After a couple years worth of Sunday drives out to the Santa Barbara Wine Country to go wine tasting, my palate is no stranger to a Sta. Rita Hills Pinot Noir or a Bien Nacido Chardonnay. I know exactly what I like and exactly where to get it! But this last Sunday we decided to mix things up & take an extended overnight trip up to Paso Robles to see what they’re crafting a little farther north.
In an effort to expand our wine palates’ horizons we ventured up the 101 this weekend to taste a whole new terroir in Paso Robles. As a special added bonus, we also booked a night at the Comus House at Denner Vineyards. The wine was interesting (more wine tasting details here), but the highlight of this trip was definitely Comus House!
Babylonstoren is a Cape Dutch farm with vineyards and orchards surrounded by the dramatic mountains of the Drakenstein Valley. It has an exceptionally well–preserved werf dating from 1690. A fruit and vegetable garden of botanical diversity supplies a remarkable restaurant. Guests staying at an exclusive farm hotel enjoy access to the entire farm, plus facilities like a spa and gym. The aim is to have guests feel more comfortable, more alive among warm smiles and the simple daily rhythm of the farm.
What we thought was going to be a standard day-trip to go wine tasting in Los Olivos ended up including a last minute overnight booking at the Hamlet Inn… We were already members at Evan’s Ranch and Byron, but nestled directly between the two is Presqu’ile Winery. We decided to give them a go based on the recommendation from Andrea over at Byron Winery.
Could not ask for a better day in the valley! Mik, Nate and I went out to Santa Ynez to go wine tasting at Demetria, Evan’s Ranch and Gainey (to pick up our Evan’s Ranch shipment), but I only managed to remember my camera at Demetria… A crowd favorite, be sure to check them out!
This award-winning market features over 100 specialty traders every Saturday, creating a weekly platform for local farmers, fine-food purveyors, organic merchants, bakers and distributors, grocers, mongers, butchers, artisan producers, celebrated local chefs, and micro enterprises. The Neighbourgoods Market is housed…
