The 26th Annual Paso Robles Wine Festival Weekend, May 16 - 18, 2008

The annual Paso Robles Wine Festival weekend, the third weekend in May, is a perfect time to visit Paso Robles Wine Country. More than 100 area wineries host an array of special events including winemaker dinners, food pairings, seminars, winery tours, special tastings and more. These events can be found at many locations throughout the Paso Robles area, California's third largest and fastest growing wine region.

The 2008 Paso Robles Wine Festival marquee tasting event in the downtown city park will take place on Saturday, May 17, 2008. The Festival is the perfect opportunity to experience the distinct, different wines of Paso Robles, ask questions and converse with winemakers and producers from over 85 Paso Robles Wine Country wineries in a casual, relaxed atmosphere.

Located in Paso Robles' downtown city park, live music and wine country cuisine set the stage for this outdoor tasting amidst the shade of oak trees.

What began as a small community gathering 26 years ago, has grown to be the largest outdoor tasting of its kind in California and we welcome you to join us for this celebration of Paso Robles wine.

To purchase tickets, click here.

Individual winery events include:

• Cass Winery
  7350 Linne Road, Paso Robles
  casswines.com
  Weekend Hours: 11 a.m. - 6 p.m.
  Friday: The East and West coasts unite! We will be shaking things up with Cass Chef Brandon McPartlan and Chef Jeff Galkin of Café Panache in Ashburn, VA. Custom wine blending for a custom evening, $80/pp; $65/wine club.
  Friday & Saturday: Lovers of the great outdoors welcome! Two nights of camping with all of the trimmings, dinner both nights, $600/couple; $480 wine club. Gourmet lunches being served all day at the most rockin' place in Paso.
  Sunday: Live New Orleans blues, local artisan olive oils with other tasty treats and the best company around (at least we think so); the perfect end to the perfect weekend
  
  
• Chateau Margene
  4385 La Panza Road, Creston
  chateaumargene.com
  Weekend Hours: 12 - 5 p.m.
  Friday: Tours and tasting. Two new releases from Chateau Margene (2005 Cabernet and 2006 Cielo Rosso) and your chance to be one of the first to taste four just-released wines from our second label, "Mooney Family".
  Saturday: Tours and tasting. Winemaker Michael will be pouring the six new releases at the winery, while sons Chris and Jon will be pouring the 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon in the park at the Paso Robles Wine Festival.
  Sunday: Tours and tasting. Sample six new releases (2005 Cabernet and five new red blends) while enjoying grilled appetizers and smooth jazz. Chill on the deck or take a stroll through the beautiful gardens.
  
  
• Clautiere Vineyard
  1340 Penman Springs Road, Paso Robles
  clautiere.com
  Weekend Hours: 12 - 5 p.m.
  Friday - Sunday: Come visit a tasting room like no other…where Edward Scissorhands meets the Mad Hatter at the Moulin Rouge or in the park. Enjoy the new gardens with magical mosaic spheres and cubes, metal sculptures and rock circles.
  Sunday: Join the Clautiere Crew for some or our famous grilled chipotle burgers especially prepared to complement our award-winning wines. Burgers will be served complimentary from 1 - 4 p.m. MMM...Scrumpdeli-o-cious!!!
  
  
• J. Lohr Vineyards & Wines
  6169 Airport Road, Paso Robles
  jlohr.com
  Weekend Hours: 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.
  Friday: Join us for our annual barbecue by Cahoots Catering and rock to the sounds of The House Red Band. Barbecue served from 6 - 8 p.m. $50/pp; $40/club members. Reservations required.
  Saturday: Join us in the park or at the Wine Center where club members may tour our facility at 11 a.m., 1 p.m. or 3 p.m., then enjoy a VIP tasting of our limited releases. No reservations required.
  Sunday: Our vineyard manager will be grilling his famous appetizers from 12 - 3 p.m. $10/pp; free for club members. Facility tours available for club members at 11 a.m., 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. followed by a VIP tasting. No reservations required.
  
  
• L’Aventure
  2815 Live Oak Road, Paso Robles
  aventurewine.com
  Weekend Hours: 11 a.m. - 4 p.m.
  Friday - Sunday: Join the L’Aventure family to taste our newly released estate wines. We will present Estate Cuvée, Côte a Côte and Optimus from the 2006 vintage, as well as Estate Roussanne, Roussanne, Côte a Côte Rosé and Cuvée de Pots Rosé (you can ask Stephan or Beatrice about this one!) from 2007. $10/pp tasting fee includes a Reidel “O” series glass.
  Saturday: Join Stephan and Chef Jeff Scott for dinner at the winery! Chef Scott, past executive chef at the Playboy Mansion in LA, will craft a seasonal summer menu to complement the Estate releases. Dinner is $150/pp; $120/pp for club members. Limited to 50 guests. Reservations 805.227.1588.
  
  
• Opolo Vineyards
  7110 Vineyard Drive, Paso Robles
  opolo.com
  Weekend Hours: 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.
  Friday: Join us on top of our gorgeous westside vineyard for an incredible, multiple course dinner paired perfectly with Opolo wines. The event will be catered by Cahoots, always an Opolo favorite and is guaranteed to sell out fast! $110/pp; $100/club members. Call 805.238.9593 to make your reservation.
  Saturday & Sunday: What's better than an Opolo wine tasting? A barbecue, that's what! Stop by on either Saturday or Sunday for a plateful of roasted lamb, south-of-the-border tacos, beans and much, much more! Lunch is $10/pp and wine tasting is $5/pp. Both are included with your Opolo wine club membership!
  
  
• Victor Hugo Winery
  2850 El Pomar Drive, Templeton
  victorhugowinery.com
  Weekend Hours: 11 a.m. - 5 p.m.
  Friday - Sunday: Celebrate Wine Festival weekend with select barrel samples complemented with local and imported cheeses. Preview our new releases and enjoy Festival weekend - only specials.
  Sunday: Learn the art of goat cheese! Local cheese artisan Bev Michels will demonstrate how to make fresh goat cheese. See winemaker/owner Vic Roberts attempt to milk a goat! Wine paired with cheese samples. 11 a.m - 1 p.m. $25/pp, complimentary for club members. Reservations required.
  

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