIONS: Cork & Cruise – Paso River Cruise Info https://www.corkandcruise.com Paso in LA – Farmers Market Pop-up Series https://www.travelpaso.com/articles/post/paso-robles-invites-you-to-experience-a-taste-of-wine-country-in-the-heart-of-los-angeles/ Hope Family Wines acquires Tufera Farms https://pasoroblesdailynews.com/hope-family-wines-adds-vineyard-and-truffle-orchard-in-paso-robles/213536/ Gifford Fire + Ancient Peaks community response https://www.sfgate.com/centralcalifornia/article/megafire-san-luis-obispo-county-20813014.php 🎯 Plan your next Paso Robles getaway at TravelPaso.com 🎧 Subscribe & Follow If you love Where Wine Takes You, make sure to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with your favorite wine lover. Where Wine Takes You is Executive Produced by Joel Peterson and Paso Wine Associate Producer: Krista Smith Recorded, edited, produced, and hosted by Adam Montiel Download the free Paso Wine App as your guide to all things wine country.   For the latest in Paso Robles Wine Country, check out PasoWine.com and follow @PasoWine. Follow Adam on Instagram → @AdamOnTheAir Listen to Adam’s other shows: Up + Adam (daily podcast) and The Pour (wine, spirits, brews, lifestyle) Learn more, reach out, or connect at AdamMontiel.com 🎵 Original music by Moonshiner Collective If you love Where Wine Takes You, subscribe, leave a review, and share it! Thank you. ©2025 Where Wine Takes You, All Rights Reserved.  

  30. 139

    Ep 140: Preserving the Past, Shaping the Story – Featuring SLO County Wine Award Recipients Chris Taranto & Libbie Agran

    🍇 Where Wine Takes You – Episode Highlights 🍷 What happens when the voice of Paso’s future sits down with the keeper of its past? In this episode, Adam welcomes two legends who’ve shaped how Paso Robles is seen, celebrated, and remembered: Chris Taranto, Communications Director for the Paso Robles Wine Country Alliance – recently named the 2025 Wine Industry Person of the Year. • Libbie Agran, Director of the SLO County Wine History Project – this year’s Lifetime Achievement Award recipient. Together, they dive into the roots of SLO County’s wine culture led by Paso, from early French plantings and Gold Rush refugees to modern multi-generational legacies and the new wave of young winemakers taking over historic vineyards. 🔗 LINKS & RESOURCES Paso Robles Wine Country Alliance → www.pasowine.com • SLO County Wine History Project → www.winehistoryproject.org • Libbie Agran’s Lifetime Achievement Award → Read more • 2025 Industry Honorees via Paso Wine → View Full List • Paso Robles Daily News Coverage → Industry Awards Article • Wine Business Feature → Read Here 🎯 Plan your next Paso Robles getaway at TravelPaso.com 🎧 Subscribe & Follow If you love Where Wine Takes You, make sure to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with your favorite wine lover. Where Wine Takes You is Executive Produced by Joel Peterson and Paso Wine Associate Producer: Krista Smith Recorded, edited, produced, and hosted by Adam Montiel Download the free Paso Wine App as your guide to all things wine country.   For the latest in Paso Robles Wine Country, check out PasoWine.com and follow @PasoWine. Follow Adam on Instagram → @AdamOnTheAir Listen to Adam’s other shows: Up + Adam (daily podcast) and The Pour (wine, spirits, brews, lifestyle) Learn more, reach out, or connect at AdamMontiel.com 🎵 Original music by Moonshiner Collective If you love Where Wine Takes You, subscribe, leave a review, and share it! Thank you. ©2025 Where Wine Takes You, All Rights Reserved.  

  31. 138

    Ep 139: In Good Company: When Unlikely Paths Share Ground, Become Neighbors – Featuring Mid•Point Cellars | Rockbound Cellars

    🍇 Where Wine Takes You – Episode Highlights 🍷 Today’s episode explores The Bottle Shop, Paso Robles’ newest shared tasting room space that’s shaking up downtown with wine, food, and community all under one roof. Adam sits down with two fresh faces to the Paso wine scene: Bill Lap, co-founder of mid•point, and Fiorella “Fio” DeRodeff, the founder and winemaker at Rockbound Cellars. They each bring a distinct voice, a different path, and a shared passion for building something meaningful. This episode digs into the journey behind the wines, the rebirth of the historic Rotta property, and the importance of making wine that reflects who you are. Stick around to the end for something wild, Bill opens the oldest bottle Adam has ever tasted / seen in his life. You won’t believe the vintage.  📰 PASO WINE WIRE Hope Family Wines Golf Invitational Raises $160K for must! Charities • 26th Annual Winemakers’ Cookoff Raises Over $1.1M for Scholarships • Alternative Tastes Wine Festival Returns Aug. 1–2 🌴 TRAVEL PASO SPOTLIGHT This week’s spotlight takes you to The Lofts at the Market — a boutique stay right above the bustling Paso Market Walk. Learn more at: • The Lofts at the Market • Paso Market Walk • TravelPaso.com 🍷 TODAY’S GUESTS Bill Lap — Co-Founder, mid•point Winery Fiorella DeRodeff — Winemaker/Owner, Rockbound Cellars   🎯 Plan your next Paso Robles getaway at TravelPaso.com 🎧 Subscribe & Follow If you love Where Wine Takes You, make sure to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with your favorite wine lover. Where Wine Takes You is Executive Produced by Joel Peterson and Paso Wine Associate Producer: Krista Smith Recorded, edited, produced, and hosted by Adam Montiel Download the free Paso Wine App as your guide to all things wine country.   For the latest in Paso Robles Wine Country, check out PasoWine.com and follow @PasoWine. Follow Adam on Instagram → @AdamOnTheAir Listen to Adam’s other shows: Up + Adam (daily podcast) and The Pour (wine, spirits, brews, lifestyle) Learn more, reach out, or connect at AdamMontiel.com 🎵 Original music by Moonshiner Collective If you love Where Wine Takes You, subscribe, leave a review, and share it! Thank you. ©2025 Where Wine Takes You, All Rights Reserved.  

  32. 137

    Ep 138 Small Lot, Big Soul – Featuring Red Door Ranch | Royal Nonesuch Farm | Lopai

    🍇 Where Wine Takes You – Episode Highlights 🍷 Episode Title: Small Lot, Big Soul: Paso’s Newest, Best-Kept Secrets In this episode, we shine a spotlight on three Paso winemakers and vineyard owners who are putting everything into the bottle — and nothing into the hype. These are the small-lot producers who quietly shape what makes Paso Robles such a powerful, soulful, and personal wine region. You’ll meet: Eric Morley of Red Door Ranch Vineyards — alongside his wife Holly, Eric is building a boutique estate in the Templeton Gap focused on organic farming and site-driven wines with purpose. • Anthony Yount of Royal Nonesuch Farm and Kinero Cellars — Anthony and his wife Hillary farm their York Mountain estate by hand, crafting Rhône-style blends and crisp whites with depth and soul. • Paul “P‑Lo” Lopez of Lopai Cellars — a sixth-generation Paso farmer who makes powerful estate wines from Willow Creek fruit with his son Brian. They’re not chasing trends. They’re making wine on their own terms — with heart, hustle, and heritage. This is small-lot winemaking with big soul. This is Paso at its most personal. 📰 PASO WINE WIRE HIGHLIGHTS Paso Robles Named Among World’s Smartest Wine Regions Tech, climate, and culture converge in this feature from The Buyer that puts Paso on a global innovation map. → Read the story J. Lohr Launches “Share The Lohr” Podcast A new behind-the-scenes podcast from one of Paso’s most iconic wine families. → Read the story Templeton Feed & Grain Silos Lost to Fireworks Fire An accidental blaze takes down a piece of the Templeton skyline — and part of its history. → Read the story 🌴 TRAVEL PASO SPOTLIGHT This episode’s Travel Paso Spotlight features Becky Gray, Executive Director of Must! Charities. Becky joins us to talk about long-term community investment and how Must! helps Paso grow with purpose — one story, one family, and one partnership at a time. 🎯 Plan your next Paso Robles getaway at TravelPaso.com 🔗 LINKS & RESOURCES Guests & Wineries • Red Door Ranch Vineyards • Royal Nonesuch Farm • Kinero Cellars • Lopai Cellars Featured Organization • Must! Charities More from Travel Paso • TravelPaso.com 🎧 Subscribe & Follow If you love Where Wine Takes You, make sure to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with your favorite wine lover. Where Wine Takes You is Executive Produced by Joel Peterson and Paso Wine Associate Producer: Krista Smith Recorded, edited, produced, and hosted by Adam Montiel Download the free Paso Wine App as your guide to all things wine country.   For the latest in Paso Robles Wine Country, check out PasoWine.com and follow @PasoWine. Follow Adam on Instagram → @AdamOnTheAir Listen to Adam’s other shows: Up + Adam (daily podcast) and The Pour (wine, spirits, brews, lifestyle) Learn more, reach out, or connect at AdamMontiel.com 🎵 Original music by Moonshiner Collective If you love Where Wine Takes You, subscribe, leave a review, and share it! Thank you. ©2025 Where Wine Takes You, All Rights Reserved.  

