Inside Paso Robles

Labor Day Weekend Car Show in Paso Robles

Paso Robles is definitely a "car town".  This town loves classic cars and will take any opportunity to ogle their beauty and debate their finer points.

This year we get three days to do just that.

The Paso Robles Classic Car Weekend runs Labor Day Weekend, August 31 - September 1 and will be filled to the dashboard with classic cars in all their chrome-plated and fuzzy-diced splendor, with ample opportunity for folks to see, hear and talk about what makes each car so amazing.

Here is the weekend breakdown:

Hearst Castle's Enchanting Story

by Maryann Stansfield, Travel Paso Robles Alliance

I feel such a sense of pride when I tell my friends planning a visit from back east that we live just 45 minutes from Hearst Castle. I can't wait to take them there and show them this amazing castle located right in my own back yard. (Then afterwards, of course, we hit up a couple Paso wineries, also in my backyard.)

This world-renowned attraction is really a beautiful slice of good old Americana, filled with historic art and artifacts from around the globe. When you dig deeper and discover where this family came from, and how this amazing castle-house-museum came to be, it's truly epic. The more I learn about this castle, and the man behind the vision, the more I just am in awe of its existence.

From hiring famed female American architect Julia Morgan to build his so called "country home", to hosting Hollywood actors like Clark Gable and Charlie Chaplin, William Randolph Hearst became a legend in his own time. That legend lives on today, and can be found in Hearst Castle State Park at San Simeon.

I can't count the number of times I've been to Hearst  Castle on tours, or attended events, and one time, just once, I got to swim in the Neptune Pool!! Yep, that's me on the right -- what an amazing day! 

Please join me each month has I blog about Hearst Castle, its history and artifacts, and the family behind the Castle on the Enchanted Hill, located in my own backyard. I look forward to sharing my passion for Hearst Castle with you all.

Cheers!

Maryann Stansfield is the Marketing Director for the Travel Paso Robles Alliance and Mental Marketing. Oh, and she has a thing for Castles.

A Rare Saxum Blend + Chefs + a Sculpture of Terroir = Paso Robles Wine Country Auction

Paso Robles Wine Country will come together again in the giving spirit for the Paso Robles Wine Country Auction on Saturday, August 18. 

This one has a twist.

The 2012 auction will feature a gourmet brunch. You heard that right – BRUNCH.  And, oh what a brunch. 

Held at the beautiful SummerWood Winery & Inn, this unique event showcases the talents of the area’s best chefs as well as wines from the region’s top winemakers, all to raise money for local charities.

Separate from the good cause and sense of community that this event embraces it’s also one heck of a good party. 

The local ingredient infused menu begins with locally distilled vodka and gin for the cocktail reception paired with a seafood bar prepared by Chef Tom Fundaro of Villa Creek.

Local heirloom tomato salad with fresh Maine lobster and Sweet Corn-jicama Salad by Chef Kelly Wangard of SummerWood Inn follows. 

Next is Artisan restaurant’s Chef Chris Kobayashi with “Steak and Egg", which includes Pimiento Hash Chimichurri. 

Is your mouth watering yet?  Better get a napkin, it's not done.  

The California Mid State Fair in Paso Robles Kicks Off Today!

by Tina Swithin

The 2012 Mid State Fair, “The Great American Road Trip” kicks off today and I am so excited about this year’s line-up of fun, concerts and funnel cake!  This year, the main grandstand plays host to Eric Church, who kicks off opening night (tonight!) followed by Zac Brown Band, Alabama, The Fresh Beat Band, Big Time Rush, Journey (with Pat Benatar & Loverboy), Brad Paisley (with The Band Perry & Easton Corbin), Joan Jett & The Blackhearts and Earth, Wind & Fire. 

The California Mid-State Fair’s Chumash Grandstand Arena has over 14,600 seats which is a large venue by most county or state fair standards.  And with this many seats, it is a natural draw for past performers and big-name talents like the Black Eyed Peas, Aerosmith and Carrie Underwood to entertain fans in Paso Robles.  I spoke to Tom Keffury of the California Mid-State Fair who said this, “The Chumash Arena is what really sets the California Mid-State Fair apart from the typical county fair. The California Mid-State has the usual corn dog stands, carnival, pig races and unique vendors that sell anything from shoe polish to sunglasses, but in addition to all that, the California Mid-State Fair has an incredible venue for outdoor concerts, unlike any other county Fair.”  As someone who has been personally attending the Mid State Fair for over 25 years, I couldn't agree more. 

