Forbes Magazine: Is Paso Robles the next great California wine destination?
‘Paso Robles has made… impressive advancements in style, technique, and character,’ expert says
– COVID-19 and the expanding Ukraine-Russia conflict have pushed Americans away from international travel. Fortunately, millions live within a few hours’ drive of the relaxing wine destination of Paso Robles, California.
California is blessed with a temperate Mediterranean climate that made growing grapes a $4.48 billion business in 2020. California’s lucrative “wine tourist” industry is also based upon the grape. As COVID restrictions fall, tourists are returning to wine country oases like Paso Robles, Napa, Sonoma, and Temecula.
The Napa region north of San Francisco is probably best known, especially after the 1976 “Judgement of Paris” that showed California wines to be the equal of those from France. But while Napa leads California with 21,943 acres planted with the prized Cabernet Sauvignon grape, San Luis Obispo County (SLO) where Paso Robles is the center of winemaking, is not far behind with 15,075.
Wine experts like Robert Parker and Master Sommelier Evan Goldstein (no relation) have extolled the wines of Paso Robles. “Paso Robles is near and dear to my heart,” Goldstein declared in 2019. “Paso Robles has made… impressive advancements in style, technique, and character for Cab and red Bordeaux varieties.”
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