  33. 136

    Ep 137: Paso Beyond the Bottle – Curated Experiences Uncorked

    🍇 Where Wine Takes You – Episode Highlights 🍷 Today: We’re all about Paso’s experiential side,  from curated events to ziplines and escape rooms, featuring Shelbi & Molly (Destination Paso), Meghan Ball (Somm’s Kitchen / VinLumia), Barry White (Ancient Peaks, Margarita Adventures), and later, Monica Villicana guiding us through the Paso Robles Distillery Trail Weekend Aug 8-10! 📰 PASO WINE WIRE HIGHLIGHTS • Il Cortile Ristorante earns its 11th consecutive Wine Spectator Award of Excellence. Sister-spot Parchetto wins its first. Four Paso favorites land on the 2025 list including Les Petites Canailles and The Pony Club at Hotel Cheval → Read about it HERE Vina Robles opens The Eatery in its new Ramada Drive tasting room, led by Chef Nicola Allegretta (Mama’s Meatball, Mistura) → Vina Robles Paso Wine Country Alliance honors 2025 industry standouts Aron Nevarez – Grape Grower of the Year Molly Bohlman (Niner Wine Estates) – Winemaker of the Year Christopher Taranto – Wine Industry Person of the Year Libbie Agran – Lifetime Achievement Award → Paso Robles Daily News 🌴 TRAVEL PASO SPOTLIGHT Featuring Monica Villicana of Re:Find Distillery and the Paso Robles Distillery Trail, including the Copper Card and the Distillery Trail Weekend this August. Plan your next Paso getaway at TravelPaso.com 🔗 LINKS & RESOURCES Destination Paso Somm’s Kitchen VinLumia Ancient Peaks Margarita Adventures Paso Robles Distillery Trail Re:Find Distillery   For planning your next adventure in Paso Robles, check out TravelPaso.com. If you love Where Wine Takes You, subscribe, leave a review, and share it! Thank you. Where Wine Takes You (WWTY) is Executive Produced by Joel Peterson and Paso Wine. Associate Producer: Krista Smith WWTY is recorded, edited, produced, and hosted by Adam Montiel. Follow Adam on Instagram @AdamOnTheAir and check out his daily podcast Up + Adam as well as The Pour. To connect with Adam, ask a question, or learn more about reaching our audience, visit AdamMontiel.com or PasoWine.com. For the latest in Paso Robles Wine Country, check out PasoWine.com and follow @PasoWine. Download the free Paso Wine App as your guide to all things wine country. 🎵 Original music on WWTY, “Good Company,” performed by Moonshiner Collective. ©2025 Where Wine Takes You, All Rights Reserved.  

  34. 135

    Ep 136: Arbor Road Reboot: New Names, New Energy – Featuring Zobèto Wines | Truss Wines

    🍇 Where Wine Takes You – Episode Highlights 🍷 Today, we head out to the westside of Paso, to a stretch of Arbor Road that’s waking up in a whole new way. It’s a story about building something from scratch, betting on family, and crafting wines that are deeply personal. This episode features two Paso newcomers turning heads for all the right reasons. Cliff Cate of Zobèto Wines left his old life behind to create soulful Rhône-style blends on Paso’s westside, learning the ropes hands-on with some of the region’s most respected winemakers. Kyle Jury of Truss Wines brings an architect’s eye to his minimalist, design-forward wines, building his brand with intention, family, and structure at the core. Both are doing it their way on Arbor Road, and both are names to watch. 📰 Paso Wine Wire Highlights • Community Wine Awards – 2025 Winners Announced Master Marketer: Justin Rapolas (Aaron Wines) Unsung Hero: Ryan Kemp (Adelaida Cellars) Good Neighbors: Lars & Kristina (Toast Tours) Le Vigne Winery wins big — TWICE in a week! Central Coast Wine Comp + New York Int’l Wine Comp Double Golds, 96-pt Cab, and Paso pride ONX “Mad Crush” & Pear Valley Albariño sweep the OC Wine Comp Best in Show (ONX) + Best White (Pear Valley) Travel Paso Spotlight: Freda Berman from the City of Paso shares details on Paso’s legendary Fourth of July celebration –  where to park, what to bring, and why it’s a can’t-miss. For planning your next adventure in Paso Robles, check out TravelPaso.com. If you love Where Wine Takes You, subscribe, leave a review, and share it! Thank you. 🔗 LINKS + RESOURCES: • Zobèto Wines • Truss Wines • Travel Paso – Plan Your Trip • Paso Wine – Latest Happenings • Le Vigne Winery • ONX + Pear Valley in New Times SLO • MoonshinerCollective.com Where Wine Takes You (WWTY) is Executive Produced by Joel Peterson and Paso Wine. Associate Producer: Krista Smith WWTY is recorded, edited, produced, and hosted by Adam Montiel. Follow Adam on Instagram @AdamOnTheAir and check out his daily podcast Up + Adam as well as The Pour. To connect with Adam, ask a question, or learn more about reaching our audience, visit AdamMontiel.com or PasoWine.com. For the latest in Paso Robles Wine Country, check out PasoWine.com and follow @PasoWine. Download the free Paso Wine App as your guide to all things wine country. 🎵 Original music on WWTY, “Good Company,” performed by Moonshiner Collective. ©2025 Where Wine Takes You, All Rights Reserved.  

  35. 134

    Ep 135: A First for Any U.S Winery and a Celebration of CDP – Featuring Tablas Creek

    🍇 Where Wine Takes You – Episode Highlights 🍷 Today, we uncork a milestone decades in the making. Paso’s own Tablas Creek Vineyard just became the first winery in the U.S. to bottle all 14 traditional Châteauneuf-du-Pape grape varieties as single-varietal wines. And we’ve got the full dream team in the room:  • Jason Haas, Partner & General Manager • Neil Collins, Director of Winemaking • Chelsea Franchi, Senior Assistant Winemaker They share how this decades-long vision came together, what each grape reveals on its own, and how their work continues to shape the Rhône movement in California. ALSO IN THIS EPISODE: • Paso Wine Wire: JUSTIN Vineyards Awards $350K to Local Nonprofits & Classrooms   Paso Wine Industry Generates $2.8 Billion in Economic Impact   Tablas Creek Completes All 14 Châteauneuf-du-Pape Varietals   • Travel Paso Spotlight: Angela McGee of the Best Western Plus Black Oak shares the  family’s history and hospitality legacy   🔗 LINKS + RESOURCES: • Tablas Creek Vineyard • Decanter Coverage on Tablas’ 14-Grape Milestone • JUSTIN Community Grants Program • Travel Paso – Plan Your Trip • Best Western Plus Black Oak • The Pour – White Wine Invitational Episode   📰 Paso Wine Wire Highlights • RIDGE Vineyards Opens New Tasting Room in Paso Robles One of California’s most iconic producers has officially landed in Paso. RIDGE opens its brand-new tasting room on Ramada Drive, deepening its historic ties to the region and giving Zin lovers a fresh reason to visit. • Tablas Creek Completes Full Châteauneuf-du-Pape Lineup A first for any U.S. winery—Tablas Creek has now bottled all 14 traditional Châteauneuf-du-Pape varietals. A decades-long project paying off with limited releases, Rhône passion, and Paso pride. • White Wine Invitational – Tickets via ExploreTock It’s back! The 2nd Annual White Wine Invitational returns to Rava Wines on June 20. Expect crisp whites, summertime bubbles, and community vibes—all to support Must! Charities. ******** For planning your next adventure in Paso Robles, check out TravelPaso.com. Tickets on sale for Paso Wine Fest (May 15–18, 2025). Head to pasowine.com for details and tickets. Use Promo Code ADAM and save $20 per ticket! If you love Where Wine Takes You, subscribe, please leave a review, and share it! Thank you! ******** Where Wine Takes You (WWTY) is Executive Produced by Joel Peterson and Paso Wine.   Associate Producer: Krista Smith WWTY is recorded, edited, produced, and hosted by Adam Montiel. Follow Adam on Instagram @AdamOnTheAir and check out his daily podcast Up + Adam as well as The Pour with Adam Montiel.  To connect with Adam, ask a question, or learn more how you or your business can reach our audience on WWTY visit AdamMontiel.com or PasoWine.com For the latest in Paso Robles Wine Country, check out PasoWine.com and follow on Instagram @PasoWine. Download the free Paso Wine App as your guide to all things wine country.  Original music on WWTY, “Good Company,” performed by Moonshiner Collective. ©2025 Where Wine Takes You, All Rights Reserved.