Year after year, I am thoroughly impressed with the line-up on the free stages.  This year fair-goers can look forward to names such as Puddle of Mud, Kenney Wayne Shepherd and Uncle Kracker along with a set of local favorites like the Sugar Daddy Swing Kings, Bangin’ 58’s and Dan Curio of Still Time.  Did I mention that these are all FREE?  

Backstage with Brittany App:
This year, we are pleased to be working with photographer, Brittany App who will be giving us a sneak peek into the festivities at the California Mid State Fair.  Last night’s photos captured the Miss California Mid-State Fair Pageant which is an annual pre-fair tradition.  Throughout the next eleven days, be sure to keep an eye out for the newly crowned court consisting of the Queen Savannah Hoagland and 1st Runner Up, Megan Rodrigues along with 2nd Runner Up, Alex Lambirth. 

• Brittany’s Bio: Brittany App, Photographer & Vagabond, is the Official Photographer for the California Mid State Fair. Throughout the rest of the year, she photographs life & love, and has been known to ride her bicycle really really long distances.  She invites you to join her journey across the United States, with "Water Tension : A Web Series".
• Photo Credits: Brittany App

Check the Daily Mid-State Fair schedule, throw on your best boots and enjoy the concerts and activities that only the fair can provide.  For a full list of lodging options, please visit the Travel Paso Robles Alliance.  

Tina Swithin is the Marketing Coordinator and Blog Manager for TravelPaso.com where she writes  blog-a-licious articles about Paso Robles.  Follow the Paso Robles Insider to get the inside scoop on all the haps in Paso Robles Wine Country.

Agritourism is a Summer Must-Do in Paso Robles

By Caroline Beteta, President & CEO, Visit California

Barbeques, pool parties, fun in the sun. To many Americans these are iconic summertime experiences.  And while summer in California is filled with lazy days on the beach and fun splashing poolside, the Golden State holds so much more for summer travelers. As visitors learn more about California and its diverse offerings, more and more choose to head out of the cities to explore many expressions of the California lifestyle. This hunger for all things California forecasts a big boom for agritourism in Paso Robles this summer.

Californians are free-spirits, trend setters and innovators, but are also in touch with their roots. The curiosity about how food is grown and the desire for new experiences attract visitors to enjoy farmers’ and ranchers’ lands and livelihoods. Visit California, the state’s official tourism marketing board, sees agritourism as a valuable sector that supports the local and state economy by providing jobs and revenue.

Agritourism activities in and surrounding Paso Robles aren’t hard to come by. Paso Robles kicks off summer with the California Mid-State Fair, an agricultural based fair showcasing farmers, ranchers, and the local wine and artisan food scene in Paso Robles, as well as a high profile line up of music performersa concert series attracting music lovers and thrill seekers from neighboring communities and those visiting the area. Along with concertsthe fair, food and wine festivals such as the Central Coast Lavender Festival, and the Paso Robles Olive Festival, both free to attend, draw visitors to Paso Robles increasing hotel stays, dining, shopping and other extra visiting expenditures.

Located in the Central Coast region, one of California’s popular tourist destinations, Paso Robles benefits from agritourism. In 2011, tourism in the Central Coast injected more than $6 billion in direct travel spending into the local economy, directly supported more than 68,000 jobs and generated $416 million in local tax and fee revenue, according to research by Visit California.

Visit California markets the California experience and the California lifestyle– cuisine, wine, music, adventure and more – to travelers on a national and international level. California is the top travel destination in the United States and is ranked as the largest agriculture producing state in the country. As you can imagine, we have a great opportunity to benefit from visitor spending in agritourism. And next time you go to these events, think of it as your personal contribution to the local economy.

