LXV Wine Lounge opens outdoor patio

Posted: 2:22 pm, June 20, 2014 by Publisher Scott Brennan

Spice pairings, live music, Indian food & more draw patrons

LXV Wine Lounge recently opened a new outdoor patio to host guests, as well as a line-up of enticing ways to spend an afternoon or evening in downtown Paso Robles. Adorned with grapevines and flowers, and attached to its tasting room, LXV’s patio provides more than a place to enjoy its KamaSutra-inspired wine labels, it offers Indian food and spice pairings, live music and naan on Thursdays, and shoeless Sundays with an Esalen-trained masseuse in attendance.

The tasting room was recently named one of California’s top 25 tasting rooms by Intowine.com.

Beyond their unique events and wine and culinary provisions, one glance at LXV reveals a tasting room like no other. It’s deep blue walls, vibrantly colored day beds and wine labels inspired by the 64 arts of Kama Sutra create a downtown escape more like an exotic getaway. Like the wines themselves, the LXV lounge too has a story: the 64 arts of the KamaSutra (the concept around which LXV is based) are to enlighten sensual moods and intimacy. This creative connection has been applied to every aspect of LXV’s Paso Robles tasting room and patio. And as LXV (the Roman numerals for ‘65’) imply, its patrons are the 65th art.

“There is great attention to detail of smell, light, music, food, drink and touch,” said owner Neeta Mittal in a recent interview with 805 Living. “Sensuality involves more than the use of the five traditional senses: with awareness and intuition, it goes beyond just sensing.”

This sensory experience is heightened during LXV’s wine and spice pairings, where rosé is paired with cinnamon, viognier with an exotic pepper medley, and their grenache-syrah-tempranillo blend, with garam masala. In Neeta’s words, the spice takes the edge off the wine and reveals layers of complexity that lend to a deeper experience of the wine, an interaction with the ones taking place on a level you won’t find at other Central Coast wineries.

Wandering out to their patio, where there is live music from 6-8 p.m. every Thursday during the summer and on Fridays throughout the rest of the year, patrons can subject their senses to melody, sun, flowers and grapevines—not to mention, complimentary homemade naan and dips to pair with LXV’s wines. As urban areas are going more green, LXV has stayed ahead of the curve in creating an urban oasis in downtown Paso where patrons can come to feel like they’re on a mini-vacay.

“It’s ambient and memorable,” said Neeta. “Paso doesn’t have any other truly romantic place where couples can run off to. There are no other lounges. This is it, and we’re delighted to offer couples this escape.”

The patio was conceived and designed by Techie James-Roush, a consummate garden designer, with help from her husband, John Roush. The Roushes own the downtown Park Cinemas; Neeta cites their contributions as “a great example of how the Paso community looks out for one another.”

Though LXV currently pours 2013 Heart Note (Cab, Petite Sirah, Sangiovese, Chenin Blanc), 2012 Secret Craving (Cab Franc, Syrah, Merlot) and 2012 Rising Tempo (Grenache, Syrah, Tempranillo), there are releases on the horizon. Dark Romance (Chenin Blanc) comes out in July and, a Cabernet Franc will be released around Thanksgiving. However, those who want in on the Cab Franc will need to sign up for the LXV Wine Club, as it will be a barrel-select, club-exclusive release only.

LXV Wine Lounge is located at 1306 Pine Street at 13th Street in downtown Paso Robles. (805) 296-1902.