  36. 133

    Ep 134: Zins of the Father, Now Told in Her Voice – Featuring Christina Turley of Turley Wine Cellars

    🍇 Where Wine Takes You – Episode Highlights 🍷 In this episode of Where Wine Takes You, Adam sits down with Christina Turley, the eldest daughter of legendary winemaker Larry Turley, and a powerhouse in her own right. From summers spent working alongside her father to building a serious wine résumé in New York City, Christina’s path has been anything but linear—and that’s exactly what makes her story so compelling. We explore how she’s shaping the next chapter at Turley Wine Cellars, blending heritage with her own sharp perspective. From becoming a Certified Sommelier to leading the voice of one of California’s most iconic Zinfandel producers, Christina shares what it means to carry a legacy—and still make it her own. This is a conversation about voice, values, and vineyards… and yes, we get into why Paso Robles plays a vital role in Turley’s story. Plus, in our Travel Paso Spotlight, Adam chats with John Arnold, GM of the Holiday Inn Express Paso Robles and local community leader, about the return of Paso’s official 4th of July celebration and how the lodging scene is evolving with the town’s growth. 🔗 Links from the Show Christina Turley & Turley Wine Cellars Website: turleywinecellars.com Instagram: @turleywine John Arnold – Travel Paso Spotlight Holiday Inn Express Paso Robles: hotel website 📰 Paso Wine Wire Highlights • RIDGE Vineyards Opens New Tasting Room in Paso Robles One of California’s most iconic producers has officially landed in Paso. RIDGE opens its brand-new tasting room on Ramada Drive, deepening its historic ties to the region and giving Zin lovers a fresh reason to visit. • Tablas Creek Completes Full Châteauneuf-du-Pape Lineup A first for any U.S. winery—Tablas Creek has now bottled all 14 traditional Châteauneuf-du-Pape varietals. A decades-long project paying off with limited releases, Rhône passion, and Paso pride. • White Wine Invitational – Tickets via ExploreTock It’s back! The 2nd Annual White Wine Invitational returns to Rava Wines on June 20. Expect crisp whites, summertime bubbles, and community vibes—all to support Must! Charities. ******** For planning your next adventure in Paso Robles, check out TravelPaso.com. Tickets on sale for Paso Wine Fest (May 15–18, 2025). Head to pasowine.com for details and tickets. Use Promo Code ADAM and save $20 per ticket! If you love Where Wine Takes You, subscribe, please leave a review, and share it! Thank you! ******** Where Wine Takes You (WWTY) is Executive Produced by Joel Peterson and Paso Wine.   Associate Producer: Krista Smith WWTY is recorded, edited, produced, and hosted by Adam Montiel. Follow Adam on Instagram @AdamOnTheAir and check out his daily podcast Up + Adam as well as The Pour with Adam Montiel.  To connect with Adam, ask a question, or learn more how you or your business can reach our audience on WWTY visit AdamMontiel.com or PasoWine.com For the latest in Paso Robles Wine Country, check out PasoWine.com and follow on Instagram @PasoWine. Download the free Paso Wine App as your guide to all things wine country.  Original music on WWTY, “Good Company,” performed by Moonshiner Collective. ©2025 Where Wine Takes You, All Rights Reserved.

  37. 132

    Ep 133: Why Tourism Matters – Where Hospitality Meets Heritage – Featuring Travel Paso

    🍇 Where Wine Takes You – Episode Highlights 🍷 In this special episode of Where Wine Takes You, host Adam Montiel takes you behind the scenes of Paso Robles’ vibrant tourism industry. Recorded during National Travel and Tourism Week and California Tourism Month, this episode shines a spotlight on the individuals and businesses that make Paso Robles a premier destination. You’ll hear from: Richard Verruni, General Manager of Allegretto Vineyard Resort, who shares insights into creating exceptional lodging experiences.   Carole MacDonal, proprietor of Il Cortile Ristorante and Parchetto, discussing the art of fine dining in Paso Robles.   Dr. Chris Thornberg, a leading economist from Beacon Economics, providing a data-driven perspective on the economic impact of tourism in the region.   Jo Armstrong, recognized for her work at Hope Family Wines and her role in delivering top-tier wine experiences.   Pati Coelho, co-founder of Criú Hospitality, spotlighting excellence in Paso’s hospitality sector.   Stacie Jacob, President & CEO of Travel Paso, offering a heartfelt message about the people who make Paso Robles special.   This episode is a celebration of the passion, dedication, and community spirit that drive Paso Robles’ tourism industry. 🔗 Links & Resources Allegretto Vineyard Resort: Website | Instagram  Il Cortile Ristorante: Website | Instagram   Parchetto: Website | Instagram   Jo Armstrong – Hope Family Wines: Website | Instagram   Pati Coelho – Criú Hospitality: Website | Instagram   Travel Paso: Website | Instagram ******** For planning your next adventure in Paso Robles, check out TravelPaso.com. Tickets on sale for Paso Wine Fest (May 15–18, 2025). Head to pasowine.com for details and tickets. Use Promo Code ADAM and save $20 per ticket! If you love Where Wine Takes You, subscribe, please leave a review, and share it! Thank you! ******** Where Wine Takes You (WWTY) is Executive Produced by Joel Peterson and Paso Wine.   Associate Producer: Krista Smith WWTY is recorded, edited, produced, and hosted by Adam Montiel. Follow Adam on Instagram @AdamOnTheAir and check out his daily podcast Up + Adam as well as The Pour with Adam Montiel.  To connect with Adam, ask a question, or learn more how you or your business can reach our audience on WWTY visit AdamMontiel.com or PasoWine.com For the latest in Paso Robles Wine Country, check out PasoWine.com and follow on Instagram @PasoWine. Download the free Paso Wine App as your guide to all things wine country.  Original music on WWTY, “Good Company,” performed by Moonshiner Collective. ©2025 Where Wine Takes You, All Rights Reserved.

