Paso Wine Fest — Paso Robles Weekend

Paso Wine Fest opened on Friday, May 15, with Paired Paso at the Paso Robles Event Center, starting a three-day wine weekend organized by the Paso Robles Wine Country Alliance. The official festival schedule lists Paired Paso on Friday evening, the Grand Tasting on Saturday afternoon and Sparkling Paso on Sunday morning. Paso Wine, the alliance’s consumer brand, says the weekend is built around local wineries, culinary pairings and tasting events across Paso Robles Wine Country. ### What is on the schedule this weekend in Paso Robles? Friday, May 15, begins with Paired Paso from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at the Paso Robles Event Center, according to the official event listing. Paso Wine says wineries and “celebrated chefs” are teamed up for paired bites and wines, and that attendees and a judging panel vote on the combinations. Saturday, May 16, brings the Grand Tasting from noon to 4:30 p.m. at the Paso Robles Event Center. (pasowine.com) Sunday, May 17, closes the weekend with Sparkling Paso from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Paris Valley Road Estate Winery, the alliance’s main-events page says. ### How many wineries are taking part? The Grand Tasting is set to feature more than 120 Paso Robles wineries, according to Paso Wine’s event page. (pasowine.com) A separate wineries page repeats that more than 120 wineries will be pouring, alongside local craft spirit producers. Travel Paso, the destination marketing organization for the city, describes Paso Wine Fest as a four-day celebration running May 14-17 and says more than 100 area producers participate across the broader festival period. (pasowine.com) That listing also says the weekend includes winery-hosted special events in addition to the named headline gatherings. ### What does a ticket include at the Grand Tasting? (pasowine.com) Saturday’s Grand Tasting is priced at $135 to $250, the official event page says. Paso Wine says general admission runs from 1 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., while VIP entry starts at noon and includes early access. The Grand Tasting page says the ticket includes a commemorative wine glass, complimentary culinary bites, live entertainment and access to artisan vendors, with additional food available for purchase. (travelpaso.com) The site also says guests may bring picnics, blankets and low-back chairs. ### Is VIP still available? Paso Wine’s Grand Tasting page says VIP was sold out as of the page version crawled on May 15. (pasowine.com) The separate VIP page describes the early-entry pass as including a VIP lounge, exclusive wines, oysters by Grace & Rose, charcuterie by Alba Provisions, sweets from Leo Leo Gelato and a tote bag from Travel Paso. The sold-out notice applies to VIP early entry for Saturday’s Grand Tasting. (pasowine.com) The official materials reviewed did not indicate that general admission was sold out. ### Where is the festival taking place? The Paso Robles Event Center is the main site for Friday’s Paired Paso and Saturday’s Grand Tasting, according to the official schedule. Sunday’s Sparkling Paso is listed at Paris Valley Road Estate Winery. (pasowine.com) Travel Paso says the annual festival was moved to the Paso Robles Event Center after several years in downtown Paso Robles park space. (pasowine.com) Its event description says the current format includes live music, artisan vendors and distilled spirits alongside wine tasting. ### What comes after opening night? Sunday, May 17, is the next named milestone on the official schedule, with Sparkling Paso scheduled from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Paris Valley Road Estate Winery. (pasowine.com) Paso Wine says the event centers on brunch-time sparkling wine and bites, and tickets and event details are posted on the festival pages. (pasowine.com) (travelpaso.com)