If you’re thinking about planning a trip to Paso Robles wine country, then there are a few things you should consider before making any decisions.
Traveling to wine country can be a relaxing experience, but it can also be full of activities, hiking, eating, and drinking. And while we’re not saying that those things can’t all be relaxing, it’s important to pace yourself and plan out your days ahead of time.
Planning your trip accordingly will give you the opportunity to visit the wineries you’d like to try, the food you’d like to eat, as well as give you time to explore the community that thrives on wine tourists like yourself.
If you go into a wine tasting trip without doing any planning, you’ll could find yourself not being able to get into some of the places you want to try, or not being able to experience the things you want to experience. Depending on the time of year you visit and the place you’re visiting, the crowds can become large and reservations for tasting can be hard to come by.
We’ve got a few tips that will help you make sure you’re able to experience wine country in the way you want to experience it, and the way we think it’s best to experience it. Everyone is going to be different in terms of what they want to do while they’re visiting, but these planning tips will at least give you a good place to start when thinking about your trip.
Visiting Paso Robles Wine Country
Since we’re based out of Paso Robles, these tips will be more geared towards visiting the town we call home, but they can apply to most wine country destinations across the world.
Best Time of Year to Visit Wine Country
The first thing you want to do when planning a trip to wine country is determine what time of year you want to visit.
If we’re being honest, there is no bad time to visit, but depending on what you want to do, things may not be available during certain seasons.
The majority of travelers visit during the spring, summer and fall months as that is when the wineries and tasting rooms thrive. Spring is a great time to visit Paso Robles if you’re looking for mild temperatures and great events like the Paso Wine Festival, which happens every year.
The Paso Wine Fest event showcases a number of different wineries and businesses within the Paso Robles community and brings everyone together for a wonderful weekend filled with wine, food, and music.
If you just want to enjoy some wine tasting and the various wineries that the region has to offer, then summer might be more your speed.
The temperature can get pretty hot during the summer months, but there are always things happening at the various wineries. Whether you just want to take advantage of a tasting or you want to enjoy one of the many events that the wineries put on during the summertime, this is a great time to visit and enjoy the nice weather.
Fall is harvest time for California wineries and vineyards and there are always a lot of events taking place during this time. Harvest month, which usually falls in October, offers up a number of opportunities to explore wine country, taste wines, and get a feel for what vineyards and winemakers go through every year to get the grapes ready for their next batches of wine.
No matter what season you choose, there’s always something going on in wine country.
Wine Tasting and Restaurant Reservations
Once you determine when you want to travel to wine country, the next step is to ensure you’re able to get into the wineries that you want.
With so many wineries and tasting rooms in Paso Robles, and other wine regions, there’s usually no shortage of places to taste, however we still recommend reservations.
Figure out which tasting rooms you want to visit, and book your reservations early. Knowing you have a set tasting at a certain time will help you to plan out the rest of your trip.
We like to assume about an hour and half for each wine tasting, which gives you ample time to try all of the different wines, enjoy any food the property may offer, and also get to enjoy the scenery and company that the tasting rooms offer.
We would also recommend no more than 3-4 tastings in a single day. By the time you get the 3rd of 4th tasting room, you’re going to be feeling it. Especially if you haven’t had anything to eat in between.
Remember, not all of the tasting rooms offer food, so be sure to check on their websites and plan accordingly. Scheduling your mid-day tasting at a winery that offers food is always a good idea.
In terms of restaurants, we also recommend making your reservations early if possible. The more popular restaurants can fill up fast during the spring-fall seasons, and it might be hard for you to walk-in and find a table to eat at.
Hiking and Other Activities
Paso Robles, and a lot of different wine regions, have incredible scenic trails and hikes that you can take while you’re visiting. Paso Robles offers a number of hiking trails in town, as well as a short drive outside of town, that are a perfect for viewing the ocean and the mountain landscape.
Scope out the different activities and attractions you may want to visit as well. While wine country may be known as an “adult” trip, because of the alcohol, there are typically a lot of various activities for families with kids as well.
You don’t have to spend your entire time drinking wine and eating food. Venturing out into the surrounding towns and areas can offer a number of different experiences that will make your time in wine country memorable.
Planning Your Next Wine Country Vacation
When planning your next trip to wine country, it’s important to figure out what you want to experience on your trip. Any time of year is a great time to visit, but depending on the season, there may be different events or activities going on.
Making reservations at the wineries and tasting rooms that most appeal to you is also crucial to ensure that you’re able to get in to the places you really want to go. There’s nothing worse than showing up somewhere and not being able to sit down at enjoy yourself.
Wine country is a great place for the entire family, but it’s always important to plan ahead. If you have any questions about making a reservation for our tasting room at The Austin Hope & Treana Tasting Cellar, please contact us today!
We hope to see you soon!