SLO County Wineries News

Monday, October 5, 2009

2009 Harvest Wine Weekend, October 16 - 18, Throughout Paso Robles Wine Country

Over 130 North SLO County wineries will host more than 150 individual events during "Harvest Wine Weekend," October 16 - 18.

The event celebrates the grape harvest season currently taking place throughout San Luis Obispo County -- a new vintage!

Individual weekend events from select wineries include:

  • Clautiere Vineyard
    1340 Penman Springs Road, Paso Robles
    805.237.3789
    clautiere.com
    Weekend Hours: 12 - 5 p.m.
    Friday - Sunday: Be prepared to add some pizzazz to your life when you visit a tasting room like no other! Think Edward Scissorhands meets the Mad Hatter at the Moulin Rouge. Enjoy our garden's winding paths decorated with mosaic spheres, cubes, metal sculptures and rock circles!
    Saturday: Join us for our famous flame-licked grilled chipotle hamburges served with our new release, 2 Cocky Sisters, complimentary with your tasting from 1 - 4 p.m. mmMMM Scrupdeli-o-cious! While you are here, take advantage of our 2004 Grand Rouge which will be discounted 50% off this weekend only.

  • Écluse Wines
    1520 Kiler Canyon Road, Paso Robles
    805.238.4998
    eclusewines.com
    Weekend Hours: 10:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
    Friday - Sunday: Écluse may not be familiar to you yet, but we will be! Join us as we open our winery for the rare opportunity to taste our handcrafted award-winning Rhône and Bordeaux-style Écluse Wines. We're showcasing our 2007 wines released this weekend. Be the first to taste our highly anticipated Lock Vineyard Zinfandel/Syrah blend "Improv" - it's fabulous! If you're lucky, you'll find Steve with the wine thief doing some barrel tasting. Experience wine tasting the old fashioned way in the barrel room with the winemaker. No fancy barbecues or events, just great wine. Come savor the wine that is truly Écluse!

  • J. Lohr Vineyards & Wines
    6169 Airport Road, Paso Robles
    805.239.8900
    jlohr.com
    Weekend Hours: 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.
    Friday: Chef Jeff Jackson from The Range in Santa Margarita will prepare a fantastic five course menu of fresh, seasonal offerings. Seating at 6:30 p.m. $105/pp; $95/Club Members. Reservations required.
    Saturday: Club Members and their guests may enjoy a VIP tour and tasting of limited release wines at 10 a.m., 12 and 2 p.m. We'll feature our new J. Lohr Gesture wines. No reservations required.
    Sunday: Experience an Olea Farms Olive Oil seminar and tasting paired with a five course Tasting menu prepared by Cahoots Catering. Seating at 11 a.m. $60/pp; $50/Club Members Reservations required.

  • Jada Vineyard & Winery
    5620 Vineyard Drive, Paso Robles
    805.226.4200
    jadavineyard.com
    Weekend Hours: 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.
    Friday: Jada's Second Annual "Halloween at Harvest" Celebration starts Friday! A nod to the 60s. Hippie attire encouraged. New releases, barrel samples. LLWC members only Pick Up Party 6:30 - 8:30 p.m. Prize for most original 60s look and more! Call for reservations.
    Saturday & Sunday: Celebrate the 2009 Harvest the Jada Way! "Halloween at Harvest" celebrates the 60s all weekend long. Wear a 60s costume and you will be entered in our contest. Prizes for costume categories - Best 60s get-up and more! New releases, gourmet cheese pairing, live music and chocolates

  • L'Aventure
    2815 Live Oak Road, Paso Robles
    805.227.1588
    aventurewine.com
    Weekend Hours: 11 a.m. - 4 p.m.
    Friday - Sunday: Stephan and Beatrice invite you to celebrate our 12th harvest at L'Aventure. Experience some of Paso Robles' most highly rated wines at our winery and tasting room, and learn more about our wines and westside terroir from our staff. Harvest Wine Weekend visitors will also be able to reserve a case of our 2007 estate wines and a wine club membership over the weekend. A vigneron first, Stephan Asseo has produced world-class, artisan, handcrafted wines in Paso Robles since 1998.

  • Opolo Vineyards
    7110 Vineyard Drive, Paso Robles
    805.238.9593
    opolo.com
    Weekend Hours: 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.
    Friday & Saturday: In between grape stomping, ethnic folk dancing, gypsy serenades and of course fabulous Opolo wines, we will be serving up some of the finest food in North County! Call today! $85/pp; $75/Members.
    Saturday: Join the now 17 Far Out Wineries on Saturday morning to taste through what each winery considers to be their best wine. Meet the owners and winemakers. Reservations required. Call 805.237.0138 today!
    Saturday & Sunday: Join us on the patio for wine tasting and our famous authentic, south-of-the border, carne asada tacos, carnitas and whole roasted lamb. Lunch $12/pp and tasting $5/pp. Both are complimentary for members

  • 2009 Harvest: Yield "Up," Quality "Incredible"

    From an article in Pacific Coast Business Times:

  • Unlike last year, when temperatures fluctuated drastically throughout the growing season, this year was mild and temperate, Fred Holloway, winemaker at Justin Vineyard & Winery in Paso Robles said. “The quality of these grapes is going to be very intense,” he said. “They’re going to be very flavorful.”
    Just down the road at Firestone Vineyard, now part of the Foley Family Wines group, winemaker Paul Warson agreed that the grapes are some of the best he’s seen in recent years. “I’m expecting good things from this year,” he said.
    In Santa Barbara County, Pinot Grigio grapes are flooding in, said Shayne Kline, general manager at Wild Horse Winery & Vineyeards in Templeton, while his part of the region is enjoying a bit of a later harvest. Wild Horse gets grapes from both Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo county vineyards.
    “There really is a lot of excitement this time of year for everyone,” Kline said – and not just for busy winemakers, but for visitors who often schedule late-summer trips around harvest time.
    Chris Taranto, communications manager of the Paso Robles Wine Country Alliance, a member organization for the region’s wineries and vineyards, said that he’s been hearing good things from his part of the wine world.
    “All accounts at this point in time are that it’s up from last year,” Taranto said. “And the quality is also showing to be incredible this year.”

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