Travel Like — Erica Olsen of CBS News

Harvest is the most important and exciting time of year in Wine Country, filled with anticipation and long hours. Erica Olsen of CBS News hits the road for a Paso Robles adventure. There is something for everyone to enjoy in this charming region. Read more here.

Day 1

Check-In To Piccolo Or Paso Robles Inn

Nestled in the heart of downtown, The Piccolo is a luxurious Paso Robles boutique hotel retreat. An experience steeped in the rich history and culture of Paso Robles, it’s a place where the good life – and fine wine – has always been savored and shared with a welcoming spirit. You can explore the region’s acclaimed vineyards and restaurants, stroll under the towering oaks lining the town square, or simply relax and savor the views – and a glass of wine – at our rooftop bar. Uncover the perfect Wine Country experience at The Piccolo.

The historic Paso Robles hotel, conveniently located in the heart of historic Paso Robles wine country, has been a premier location for California getaways for over a century. Recently remodeled for superior Paso Robles lodging, the Paso Inn enjoys a quiet garden setting in the Paso Robles downtown historic district. With 98 rooms, including deluxe mineral spa rooms and two-room suites, a historic coffee shop, a full service lounge with luve entertainment and happy hour specials, and a premier steakhouse, featuring Harris Ranch beef, the Paso Robles Inn is the perfect location for your wine country getaway. With its lush gardens and historic ballroom, the Paso Robles Inn is a popular location for wine country weddings, corporate meetings, and executive retreats.

After 4:00PM

Day 2

Lunch at Ancient Peaks

Ancient Peaks Winery  is a family-owned and operated winery and vineyard located just a mile off the 101 highway. Visit our downtown tasting room and experience true rancho hospitality. Featuring wines from our estate Margarita Vineyard that can be enjoyed in a flight or by glass or bottle. Make it an afternoon and enjoy lunch on our patio or in the tasting room with your favorite Ancient Peaks Wines. Our café team has curated a farm to table menu that embraces the local fare of our community.

Rich in history and bounded by tradition, our three longtime local winegrowing and ranching families are committed to advancing the land’s legacy of “early California rancho hospitality.”

Our estate Margarita Vineyard is the southernmost vineyard in the Paso Robles Viticultural Area resulting in extraordinary growing conditions, producing fruit with fine balance and rich flavor. We handcraft Bordeaux varietals that exhibit a natural complexity – a direct reflection of Margarita Vineyard’s rare array of soils.

Recommended Time: 11:30AM

Margarita Adventures Zipline Tour

Your adventure in Paso Robles isn’t complete without participating in the Margarita Adventure ziplines! Rated as one of the “best things to do” in San Luis Obispo County, a top-rated experience listed as a Sunset Travel Award finalist in 2015 and 2016, and a five-star-rated TripAdvisor and Yelp experience, the ziplines offer you the thrilling experience of flying over the beautiful terrain of Santa Margarita. Perfect for families, friends, and couples, these ziplines let you soar over valleys, oaks, mountainsides, and vineyards. The tour includes six distinct ziplines that spans more than 7,500 total feet. Book a tour now to create unforgettable memories with friends and loved ones.

Recommended Time: 1:00PM

Dinner at In Bloom

Founded in 2022 by restaurateurs Chris & Nicole Haisma, In Bloom celebrates Paso Roble’s food and wine culture by collaborating with local farms and purveyors. Their mission is to embrace and support the community and let California’s Central Coast shine in every dish, cocktail, & wine served.   

A longtime wine collector and fan of Paso Robles, Haisma had been visiting this area regularly for nearly 15 years and has many long term friendships with many locals and winemakers. The couple fell in love with the area and hoped to someday plant permanent roots here. In 2020, they did just that. Chris, Nicole and their two young children left Chicago with their California dreams and made the move to Paso Robles official and haven't looked back. 

Chris & Nicole love Paso Robles and are committed to investing and giving back to the community they call home.

Recommended Time: 7:30PM

Wine Tasting at Alta Colina

Alta Colina Vineyard & Winery is among Paso Robles' top Rhone producers. Join us for a tasting 7 days a week (reservations recommended). We're all about organically grown, estate Rhone wines from our family property on Paso's westside. We offer unique experiences from a classic tasting flight to a vintage trailer campground in the heart of the property. Our team is knowledgeable and welcoming. Seasoned wine drinkers welcome as well as those interested in learning the ins and outs of winegrowing and winemaking.

Recommended Time: 11:00AM

Wine Tasting at McPrice Myers

The eponymous winery of McPrice “Mac” Myers, McPrice Myers is home to Mac’s four interconnected wine labels: McPrice Myers (his exclusive proprietary and single-vineyard wines); Beautiful Earth (celebrating the art of blending; his BE red blend was the only Paso Robles wine to make Wine Spectator’s Top 100 this year); Hardworking Wines (premium wines that don’t break the bank); and the new M Cab, his and his business partner’s love letter to Paso Robles’ pioneering Bordeaux growers. The latter three are distributed nationwide. Enjoy a cheese box with your tasting!

Recommended Time: 1:00PM

Mid-Day Menu or Dinner at Parchetto 

Grab footage of Tin City Cider/Barrelhouse Brewery/ Negranti’s Creamery (all next door to each other)

Tin City is a wholly walkable neighborhood of modern industrial-style buildings, known the world over for housing the next generation of California’s beverage scene. It’s home to 20-plus small-production wineries, distilleries, breweries and Michelin star restaurant Six Test Kitchen. 

Recommended Time: 3:00PM or Evening