Visit this award-winning winery for an illuminating Paso Robles experience

—When it comes to delivering an unforgettable wine-tasting experience, nobody does it better than the folks at Opolo Vineyards. Founded by friends Rick Quinn and David Nichols in 1999, Opolo recently celebrated 25 years of estate winemaking in Paso Robles, and two generations are now actively involved in the family-owned winery,

Located in the acclaimed Willow Creek District in the westside coastal mountains, Opolo offers a range of tasting experiences from casual to curated—all with expansive patio seating and stunning vineyard views.

Here, you can experience Opolo’s most popular and coveted wines, including limited-edition bottlings from the Opolo Reserve Collection. You can choose to sample wines in the traditional indoor tasting room or enjoy a seated tableside guided tasting. Also consider the new “Ultimate Estate Tour” offered April through November, which includes a tour around the estate vineyard, a curated Opolo Reserve tasting flight and delectable food pairings.

Menu offerings include wood-fired pizzas, gourmet sausages, and seasonal salads. On top of that, Opolo’s affiliated Willow Creek Distillery offers its on-site tasting room that is always a hit with enthusiasts of artisan whiskey, brandy, and liqueur.

Opolo is renowned for its flagship Opolo Mountain Zinfandel as well as its acclaimed cabernet sauvignons 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.

Friendly and knowledgeable

With its friendly and knowledgeable tasting room staff, Opolo has garnered a reputation for providing exceptional hospitality and service to visitors and locals alike. The owners 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. 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.”

“We offer one of the most diverse and immersive tasting experiences in Paso Robles,” 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.”

Sustainable Quality

Opolo is an avid practitioner of sustainable farming, and the estate vineyards are SIP (Sustainability in Practice) Certified, one of the most stringent programs of its kind.

Winemaker James Schreiner and assistant winemaker Skye Bruce 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 for zinfandel, cabernet sauvignon, and other Bordeaux and Rhône varieties. On the east side, the warmth and dryness combine to create an ideal microclimate for growing petite sirah, tempranillo, sangiovese, and others.

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.

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 period, Opolo has perfected its trademark Mountain Zinfandel style: rich, bold, fruit-forward and always lively through the finish. Another must-try is the Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve from the winery’s Willow Creek District estate vineyards—dense and sumptuous, showing seamless layers of black cherry, plum, tobacco and black olive with accents of mineral, vanilla and baking spice.

Wine club, events, lodging, and more

Opolo’s special events, including quarterly wine club parties, are famous for delivering fun, festivity, and memories. Keep an eye out 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 for major holidays, 10 a.m.- 5 p.m. Reservations are recommended. For more information visit opolo.com or call (805) 238-9593.