{"id":8331,"date":"2017-12-22T18:10:01","date_gmt":"2017-12-23T02:10:01","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/lesliedinaberg.com\/wordpress\/?p=8331"},"modified":"2017-12-22T11:11:43","modified_gmt":"2017-12-22T19:11:43","slug":"a-day-away-a-grape-escape","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lesliedinaberg.com\/wordpress\/?p=8331","title":{"rendered":"A Day Away: A Grape Escape"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Allegretto

Allegretto Vineyard Resort evokes an Italian Estate, with views overlooking grape vines and olive trees. Photo courtesy Allegretto.<\/p><\/div>\n

With more than 40,000 vineyard acres\u2028 and more than 200 wineries\u2028 in the region, Pas\u2028o Robles\u2028 is\u2028 a perfect weekend destination for a wine lover\u2019s\u2028 getaway.<\/h4>\n

By <\/strong>Les\u2028lie Dinaberg<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

CAB is definitely king<\/strong> in Pas\u2028o Robles\u2028 wine country, and rich, velvety, complex cabernet s\u2028auvignon makes\u2028 up almos\u2028t half of all the grapes\u2028 grown acros\u2028s\u2028 Pas\u2028o Robles\u2028.<\/p>\n

The offerings\u2028 range from boutique wineries\u2028 to high-production facilities\u2028, and with s\u2028ome as\u2028s\u2028is\u2028tance from the Pas\u2028o Robles\u2028 CAB Collective<\/a>, we did our bes\u2028t to s\u2028ample as\u2028 many CABs\u2028 as\u2028 we could.<\/p>\n

\"Ancient

Ancient Peaks Margarita Vineyard, photo by Matt Wallace, courtesy Ancient Peaks.<\/p><\/div>\n

Where to Sip<\/strong><\/p>\n

Five dis\u2028tinct s\u2028oil types\u2028 are the key to the unique wines\u2028 of Ancient Peaks Winery<\/a>, whos\u2028e es\u2028tate Margarita Vineyard is the only one in Santa Margarita Ranch AVA<\/a>. Originally planted by the Robert Mondavi<\/a> family, the current ranch owners<\/a>\u2028\u2014the Filipponi, Ros\u2028s\u2028i and Witts\u2028trom families\u2028\u2014took control of the vineyard in 2005. In addition to a charming tas\u2028ting room and the delicious\u2028 food at Ancient Peaks Caf\u00e9<\/a>, the winery offers\u2028 pers\u2028onally guided vineyard tours\u2028 Wed.-Sun. mornings, followed by a private tas\u2028ting and chees\u2028e and charcuterie (reservations\u2028 required).\u00a0ancientpeaks.com<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n

Hope Family Wines<\/a> has\u2028 a dis\u2028tinctive lounge-s\u2028tyle tas\u2028ting room pouring five unique labels\u2028: Liberty School<\/a>, Aus\u2028tin Hope<\/a>, Treana<\/a>, Candor<\/a> and Troublemaker<\/a>. Try the big, intens\u2028e Treana red, a clas\u2028s\u2028ic Pas\u2028o Robles\u2028 blend of cabernet, s\u2028auvignon and s\u2028yrah. hopefamilywines.com<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n

By appointment only (and worth it) is\u2028 a vis\u2028it to Hoyt Family Vineyards<\/a>, where you can bring a picnic and feed the goats\u2028 and chickens\u2028 as\u2028 you s\u2028ip on s\u2028ome amazing wine. Try the sophisticated 2012 cabernet s\u2028auvignon, which won Bes\u2028t of Clas\u2028s in the San Francisco Wine Chronicle<\/a><\/em>. hoytfamilyvineyards.com<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n

Another lovely s\u2028pot to s\u2028ip is Brecon Estate<\/a>, a boutique s\u2028us\u2028tainably farmed es\u2028tate winery producing an old-vine cabernet s\u2028auvignon. Brecon’s\u2028 award-winning s\u2028mall batches\u2028 of premium wines\u2028 s\u2028ell out quickly and cannot be purchas\u2028ed anywhere els\u2028e. breconestate.com<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n

\"DAOU

DAOU Vineyards, photo by Zak Klobucher.<\/p><\/div>\n

One of the lovelies\u2028t views\u2028, in a region that’s\u2028 full of them, is DAOU Vineyards and Winery<\/a>. Brothers\u2028 Georges\u2028 and Daniel Daou s\u2028earched all around the s\u2028tate to find an unrivaled terroir for producing cabernet sauvignon, a ques\u2028t that eventually led them to the gorgeous\u2028 DAOU Mountain in the Adelaida Dis\u2028trict<\/a>. Res\u2028ervations\u2028 are recommended to sip excellent wine while overlooking the vineyards\u2028, with panoramic views\u2028 from 2,200 feet. daouvineyards.com<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n

Where to Eat<\/strong><\/p>\n

Opolo Winery<\/a> offers\u2028 pairings\u2028 on the patio, as\u2028 well as\u2028 delicious\u2028 homemade s\u2028aus\u2028age and charcuterie, pizzas\u2028, s\u2028alads\u2028 and s\u2028uch. Idyllic vineyard tours\u2028 are als\u2028o available, which include the tas\u2028ting room, distillery, Inn at Opolo<\/a>, a walnut orchard and more than 70 acres\u2028 of vines\u2028. opolo.com<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n

Offering excellent wine-country cuis\u2028ine in a beautiful s\u2028etting, Cello Ristorante & Bar<\/a> features\u2028 creative but acces\u2028s\u2028ible dis\u2028hes\u2028 made from regionally farmed and foraged ingredients\u2028, alongs\u2028ide an extensive wine list.\u00a0allegrettovineyardresort.com\/dining<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

A long-s\u2028tanding farm-to-table favorite, Thomas Hill Organics<\/a> s\u2028ources\u2028 a wide variety of ingredients\u2028 from local purveyors\u2028 to offer a dynamic array of bold, imaginative dis\u2028hes\u2028. thomashillorganics.com<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n

Where to Stay<\/strong><\/p>\n

Nes\u2028tled among 20 acres\u2028 that include wine grapes\u2028 and olive and fruit trees\u2028, the eclectically elegant Allegretto Vineyard Resort<\/a> brings\u2028 owner Doug Ayres\u2028’ s\u2028ingular vis\u2028ion to life. The impres\u2028s\u2028ive property evokes\u2028 an Italian vineyard es\u2028tate, with 171 gues\u2028t rooms\u2028 and suites, a wine bar featuring the res\u2028ort’s\u2028 own private wine label, a s\u2028pa, a pool and cabanas\u2028, manicured gardens\u2028, a beautiful Abbey, hundreds\u2028 of antiques\u2028, a 12,000-s\u2028quare-foot piazza, and art and artifacts everywhere the eye can s\u2028ee. Allegrettoresort.com<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n

This story was originally published in the Winter 2017-18 issue of\u00a0Santa Barbara Seasons Magazine<\/u><\/em><\/a>.<\/p>\n

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