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New to Wine Tasting? Don’t worry, I Got Ya

New to Wine Tasting? Don’t worry, I Got Ya

3 Pro Tips for Wine Tasting

Kelly Simmerman

Most of us didn’t grow up in a wine-tasting environment, so there is always that first time, and trust me, you’ll never forget the experience.

I remember the first time I and a friend ventured into a wine-tasting room. We felt like a pair of lost penguins at a ballroom dance class. The woman pouring the wine swirled her glass elegantly, detecting aromas like a wine wizard, so we also tried to swirl. But that didn’t work out as I spilled the white wine on my shoes. With all the confidence of a toddler in a tiara, we took our first sip and tried to look sophisticated, but our taste buds were having a carnival. “Is that a hint of blackberry or a ninja raspberry?” we wondered, trying desperately to keep straight faces. We nodded appreciatively to the sommelier, though we secretly suspected that our palates were on vacation in a parallel universe.

That was a number of years ago before I became a wine sommelier. I wanted to know the difference between a cab suav and a cab franc. I thought that I might get into the wine business. Turns out I like tasting, drinking, and writing about wine.

If you haven’t had the opportunity to go to the wine country and taste wine, then you absolutely must. And, of course, I recommend Paso Robles, but I might be a tad biased. Along with some sensible shoes and a light sweater, here are a few wine-tasting tips to take with you.

Pro Tip 1: Use Your Senses

Sight: Begin by observing the wine’s appearance. Tilt the glass against a white background to assess its color, clarity, and viscosity. A young red wine might be vibrant, while an older one could be more brick colored.

Smell: Gently swirl the wine in your glass to release its aromas. Put your nose into the glass and take in the scents. Try to identify fruit, floral, herbal, and other nuanced notes.

Taste: Take a small sip and let it roll across your palate. Notice the initial flavors, how it evolves, and then the finish.

Photo by Alexandra Marta

Pay attention to acidity. Acidity creates a puckering or tingling sensation on the sides of your tongue and around your mouth. It’s akin to the feeling you get when you eat something sour. You should also pay attention to sweetness and, for red wines, tannins.

Tannins are a type of polyphenol, which are compounds found in plants. They act as a natural preservative and provide structure to the wine. They give the wine its backbone and contribute to its texture and mouthfeel. When the tannins are out of balance, they taste bitter and create an astringent sensation in the mouth. This is often described as a feeling of dryness or puckering on the palate. This sensation is similar to what you might experience when drinking strong tea.

Pro Tip 2: Ask Questions and Engage

Don’t hesitate to ask the tasting room staff questions. They’re often very knowledgeable and can provide insights about the wines, the winemaking process, and even food pairings. Engage in conversation, share your impressions, and be open to their recommendations.

Wine tasting is a subjective experience. Your preferences and interpretations are unique to you, so trust your palate and enjoy the journey.

Pro Tip 3: Stay Hydrated and Eat Well

Drinking water in between tastings helps cleanse your palate and keeps you refreshed. Additionally, having some snacks or light food can enhance your tasting experience and prevent the effects of alcohol from setting in too quickly.

Bonus Tip: Practice Moderation

It’s easy to get carried away, especially at a winery with numerous wines to try. To fully appreciate each wine, take small sips and consider using a spittoon if available. This allows you to maintain your palate’s sensitivity and enjoy the experience for longer.

Before you know it, you’ll be speaking in haikus about tannins and terroir, sipping and swirling, and uncovering the mysteries of the wine universe. Cheers!

Yay Paso Robles Wine Country!

5 Indie Bookstores In and Around Paso Robles

5 Indie Bookstores In and Around Paso Robles

Kelly Simmerman

Ah, independent bookstores, those delightful sanctuaries for bookworms and bibliophiles alike! Welcome to the enchanting world of independent bookstores, where literary wonders and whimsy unite. Stepping into one is like entering a realm of literary treasures and eccentric characters. You never know what you might stumble upon – a hidden gem tucked between the shelves or a quirky store owner recommending a book that’s so obscure you wonder if it even exists outside the confines of this magical store.

How about that intoxicating smell of old books that hits you like a nostalgic wave? It’s like the perfume of a well-read adventurer, and you can’t help but take a deep breath, embracing the musty scent like the bouquet of fine wine. The stacks of books seem to whisper ancient secrets and tales of worlds far, far away. And when you think you’ve seen it all, you discover a shelf labeled “Oddities and Curiosities,” where books with titles like 101 Ways to Knit Socks for Your Pet Rock reside. Who even knew that was a thing?

