BellaDonna 
Barrel Racker
Posts: 1890
 | | 08-18-2005 03:58 PM |
| I am considering taking a short 3 day trip to the Santa Ynez/Paso Robles area during December. What are the pros and cons? Is there anything to do for families and children? Thanks in advance. | | |
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Mona_Lisa_Vito
Grape Sorter
Posts: 228
| | 08-18-2005 04:48 PM |
| The only con I can think of is that if you are only going there for 3 days (and not, for example, tying it in to a trip to LA or San Francisco) it is a bit if a schlep. Paso Robles is halfway between SF and LA - 3 1/2 hours from each. Otherwise, it is a great area with lots of fabulous wineries - do a search in the forum - we went there last year and JC posted about it.
As for families, no idea. | | | |
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Drew
Sammamish, WA
Wine Bottler
Posts: 3355
| | 08-18-2005 05:46 PM |
| Definite con - having to schlep your Turley order home on the plane :-) | | | |
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BellaDonna
Barrel Racker
Posts: 1890
| | 08-18-2005 11:00 PM |
| Quote:
Definite con - having to schlep your Turley order home on the plane :-)
How did you know?  | | | |
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David Niederauer
Los Gatos, CA
VinoCellar.com Extraordinaire
Posts: 30915
| | 08-20-2005 06:04 AM |
| Cold and rain.
Fewer tourists at that time.
Some wineries close 12/15 or earlier thru at least 1/2.
Three days is plenty. | | | |
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ChangeMe
Grape Fermenter
Posts: 667
| | 08-28-2005 07:52 PM |
| Call ahead and get in to see Denner Vineyards and taste the wine, if they have any left. Ron and Marilyn Denner, along with their winemaker son Brian, are building a stunning winery on the west side (Vineyard Lane). Lovely people. Very good Syrah.
A good place for dinner with kids would be the Loading Shute in Creston (near Paso). A real, downhome, local joint with great, big, juicy steaks, good salads and irresistible slabs of gooey Mud Pie.
McPhee's Grill in nearby Templeton would be okay with kids as well.
Dinner at Bistro Laurent, downtown Paso (sans kids). | | | |
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David Niederauer
Los Gatos, CA
VinoCellar.com Extraordinaire
Posts: 30915
| | 08-28-2005 07:55 PM |
| One of my absolute favorite restaurants, The Wine Cask in Santa Barbara, is opening a second Wine Cask in the Fess Parker hotel. | | | |
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ChangeMe
Grape Fermenter
Posts: 667
| | 08-29-2005 02:56 AM |
| Fess just bought yet another hotel. | | | |
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BellaDonna
Barrel Racker
Posts: 1890
| | 08-29-2005 03:00 AM |
| I thought about flying into LA because that's how I've done this before...but I didn't realize that it was right in the middle of LA and SF.
But I'm saving my SF trip for May (a conference trip but will also be a Napa Valley trip too if you know what I mean).
How different is in in the winter? Will all the wineries be opened? | | | |
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David Niederauer
Los Gatos, CA
VinoCellar.com Extraordinaire
Posts: 30915
| | 08-29-2005 04:38 AM |
| Quote:
I didn't realize that it was right in the middle of LA and SF.
Not really.
It is just over four hours driving from San Francisco
and just over two hours driving from Los Angeles. | | | |
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BellaDonna
Barrel Racker
Posts: 1890
| | 09-13-2005 04:21 AM |
| Quote:
Cold and rain.
Cold is right...I checked out weather.com for the averages for Paso Robles in Dec...61 degrees for the high and 33 for the low...yikes!
That's cold
I've attempted to call Turley to see if they will be opened in Dec. They have a new (and stupid) automated system now that will not let you talk to a human being (I think that was on purpose). I am trying to see if they are opened year round. | | | |
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Al_ksyrah
Barrel Sampler
Posts: 2122
| | 09-13-2005 01:41 PM |
| Cold? You've been sheltered.  I think Turley and most other decent-sized wineries in Paso are open year-round. Check out the Vinters and Growers site at http://www.pasowine.com/ for maps, profiles, etc. (although not all of the wineries are listed because they don't all belong to the association). "Our tasting room is open from 9-5 daily (closed major holidays). 2900 Vineyard Drive, Templeton, CA 93465. (805) 434-1030. email: tasting@turleywinecellars.com " -Al | | | |
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Eric White
San Ramon, CA
Advanced Sommelier
Posts: 9560
| | 09-13-2005 01:44 PM |
| Quote:
It is just over four hours driving from San Francisco
Wow, you drive slow
Paso is about 2.5hrs from our place in San Ramon | | | 2008: the end of an error | |
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Al_ksyrah
Barrel Sampler
Posts: 2122
| | 09-13-2005 01:46 PM |
| But he compensates by driving fast from LA.
-Al | | | |
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BellaDonna
Barrel Racker
Posts: 1890
| | 09-13-2005 11:28 PM |
| Quote:
Cold? You've been sheltered.
I think Turley and most other decent-sized wineries in Paso are open year-round. Check out the Vinters and Growers site at http://www.pasowine.com/ for maps, profiles, etc. (although not all of the wineries are listed because they don't all belong to the association).
"Our tasting room is open from 9-5 daily (closed major holidays). 2900 Vineyard Drive, Templeton, CA 93465. (805) 434-1030. email: tasting@turleywinecellars.com "
-Al
Thanks for the link Al. I did get ahold of someone at Turley and confirmed they are opened year round. | | | |
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David Niederauer
Los Gatos, CA
VinoCellar.com Extraordinaire
Posts: 30915
| | 09-15-2005 06:22 AM |
| Quote:
Quote:
It is just over four hours driving from San Francisco
Wow, you drive slow
Paso is about 2.5hrs from our place in San Ramon
Quote:
But he compensates by driving fast from LA.
Those time are for Santa Ynez (not Paso).
Pipe that is your smoke and stuff it! | | | |
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BellaDonna
Barrel Racker
Posts: 1890
| | 09-17-2005 03:55 AM |
| So is it always cold and rainy in Dec in this part of the state? Will I be able to enjoy a trip this time of year? (I don't mind the cold but it's not fun to go tasting when it's raining) | | | |
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Al_ksyrah
Barrel Sampler
Posts: 2122
| | 09-17-2005 04:19 AM |
| The weather in December is hit or miss, both temperature and rain. Typically it is cold at night (30's to mid 40's), but if the sun comes out it's usually pretty nice during the day and warms up quickly from the pre-dawn temperatures. I think Paso averages like 1.5-2 inches of rain for the entire month, which isn't a lot of rain. January-March are wetter months. The Santa Ynez area is a bit warmer and a bit wetter. But the reality is that both the storm fronts and the unseasonably warm days tend to come in waves, so it really depends on your luck.
-Al | | | |
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TBird
Park Slope, Brooklyn
Master of Wine
Posts: 10199
| | 09-17-2005 05:54 PM |
| you'll have a great time bella, don't worry about it!
am i still picking up your turley now? | | | |
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BellaDonna
Barrel Racker
Posts: 1890
| | 09-17-2005 06:25 PM |
| Hell ya you're going to pick me up some Turley.  That's of course if you still want to (puppy dog eyes) | | | |
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