87060 Thu Mar 17 17:33:57 -0800 2005 8 3 California 0 480275 I'm planning to go to the Paso Robles Zinfandel Festival this weekend, March 18 thru 20th. Wondering which wineries I should visit to taste, and buy, the best zin? I'm inclined toward visiting Carmody McNight, Castoro Cellers, Eberle, Justin, Linne Calado, Nadeau Family Vintners. There are dozens more in the weekend brochure from PasoWine.com to choose from. So many choices. So little time. If I'd planned ahead I might have gone to one of the winery dinners. Link: http://www.pasowine.com Thu Mar 17 17:33:57 -0800 2005 0 SLOSteve 1 480280 I love Adelaida, though it is way out in the opposite direction from Justin. Castoro used to have a non-alcoholic product - zinfandel grape juice - that is just perfect - not too sweet, nice and grapey. I don't know if they still make it but if they do, grab some. Do not skip Linne Calodo - their wines are just tremendous and the kind of thing you can't wait to share with your friends. By all means avoid Arciero/Eos - their wines are terrible and the winery is like a Tuscan Disneyland. Thu Mar 17 18:44:45 -0800 2005 480275 0 snackish 2 480285 Sue Bob and PolarBear, Thanks for your ideas. The Far Out Wineries are having a (sold out)Zin Summit, $45 each, for 100 people, Saturday pouring zinfandels from 12 Paso Robles West Side wineries at Adelaida Cellers. Break my heart that I'm too late for a reservation. Next year! Was told it's a beautiful, twisty road, fifteen minute drive from Adelaida to Justin. Having never been to Adelaida Cellers I think I'll stop by for their Open House and pony up $5 to taste barrel samples and library wines. I very fondly remember tasting a wonderful Linne Calado late harvest zinfandel years ago. The PR Zin Fest brochure says they'll have two zins, Cherry Red and the Outsider to taste this year. Three Fifty M&W? Martin & Weyrich is offering zinfandel for $42 a case, this weekend only, at their tasting room. I hope, a step up from Two Buck Chuck for "every day" use. Might balance out some of the more pricy bottles I'm sure to buy. Should be a fun weekend. Maybe sunny, too. After all the recent rain the hills are green. I look forward to a nice country drive in the Paso Robles area. My daytime chowing will probably be well taken care of thru winery BBQ's and lunches Image: http://www.FarOutWineries.com Thu Mar 17 21:47:06 -0800 2005 480280 0 SLOSteve 3 480356 I saw this a bit late to throw in my two cents, but it doensn't look like you got the sun you were hoping for. Sorry about that! Adelaida and Justin are by no strecth 15 minutes apart; more like five. The most recent trip my husband and I took we hit Linne Calodo, Carmody McKnight and Adelaida, and it wouldn't have been too much to see Justin while we were out by Carmody (which is lovely, by the way, with a pond and pretty places to picnic). The drive is pretty, either way. I am fond of Norman and Peachy Canyon Zinfandels, which are reasonable and easy to find in the local grocery stores. The lady at Norman was really nice too -- lit the fireplace just for us last time I was there. My top few Zinfandels: Tobin James "Ballistic" Norman Winery "Monster" Peachy Canyon "Old School House" Zin Alley Zinfandel ($$ but worth it, he's hard to find) Eberle Zinfandel (ALL of Eberle wines are good, IMHO) Hope you're having (or had) lots of delicious wine tasting fun this weekend! Lindsay Sun Mar 20 02:41:56 -0800 2005 480285 0 SLOLindsay 4 480382 I just saw this thread, we're on the Oregon Coast right now trying all the Pinot Noir we can! I would also suggest Peachy Canyon and I loved Wild Coyote (the house of reds) for their Merlot and Zins. It's a Southwest style type place that we really enjoyed. Martin & Weyrich is also very good and I'll also second the suggestion for Tobin James. Please report back on your experiences, we really enjoyed our wine tour of Paso that we did in the fall. Cheers! ***kim*** Mon Mar 21 12:18:01 -0800 2005 480356 0 kim c 1 480282 I'd say don't miss Turley and L'Aventure and offer a strong second for Linne Calodo. Have also had some nice Zins from Peachy Canyon and Opolo. Garrettson's blends are definitely worth checking out. Thu Mar 17 19:26:35 -0800 2005 480275 0 PolarBear 1 480299 Just went to a wine tasting dinner where we were treated to the wonderful wines of Jan Kris. I can highly recommend their wine Fri Mar 18 10:24:26 -0800 2005 480275 0 Hugh Lipton 1 480300 I highly recommend Opolo for Zins and try Dover Canyon nearby. The Adaliada is consustantly good. Fri Mar 18 10:32:23 -0800 2005 480275 0 Bruce in SLO 1 480302 I agree with most other recs - especially Linne Calado. But I would stop in at Tablas Creek even if they don't do zinfandel. Their Rhone style wines are wonderful. Fri Mar 18 12:38:41 -0800 2005 480275 0 e.d.