And let’s not forget about the ambiance. The creaky wooden floors sing stories of countless footsteps over the years, and the cozy nooks invite you to curl up with a book.

Here are five local independent bookstores in and around Paso:

Spare Time Books If you like a bookstore that is floor-to-ceiling, chock full of books, this is the place for you. They mainly focus on used books and have a brilliant program where one can read and turn the book back in for credit. Online, they offer mystery book boxes that focus on genres like romance, vintage classics, or your favorite genre. 945 12th Street, Paso Robles.

Book Odyssey Book Odyssey is a delightful bookstore in Atascadero and is just a short distance from Paso Robles. They offer both new and well-priced used books. They are super friendly but give you plenty of space to be with the books. 1855 El Camino Real, Atascadero.

Phoenix Books This is a fabulous used bookstore with a ton of titles and plenty of downtown San Luis Obispo charm. The more you explore, the more you’ll be amazed. It’s in a perfect location and has lots of variety. 986 Monterrey Street, San Luis Obispo.

Coalesce Bookstore and More This store is packed with books but organized and comfortable, with a beautiful garden oasis in the back. It features new and used books and is wonderfully situated in the middle of town among other cool shops. It’s cozy, eclectic, and ideal. 845 Main Street, Morro Bay.

Volumes of Pleasure Book Shoppe This little gem is a diverse store in the small town of Los Osos on the Central Coast. They have made it their goal to carry as wide a variety of books, gifts, jewelry, and spiritual and holistic supplies as will fit within their walls. 1016 Los Osos Valley Rd, Los Osos.

Independent bookstores are a rare breed, keeping the spirit of reading alive one dog-eared page at a time. So next time you find yourself in one of these treasure troves, take a moment to savor the charm, the characters, and the stories that only an independent bookstore can deliver. Happy reading, fellow book adventurers!

5 Best Paso Robles Wineries

5 Best Paso Robles Wineries

Kelly Simmerman

Paso Robles Wine

Wine, oh Yes, the Wine!

Paso Robles is quickly becoming a wine growing and wine making California superstar. Located in the Central Coast area halfway between Los Angeles and San Francisco, Paso keeps its friendly small town feel but boasts world class wines.  

Recently, I learned that Paso Robles is actually the biggest AVA (American Viticultural Area) in California, but it is quite distinct in its characteristics. Unlike the warm and steady weather seen in most of California’s wine-growing regions, in Paso Robles, you’ll find that the average daytime temperature fluctuates more than any other California appellation.   

Some popular wines you may have heard of like Las Tablas Creek and Justin, but there are so many more. Paso has over 250 wineries and is growing every day. Here is my short list (for today) though it was hard to narrow it down. My pick five Paso Robles wineries will include some biggies and some boutique-ies. Any great winetasting journey should include as diverse and representative a sample as possible! I’m basing my decision on the wine, of course, but also the wine tasting experience.   

Keep in mind, tasting room fees and the prices of wine are going up everywhere. I’m posting this February, 2022. (Still in the pandemic. Get reservations or you may be turned away.) 

Adelaida Vineyards—I’ll start with one of my favorites for many years. Yes, Adelaida used to be one of the small guys, but they have grown year over year because of their superior wines. They can also boast the fact that they are one of the Paso Robles original wine growers and winemakers. 

In 1964, Dr. Stanley Hoffman planted the first Pinot Noir in the craggy hillside terrain of what is now the HMR Vineyard in Paso Robles’ Adelaida District. Dr. Hoffman planted some of the region’s first Cabernet Sauvignon vines and continued in 1973 to plant Chardonnay in the HMR Vineyard. 

If you start your wine tasting journey with Adelaida, you’re setting a pretty high bar. It’s a classy place with estate grown, vineyard driven wines. I recommend getting a tasting out on their upper deck. The sweeping views of the Walnut orchard and vineyard are breathtaking, and in the summer, there’s always a nice breeze up there. Their tasting room is about ten minutes from downtown Paso Robles on Adelaida Road. 

Insider’s hint: There are 2 Tesla and 1 standard EV charger in the front parking lot. 

The basic tasting experience is $25 per person, and free to members. 

