Tuesday, April 17, 2012

Hospice du Rhone & Edward Sellers Love

Mark your calendar for the 20th celebration of the Hospice du Rhône wine event taking place April 26-28, 2012 at the Paso Robles Event Center

This is an exclusive weekend surrounding all things Rhône. A palate provoking weekend embracing the enchantment, history and tastes of the Twenty-two Rhône varieties.  This event draws Rhone Producers from all over the United States and the World.  For a list of producers attending go here  http://www.hospicedurhone.org/the-event/producers.php “Throughout the weekend, tip your glass with worldly Rhône wine producers, journey through the largest international collection of Rhône variety wines and savor Rhône exceptional cuisine all while taking in the inspiring and spirited Rhône community.”

If you would like more information on the entire weekend of festivities and to purchase event passes visit their website http://www.hospicedurhone.org/index.php.  This is an extremely popular event so if you plan to attend do it now.  Many events are already sold out. 

At present Villa Cantina is still available for that weekend.  If you are interested in renting click on the VRBO link at the right of this posting.

One of our favorite wineries in Paso is Edward Sellers.

Ed Sellers had never even heard of Paso Robles until eight years ago when he came up from Orange County to visit an old college roommate. 
Six months later he and his wife Dani bought the undeveloped property across from Summerwood Winery. For a couple years they operated their tasting room in downtown Paso Robles until they built their present tasting room on the estate. The property on Hwy. 46 includes 30 acres, 20 of which he started planting with Rhone varietals in 2005.  With a focus on the Chateauneuf-du-Pape style wines from the Rhone Valley of France, Sellers buys grapes from a half a dozen Westside growers to supplement his own vineyard’s fruit, and will make about 4,000 cases this year. Sellers now has a new winemaker Jeremy Weintraub who comes to Paso from Napa Valley, where he made wine for Seavey Vineyards for four years. Before that he worked for  Shadow Canyon for three years, so he knows the people, growing conditions and varietals well. Ed and Jeremy both agree that they “want well-balanced, food friendly wines that have good acidity to stand up to the fat in food, and the richness in food, but don’t become the food.”

By the way that old roommate that Ed Sellers came to meet on that all important visit is John Carson.  His wife Kendall is the tasting room manager and she and her team run one of the friendliest and informative wine tasting rooms in the area.

photo via Edward Sellers website

Monday, April 9, 2012

Wine for Paws & Earth day Food & Wine Festival

 

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 Beau and Riley would like everyone to come out and support  The 4th Annual Wine 4 Paws on April 14-15.    70 wineries from Edna Valley to San Miguel will be participating.  To take part all you need to do is visit any of those wineries that weekend.  You can find a list of participants at  www.wineforpaws.com .  These generous wineries will be donating either a percent of your purchase or your tasting Fee to Woods Humane Society.

Need a map to find your way to the Wine 4 Paws Wineries? You can contact Beau & Riley , print a map & passport from www.wineforpaws.com, or pick one up at any participating winery that weekend.” Passport, you say?  That’s right – it’s FREE, and when you help a winery generate a donation, they’ll stamp your passport”. With four stamps you can turn that passport in to any winery when you’re done, and you’ll be entered in the Wine 4 Paws raffle. Who knows, you might  win a private tasting plus wine for you and some friends, a free wine tasting tour, a night’s stay here in Paso Robles, or other great prizes – you’ll get a reason to return to Paso and reap the benefits of Wine 4 Paws! To see a list of prizes, visit the website.   

If you’re looking to park yourself at one location for the day, visit the wineries with special events that weekend.   Mondo Cellars will donate a percent of their sales not only Saturday & Sunday, but also from that Friday’s Sunset Happy Hour. Moreover, there’s a BBQ from 4-7 on Saturday at Mondo Cellars with the proceeds going to Woods.

 

 

The following weekend is the 6th annual Earth Day Food & Wine Festival. It is a weekend celebration of all that's best  on the Central Coast, including over 200 purveyors of sustainably produced foods and wine. April 20-21.  The main event is Saturday's Earth Day Food & Wine Tasting at Pomar Junction Vineyard & Winery.  Over 200 purveyors of sustainably produced foods and wine will be on hand for a truly unique event: growers, vintners, and chefs coming together to serve out-of-this-world pairings of award-winning wines with one-of-a-kind dishes made with locally-sourced fruits, vegetables, meats, cheeses, olive oils, chocolates, and more.  For more information on the event go to http://www.earthdayfoodandwine.com/.

 

 

What is more fun than enjoying good wine for a cause and wine and food with a conscience!!

Monday, April 2, 2012

Fodor's Picks Top Ten Places to Travel this Spring #4, Paso Robles

Paso Robles has recently been picked by Fodor’s as one of the top ten places in the world to travel this spring.  Paso is in good company.  The top ten destinations chosen  are as follows: New York City, Tuscany, Miami, Paso Robles, Mallorca, Prague, Sydney, Denver, Saint Lucia, and Austin.

“From chic new hotels to can't-miss art events, the season's top destinations are blossoming with fresh experiences. Whether you'd like to revel in the music at Prague's spring music festival, taste wines near the vines in Paso Robles, or mingle with Tuscan locals before the summer crowds arrive, these trips are sure to brighten your season.”

image via Paso robles wine

“Why Go Now: Tour the wine trails of this burgeoning California wine region in mid-May and catch the 30th annual Paso Robles Wine Festival (May 18–20), too, with 70 area wineries pouring in Downtown City Park, and a gaggle of local chefs showcasing their farm-fresh fare. Also worthwhile: the 20th annual Hospice du Rhone (April 26–28), celebrating all things Rhône.

Where to Stay: The 90-room, midrange Paso Robles Oaks Hotel will debut later this spring with a wine tasting room, pool, and spa; or, upgrade to the 16-room Hotel Cheval, which debuted in 2009 as the region’s top boutique luxury hotel (and so it remains).

Insider Tip: Build your preference-based wine tasting itinerary via the Paso Robles Wine Country Alliance’s recently launched Interactive Trip Planner.

Plan Your Trip: Visit Fodor’s Paso Robles Travel Guide for the latest hotel, restaurant, and shopping reviews.”

“Today the wine industry booms and mile upon mile of vineyards envelop Paso Robles; golfers play the four local courses and spandex-clad bicyclists race along the winding back roads. A mix of down-home and upmarket restaurants, bars, antiques stores, and little shops fills the streets around oak-shaded City Park, where special events of all kinds—custom car shows, an olive festival, Friday night summer concerts—take place on many weekends. Still, Paso (as the locals call it) more or less remains cowboy country: each year in late July and early August, the city throws the two-week California Mid-State Fair, complete with livestock auctions, carnival rides, and corn dogs’

 

To read the full article go here  http://www.fodors.com/news/story_5179.html

and here http://www.fodors.com/world/north-america/usa/california/santa-barbara-and-the-central-coast/paso-robles/

Another not to be missed spot the new Estrella Restaurant located in one of the most beautiful old buildings in downtown Paso right across from the park at 815 Twelfth Street. .

 

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It is operated by Executive Chef Ryan Swarthout and Chef Travis Borba. "Estrella", (which is Spanish for "star", and a beautiful river area in north Paso) features "Latin Riviera Cuisine" with influences of Spain, South America, Mexico, and the Caribbean.”

                                                                                                                                            Plantain Crusted Mahi Mahi

 

                                                                                                                                                            Beef Tamales

 

                                                                                                                                                        Margarita Sorbet

 

If you would like to get more information or check out their menu go to their website http://www.estrellarestaurant.com/index.php

 

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