We are just a tad busy these days and took too long to book our trip and Sonoma (yes the entire TOWN) was fully booked the weekend we wanted to go! So we changed gears and went to Paso Robles and had an AMAZING time!
We stayed at this little B&B/winery called Wild Coyote. We chose it because it was one of the few places available and it had great reviews.
We were not disappointed! The room is only one of 6 and was comfortable and spacious (though not decorated to my taste!) They cleverly distracted us from the lack of a bathroom door with a complimentary bottle of wine and incredible views of the on-site vineyards.
We had dinner at Fish Gaucho downtown, which was a tequila bar/restaurant and reminded us of Gringos where we met, so that was quite fitting (and the mole was INSANELY good)
The next morning, after a delicious breakfast made and delivered by the owner's wife Kati, we joined in on the Wild Coyote winery tour, which was very informative and impressive. The owners of the location run a small B&B, as well as an entirely self-contained winery. They grow the grapes, time when to harvest them, press and ferment them into wine, store the barrels and bottle the wine. No other winery in Paso can claim this, as we learned most wineries buy at least some of their grapes from other growers. We were impressed and the wine was delicious!
We were there right in the middle of the harvest so we
were able to see a lot of the equipment in action!
Next we went off to Eberle!
word
Eberle has solved the problem of running costly and drying air conditioning to keep
their wine barrels the proper temperature, by digging underground caves to cool them down.
They were having a fund raiser (for something...) and had free, delicious wood fired pizzas and a band playing on their patio, and Mr Eberle himself was walking around chatting with guests.
Next we went to Tobin James (I think...)
It was just us and about 200 of our loudest closest friends and bachelorette parties, so we didn't stay here long.
The complete opposite of the endless chatter at Tobin was the quiet country vibe at Cass Winery. We were wine club members there a few years ago but I kept getting pregnant so we wisely decided to unjoin. We had a wonderfully relaxing time enjoying an incredible cheese plate, some delicious wine and sat outside in their expanded outside seating area just talking about the kids and listening to the wind in the trees. Ahhhhhhhh
After one more stop at Mitchella, a mom and pop winery that sells many of their grapes to Tobin James, we headed home to rest and change for dinner at Wild Coyote. Kati makes an amazing dinner once a month and it happened to be the night of our anniversary! We joined the rest of the guests of the hotel for chicken piccata, green beans and rice, and of course more wine! There was another couple there from Santa Barbara celebrating their 7th anniversary, and we had a great time chatting with them over dinner.
Traditionally, I bring along our toasting flutes from our wedding and we drink whatever it is we are drinking in them. We drank beer in Costa Rica for our first anniversary, sake at sushi for our second, and this year it was red wine.
We couldn't wait to get home to our babies and relieve my poor mom! The drive home was long and slow, especially for me being so hungover tired, but we made it home in about 7 hours.
Best motivation ever. Would have driven 1000 miles to smooch this face!
Don't we look relaxed!? Yay for weekends away :)
This man, to whom I owe everything in my life that I love, I am so grateful that you chose me and continue to put up with me year after incredible year. Life just keeps getting better and better and I can't WAIT for all the years to come! Love you honey!
