Paso Robles, CA Summary

photo by yipper

Franciscan fathers named this area “Pass through the Oaks,” referring to the clusters of oaks located at the southern end of the Salinas Valley. Coastal breezes cool temperatures in the western region of the valley, while the eastern area is hotter and drier.

Paso Robles was founded in 1870 by Drury James, uncle of the infamous outlaw, Jesse James. It is at the heart of the Central Coast wine country (population approximately 19,200) and is 29 miles north of San Luis Obispo via US-101. Hwy 46 leads east and west off US-101, into the heart of the local wine-producing region.

The area’s first wine vines, zinfandel, were planted by Ignace Padereweski, a Polish pianist, in 1913. To this day, zinfandel is the area’s finest varietal. Paso Robles is officially designated as an American viticultural area, which means that it is an officially delimited geographical wine-growing area and the name can be used as an appellation of origin on labels and in advertising. The area has 38 wineries, many of which are open to visitors for tastings.

A 38-mile side trip to the coast leads to the Hearst Castle. This 165-room mansion, on a 127-acre estate, was built by newspaper publisher, William Randolph Hearst, on a 1,600-foot promontory overlooking San Simeon and the Pacific Ocean. Four tours cover the estate. Visitors to Paso Robles can also enjoy the Sycamore Farm, an herb garden and nursery, and hot-air balloon rides.

Temperatures often climb above 100\260F in summer months. Facilities at Paso Robles are plentiful near the freeway, but the landscape becomes rural very quickly. Many wineries provide pleasant picnic areas, but the best place to find meals and lodging is the rustic downtown area near US-101.

Paso Robles is about 100 miles northwest of Bakersfield, which is serviced by buses and trains. The nearest major airports are in Los Angeles and San Francisco.