  38. 131

    Ep 132: Live from Paso Wine Fest 2025

    🍇 Where Wine Takes You – Episode Highlights 🍷 There’s Paso… and then there’s Paso during Wine Fest weekend. This episode captures it all — the energy, the people, and the pulse of a region at its most electric. Recorded from the Ponderosa at the Paso Robles Event Center — nestled between In Bloom and Il Cortile — Adam sat down with a lineup of Paso’s most vibrant voices. In three stacked segments, we dive into what makes this festival weekend so special, and why Paso continues to punch above its weight in wine, food, and soul. Segment 1 brings us Nicole Haisma of In Bloom and Nix Cellars, Anthony Yount of Royal Nonesuch Farm, and a surprise drop-in from Madeline Puckette of Wine Folly, fresh off leading her Paso 101 seminar. Segment 2 turns up the heat with Riley Roddick of Hubba Wines, Maggie Tillman of Alta Colina, and Maggie Cameron — the firestarter behind both The Hatch and Della’s. Segment 3 brings the closer with Cris Cherry of Villa Creek / MAHA Estate, Mary Ann Erdos of Cork & Cruise, Kit Kuyper of Hawks Hill Ranch, and Don Burns of Turtle Rock Vineyards — as they talk about their upcoming wine cruise to Portugal and Bordeaux (with two cabins left!). 🛵 Travel Paso Spotlight We also meet Jaydy Gonzales, co-owner of Third Wheel Tours, offering one-of-a-kind motorcycle sidecar wine tours through the backroads of Paso — easily one of the coolest ways to sip, cruise, and experience wine country. 🎟️ Looking to explore Paso Wine Country? Plan your trip, book your stay, and start your story at TravelPaso.com 🔗 Featured Guests + Links Nicole Haisma – In Bloom / Nix Cellars   Anthony Yount – Royal Nonesuch Farm   Madeline Puckette – Wine Folly   Riley Roddick – Hubba Wines   Maggie Tillman – Alta Colina   Maggie Cameron – The Hatch / Della’s   Cris Cherry – Villa Creek / MAHA Estate   Mary Ann Erdos – Cork & Cruise   Kit Kuyper – Hawks Hill Ranch   Don Burns – Turtle Rock Vineyards   Travel Paso   Third Wheel Tours // @thirdwheeltours ******** For planning your next adventure in Paso Robles, check out TravelPaso.com. Tickets on sale for Paso Wine Fest (May 15–18, 2025). Head to pasowine.com for details and tickets. Use Promo Code ADAM and save $20 per ticket! If you love Where Wine Takes You, subscribe, please leave a review, and share it! Thank you! ******** Where Wine Takes You (WWTY) is Executive Produced by Joel Peterson and Paso Wine.   Associate Producer: Krista Smith WWTY is recorded, edited, produced, and hosted by Adam Montiel. Follow Adam on Instagram @AdamOnTheAir and check out his daily podcast Up + Adam as well as The Pour with Adam Montiel.  To connect with Adam, ask a question, or learn more how you or your business can reach our audience on WWTY visit AdamMontiel.com or PasoWine.com For the latest in Paso Robles Wine Country, check out PasoWine.com and follow on Instagram @PasoWine. Download the free Paso Wine App as your guide to all things wine country.  Original music on WWTY, “Good Company,” performed by Moonshiner Collective. ©2025 Where Wine Takes You, All Rights Reserved.

  39. 130

    Ep 131: Downtown & Dialed In – Featuring Bushong Vintage Co. & Sea Shell Cellars

    🍇 Where Wine Takes You – Episode Highlights 🍷 This week, we’re diving into the creative current flowing through Downtown Paso’s tasting rooms — and the two distinct winemakers who are helping define the vibe. Joining Adam Montiel in the studio: Jason Bushong, owner & winemaker at Bushong Vintage Company Lauren Lange, winemaker at Sea Shell Cellars   We talk tasting room culture, downtown energy, and how wine can be as much about expression as it is terroir. Expect neon. Vinyl. Maybe some beach sand. And plenty of Paso magic. 🌐 Paso Wine Wire A quick look at what’s buzzing in Paso: • Hope Family Wines Adds Beekeeping to the Farm Regenerative farming takes flight — literally — as Hope Family Wines integrates bees into their vineyard ecosystem. → Read more • Paso Wines Support Cystic Fibrosis Gala Paso producers made a powerful showing at the California Winemasters event, raising millions to fight CF. → Read more • Ridge is Coming to Paso It hasn’t hit the press yet, but the word is out — Ridge Vineyards is setting up shop in Paso. After decades sourcing fruit (like Benito Dusi), the iconic California label is finally calling Paso home. 🌴 Travel Paso Spotlight This week, we check in with Victor Popp, the hospitality powerhouse behind the newly renovated La Quinta Inn in Paso Robles. With a $3M makeover, award-winning service, and the busiest wine weekend of the year on deck — Victor breaks down why Paso’s accommodations game is as strong as its wine list. → Plan your trip now at TravelPaso.com Also Mentioned: 🍷 Visit Sea Shell Cellars 🎸 Visit Bushong Vintage Co. 🎟️ Wine Fest tickets + lineup → PasoWine.com 🎁 Win passes to Wine Fest → AdamMontiel.com 📢 Housekeeping: • Want to WIN tickets to Wine Fest? Enter at AdamMontiel.com. • Shoutout Feedspot for naming Where Wine Takes You a Top 3 Wine Podcast! • Thanks to Million Podcasts for putting us at #11 on their Wine Podcast list worldwide.   🎟 Paso Wine Fest is coming! Get your tickets at PasoWine.com and don’t miss the Paso 101 Wine Seminar with Madeline Puckette of Wine Folly—a can’t-miss masterclass to earn your Paso Wine Certificate during Wine Fest weekend. ******** For planning your next adventure in Paso Robles, check out TravelPaso.com. Tickets on sale for Paso Wine Fest (May 15–18, 2025). Head to pasowine.com for details and tickets. Use Promo Code ADAM and save $20 per ticket! If you love Where Wine Takes You, subscribe, please leave a review, and share it! Thank you! ******** Where Wine Takes You (WWTY) is Executive Produced by Joel Peterson and Paso Wine.   Associate Producer: Krista Smith WWTY is recorded, edited, produced, and hosted by Adam Montiel. Follow Adam on Instagram @AdamOnTheAir and check out his daily podcast Up + Adam as well as The Pour with Adam Montiel.  To connect with Adam, ask a question, or learn more how you or your business can reach our audience on WWTY visit AdamMontiel.com or PasoWine.com For the latest in Paso Robles Wine Country, check out PasoWine.com and follow on Instagram @PasoWine. Download the free Paso Wine App as your guide to all things wine country.  Original music on WWTY, “Good Company,” performed by Moonshiner Collective. ©2025 Where Wine Takes You, All Rights Reserved.

  40. 129

    Ep 130: Kiler Instinct: A New Era – Featuring ONX Wines

    🍇 Where Wine Takes You – Episode Highlights 🍷    Big moves at ONX Wines. This week, we’re talking about the launch of Kiler Canyon Vineyard – a bold new brand carved from one of Paso’s most exciting sites. Joining Adam Montiel in the studio: Jeff Strekas, Director of Operations & Winegrowing Drew Nenow, Winemaker at ONX   What makes Kiler Canyon’s wines different? Why give a vineyard its own label? And what happens when you give a legendary site the spotlight it deserves? 🌐 Paso ine Wire A quick look at what’s buzzing in Paso: • Booker Hires Molly Lonborg as Senior Winemaker Booker just leveled up. Molly Lonborg — known for her Rhône chops and regenerative mindset — steps in to lead winemaking operations. → bookerwines.com • Vina Robles Launches Rookie Club A new wine club aimed squarely at the next generation — think text-only updates, one-bottle drops, and Swiftie-themed tastings. → vinarobles.com • Halter Ranch Reinvents the Vineyard — with Sheep Elevated trellising. Year-round grazing. High-wire thinking. Halter Ranch proves you can farm smart, farm clean, and still break the rules. → halterranch.com 🌴 Travel Paso Spotlight Restaurateur Maggie Cameron has reshaped Paso’s dining game — not once, but twice. At The Hatch, it’s wood-fired everything, killer cocktails, and vibe for days. At Della’s, it’s Southern Italian with California roots — fresh, fun, and Paso as hell. The kind of places that make you linger. And make Paso’s food scene impossible to ignore. → Plan your next trip at TravelPaso.com Also Mentioned: 🍷 Explore Kiler Canyon Vineyard 🍇 Visit ONX Wines 🎟️ Paso Wine Fest → PasoWine.com 🎁 Win passes → AdamMontiel.com 📢 Housekeeping: • Want to WIN tickets to Wine Fest? Enter at AdamMontiel.com. • Shoutout Feedspot for naming Where Wine Takes You a Top 3 Wine Podcast! • Thanks to Million Podcasts for putting us at #11 on their Wine Podcast list worldwide.   🎟 Paso Wine Fest is coming! Get your tickets at PasoWine.com and don’t miss the Paso 101 Wine Seminar with Madeline Puckette of Wine Folly—a can’t-miss masterclass to earn your Paso Wine Certificate during Wine Fest weekend. ******** For planning your next adventure in Paso Robles, check out TravelPaso.com. Tickets are now on sale for Paso Wine Fest (May 15–18, 2025). Head to pasowine.com for details and tickets. If you love Where Wine Takes You, subscribe, please leave a review, and share it! Thank you! ******** Where Wine Takes You (WWTY) is Executive Produced by Joel Peterson and Paso Wine.   Associate Producer: Krista Smith WWTY is recorded, edited, produced, and hosted by Adam Montiel. Follow Adam on Instagram @AdamOnTheAir and check out his daily podcast Up + Adam as well as The Pour with Adam Montiel.  To connect with Adam, ask a question, or learn more how you or your business can reach our audience on WWTY visit AdamMontiel.com or PasoWine.com For the latest in Paso Robles Wine Country, check out PasoWine.com and follow on Instagram @PasoWine. Download the free Paso Wine App as your guide to all things wine country.  Original music on WWTY, “Good Company,” performed by Moonshiner Collective. ©2025 Where Wine Takes You, All Rights Reserved.

