WILD WINES INCLUDE ZIN AT VINTAGE PASO

            The Paso Robles Wine Country Alliance kicks off its annual event offerings with a weekend event, March 14-16. Keying on the 2013 designation by Wine Enthusiast magazine as the "Wine Region of the Year", this should be a crowd drawing kick off to the tasting and winery event fest season. Over 120 local producers will be taking part and offering a variety of special dining, entertainment and rolling out a new vintage in the bottle or still in the barrel.

Check out the full details, including an on line version of the brochure (www.pasowine.com) and use the handy tools to help you find lodging and plan your tour route. For your iPhone, you can download the PasoWineApp for even more suggestions, including local restaurants. For area residents, the print version of the brochure is available at most PRWCA member wineries. In either version, you will see all participating wineries and their specific plans for each day of the weekend event from Friday through Sunday.

If you are coming from out of town, or entertaining friends locally, there are a variety of transportation options from a hired driver for your own vehicle to vans or actual busses. It is never too early to make a reservation if some form of designated driver is in order.

PASO CHAPTER HOSTS RHONE RANGERS EVENT

            The Central Coast is a hot bed of wines made from the many varietals that are made into wines from France's Rhone River Valley. Paso Robles boasts the largest chapter of the Rhone Rangers organization with about four dozen members who will offer a day long combination of education, dining and tasting on Sunday, February 16. The site is Broken Earth winery on East Highway 46. Details are available on line (pasorobles.rhonerangers.com).

A seminar on Rhone Essentials will start the day at 10:30, tickets are $85 and include the education, lunch to follow and the main tasting event. Tasting only tickets are also available for $35 and can be purchased on line. The seminar/lunch is limited (200 tickets) and has consistently sold out well in advance. The seminar will show nine major wine types with wine makers from as many wineries presenting information on various varietal and blended wines from seven or more of the grape types grown in the Paso Robles area.

Lunch is catered by well respected "Chef Jeff" (Scott), a popular local vendor who does many winery dining events throughout the year. Winemakers, owners and managers will participate in passing around a variety of local Rhone style offerings to match with the food and dining with the attendees.

The main tasting, featuring approximately 150 wines, begins at 1:30 and is capped at 400 tickets, meaning 200 available after the seminar participants are included. If you like Rhone wines, that should be your call to immediate action! The tasting includes a silent auction and ends at 3:30. Rhone Rangers is a non-profit and the sales support their scholarship fund.

Paso Robles Wine Country Alliance Sets Fest Dates

Here are the dates to mark on your calendar for this year's schedule of Paso Robles Wine Country events:

Vintage Paso: Zinfandel and other Wild Wines, March 14 - 16
Enjoy a zinful weekend with activities including winemaker dinners, exclusive Zinfandel tastings, winery and vineyard tours and so much more!

Wine Festival, May 16 - 18
This marquee tasting event offers the opportunity to taste Paso Robles wine in the charming Downtown City Park, complemented by local epicurean delights.

Harvest Wine Weekend, October 17-19

Wineries celebrate the beginning of the new vintage by inviting you to their individual events that are as diverse as the wines themselves.