About Visit California

Visit California (formerly known as the California Travel & Tourism Commission) is a non-profit organization with a mission to develop and maintain marketing programs – in partnership with the state’s travel industry – that keep California top-of-mind as a premier travel destination. According to Visit California, travel and tourism expenditures total $102.3 billion annually in California (20 percent of which is international), support jobs for 893,000 Californians and generates $6.3 billion in state and local tax revenues. For more information about Visit California go to www.visitcalifornia.com.

Caroline Beteta's blog is a part of the Travel Paso Robles Alliance guest blogger series.

The Little Art Festival That Could

by the 2012 Paso Robles Festival of the Arts Committee

A Series of Fortunate Events

Momentum is a thing of beauty. When we started this adventure four years ago, we had no idea if the public would embrace it.

So you can imagine our surprise when the very first Paso Robles Festival of the Arts attracted 5,000 people to the downtown city park. Imagine our further surprise when, in 2010, the number of participating artists nearly doubled. Then, in 2011, when the eminent art historian Jean Stern of the Irvine Museum agreed to be our guest speaker, we got an inkling that this little art festival of ours might turn into something big. And boy, has it ever. 

Between sheer courage, lucky connections and lots of hard work, the 2012 Festival of the Arts has grown to THREE DAYS! ­Our art palette runneth over.

 Art in the Wild

2012 is a turning point for the festival in terms of artist participation. We have over 100 artists participating throughout the weekend and 30 of the best plein air artists in California in our Quick-Draw.

Plein air artists are a rare breed of individuals. They insist on being outdoors as much as possible; they take in the details of life and set them down for posterity; they sometimes go to tremendous lengths to produce their art.

Thirty of the bravest and most talented plein air artists in the state will converge on the Paso Robles downtown city park on Saturday, May 26th at 9am for the Quick-Draw, with two hours to complete a painting. Many of them will also be showing off the best of their existing work in a special exhibition at Studios on the Park called “Plein Air Masters” and will be the subject of the keynote address on Friday that promises to delight and entertain.

We could not have imagined the success of this event to this degree when we started this dream. And it gets better.

The Collaboration of the Titans

Our committee of 14 hails from all walks of life and business industries. As a result, there is a unique mix of connections that have led to an AMAZING lineup of surprises at this year’s festival.

Friday’s guest lecture series leads with a talk on African American quilting called “Quilting a Culture and All That Jazz” by Dr. Denise Sheridan of Cal Poly. That’s followed by an avant-garde panel of local artists moderated by New Times’ editor Ashley Schwellenbach entitled “Don’t Feed the Artists.” The keynote address, “Plein Air Painters. Crazy About Nature, or Just Plain Crazy?” given by Stephen Doherty, editor of Plein Air Magazine, will round out the all-star mix of guest speakers.

For Saturday’s Main Event the Travel Channel’s Sand Masters will be building gigantic sandcastles on Pine Street and teaching our children how to do the same – all sponsored by PG&E. The Paso Robles REC Foundation has commissioned a giant sculpture to be placed on the river walk trail and the artist who is building it will bring it here for the public to see the work in progress; the Dragon Knight Stiltwalkers are back; there will be aerial ribbon acrobats performing; the fun local band the Mother Corn Shuckers will perform in a newly upgraded River Lounge on Pine Street; in addition to 70+ talented artists displaying and selling their work, 9 environmental partners, 10 youth activities and over a dozen live performances throughout the day!

Sunday now kicks off with the Art & Soul Awards Brunch. Guests will munch on delicious treats, both savory and sweet, and enjoy the inspirational gospel music of the Karen Tyler Trio. Immediately following is the self-guided Exclusive Westside Art Tour that is being put on by the Paso Robles Art Association. The first tour if its kind in Paso Robles, it will pass through the private collections of two local home owners and promises to delight and inspire the art lover as well as the curious.

 

This feels like having a tiger by the tail. In a good way.

A Community Thanks You

This Festival of the Arts is a symbol of the spirit of Paso Robles on so many levels: It’s not afraid to think outside the box and take chances; it stepped up to fill the Memorial Day Weekend event gap to help keep the local economy healthy; it continues to thrive in the face of a recession; it is bringing something new and amazing to the community because it’s the right thing to do. None of us take for granted that 200 volunteers help us pull this off, that dozens of sponsors support this event and most of all, that locals and visitors come out to the event and continue to support the arts in Paso Robles.