  41. 128

    Ep 129: Breaking Plates, Pouring Paso – Bringing Greek Wines & Culture to Paso – Featuring Boutz Cellars

    🍇 Where Wine Takes You – Episode Highlights 🍷    Greek spirit. Paso soil. A father and son chasing a dream that started generations ago, and pouring it into the Adelaida hills today. James and Manoli Boutzoukas of Boutz Cellars are bringing real Greek wine culture to Paso Robles, planting Assyrtiko, Roditis, Agiorgitiko – and betting on tradition in a whole new land. When your roots run deep and your dreams run wild, you don’t follow maps — you draw new ones. 🌐 Paso Wine Wire: • New stewards at Écluse Wines — as Thibido’s Gibsey and Josh Beckett bring things full circle. Learn more • Charlie Palmer bets big on Paso’s food scene — revamping Paso Robles Inn and the Piccolo rooftop bar into the next culinary hotspots. (Credit: SF Chronicle) • American Idol producers auction off their winery — Ken Warwick and Nigel Lythgoe part ways with Villa San Juliette. (Credit: NY Post) 🍷 Travel Paso Spotlight: This week’s Travel Paso Spotlight honors the AIDS/LifeCycle ride. A seven-day, 545-mile journey from San Francisco to Los Angeles that has included Paso Robles as a heartfelt stop for 30 years. 2025 marks the final AIDS/LifeCycle ride, and Paso gets to be part of the farewell. Thousands of riders will once again roll through our town and into our hearts before crossing the finish line on the California coast. More on TravelPaso.com. 📢 Housekeeping: • Want to WIN tickets to Wine Fest? Enter at AdamMontiel.com. • Shoutout Feedspot for naming Where Wine Takes You a Top 3 Wine Podcast! • Thanks to Million Podcasts for putting us at #11 on their Wine Podcast list worldwide.   🎟 Paso Wine Fest is coming! Get your tickets at PasoWine.com and don’t miss the Paso 101 Wine Seminar with Madeline Puckette of Wine Folly—a can’t-miss masterclass to earn your Paso Wine Certificate during Wine Fest weekend. ******** For planning your next adventure in Paso Robles, check out TravelPaso.com. Tickets are now on sale for Paso Wine Fest (May 15–18, 2025). Head to pasowine.com for details and tickets. If you love Where Wine Takes You, subscribe, please leave a review, and share it! Thank you! ******** Where Wine Takes You (WWTY) is Executive Produced by Joel Peterson and Paso Wine.   Associate Producer: Krista Smith WWTY is recorded, edited, produced, and hosted by Adam Montiel. Follow Adam on Instagram @AdamOnTheAir and check out his daily podcast Up + Adam as well as The Pour with Adam Montiel.  To connect with Adam, ask a question, or learn more how you or your business can reach our audience on WWTY visit AdamMontiel.com or PasoWine.com For the latest in Paso Robles Wine Country, check out PasoWine.com and follow on Instagram @PasoWine. Download the free Paso Wine App as your guide to all things wine country.  Original music on WWTY, “Good Company,” performed by Moonshiner Collective. ©2025 Where Wine Takes You, All Rights Reserved.

  42. 127

    Ep 128: Earth Day – Earth First Farming – Featuring MAHA Estate | Villa Creek and Booker Vineyard and Winery

    🍇 Where Wine Takes You – Episode Highlights 🍷    In this Earth Day-inspired episode, Adam sits down with two leaders shaping the future of Paso from the ground up: Cris Cherry, owner of Villa Creek and the Maha Estate, and Hillary Graves, vineyard manager at Booker Wines. Together, they explore what it means to farm with integrity—from regenerative practices to the emotional reality of tending vines through seasons of change. In honor of Earth Day, we sit down with two Central Coast voices who remind us that wine starts long before the glass. Cris Cherry, owner of Villa Creek Cellars and MAHA Estate, reflects on decades of farming and his deepening connection to the land. It’s a conversation about resilience, respect, and the rhythm of nature. Hillary Graves, vineyard manager at Booker Wines, shares her unique path from library stacks to vineyard rows. She breaks down how sustainability isn’t just about what you do, but why you do it—connecting science, soil, and soul. 🌱 Cris Cherry: Villa Creek Cellars / Maha Estate 🌾 Hillary Graves: Booker Wines ✨ FOSO & Sensorio: Blog at AdamMontiel.com 🎟️ Paso Wine Fest tickets: PasoWine.com 🍇 Learn about the Paso Wine 101 Seminar with Wine Folly: Wine Folly Seminar Info   Paso Wine Wire Links: Dream Big Darling Returns to V6 Ranch in Parkfield 25 scholarships for young women in the wine and spirits industry — mentorship, networking, and deep Paso roots. 🔗 Read more Cal Poly Winemaker Showcase Raises Over $630,000 Celebrating 30 years of student-led wine excellence and hands-on education. 🔗 Read more Paso Gets National Praise in Forbes Liz Thach highlights Paso Robles and the CAB Collective’s growing influence on sustainable Cabernet production. 🔗 Read more 🎟 Paso Wine Fest is coming! Get your tickets at PasoWine.com and don’t miss the Paso 101 Wine Seminar with Madeline Puckette of Wine Folly—a can’t-miss masterclass to earn your Paso Wine Certificate during Wine Fest weekend. ******** For planning your next adventure in Paso Robles, check out TravelPaso.com. Tickets are now on sale for Paso Wine Fest (May 15–18, 2025). Head to pasowine.com for details and tickets. If you love Where Wine Takes You, subscribe, please leave a review, and share it! Thank you! ******** Where Wine Takes You (WWTY) is Executive Produced by Joel Peterson and Paso Wine.   Associate Producer: Krista Smith WWTY is recorded, edited, produced, and hosted by Adam Montiel. Follow Adam on Instagram @AdamOnTheAir and check out his daily podcast Up + Adam as well as The Pour with Adam Montiel.  To connect with Adam, ask a question, or learn more how you or your business can reach our audience on WWTY visit AdamMontiel.com or PasoWine.com For the latest in Paso Robles Wine Country, check out PasoWine.com and follow on Instagram @PasoWine. Download the free Paso Wine App as your guide to all things wine country.  Original music on WWTY, “Good Company,” performed by Moonshiner Collective. ©2025 Where Wine Takes You, All Rights Reserved.

