Visit this award winning winery for a fun experience
When it comes to delivering a diverse, delicious and downright fun wine tasting experience, nobody does it better than the folks at Opolo Vineyards.
Located in the beautiful coastal mountains west of downtown Paso Robles, Opolo offers a traditional tasting experience with expansive outdoor patio seating and stunning vineyard views. Menu offerings include wood-fired pizzas, gourmet sausages and seasonal salads. On top of that, Opolo’s Willow Creek Distillery offers its own on-site tasting room that is always a hit with artisan whiskey and brandy enthusiasts.
Since 1999, this family-owned winery has been renowned for its flagship Mountain Zinfandel as well as its acclaimed Cabernets and other wines including Chardonnay, Albariño, Merlot, Sangiovese, Petite Sirah and more. Opolo wines routinely score 90+ points in Wine Enthusiast, Tasting Panel and other wine journals.
With its friendly and knowledgeable tasting room staff, Opolo has also garnered a reputation for providing exceptional hospitality and service to visitors and locals alike. Owners Rick Quinn and David Nichols have been hands-on with the winery and tasting room experience since day one, and they often enjoy their award-winning wines with guests.
“We believe that you can balance a fun place to taste with seriously great wines,” Quinn says. “We pride ourselves on producing quality wines and our efforts have been rewarded time and time again. Opolo is more than just wine tasting; we utilize our property to provide a wide range of experiences and our staff is committed to making everyone feel welcome.”
Tastings and dining
Experiences abound at Opolo, include tasting flights, tours, patio dining and the brandies, whiskeys and premium liqueurs of Willow Creek Distillery. The food menu features an assortment of wood-fired pizzas; artisan cheese and meat platters; sausages and accompaniments; and fresh seasonal salads.
“We offer one of the most diverse and immersive tasting experiences in Paso Robles and encourage our staff to create individual tasting flights for each person who visits Opolo,” Nichols says. “Our team is knowledgeable about our broad range of wines and their goal is to educate while providing a fun place to visit.”
For white wines, try the Albariño or Rosé – both are perfect for enjoying with fruit and lighter meals during the amazing spring and summer evenings of the California Central Coast. The Albariño has hints of orange blossoms, melons, cherries, and fresh basil while the Rosé is a lovely blend of grenache, syrah, and viognier.
Looking for a red wine? Start with Opolo’s Mountain Zinfandel, a standard bearer of Paso Robles Zinfandel for more than 20 years. Over that span, Opolo has perfected the trademark Mountain Zinfandel style: rich, bold, fruit-forward and always lively through the finish. Another must-try is the Sangiovese, which bursts with rich aromas of cherry, strawberry, and roasted herbs balanced with vanilla and cinnamon spice, a touch of tannin, and a roasted toffee finish.
Winemakers Chris Rougeot and James Schreiner are passionate about fashioning wines from grapes grown at the estate vineyard in the Willow Creek District as well as other notable areas of Paso Robles such as the Templeton Gap and Adelaida District. The cooler westside coastal vineyards are topographically diverse, providing intense and unique flavor profiles. On the eastside, the warmth and dryness combine to create an ideal microclimate for growing Bordeaux varieties.
Wine club, events, lodging and more
Opolo’s special events, including quarterly Wine Club parties, are famous for delivering the fun. Keep an eye out at Opolo.com for these and other events throughout the year. And what could be more special than a romantic wedding? Opolo Vineyards is the ideal venue, with oak tree-lined roads, acres of vines and walnut groves, and a picturesque hilltop.
You can also live the ultimate Paso Robles wine country experience at The Inn at Opolo Vineyards with luxurious, spacious rooms, fireplaces, soaking tubs, wine and appetizers each afternoon, and a made-to-order breakfast each morning.
Experience Opolo Vineyards at 7110 Vineyard Drive in Paso Robles. Open daily, except major holidays, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Call (805) 238-9593 or see Opolo.com for more information.
