Cookaholics Bulletin Board

Possibly the single best small producer in Paso Robles, CA is Tobin James. We dropped by the winery last week and I found myself enrolled in the wine club without intending to. Too many tastes, I think.

All of the wines I've had from Tobin James have ranged from pretty good to superb. Particularly, I'm enchanted by the LaGrein, a varietal which I normally see only in the Italian Alps. Tobin James produces the only pure LaGrein wine in the USA; it's a hearty, rich-main-course wine which is perfect for winter holiday meals. Stock up!

The other lovely thing about the winery is its brash unpretentiousness. The winery itself is done up in cast-off movie sets to look like a Wild West town, and has an actual 1860's western bar installed. The wine club is called "the James Gang" (and offers discounts of up to 50% off retail), and Tobin James' economical blend is called "Chateau Le Cacheflo" ($12) (try pronouncing it).

Other good wineries in Paso Robles: Peachy Canyon (with some wines better than others) and Vina Robles (very good table wines). Winery Justin is the award-winner of the region, and produces excellent wines, but be prepared to pay dearly for them ($60+).

Do you know the names of the people who own these wineries? A woman I knew in HS and her husband have a winery there. Who would have thought of Paso Robles as wine country? (I got the worst sunburn of my life at Lake Naciemento.)

KSS,

Nope, but Google does:

Tobin James is of course owned by Toby James.

Vina Robles: Hans Nef

Peachy Canyon: Doug and Nancy Beckett

Justin: Justin and Deborah Baldwin

OK, guess I should have gotten that one.....the people I knew are named Shorr.

You sure it's not "Shore"? Bob and Tanis. They own Arroyo Robles winery.

Yep. That's them. Sorry for the typo. Is their wine any good?

No idea. Haven't had it.