Denner Vineyards—After traveling the state for years, searching for the perfect piece of dirt to grow grapes that would produce highly acclaimed wines, Ron Denner finally found exactly what he was looking for in the far western reaches of Paso Robles. He began planting the first few acres in 1999, which has now grown to a total of 130-acres, consisting of s 20 different grape varieties and counting. 

Aron Nevarez, their Vineyard Manager since 2005, has had complete control of all vineyard operations, including the designing and planting of the 12 acres surrounding the winery. He is committed to environmentally friendly farming practices, using only sustainable inputs and minimal irrigation. Aron’s hands-on approach and years of experience with the vineyard allow him to produce the quality fruit Denner is known for harvest after harvest. 

It’s hard to decide whether it’s nicer inside Denner’s tasting room or outside on their patio. I usually opt for outside. In the cooler months, they have several outside fireplaces to cozy around. In the summer, shade and a nice breeze do the trick. If you’re lucky, Ron, the owner, will stop by your table for a chat.

Insider’s hint: He loves ice hockey! 

Tasting fee is $30 and is waived when you purchase one bottle. 

Ranchero Cellars—We actually met Amy Butler, owner and winemaker at Ranchero, before we even tasted her wines. We were invited to a neighborhood dinner and Amy brought several bottles of her own wine.  

Her 2017 Viognier went deliciously with the appetizer cheeses and charcuterie plate. Then we moved on to the Tethered Beast and Fancy Boots, both 2018 vintages. The Petite Syrah in Fancy Boots has a silky mouthfeel that is unmistakably Ranchero Cellars style, with muscularity and depth balanced by lively acidity and considerable length. Both reds paired so nicely with the main dish. Needless to say, we went home from that dinner with happy full tummies and had made a friendship with another approachable and hardworking Paso winemaker. 

Ranchero Cellars is located in downtown Paso Robles on the City Park in Paso Underground. They are open every Saturday or call Amy for a private tasting. 

Insider’s hint: Ask Amy about her Ranchero car/truck. The story is a little heartbreaking, but it’s one of the reasons why she’s making such fantastic wines. 

Kiamie Wine Cellars—pronounced key ah’ mee. If you’re looking for fancy and pretentious, you might want to skip this spot. They have a goat. They have happy dogs. They have good wine. Nuff said? Nah I’m gonna keep going. 

Kiamie is a rustic style family-owned winery that gives the feeling of sitting in a friend’s backyard and tasting wine. But when it comes to their wines, don’t let the laid-back setting feeling fool you. They usually pour around 5 different wines, starting with the refreshing and crisp White Cuvee which is a Viognier, Roussanne, Marsanne blend and end with their more robust red Meritage.  

I recently sampled the 2018 Meritage, and it was a delicious flavor of cooked blueberries and cardamom with a chocolatey finish. Red wine with a chocolatey finish? I asked Greg, one of the owners, about the finish, and he said it reminds him of the Mexican hot chocolate drink called champurrado.  

Insider’s hint: The goat’s name is, you guessed it, Goat! 

Seashell Cellars— Established in 2001, the Seashell Vineyard is nestled on the banks of the Huerohuero Creek just one mile east of the Salinas River. They chose the vineyard site for its unique microclimate and extraordinary soil composition. Since this is kinda far from Paso, lucky for us, they have a fun and lively downtown tasting room on 13th Street. No snobby winery vibe, here. 

Seashell offers one white, a rose, and seven reds. The Grenache Rose is my favorite with its aroma of fresh peaches and flavors of strawberry and star anise. Their 2018 Cab Franc and 2018 Collection are tough to beat, as well. The Collection is a blend of 50% Mourvèdre, 37% Grenache, and 13% Syrah, and offers moderately intense notes of mulled black cherries, spice box, and peppery herbs in its medium-bodied, charming, easygoing style.    

In the tasting room, you’ll get to know Denice as she is there nearly every day. I think the place would crumble without her. It’s a 10-star experience. She’s knowledgeable about wine, and if she has it open, ask for a taste of the Reserve Syrah. Delish! 

Insider’s hint: Ask Denice if she’ll take a “beach” picture of you and your crew. They have an entire wall with a beach scene, and she’ll get out the sun chairs, surfboard, and leis for the perfect picture. 

I love the Paso Robles wine country. Reach out to me if you have any questions about Paso!

Kelly in Paso Robles Wine Country