October Paso Robles Wine Weekend...

 Now that we're members of Austin Hope Winery - we'll be up here a lot more regularly! We're sharing a membership with my good friend Tianna, so this weekend we got to see how well we travel with Tianna and her beau Scott! We had a great time! We stayed in probably my favorite place yet. It was a small ranch and had a steer named Stephen that we fed carrots every day! It was so rad!

Pat and I decided to do Thur-Sun and Tianna and Scott would join up with us on Friday. This was also Rascal's 1st trip so we wanted to make sure he was settled in too.

Thursday we headed out and stopped in Los Olivos for lunch and a wine tasting. We got sandwiches at Panino, Super tasty, but we were ravenous so no pictures. Then a tasting at Refugio Ranch. We'd been there before and had a really great experience. Not as good this time, but still had a lovely time and they let us bring Rascal inside so that was very cool.

Rascal is a pretty chill car traveler

Where did dad go?

1st taste of the trip!

We arrived in Paso, got settled in our place, then hit Downtown to stroll around and grab an early dinner.

Rascal's 1st treat from Austin!

Got our free glass of wine to go from Hope on the Park - one of our favorite member perks!

Treated to a pretty damn good sky show the evening

The next day we headed out for an early walk along Salinas River Trail. Unfortunately we weren't really prepared for the weather to be on the much colder side, and it drizzled on us. So that was short lived. After that Pat made us a yummy breakfast with some leftover hash he had froze from one of our cooking group brunches and it was great to eat throughout the whole weekend! One of the perks traveling with fellow cooks/foodies is the food. We were able to share that hash and Tianna and Scott brought a delicious pasta that we had for dinner on Friday night. Talk about leftover heaven!

The cats of Salinas River Walk are total thugs

We then decided to try a new winery. We want to try at the very least one new winery every time we visit. Epoch Winery had come recommended by a friend of ours, so we decided to check it out. A stunning drive in - beautiful trees and scenery. When we pulled up, the gate was closed and we forgot to check if they accepted walk ins. It's appointment only, but we called and they got us in right then so that was awesome. We were welcome to sit inside with Rascal if we wanted, but we opted for the outside area since he's still getting used to our ways and there were already a few good size tasting parties inside. The wine was excellent, but a bit on the pricy side. They do waive the tasting fee if you buy $100 worth, which is not hard to do - so we did :)

Get used to this life Rascal!

My one and only geocache on the trip. Yes - I hiked up another hill, in the dirt and leaves in my sundress to get this thing. I'm that dedicated.

After this we decided to hit Downtown again for lunch and hit up the Alchemists' Garden again. We'd been there a few trips ago and loved it. Mine was ok - had the hanger steak, but it was over cooked. The flavor though was on point. Pats chicken sandwich he got was amazing. I also opted for a fun cocktail this time around. I mean it is "The Alchemist...."

Atost Spritz

Tianna had made us a 3pm resy at Tablas Creek where Scott is a member. We met them at the place so they could have an intro to Rascal then we headed off!

Free tasting when you know the members! Woot! I did buy a bottle here though. Such a great rare white!

This drunk gal was obsessed with Rascal. Scott & Pat had a close eye on him, but he did really good.

Introducing Tianna to Stephen

We then headed back to Downtown so Tianna and Scott could make sure to partake in the Hope on the Park benefit!

Our group!

The next day was our fullest day. We hit up Austin Hope to pick up our wine and have our tasting. Had a ridiculous amazing lunch at Niner. Did a tasting at McPrice and Myers to which Tianna promptly became a member and we got a couple bottles. Then we hit Downtown again to introduce them to Fish Gaucho. 

Started off the morning listening to the far off roosters and birds. Such a lovely peaceful way to start the day. 

Love these two

So nice to have some non selfie photos!

Yay someone else taking candids!

Rascal checking out the vines

Our amazing Niner Lunch. Thank you Julie for the rec!!

Fingerling potatoes with a ridiculous onion dip

Tomato Soup - so silky!

Grilled Shishito Peppers with a corn sauce - my least favorite, but only because they were a bit too spicy and I actually do like Pat's better

Ok, so Scott swears by "Little Gems" so we had to get this salad. Wow. It was a green goddess dressing with pistachios! So good!

I never order chicken at places like this usually...but it sounded so good. Chicken Thigh - perfectly crispy skin, with a sweet potato puree and an apple butter. When you had all the elements in one bite - it was fucking magical

We're learning he loves the sun

We had to get dessert. Vanilla ice cream with a salted Carmel glaze - dude. A coffee ice cream that may have made Pat have a foodgasm. And the chocolate sorbet with a marshmallow fluff that was so rich and decadent I almost died.

They had this lovely garden that you could walk through and use a lot of it for the restaurant!

Fish Gaucho sadly wasn't as good as we remember, but it was still delicious. It was also lovely seeing the park at night. So pretty with all the lights! Just too bad the people around there drive like insane people - like it was so bad for some reason. Sheesh!

Talk about a love fest.

I have to admit - my steak was cooked way better here than the Alchemists' Garden

Swoon

Our last day (Big sad face) we all parted ways. Tianna and Scott were heading to another winery they had a membership at, but the tasting fee was a bit steep for us. So we opted to hit up Adelaida Winery because they had a special partnership with Austin for October and November that members of each winery get the membership benefits at the other. So awesome and perfect timing. I got the email the weekend we were up there. It turned out to be a great experience. Beautiful winery and great wine! We picked up a couple bottles there. I mean...we got the membership discount and free tastings! How could we not!

Taking a lovely stroll through the neighborhood before everyone got up

Too bad we weren't going out together today - we accidentally were twinning! #mintgreenposse

 

Tried to get a game of corn hole in but someone kept running after the bags. LOL

Pat comparing some wines. I love when they give you wines that are the same, and different years or varietals so you can try to tell the difference!

We then headed out and stopped in Buelton for a great lunch recommended by Scott and Tianna and wow was it good! 

Ban Mi Sandwich

Scott said the best Cesar he's ever had...and it was damn good

Cripsy Fish Sammie

They totes let dogs inside!

So there we have it. Another wonderful trip to Paso Robles to store away in our memories. I'm so thankful for friends like Tianna and Scott who not only travel well with us, but were a perfect couple to have for Rascal's 1st vacation (Less than 2 weeks of us having him). I truly love it up there. I know I say I want to "live here" wherever we travel too it seems. But honestly the Central Coast has my heart. I hope so much that we can land here someday. It's truly one of my favorite places ever. It just feels like home every time I'm there. Take the trips friends! Do the thing. Eat the food. Have the dessert. Drink the wine. Life is fucking crazy and hard and a lot it seems lately, but when are lucky enough to be able to pause and take in these special times - Do it.