For all of you that are planning to attend the 2012 Festival of the Arts, this community – both Paso Robles and its art community – thanks and welcomes you. We will be right there with you, having the time of our lives at The Little Art Festival That Could.

The 30th Annual Paso Robles Wine Festival: May 18-20, 2012

by Christopher Taranto

Can you believe it has been 30 years since the very first Paso Robles Wine Festival? It’s amazing to think that this little festival began with 17 wineries in the downtown square park, which represented ALL of the wineries in existence within the Paso Robles American Viticultural Area at the time. On May 18 – 20 Paso Robles Wine Country comes together again for wine festival and to honor 30 years of this celebration representing the finest in food and wine.  The festival will embrace all that defines Paso Robles Wine Country – a welcome-to-the-neighborhood atmosphere, fantastic food offerings, and of course exceptional wines. 

The 30th Annual Wine Festival kicks off on Friday, May 18, 2012 as select wineries feature their library, reserve, futures and refreshing power white/Rosé samples at the RESERVE event. On Saturday, May 19, 2012 60 wineries come together in the Paso Robles Downtown City Park to showcase their wines alongside culinary samplings from food trucks. Tunes from The JD Project will complement the tasting experience which is framed by the quaintness of downtown Paso Robles.  Attendees can utilize the shuttle system we provide and park either at the Paso Robles Event Center (Riverside Avenue) or at the Paso Robles High School (Niblick Road).  Shuttles will run from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m., which offers a window of opportunity to arrive a little early to shop, get a bite to eat or just explore our beautiful downtown.

The fun does not end on Saturday.  We invite people to travel beyond the Park to explore more than 150 winery events throughout the weekend including winemaker dinners, live music, barrel samplings, and more. Wineries with a Festival Fan next to their name in the brochure and noted on www.pasowine.com offer specials to Grand Tasting ticketholders. Festival goers who keep their ticket in hand throughout the weekend can take advantage of these great offers. Another convenient tool is our online Trip Itinerary Planner which can help plot a course throughout Paso Robles Wine Country.  As always, we encourage people to designate a driver or hire a tour company to do the driving for them.

To those that are not able to attend The 30th Annual Wine Festival, what can we say?  You are missing out, but that does not mean you cannot still enjoy a little Paso Robles wine at home.  To those planning to attend, thank you and cheers to 30 years!

Christopher Taranto is the Marketing Director for the Paso Robles Wine Country Alliance.

Sunset SAVOR the Central Coast Weekend Pass: Amazing May Ticket Special

Whether you’re just emerging into the world of wine and food, or well-traveled gastronomes, you’ll fall in love with Sunset SAVOR the Central Coast, happening September 27-30 at the renowned Santa Margarita Ranch - all for just $100 (50% off) if you buy your weekend passes this month.

No other wine and food event provides foodies with such a rich culinary immersion adventure as well as Sunset SAVOR the Central Coast. Home to our very own Paso Robles wine country and one of the most abundant agricultural counties in California, the event encompasses regional artisan food makers and nationally acclaimed wine producers – all coming together to create the West Coast’s most sought after wine and food event of the year. Aarti Sequeira, star of Food Network’s “Aarti Party” says “I was at this event five minutes and I had my mind blown.”
From the President of Sunset Publishing:  “From passionate foodies to people who just want to experience the best of the Central California Coast lifestyle, SAVOR offers four days of unforgettable culinary experiences in a setting where you can personally connect to the wine and food, whether it’s through cooking demonstrations with celebrity chefs using fresh local ingredients or winemaking programs with regional winemakers,” says Barb Newton, president, Sunset Publishing. “You can also rub elbows with Sunset’s top editors and favorite experts, and be the first to taste the medal-winning wines of Sunset’s International Wine Competition while savoring spectacular places like Hearst Castle, unspoiled nature trails and even an evening reception lit only by the stars and glowing hot air balloons. Sunset SAVOR the Central Coast is one of the most exciting and accessible wine and food events around.”

Tickets for West Coast’s “Must Taste” Wine and Food Event of the Year Are on Sale with a Huge Savings in the Month of May: Get a Sunset SAVOR the Central Coast 2012 Weekend Pass for Just $100 (50% Off)

Some events do sell out, so get your tickets now and take advantage of this spectacular short-term deal!