  43. 126

    Ep 127: Share and Pair Sundays – Featuring The Wine Bible’s Karen MacNeil

    🍇 Where Wine Takes You – Episode Highlights 🍷    This week, Where Wine Takes You welcomes one of the most influential voices in wine – Karen MacNeil, author of The Wine Bible, a cornerstone text that’s sold over a million copies worldwide. She’s not only helped define how Americans talk about wine, but she’s spent years spotlighting Paso Robles as one of the world’s most exciting wine regions. In this candid, deep-dive conversation, Karen opens up about her path from dropout to wine authority, why she believes Paso is one of the most expressive regions in the country, and how the wine world needs to evolve if it wants to survive. It’s passionate, unfiltered, and rich with perspective. Also in this episode… Travel Paso Spotlight: We’re joined by Lynette Sonne, Exec Dir of Farmstead Ed and the SLO County Farm Trail. She shares how she’s helping locals and travelers alike connect with the land, and offers a sneak peek at this summer’s Open Farm Days—a celebration of the Central Coast’s agricultural bounty. In the Paso Wine Wire, we’re talking: Paso Wine Country teams up with Strauss Workwear: A fresh partnership aligning style and grit, perfectly matching the energy of Paso’s wine community. Joel Peterson of Paso Wine drops in for a few words on what it means for the region.   CNN covers proposed wine tariffs: CNN’s Natasha Chen reports on how proposed tariffs could impact the American wine industry—particularly small and mid-sized producers like those in Paso. We’ve got a clip from the coverage to break it down.   DAOU Wines joins forces with LIV Golf: A bold move in branding and national visibility—Paso’s own DAOU Family Estates signs on as the official wine sponsor of LIV Golf, expanding Paso’s reach to a whole new crowd.   🎟 Paso Wine Fest is coming! Get your tickets at PasoWine.com and don’t miss the Paso 101 Wine Seminar with Madeline Puckette of Wine Folly—a can’t-miss masterclass to earn your Paso Wine Certificate during Wine Fest weekend.     ******* Cork & Cruise 2025 – The Ultimate Wine Adventure This year, imagine sailing through the Left and Right Banks of Bordeaux, tasting legendary wines with Paso’s most iconic winemakers, Eric Jensen (Booker Vineyard) & Stephan Asseo (L’Aventure) – Hosted by Cork & Cruise on board with AmaWaterways, this all-inclusive luxury wine cruise is an experience like no other. Spots are filling up fast—visit CorkAndCruise.com for details. ******** For planning your next adventure in Paso Robles, check out TravelPaso.com. Tickets are now on sale for Paso Wine Fest (May 15–18, 2025). Head to pasowine.com for details and tickets. If you love Where Wine Takes You, subscribe, please leave a review, and share it! Thank you! ******** Where Wine Takes You (WWTY) is Executive Produced by Joel Peterson and Paso Wine.   Associate Producer: Krista Smith WWTY is recorded, edited, produced, and hosted by Adam Montiel. Follow Adam on Instagram @AdamOnTheAir and check out his daily podcast Up + Adam as well as The Pour with Adam Montiel.  To connect with Adam, ask a question, or learn more how you or your business can reach our audience on WWTY visit AdamMontiel.com  For the latest in Paso Robles Wine Country, check out PasoWine.com and follow on Instagram @PasoWine. Download the free Paso Wine App as your guide to all things wine country.  Original music on WWTY, “Good Company,” performed by Moonshiner Collective. ©2025 Where Wine Takes You, All Rights Reserved.  

  44. 125

    Ep 126: Paso’s First Michelin Star – Featuring Six Test Kitchen

    🍇 Where Wine Takes You – Episode Highlights 🍷    In this episode, we take a flavorful detour off the vineyard path and into the heart of Paso’s culinary scene with Chef Ricky Odbert—owner of Six Test Kitchen and the first to earn San Luis Obispo County its very first Michelin Star. From cooking in his parents’ garage in Arroyo Grande to building one of the most exclusive dining experiences in California wine country, Ricky shares his journey, his approach to creativity, and what it means to operate with discipline and vision. In the Travel Paso Spotlight, we’re joined by Adri Wells, founder of Central Coasting with Adri, who’s helping Paso businesses thrive with powerful content and creative social media strategies. It’s the third week in a row we’re highlighting women-led businesses for Women’s History Month! Today’s Guests: Chef Ricky Odbert – Six Test Kitchen • Website: sixtestkitchen.com • MICHELIN Guide Review: Read here • SFGate Feature – Started in a Garage: Read here Adri Wells – Central Coasting with Adri • Website: centralcoastingwithadri.com • Instagram: @centralcoastingwithadri Also in this episode’s Paso Wine Wire: Brecon Estate earns “Historic Vineyard” status from the Historic Vineyard Society.   Indigené Cellars had a nice write up in the Tribune: How founder Raymond Smith is building community, one bottle at a time.   Paso Robles featured in Vogue, in a glowing write-up by Central Coast native Nicole Kliest—who we hope to have on the pod soon.   Grab your Paso Wine Fest tickets at PasoWine.com Don’t miss the new Paso Robles 101 Seminar hosted by Wine Folly’s Madeline Puckette.   ******* Cork & Cruise 2025 – The Ultimate Wine Adventure This year, imagine sailing through the Left and Right Banks of Bordeaux, tasting legendary wines with Paso’s most iconic winemakers, Eric Jensen (Booker Vineyard) & Stephan Asseo (L’Aventure) – Hosted by Cork & Cruise on board with AmaWaterways, this all-inclusive luxury wine cruise is an experience like no other. Spots are filling up fast—visit CorkAndCruise.com for details. ******** For planning your next adventure in Paso Robles, check out TravelPaso.com. Tickets are now on sale for Paso Wine Fest (May 15–18, 2025). Head to pasowine.com for details and tickets. If you love Where Wine Takes You, subscribe, please leave a review, and share it! Thank you! ******** Where Wine Takes You (WWTY) is Executive Produced by Joel Peterson and Paso Wine.   Associate Producer: Krista Smith WWTY is recorded, edited, produced, and hosted by Adam Montiel. Follow Adam on Instagram @AdamOnTheAir and check out his daily podcast Up + Adam as well as The Pour with Adam Montiel.  To connect with Adam, ask a question, or learn more how you or your business can reach our audience on WWTY visit AdamMontiel.com  For the latest in Paso Robles Wine Country, check out PasoWine.com and follow on Instagram @PasoWine. Download the free Paso Wine App as your guide to all things wine country.  Original music on WWTY, “Good Company,” performed by Moonshiner Collective. ©2025 Where Wine Takes You, All Rights Reserved.  

  45. 124

    Ep 125: From Everywhere to Here: How Paloma Bilson Found Her Frame in Paso – Featuring Dilecta Wines

    🍇 Where Wine Takes You – Episode Highlights 🍷    From Everywhere to Here: How Paloma Bilson Found Her Frame in Paso In this episode of Where Wine Takes You, Adam sits down with Paloma Bilson, owner and winemaker of Dilecta Wines. Her journey—from Angola and Namibia to the film industry in LA, to founding a visa consultancy for extraordinary talent, and finally planting roots in Paso Robles—is nothing short of cinematic. Paloma’s story is rich, layered, and poured into every bottle she creates. In the Travel Paso Spotlight, Adam catches up with Michelle Barrera, founder of Enjoy SLO, whose platform helps locals and visitors alike discover the best events, bites, and sips in SLO County. She’s a trusted voice in Central Coast culture, and she shares what’s buzzing this season in Paso. Paso Wine Wire Highlights: Paso Cabernet Outpaces California: While statewide Cab sales dropped, Paso’s are up 12%—proving it’s not just a region, it’s a rising force. Read the full story Check it out HERE J. Lohr Hits Sustainability Milestone: Their iconic 2022 Seven Oaks Cab now carries the Certified California Sustainable seal—over 20 million bottles strong, and under $20.Check it out HERE Rockbound Cellars Opens Downtown: A new tasting room on Railroad Street brings Adelaida fruit, minimal intervention winemaking, and a relaxed vibe to the heart of Paso. Check it out HERE Featured Guests & Links: Dilecta Wines (Paloma Bilson): dilectawines.com Enjoy SLO (Michelle Barrera): enjoyslo.com | Instagram @EnjoySLO Paso Wine Fest Info: pasowine.com Plan Your Trip: travelpaso.com   Cork & Cruise 2025 – The Ultimate Wine Adventure This year, imagine sailing through the Left and Right Banks of Bordeaux, tasting legendary wines with Paso’s most iconic winemakers, Eric Jensen (Booker Vineyard) & Stephan Asseo (L’Aventure) – Hosted by Cork & Cruise on board with AmaWaterways, this all-inclusive luxury wine cruise is an experience like no other. Spots are filling up fast—visit CorkAndCruise.com for details. ******** For planning your next adventure in Paso Robles, check out TravelPaso.com. Before we wrap up, don’t miss Adam’s insider info: Tickets are now on sale for Paso Wine Fest (May 15–18, 2025). Head to pasowine.com for details and tickets. ******** Where Wine Takes You (WWTY) is Executive Produced by Paso Wine.   Associate Producer: Krista Smith If you love Where Wine Takes You, subscribe, please leave a review, and share it! Thank you! WWTY is recorded, edited, produced, and hosted by Adam Montiel. Follow Adam on Instagram @AdamOnTheAir and check out his daily podcast Up + Adam as well as The Pour with Adam Montiel.  To connect with Adam, ask a question, or learn more how you or your business can reach our audience on WWTY visit AdamMontiel.com  For the latest in Paso Robles Wine Country, check out PasoWine.com and follow on Instagram @PasoWine. Download the free Paso Wine App as your guide to all things wine country.  Original music on WWTY, “Good Company,” performed by Moonshiner Collective. ©2025 Where Wine Takes You, All Rights Reserved.  

