Page 103 - SLO Visitors Guide Summer 2024

slovisitorsguide.com SUMMER 2024 103
Wine Tasting
PasoSecco opens Paso Robles tasting
room offering sparkling wine
There is something about a bottle
of bubbly wine that makes any
occasion seem special. Chris Kern
made it his mission to create an
affordable Paso Robles sparkling
wine with great taste. The result of
his efforts is PasoSecco, a Charmat-
style sparkling wine made with
Paso Robles-grown grenache blanc,
offered at just $30/bottle in the
recently opened Paso Robles tasting
room.
“PasoSecco was
a two-year re-
search project
and labor of
love for me,
as I abso-
lutely adore
bubbles
and felt like
there were
not enough
everyday
sparkling wines
available in Paso
Robles. Our mission was
to capture Portofino cool and Palm
Springs chic in a wine that’s always
perpetually Paso, and I think we’ve
nailed that with PasoSecco. We are
‘The Best Bubbles in Paso’ and look
forward to having everyone come
into our new downtown tasting
room and taste it,” said Kern.
The project began when Kern
was doing research for a winery
client. When the client opted not
to move forward, Kern continued
his research, found investors, and
launched the business. To round out
his team, he hired Elizabeth Kuhle-
mann as winemaker. Kuhlemann
came highly recommended and
added the winemaking skills that
Kern was lacking in addition to a
female palate and perspective.
To help define the brand’s style,
winemakers and investors tasted
47 Charmat-style sparkling wines
before launching the first sparkling
‘The Best Bubbles
in Paso’
wine made follow-
ing the Charmat
method with Paso
Robles grapes.
Charmat method
sparkling wines tend
to be fruitier and are
fermented for a shorter time.
The bubbles are typically larger
and brighter than the bubbles in
traditional method wines – a style
that Kern feels will be very popular
at his $30 price point.
A portion of the first release
of 520 cases, in November 2023,
was allocated to Paso Robles
restaurants, wine bars, and hotels.
Popular businesses such as Jeffry’s
Wine Country BBQ, The Hatch,
Vine 13 Wine Shop, and Allegretto
Resort continue to offer PasoSecco
to their customers.
Kern opened his tasting room
this May on the corner of Pine and
13th streets in downtown Paso
Robles. The space is shared with
Dracaena Wines and a taste of
PasoSecco can be added to their
tasting for just $5. Kern envisions
most guests enjoying PasoSecco
by the glass or bottle and will soon
be adding elevated mimosas to his
tasting room offering. On Saturday
and Sunday mornings, guests can
enjoy his mimosa play on classic
cocktails such as the cosmo, tequila
sunrise, and mai tai – all made with
PasoSecco. With the tasting room
now open, PasoSecco is expand-
ing its SecCommunity wine club,
launching events, and expanding its
product offering. Additional wines
will be added to the offering includ-
ing a rosé, called CinSecco, made
with cinsault grapes this fall. To get
the full scoop, stop by the tasting
room where you will likely find
Kern behind the bar happy to share
his story and plans for the future.
PasoSecco is located at 1244
Pine St. in Paso Robles. Open Friday
1-7 p.m., Saturday 9 a.m.-7 p.m.,
and Sunday 9 a.m.-5 p.m. For more
information visit pasosecco.com, or
call (805) 229-1667
— Lisa Pretty
Established Mom & Pop Winery!
CELEBRATING OUR 29TH ANNIVERSARY
HWY 101
San Marcos Rd.
24th St.
Nacimiento Lake Dr.
N
I
Mahoney
Drake
7340 Drake Road, Paso Robles
(805) 467-2138
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