California Wine Country

Cass Winery: Wine & Food Pairings

Cass .. Paso Robles

Setting up a tour of the Paso Robles AVA with The Wine Wrangler opens up a world of choices for tasting the region’s panoply of varietal wines.

Cass Wine Tasting Room

On my personalized tour with Coy Barnes who operates The Wine Wrangler with finesse, a visit to Cass Vineyards & Winery placed high on my wish list. Cass being one of the only area wineries where wine and food

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Foodie Havens

Thomas Hill Organics: Farm to Table Flavorful!

Thomas Hill Organics Graphic Photo: Alice Joyce

It’s the rare occasion when a meal surpasses my expectations in every way, but lunch at Thomas Hill Organics qualifies. The dishes were so memorable that I returned the next evening for dinner. The owners’ discerning taste extends to the bistro’s graphic design sensibility, while the ambiance of the covered dining patio is a relaxed and inviting space. The Wine Wrangler, Coy Barnes provided my introduction to the eatery presided over by Joe and Debbie Thomas – with a menu based on the fresh organic produce grown on their Paso Robles farm. Coy put together an itinerary that called for a satisfying mid-day meal between our morning and afternoon winery visits. A confident, flavorful melding of ingredients emerged in each outstanding dish.

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Foodie Havens

Paso Robles Prospects

Thomas Hill Organics [Photo: Alice Joyce]

During an all-too-brief trip to bask in the low-key ambiance of summertime in Paso Robles, I enjoyed the pleasures of palate-tingling wine tastings and foodie havens deserving of lavish accolades. In addition to meandering on my own, I explored the region for two full days with Coy Barnes of The Wine Wrangler, a knowledgeable, resourceful tour guide who put together an itinerary encompassing wine and food pairings at Cass Vineyard & Winery, wine tasting at Le Vigne Winery – where winemaker Jac Jacobs treated us to enticing barrel tastings, and an unforgettable tour of the historic Ancient Peaks Winery Santa Margarita Ranch, in the company of co-owner Doug Filippoini.

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