  46. 123

    Ep 124: Cabernet Franc’s Rise in Paso – Featuring LXV Wines and Adelaida Cellars

    🍇 Where Wine Takes You – Episode Highlights 🍷    In this episode of Where Wine Takes You, we dive into Cabernet Franc’s moment in the spotlight and how Paso Robles is shaping its future. Once considered just a blending grape, Cab Franc is proving it can stand on its own—with structure, depth, and a signature Paso character. To break it all down, we’re joined by: Neeta Mittal, LXV Wines – A master of food & wine pairings who’s helping elevate Cab Franc’s versatility. Jude Radeski, GM of Adelaida Vineyard – A leader in high-elevation winemaking and site-driven Cab Franc expressions. We also touch on CabFrancMasters, a one-day only event dedicated to celebrating this complex and elegant varietal. Travel Paso Spotlight: Parchetto Bistro  We catch up with Carol MacDonal, owner of Parchetto Bistro & Il Cortile, two of Paso’s most celebrated restaurants.   Parchetto Bistro’s Park Street Jazz Night with WhistlePig A New York-style jazz night featuring WhistlePig whiskey pairings & a four-course dinner. Live jazz, expertly crafted cocktails, and an elevated dining experience in downtown Paso. Paso Wine Wire – Latest Paso Wine News Best of Paso Auction Lot to Honor JoAnn Cherry at T.J. Martell Foundation Event Paso’s wine community has created a one-of-a-kind auction lot in memory of JoAnn Cherry (Villa Creek & MAHA Estate). Halter Ranch Achieves Regenerative Organic Certification Halter Ranch joins Tablas Creek and Robert Hall as one of the only three Paso wineries with Regenerative Organic Certification®. Miller Family Wine Co. Named Grower of the Year & Launches AI Sommelier Service Miller Family Wine Co. (owners of French Camp Vineyard) was named Grower of the Year at the Unified Wine & Grape Symposium.   Cork & Cruise 2025 – The Ultimate Wine Adventure Cork & Cruise is back for 2025. This year, we’re sailing through the Left and Right Banks of Bordeaux, tasting legendary wines with Paso’s most iconic winemakers, Eric Jensen (Booker Vineyard) & Stephan Asseo (L’Aventure) Hosted by Cork & Cruise on board with AmaWaterways, this all-inclusive luxury wine cruise is an experience like no other. Spots are filling up fast—visit CorkAndCruise.com for details. ******** For planning your next adventure in Paso Robles, check out TravelPaso.com. Before we wrap up, don’t miss Adam’s insider info: Tickets are now on sale for Paso Wine Fest (May 15–18, 2025). Head to pasowine.com for details and tickets. ******** Where Wine Takes You (WWTY) is Executive Produced by Paso Wine.   Associate Producer: Krista Smith If you love Where Wine Takes You, subscribe, please leave a review, and share it! Thank you! WWTY is recorded, edited, produced, and hosted by Adam Montiel. Follow Adam on Instagram @AdamOnTheAir and check out his daily podcast Up + Adam as well as The Pour with Adam Montiel. He recently dropped an episode from World of Pinot Noir with Louis Latour and Dan Kosta of Kosta Browne fame. More content from WOPN coming soon including a chat with Paso Wine’s Joel Peterson!  To connect with Adam, ask a question, or learn more how you or your business can reach our audience on WWTY visit AdamMontiel.com  For the latest in Paso Robles Wine Country, check out PasoWine.com and follow on Instagram @PasoWine. Download the free Paso Wine App as your guide to all things wine country.  Original music on WWTY, “Good Company,” performed by Moonshiner Collective. ©2025 Where Wine Takes You, All Rights Reserved.  

  47. 122

    Ep 123: From Pre-Med to Paso: Following Science, Finding Soul – Featuring MCV Wines

    🍇 Where Wine Takes You – Episode Highlights 🍷    In this episode of Where Wine Takes You, we sit down with Matt Villard, owner and winemaker at MCV Wines, to explore his unexpected journey from pre-med at UC Davis to crafting bold, Petite Sirah-driven wines in Paso Robles. Sometimes, the best path is the one you never planned for, and Matt’s story proves that following your passion can lead to extraordinary places. We dive into: How a single UC Davis class changed everything The origin of MCV Wines and Matt’s obsession with Petite Sirah How family, loss, and perseverance continue to shape his winemaking philosophy Later, in our Travel Paso Spotlight, we celebrate Women’s Week in Paso! We chat with Joeli Yaguda, co-owner of General Store Paso Robles, about the incredible impact of women-led businesses in Paso and how At Her Table is shining a spotlight on the women shaping the region’s food, wine, and hospitality scene. And of course, we run down the latest in Paso Wine Wire, including: Parchetto Bistro’s Park Street Jazz Night – A one-night-only New York-style jazz & WhistlePig whiskey dinner (March 20) CabFrancMasters Returns to Paso – A deep dive into Paso’s role as a Cabernet Franc powerhouse (March 16-17) Paso Tourism’s $20.9M Economic Impact – Wine country’s boom is fueling local businesses, public services, and job creation Links from the Show: MCV Wines: mcvwines.com General Store Paso Robles: generalstorepr.com At Her Table: athertable.com Travel Paso: travelpaso.com For planning your next adventure in Paso Robles, check out TravelPaso.com. Before we wrap up, don’t miss Adam’s insider info: Tickets are now on sale for Paso Wine Fest (May 15–18, 2025). Head to pasowine.com for details and tickets. ******** Where Wine Takes You (WWTY) is Executive Produced by Paso Wine.   Associate Producer: Krista Smith If you love Where Wine Takes You, subscribe, please leave a review, and share it! Thank you! WWTY is recorded, edited, produced, and hosted by Adam Montiel. Follow Adam on Instagram @AdamOnTheAir and check out his daily podcast Up + Adam as well as The Pour with Adam Montiel. He recently dropped an episode from World of Pinot Noir with Louis Latour and Dan Kosta of Kosta Browne fame. More content from WOPN coming soon including a chat with Paso Wine’s Joel Peterson!  To connect with Adam, ask a question, or learn more how you or your business can reach our audience on WWTY visit AdamMontiel.com  For the latest in Paso Robles Wine Country, check out PasoWine.com and follow on Instagram @PasoWine. Download the free Paso Wine App as your guide to all things wine country.  Original music on WWTY, “Good Company,” performed by Moonshiner Collective. ©2025 Where Wine Takes You, All Rights Reserved.  

  48. 121

    Ep 122: Off the Vine, On the Line: How Great Design Moves Bottles – Featuring Kraftwerk Design

