Sip on wine in a rustic, charming environment with friendly owners

—Oaktree canopies along the road make the journey feel like a fairytale storybook. The destination reveals a cellar that embraces a simpler time when the focus was solely on the wine.

Hats off to the smaller wineries, who flourish amidst the big box billionaires and succeed at producing stellar vintages off the sweat of their brow. Kiamie Wine Cellars is just that and it’s their humble and rural experience which brings you back to nature. Their tasting room is set apart from others, and they use old world and cutting edge winemaking techniques. Kiamie Cellars is a small producer of uncompromised quality artisanal wines.

Taste the various unique blends that the West side of Paso Robles has to offer.  If you wander long enough into wine country you should end up on Adelaida Rd. where the rustic wineries are hidden between larger corporate wineries, all interwoven across the beautiful rolling hillsides. Grapes grown in this region are low yielding, exquisite and unique. Delight in one of their distinguished blends grown from the highly coveted Adelaida and Templeton gap sub-appellations. This small part of the AVA has exceptional wines made from fruit sourced within a 2-mile radius.

Friendly owners Greg and Aram run Kiamie Wine Cellars, a boutique winery creating award-winning wines and killer Bordeaux blends.  Aram Deirmenjian and Greg Johnson grew up sharing an enthusiasm for wine. Deirmenjian had experience working on his family’s vineyards and loved helping out with the harvest every summer. Johnson, the grandson of NY real estate mogul Sam Kiamie, first became interested in wine as a young college student, eventually leaving school to pursue his love of wine. He landed at a New York wine shop full time and had an immersive lifestyle where he learned all he could about wine. Johnson’s planning took him to the other side of the country where all of the best wines originate-in California. Greg convinced his friend and associate Aram to join him in the adventure, and they fell in love with the scenery of Paso Robles, specifically, the Adelaida area.

Kiamie’s winemaker Adam Bauman is highly regarded locally for his wines seamlessly melting finesse, power, and elegance in each of Kiamie’s exceptional blends. Having spent over 20 years working within the Adelaida District, his knowledge and experience in the area are undoubtedly unique. Get in touch with the land, and see where the wine is made. This Spring, expect to see some exciting new releases of Rosé and white Rhones. Johnson said, “The tasting room is surrounded by 90 acres of cabernet, it is very old school Paso, very rustic. Taste the flavorful depth of our Bordeaux and Rhone blends in the middle of nature. Our wine speaks for itself, and we would put our wines up against anyone’s, anytime.” Wines are made on-site, and many of them are well-received, winning gold medals and getting 90+ scores.

Insightful and caring owners Greg and Aram love to share stories and talk wine. Have a fun visit with their resident goat, pet the dogs, and sip the wines on their outdoor patio, where table service is included. Experience the intimate, warm tasting room inside, and delight in Kiamie’s seductively rich vintages with excellent company. Savor a glass of one of Paso’s finest Kuvees in what used to be an old tack room for horses. “We are always very engaging with visitors and love educating them and sharing fun stories. You’re sure to fall into a great crowd here, and being this far out in the hills the people that come looking for boutique wines are great folk,” said Johnson.

Rejoice in the relaxation and experience everything that is mellow, rustic, and dark. Take in the warm accents of wood, an old stove, and near-perfect atmosphere that embodies everything that Paso wine stands for. The wine, the experience, and the company are exclusive to just this one special place on earth. Kiamie’s wines have a truly distinctive blend of flavors and complexity. Savor a hint of warm spice and earthy fruity plum.

Kiamie Wine Cellars is located at 9750 Adelaida Rd. Paso Robles. Open daily from 11 a.m.- 5 p.m. For more information, visit www.kiamiewines.com or call (805)226-8333.

-Cassandra Frey