Paso Robles Wine CountryPaso Robles Wine Country
Paso Robles. Paso who? Paso Robles (pronounced: pah sow row bless), the fastest growing wine region in California, located halfway between San Francisco and Los Angeles. Paso is well known for both Zinfandel and wines produced from red grape varieties used in Southern Rhône blends: Grenache, Syrah, and Mourvèdre, often called GSM. With warm days and cool nights, Paso and the Southern Rhône have similar climates in common. Differences in temperature can shift 40℉/22℃ which help grapes slowly ripen, giving wines good acidity, ultimately making them great for pairing with food. Try a GSM blend with roasted lamb or a hearty meat stew.
California Wine Fair 2012California Wine Fair 2012
Photo Credit: Cynthia Silversides
Zinfandel is another great food wine, good with burgers, pasta, and pizza. Finding its way to California in the 1850s, Zinfandel eventually became their signature grape. Similar to the Primitivo grape of Southern Italy, in 2002 it was determined that Zinfandel and the Crljenak Kaštelanski grape of Croatia have the same DNA structure. In March, Paso is featuring Zinfandel as their varietal of the month in the video, "Zinfandel - Zinfandel Is Not Just Wine" with the description, "A softly spice-driven wine with hints of wild red fruit jam." This is just one of the highly entertaining videos produced by the Paso Robles Wine Country Alliance starring alongside their wines, the Paso Wine Man. You are likely to find wines from Paso to taste at the California Wine Fair on April 8th at The Fairmont Royal York Hotel in Toronto.
Thinking about wine, what's happening in Oakville? The Oakville Wine Enthusiasts Club (OWEC) is holding a special event on April 9th with Alonzi Wines. "Wine and More" tickets are limited and selling out fast!
So there you have it: Paso Robles, GSM, Zinfandel