    🍇 Where Wine Takes You – Episode Highlights 🍷    In this episode of Where Wine Takes You, we’re pulling back the curtain on something you might not think about—but it’s the first thing you see when you pick up a bottle of wine: the label. A great wine label isn’t just about looking pretty—it’s storytelling, branding, and marketing all wrapped into one, and it can make or break a wine’s success. To explore this, Thomas Reiss, founder of Kraftwerk Design in San Luis Obispo, joins us. Thomas has worked with some of the most respected wineries, designing labels that don’t just catch your eye—they tell the winery’s story in an instant. From bold, modern aesthetics to timeless classics, we break down how wineries decide what face their bottle will wear and why it matters. We also highlight Paso’s vibrant community with our Travel Paso Spotlight, featuring Candice Custodio from At Her Table and Alexandra from The Alchemists’ Garden. They’re teaming up for a Fashion Show celebrating Women’s History Month—a perfect blend of style, community, and Paso vibes. It’s more than just fashion; it’s about celebrating women-owned businesses and the creativity that fuels Paso. And, of course, we hit the latest in Paso wine country with the Paso Wine Wire: CabFrancMasters is back March 16-17, 2025, celebrating all things Cabernet Franc with tastings, masterclasses, and some of Paso’s top producers. Ledge Vineyards welcomes Chris Hammell as their new Vineyard Manager. A perfect fit, considering Chris Hammell’s legendary status from Bien Nacido and Ledge’s commitment to world-class fruit. Vina Robles opened a sleek new tasting room off Highway 101, complete with barrel-crafted tables, wood-fired pizzas, and a perfect indoor-outdoor flow for sipping Paso’s finest. Don’t forget: Where Wine Takes You was recently ranked #3 on Feedspot’s Top 100 Wine Podcasts!  We’re honored, grateful, and setting our sights on that #1 spot—because Paso deserves nothing less. Links from the Show: Kraftwerk Design: kraftwerkdesign.com At Her Table: athertable.com The Alchemists’ Garden: alchemistsgarden.com   For planning your next adventure in Paso Robles, check out TravelPaso.com. Before we wrap up, don’t miss Adam’s insider info: Tickets are now on sale for Paso Wine Fest (May 15–18, 2025) and BlendFest on the Coast (Feb. 20–23, 2025). These are two can’t-miss events celebrating the very best of Paso wine. Head to pasowine.com for details and tickets. Attention San Luis Obispo County residents! You can take advantage of the exclusive Locals Only tickets at a special price. On sale now through Friday, Feb. 28, locals enjoy discounted General Admission tickets for the Grand Tasting on Saturday, May 17, for $99. This significant savings is only for SLO County residents. Visit www.pasowine.com/winefest/ to learn more. ******** Where Wine Takes You (WWTY) is Executive Produced by Paso Wine.  WWTY is recorded, edited, produced, and hosted by Adam Montiel. Follow Adam on Instagram @AdamOnTheAir and check out his daily podcast Up + Adam as well as The Pour with Adam Montiel. To connect with Adam, learn more, or for Spotify or other pod links, visit AdamMontiel.com For the latest in Paso Robles Wine Country, check out PasoWine.com and follow on Instagram @PasoWine. Download the free Paso Wine App as your guide to all things wine country.  Original music on WWTY, “Good Company,” performed by Moonshiner Collective. ©2025 Where Wine Takes You, All Rights Reserved.  

  49. 120

    Ep 121: A Century of Winemaking and Grape Growing – Featuring Janell Dusi & Matt Dusi

    🍇 Where Wine Takes You – Episode Highlights 🍷    ******* Where Wine Takes You Named by Feedspot.com #3 on Their List of Top 100 Podcasts ******* In this episode of Where Wine Takes You, we’re celebrating a milestone that’s been a century in the making. The Dusi family has been farming Paso Robles vineyards for 100 years, and today, we’re sitting down with Janell Dusi of J Dusi Wines and her brother, vineyard manager Matt Dusi, to talk about what that legacy really means. From the early days of Benito Dusi planting some of the region’s most iconic Zinfandel vines to the modern innovations that keep the family name thriving, this episode dives deep into what it takes to balance history with forward-thinking winemaking. The Dusi Family Legacy Janell and Matt open up about the family dynamics of running a generational business, the inspiration behind their special ‘Cent’Anni’ commemorative Zinfandel, and what makes Paso such a special place to grow and craft wine. And of course, we get into the fun stuff—like what not to do in the Dusi household, who’s the worst at potlucks, and more. Connect with J Dusi Wines Website: jdusiwines.com Instagram: @jdusiwines Facebook: J Dusi Wines Online Store: Shop J Dusi Wines Pour a glass, settle in, and join us for an unforgettable conversation about legacy, passion, and damn good wine. Travel Paso Spotlight: S’Aranella Our Travel Paso Spotlight this episode highlights Paso’s newest dining hotspot—S’Aranella, where we chat with Chef Julien Asseo, the culinary mastermind behind this exciting new venture. Asseo, known for his work at the Michelin-mentioned Les Petites Canailles (LPC), brings a fresh and elevated dining experience to Paso, making waves in the local food scene.   For planning your next adventure in Paso Robles, check out TravelPaso.com. Before we wrap up, don’t miss Adam’s insider info: Tickets are now on sale for Paso Wine Fest (May 15–18, 2025) and BlendFest on the Coast (Feb. 20–23, 2025). These are two can’t-miss events celebrating the very best of Paso wine. Head to pasowine.com for details and tickets. Attention San Luis Obispo County residents! You can take advantage of the exclusive Locals Only tickets at a special price. On sale now through Friday, Feb. 28, locals enjoy discounted General Admission tickets for the Grand Tasting on Saturday, May 17, for $99. This significant savings is only for SLO County residents. Visit www.pasowine.com/winefest/ to learn more. ******** Where Wine Takes You (WWTY) is Executive Produced by Paso Wine.  WWTY is recorded, edited, produced, and hosted by Adam Montiel. Follow Adam on Instagram @AdamOnTheAir and check out his daily podcast Up + Adam as well as The Pour with Adam Montiel. To connect with Adam, learn more, or for Spotify or other pod links, visit AdamMontiel.com For the latest in Paso Robles Wine Country, check out PasoWine.com and follow on Instagram @PasoWine. Download the free Paso Wine App as your guide to all things wine country.  Original music on WWTY, “Good Company,” performed by Moonshiner Collective. ©2025 Where Wine Takes You, All Rights Reserved.  

  50. 119

    Ep 120: Not Your Usual Wine Tour – Toasting Tin City – Featuring Toast Wine Tours | Giornata Wines | Etto

    🍇 Where Wine Takes You – Episode Highlights 🍷    In this episode of Where Wine Takes You, we’re exploring new ways to experience Paso Robles beyond the tasting room. Adam sits down with Kristina Horton, owner of Toast Tours, who is redefining how visitors sip and explore Paso with guided wine tours, insider experiences, and now, a Tin City Walking Tour. Joining the conversation is Steffi Terizzi, the force behind Etto Pasta Bar and Giornata Winery, blending authentic Italian flavors with the Paso wine scene. From expertly curated wine adventures to handmade pasta, these two are bringing fresh energy to Paso’s food and wine culture. In Paso Wine Wire, we highlight two big moments from the Paso Robles Wine Country Alliance Gala—the Dusi Family being honored for 100 years of farming in Paso Robles, and Randy & Jenny Heinzen being named Wine Industry Persons of the Year for their work in sustainable vineyard management. Plus, we take a look at DAOU Vineyards’ new partnership with the Dallas Open, bringing Paso wine to the pro tennis world. In the Travel Paso Spotlight, we wrap up Part 2 of VineCycle Tours, riding through the vineyards on an eBike, and then we chat with Gillian Beltran of the Paso Robles Inn about the hotel’s rich history and exciting renovations. Links & Resources: Toast Tours: toasttours.com | Instagram Giornata Wines: giornatawines.com | Instagram Etto Pasta Bar: ettopastabar.net | Instagram VineCycle Tours: vinecycletours.com | Instagram Paso Robles Inn: pasoroblesinn.com Paso Wine Alliance: pasowine.com BLEND FEST TIX: pasowine.com Travel Paso: travelpaso.com For planning your next adventure in Paso Robles, check out TravelPaso.com. Before we wrap up, don’t miss Adam’s insider info: Tickets are now on sale for Paso Wine Fest (May 15–18, 2025) and BlendFest on the Coast (Feb. 20–23, 2025). These are two can’t-miss events celebrating the very best of Paso wine. Head to pasowine.com for details and tickets. Attention San Luis Obispo County residents! You can take advantage of the exclusive Locals Only tickets at a special price. On sale now through Friday, Feb. 28, locals enjoy discounted General Admission tickets for the Grand Tasting on Saturday, May 17, for $99. This significant savings is only for SLO County residents. Visit www.pasowine.com/winefest/ to learn more. ******** Where Wine Takes You (WWTY) is Executive Produced by Paso Wine.  WWTY is recorded, edited, produced, and hosted by Adam Montiel. Follow Adam on Instagram @AdamOnTheAir and check out his daily podcast Up + Adam as well as The Pour with Adam Montiel. To connect with Adam, learn more, or for Spotify or other pod links, visit AdamMontiel.com For the latest in Paso Robles Wine Country, check out PasoWine.com and follow on Instagram @PasoWine. Download the free Paso Wine App as your guide to all things wine country.  Original music on WWTY, “Good Company,” performed by Moonshiner Collective. ©2025 Where Wine Takes You, All Rights Reserved.  

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ABOUT THIS SHOW

Keeping it real with owners, winemakers, growers and personalities as they discuss the places and wines that have shaped the Paso Robles Wine Region

HOSTED BY

Adam Montiel

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