Wine Writers in Paso Paradise – Part III

Posted on   February 6,2026   By John Compisi

It’s been quite a while since we published Part II in this series. Credit traveling to Alaska, Hawaii, Iceland, St. Petersburg, Florida and our personal busy-ness for that lag time. This area, Paso Robles, is too important to not complete the task that we had set about, some time ago.

As a reminder, Paso Robles is a phenomenal wine‑growing region along California’s Central Coast, roughly halfway between Los Angeles and San Francisco. Known informally as “Paso,” it is one of the state’s oldest wine regions, with a winemaking history that stretches back to the 1790s. Its name, derived from the Spanish El Paso de Robles — “Pass of the Oaks” — still rings true today. Rolling hills dotted with ancient oak trees define the landscape, except where vineyards have steadily expanded across the terrain.

The region has grown rapidly in recent decades.

Today, Paso encompasses more than 40,000 vineyard acres and produces over 60 wine grape varieties — from Spanish and Italian to Bordeaux and Rhône, along with its heritage grape, Zinfandel. With more than 200 tasting rooms and a remarkable diversity of wine styles, Paso Robles stands as one of California’s most dynamic and distinctive AVAs.

It is precisely this significance that led Fred Swan — founder, wine impresario, and organizer of the Wine Writers’ Educational Tours — to choose Paso Robles for his third in‑depth exploration for wine writers. The inaugural tour took place in Napa Valley in 2018, followed by an immersive journey through Oregon’s Willamette Valley in 2019, which we chronicled in a three‑part series. Paso, with its history, energy, and sheer range, was the natural next chapter.

Thursday — our final day on the writers’ tour — proved at times explosive, but always rich with memorable flights, bites, and sights. We began the morning at the now-iconic Hope Family Vineyards, home to some of Paso Robles’ most recognizable labels: Austin Hope, Treana, Hope Family, Troublemaker, Liberty School, and Austin.

The focus of the stop was a discussion panel to delve into the wines of the Templeton Gap with Jason “JC” Diefenderfer (3rd froom left below), long time winemaker for Hope Family Winery; Tom Myers (1st from right), winemaker at Castoro Cellars; Sean Geoghegan (2nd from right), winemaker at Derby Wine Estates; Jeffrey Strekas (2nd from left), winemaker at ONX Wines and Vic Roberts (1st on left), owner and winemaker at Victor Hugo Winery.

The Templeton Gap is noticeably cooler than other AVAs in Paso Robles, and the wines from this pocket of the region tend to show a distinctly cooler‑climate profile. The bottles we tasted carried sharp, lively acidity, fresh fruit character, and slightly lower alcohol — a refreshing contrast to the riper styles found elsewhere in Paso. All in all, it was an auspicious start to our day.

With the panel wrapped, we made our way to J. Dusi Winery for what has become our favorite segment across all three Wine Writers’ Educational Tours we’ve attended: the Legends. The Legends of Paso are anchored by two towering figures — Jerry Lohr (2nd from left), founder of J. Lohr Wines, and Gary Eberle (2nd from right), founder of Eberle Winery — and joined by an equally compelling cast: Janell Dusi (1st from right), channeling the spirit and grit of her great‑grandparents Sylvester and Caterina Dusi and her father, Dante; Neil Collins (3rd from left) of Tablas Creek Vineyard; and John Munch (1st on left) of Le Cuvier Winery.

The Dusi Vineyard itself, established in the 1920s, provided a fitting backdrop for this gathering of pioneers. We tasted both current releases and beautifully aged vintages, each bottle a reminder of the region’s deep roots and evolving story.

In an exceptionally memorable moment, Gary Eberle — widely known as the “Godfather of Paso Robles Wine Country” — offered a heartfelt acknowledgement that the true “Father of Paso Robles Wine Country” was his longtime colleague and friend, Jerry Lohr. It was a disarmingly humble gesture, and one of the most touching moments of the entire tour.

Following this amazing — and at times emotional — panel, we made our way to the Tin City district of Paso Robles to meet and taste with some of the region’s rising young stars. Our tasting and lunch were hosted by Riley Hubbard, owner and winemaker of Hubba Wines, whose warm, unpretentious style set the tone for the afternoon.

Joining Hubbard (3rd from left) were several of Paso’s most exciting next‑generation voices: Stephy Terrizzi (2nd from left) of Giornata Wines; Nick Elliot (far left) of Nicora Winery; Curt Schalchin (far right) of Sans Liege Wines; and Orion Stang (2nd from right) of Emercy Wines. Each brought a distinct perspective, a willingness to experiment, and a palpable sense of creative energy — the kind of boundary‑pushing spirit that keeps Paso evolving.

The room buzzed with excitement, curiosity, and the thrill of tasting wines that reflect both deep respect for the region and a fearless drive to explore what comes next.

After this revelatory lunch, it was time to turn our attention to Cabernet Sauvignon from Paso Robles. Our panel featured an impressive lineup of winemakers: Jeremy Weintraub of Adelaida Vineyards & Winery; Guillaume Fabre of Benom Wines; Damian Grindley of Brecon Estate; Soren Christiansen of Hearst Ranch Winery; Andy Niner of Niner Wine Estates; Marty Spate of San Simeon Wines; Anthony Yount of Sixmilebridge Vineyards; and Scott Shirley, winemaker and our host at Justin Wines.

What followed was a fascinating exploration of just how much range Cabernet Sauvignon can express within a single district. The wines showed remarkably distinct flavor profiles — each with its own structure, texture, and personality — yet all carried the unmistakable hallmarks of classic Cabernet. Tasting them side by side, it was almost hard to believe they were grown and produced within the same corner of Paso Robles.

To cap this amazing final day of our three‑day tour, we headed to dinner at DAOU Vineyards. As if on cue, a rainbow arched across the sky just as we arrived for passed hors d’oeuvres and sparkling wine at DAOU’s historic barrel barn, tucked just below the DAOU Mountain tasting room. We were welcomed by the Director of Hospitality, whose warmth set the tone for an evening that felt equal parts celebration and reverie.

After this dazzling kick‑off, we were transported up to the tasting room, where a female jazz singer and a three‑piece combo filled the space with soft, elegant energy. It was simply delightful. Once invited to take our seats at a long communal table, the food and wine began to appear from all directions — a generous, almost theatrical procession.

As we settled in, flame dancers emerged at the far end of the table, their movements casting flickering light across the room. It was an unforgettable finale to a day — and a tour — already overflowing with beauty, generosity, and surprise.

What a packed, intense, educational, and fun three days with writer friends from far and near!! Thank you, Fred Swan, for organizing such an informative and wonderful WWET!!!

Check out Part I and Part II below.

http://bitesflightsandsights.com/wine-writers-in-paso-paradise-part-i/

http://bitesflightsandsights.com/wine-writers-in-paso-paradise-part-ii/