Pinot tasting panel will exploring sub-appellations

–The Paso Pinot Producers will offer a brand-new event this year in addition to the 13th Annual Pinot & Paella Festival – a pinot noir tasting panel. This event will give pinot fans an in-depth look at how and where pinot noir is grown in Paso Robles. Discover why Paso Robles can produce such varied varietals, and why pinot noir is thriving here.

Chris Taranto of the Paso Robles Wine Country Alliance will discuss the newly-defined sub-appellations of Paso Robles, and how wine is affected by differences in terroir. Attendees will sample pinot noir from several districts including Willow Creek, Templeton Gap, Adelaida, El Pomar, York Mountain and Santa Margarita. With each pinot, the winemakers and wine growers who created them will discuss the unique challenges and opportunities each sub-appellation offers.

This event will be held Saturday morning June 4 from 11 a.m – 12:30 p.m. at Castoro Cellars in Paso Robles. Tickets to this Saturday Tasting Panel are $40 and are sold separately from Sunday’s Pinot & Paella main event. Seating is limited.

Only 100 tickets are still available for Sunday’s main event, the 13th Annual Pinot & Paella Festival. Returning this year to the Templeton City Park on Sunday June 5 are an array of Paso pinots, unique paella dishes from some of the Central Coast’s top chefs, and live Spanish-beat music by returning fan-favorites, Incendio. All wineries donate their wine, and the chefs donate their time and ingredients for this event. Ticket sales have donated over $350,000 to programs that support youth arts in San Luis Obispo County, primarily the Paso Robles Youth Arts Foundation. Tickets for Sunday’s event are $75 and include a souvenir Burgundy-style fine wine glass, endless tastes of 20 Paso Pinot Noirs paired with a wide variety of paellas, live music by Incendio. The festivities take place in the Templeton Park under the shade of giant oak trees. Blankets & lawn chairs welcome.