Best pinot noir wines in Paso Robles for the holidays
Cheese and charcuterie at a Pinot and Paté panel
– Pinot noir is always a popular choice for holiday parties and dinners because it is easy to pair with so many holiday dishes. Pinot noir’s traditional characters of medium-bodied fruit, lower alcohol, velvety mouthfeel, and bright acidity make it an excellent lighter red wine for an appetizer plate of charcuterie and cheeses or holiday meals. After tasting many local pinot noir wines, we made recommendations for you below. We suggest serving these wines slightly chilled at about 55°F.
Top local pinot noir wine recommendations
Austin Hope 2021 Pinot Noir – $65
This pinot noir bursts from the glass with jammy raspberry and plum aromas accented by tobacco leaf, sandalwood and cocoa powder. Sleek, flashy textures flood the mouth with flavors of cherry, cassis, blackberry and cola. The finish is velvety and impeccably weighted, with lingering hints of mint leaf and red fruits.
Glunz Family Winery 2021 Pinot Noir – $45
Grapes picked from Spanish Springs Vineyard, located on the southern end of the Central Coast AVA and one mile from the Pacific Ocean. This wine was aged in 100% French oak barrels for 12 months. Medium body in style, this wine has notes of red cherry, strawberry, cinnamon and a touch of toasted oak on the finish.
Opolo 2021 Reserve Pinot Noir – $45
Opolo’s 2021 Pinot Noir Reserve, partially whole-cluster fermented in open-top French oak barrels, is crafted for true pinot noir enthusiasts. It features enticing aromas of strawberry, cherry, sandalwood, and savory spices. The bright, luscious mouthfeel showcases fresh red fruit flavors, complemented by vanilla, cedar, and cola accents, leading to a soft, silky finish with hints of white pepper and baking spices.
Sculpterra 2022 Pinot Noir – $40
This pinot has ripe tastes and rich texture, with a heightened fruity characteristic. It was grown in the hot summer, releasing extra fruit flavors. Enjoy aromas and tastes of berry pie, herbal tea, and bittersweet chocolate. The color is a shade darker than a California coastal pinot noir. It finished with nice dimension and well-rounded aftertaste.
Seven Angels Cellars 2019 Pinot Noir – $42
Ruby in color, soft, smoky cherry and baking spices on the nose are followed with bright strawberry and warm toasty flavors. Like Christmas in your mouth with a burst of tart fruit on the finish. This wine won a gold metal at the 2022 Central Coast Wine Competition and a silver metal at the 2022 OC Wine Society. 
Stephen Ross 2019 Pinot Noir – $25
This wine displays deep garnet red color with an enticing nose of dried rose petals, wet slate, black tea, dark cherry and cranberry. It’s medium bodied with silky smooth with bright acidity and fine tannins. The finish is quite long with elements of fruit and spice. It earned 90 points from Wine & Spirits and Vinous. It is a great value.
Windward Vineyard 2021 Monopole Pinot Noir – $54
This pinot has earth tones and dried cherry aromas yielding to rich fruit on the first sip.The wine moves over the mid-sensory buds slowly building its tannins. The french oak from a year in Seguin Moreau barrels makes its phenols evident in the peacock tail finish.
Look for more local wine recommendations coming soon
- Best local sparkling wines
- Best local rosé wines
- Best local white wines
- Best local zinfandel wines
- Best local pinot noir
- Best Spanish-style wines
- Best local Rhone-style red wines and red blends
- Best cabernet, Bordeaux-style, and red wines
- Best local dessert wines
Publisher’s note: For the 11th year in a row we thought it would be fun to recommend local wines for the holidays. Once again, we received an amazing amount of participation from our local wineries. Over the last two weeks, we received more than 150 entries. Fortunately, there were many solid, well-made Paso Robles wines to recommend. We have created several lists of top local wines into categories. The recommended wines above are in alphabetical order.
