Posted on April 12, 2012
If you have ever been to Hearst Castle in San Simeon, California, you may have noticed the tasting room of Hearst Ranch Winery on Highway 1 – across from the Hearst Castle Visitor Center. This is where I began my tasting journey one afternoon on a recent visit to Paso Robles and I know why it was awarded Winery of the Year in the 2011 Central Coast Wine Competition.
Owners Steve Hearst and Jim Saunders house their tasting room inside the historic Sebastian’s General Store which has a perfect lunch menu for pre- or post-wine tasting (order the grilled cheese sandwich and ask the lovelies in the kitchen to add grilled veges- wow!). Wines produced in the the vineyard many of which are offered for tasting include Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, a Rhone style white blend and red blend, Rose, Tempranillo, Cabernet Franc, Malbec, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Petite Sirah, and a Late Harvest Zinfandel. The winery itself is located on 7310 North River Road in Paso Robles so if the tasting room on Highway 1 is not enough for you, check out the winery which currently grows Syrah, Petite Sirah, Petite Verdot, Malbec, and Tempranillo grapes.
Of note are the big plans for the winery which include their first Estate Vineyard located at the Hearst Ranch in San Simeon! Visitors will be able to enjoy the Hillside Vineyards as they make their way to the Hearst Castle. I’m definitely looking forward to this!!
Several weeks ago, my daughter, Stephanie, and a friend attended a tasting at the winery and fell in love with the 2009 Three Sisters Cuvee White Blend. My review from her reporting follows…
***2009 Three Sisters Cuvee White - Consisting of 40% Marsanne, 40% Grenache Blanc, and 20% Roussanne grapes, this wine is something I will savor when I visit the winery in the Paso Robles AVA in March. This is a “made in the USA” example of a Rhone white which I loved at the recent Chateauneuf du Pape tasting in Chicago. With aromas of peach, orange blossom, violet and some minerality, Stephanie mentioned that it showed stone fruits such as apricot and mango on the palate along with refreshingly high acidity. The price was $18.00 and she enjoyed the wine after her hiking trip in the Big Sur!
Once I finally tasted this wine, I loved the blend of Marsanne, Grenache Blanc, and Roussanne – fantastic enough to purchase a bottle to take home to Chicago!
But, the other wines we tasted were…
2008 Three Sisters Red Blend
2009 Tempranillo
2009 Merlot
2009 Cabernet Sauvignon
2007 Late Harvest Zinfandel
Not only are the wines terrific, but what is memorable about the tasting room at Hearst Ranch Winery is that there is such a camaraderie amongst the people. In the tasting room, guests were having lunch or a light snack while enjoying their wine. People were talking, mingling, just having fun. My daughter and I met a friendly young man who had just turned 21 years and his aunt sent him in to the tasting room for his “first taste” (yeah, right!) while she waited outside with the dog and a glass of wine~ And while enjoying lunch on the deck, we chatted with locals, travellers, and others who just wanted to relax, have some delicious wine, and share their experiences of life! One couple was considering purchasing a second home in Cambria (which is aboaut ten miles south) and they frequently remarked on how much fun they were having talking about local events and attractions with everyone on the deck…and yes, savoring the wine, too!
So, sorry if I’m not giving you enough tasting notes today! Be sure to check out the website!! But sometimes, ”grape experiences” have just as much to do with the emotional piece of visiting a winery as the wines themselves. Trust me, you’ll love many of the selections at Hearst Ranch Winery’s tasting room…and you are guaranteed to have a terrific lunch with lots of laughter on the deck as well! Put this on your must-see/taste list!!
Cheers!! ~ Cindy
Tags: grenache blanc, marsanne, roussanne
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