For more information and to purchase tickets, please visit www.savorcentralcoast.com or call the SLO County VCB at (805) 541-8000.

Paso Robles Train Station: National Train Day

by Coy Barnes

Have you ever travelled by train? It’s a fascinating and inexpensive way to travel, offering a relaxed pace along with spectacular views of the countryside not accessible by any other means.  Amtrak ridership is up as more and more people “ride the rails” in search of a slower pace, scenic beauty and new experiences.

We think Paso Robles has one of the quaintest and friendliest train stations this side of the Rockies on the Amtrak network.  Where else can you pick-up some local merchandise, visit three tasting rooms, have sushi, or enjoy a glass of Paso Robles wine or beer?   

There are daily trains that come to Paso Robles from Southern California and the Bay Area and two upcoming events offer great opportunities to get to know wine country via train:

• The Paso Robles Wine Festival May 19, 2012 is the perfect introduction for people from the Bay  area interested in visiting us for an afternoon of wine tasting.  You can take the Coast Starlight with a scheduled arrival in Paso Robles at 1:38pm and depart back at 4:45pm the same day!  Our station is literally just three short blocks from the Festival and our downtown. 

• National Train Day is the perfect time to inform travelers from both the Bay Area and Southern California area about travel to Paso Robles.  Every day customers and tourists to Paso Robles walk through the door of our shop and tasting room at the Paso Robles Train Station.  They all seem to say the same thing.  “This is sooo cute.  Does the train stop here?”  The answer is yes!  Not many people know that the train stops here twice per day; once going south and once going north. 

Arriving in Paso Robles and depending on where you stay, you won’t need a car while visiting our area, making the Amtrak the green way to go and it’s cheaper than a tank of gas!  Some of the local lodgings will even offer free transfers to their hotel, just ask.  Downtown Paso Robles has everything you need: 20+ great restaurants and at least 13 different wineries all within walking distance of the train station. 

So, if you are looking for stress-free travel without paying the high price of gas, Amtrak is the way to go and Paso Robles makes the ideal destination for a train trip. 
Call us for hotel and tour packages:  866-238-6400

Coy Barnes is the owner of the Paso Robles Wine Club, a wine club that sends an assortment of Paso Robles wines; and The Wine Wrangler, Paso Robles’ longest running wine tour service. Both businesses are located at the Paso Robles Train Station.

A Love Letter to Hospice du Rhône

Dear Hospice du Rhône,

I can’t stop thinking about you. Ever since we met last year, all I ever do is brag about you to my friends, family and colleagues. And now that we had the chance to spend even more time together last weekend at your 20^th anniversary, I’m more in love with you than ever.

Your seminars gave me first hand exposure to the international world of Rhône winemakers, buyers, collectors, importers and exporters, which left me dizzy. Your amazing lunches and grand wine tastings gave way to your passionate knowledge of this world of Rhône along with your entertaining approach to sharing that knowledge with the masses. All of this has left me intrigued and I can’t get enough.

You played hard to get at first and I wasn’t fast enough to snatch an opening night ticket to the speedily sold out Châteauneuf du Pape seminar and dinner at Bistro Laurent, featuring Author Harry Karis, Sommelier Kelly McAuliffe and vigneron Philippe Cambie, showcasing Châteauneuf du Pape wines hailing from as far back as vintages from the 1950s.

However, you could not elude me, as I was able to commandeer a weekend pass to all of your other events, at which, you changed my life. As a self-taught Rhône wine lover, the Why Spain (still) Rocks seminar, well, it completed me.  Discovering that Garnacha and Monastrell varietals hailed from Spain prior to becoming the Rhône staples Grenache and Mourvedre gave me the chills. The Spanish hamlets of Priorat, Jumilla, and Mentrida have now been added to my wine adventures bucket list thanks to Importer Eric Soloman and his band of merry Spanish winemakers who journeyed us through eight Garnachas, Monastrells, and Syrahs. The funky and fascinating Chester Osborn of d’Arenberg, McLaren Vale, South Australia took us down under on a virtual tour of his Rhône focused vineyard using maps and photos, all while discussing his soils and winemaking techniques as we tasted about 15 of the 60 wines he produces. My heart went a-flutter.

Having lunch with you both Friday and Saturday was like two first dates. I loved the casual buffet set up, amazing gourmet fare and linen covered picnic tables that offered endless featured wines, waters and palette cleansers at each table. At Friday’s Rosé Lunch, hosted by Chef John Toulze of the girl & the fig from Sonoma, California, I’ll never forget that you introduced me to several memorable folk as we tasted five different chilled Rhône rosés.  Two gentlemen who sat at our table, a father and son duo visiting from Dallas, Texas, were true collectors that love Paso Robles, have been here time and again, and were looking to add to their cellar back home. Also at our table was the lovely and fascinating Matthew Trevisan, Paso winemaker and owner of Linne Calodo, his wife and a friend of theirs from Templeton’s historic Epoch Vineyards.

Turns out our Texas friends had been trying to get a tasting appointment at Linne Calado while they were in town, and as luck would have it, Matthew was headed over to the winery right after lunch to give a winery tour to a few folk. So, what did he do? He invited the whole table! I, of course, blushed and felt my heart swell with happiness and gratitude for the amazing relationship we are building. Oh, Hospice du Rhone, you are just so money to me, you don’t even know.

My cohort in wine-crime and I snatched up the offer and headed out to Linne Calodo. Gate code in hand, we punched those numbers and drove up the oak covered driveway into breathtaking beauty. There we met Brandi Stansbury, Linne Calodo's Director of Communications, who poured us four amazing tastings, and then took us out to the barrel room where Matthew, our Texas friends and the rest of the group were vertical barrel tasting. Our host was generous and a wealth of knowledge; his passion for his craft abundant and inventive. This is where we met Mitch from Chicago, a super nice restaurant and wine bar owner attending Hospice du Rhône to check out potenitial wine purchases to add to his menus back home. Love was in the air.

The Saturday lunch, catered by Chef Rick Manson of the Far Western Tavern from Guadalupe California, included amazing food, wine and company like Friday, however there was an added live auction that really got my ears perking and heart pounding. Professional auctioneers were selling off Rhône wine lots from all over the world, private dinners, and trips to Blackberry Farms in Tennessee that went for up to $25,000.  For you self-taught wine drinkers out there, it was a site to behold. The weekend also included grand tastings on Friday and Saturday afternoon that were over the top with producers offering exclusive vintages and varietals from all over the world, and delicious delectables from Blackberry Farms and Specialty Food Purveyors. My favorite part, aside from everything, was the French section, which I aptly dubbed Château Boulevard. French wineries, standing side by side by the dozens, including several from Châteauneuf du Pape, were pouring some of the best Grenaches I’ve ever imbibed. It was a two day love affair I will never forget, that ended with a Fiesta BBQ served by Chef Maegen Loring of The Neon Carrot from San Luis Obispo, California, and lots of laughs. Oh, parting is such sweet sorrow.

Well, Hospice du Rhône, as I wrap up my love letter, I just want to say that I now appreciate why sommeliers, buyers, and wine industry professionals taste wine, but don’t swallow. I entered the world of no return right after the second seminar and began spitting and dumping some of the best wine I’ve EVER tasted, or will ever taste. And, I will love you always for that. Until we meet again right here in Paso Robles, California...

Yours Eternally, Maryann Stansfield, Travel Paso Robles Alliance

Captions: Hospice du Rhône 20th Anniversary logo; Glasses lined up for tasting at the Spain (still) Rocks Seminar; Blackberry Farm cured meats hanging from the drying rack, along with cheeses, cured meats, okra and pickled beets at the Friday Grand Tasting; Approaching Linne Calodo wine tasting room and winery; A maze of wine and pourings at Friday's BIG Rhône Rendevous Grand Tasting event. Photo Credit: Maryann Stansfield

Maryann Stansfield is the Marketing Director for the Travel Paso Robles Alliance and Mental Marketing. Maryann loves to drink wine, learn about wine, discover new wines, eat food paired with wine, fall in love with wine and, on occasion, an unforgettable wine event. Cheers!