Justin Vineyards, Paso Robles

On the central coast of California in the wine region of Paso Robles sits the 160-acre family owned and operated Justin Vineyards and Winery. Established in 1981, the property’s mission is, “To belong in the company of the finest wines in the world.” Justin Vineyards prime focus is mostly on Bordeaux style blends but produces a wide variety of other styles.

Lead by a knowledgeable and friendly staff, the Justin Tasting Room is open daily from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. with an excellent selection of wine to enjoy while taking in the beautiful countryside scenery. Justin Vineyard’s has produced a variety of wines over the years including their most popular, Isosceles; a red blend that has achieved critical acclaim. Isosceles is a rich and aromatic blend with dark fruit of black cherry, cassis, exotic licorice, cinnamon and vanilla spice.

Justification is another of the vineyard’s red blends. Flavors of red fruits, peppery spices and herbs are infused in this Cabernet Franc- Merlot wine. In an effort not to be typecast as just a Bordeaux-styled winery, Justin produced Focus, a Syrah-based blend. The limited production wine combines smoky, ripe black fruit, black peppercorn, meat and leather notes from blackberry and boysenberry fruits.

Throughout the wine tasting experience we learned how to properly consume each glass. The features of each type of wine and the distinct flavors were explained along with the production methods. Justin Vineyard’s is one of the longest standing wineries in the state and the staff truly emphasizes their passion for wine.

With an abundance of wine consumed, eating is the next logical step. The Restaurant at Justin offers a wine and food experience from Executive Chef Will Torres. Local ingredients are combined to create a seasonal menu for lunch, brunch and dinner. A five-course dinner with a five course wine pairing is an option for those planning to stay at the Inn on the vineyard. For lunch, the winter menu is rather short but packs plenty of appetizing dishes to be paired with signature Justin blends. The Colorado Lamb Osso Bucco with Carnarolli Risotto, Brussels Sprouts, Root Vegetables and Orange Gremolata combine perfectly with one of their signature Cabernets.

Although the road to Justin Vineyards and Winery is a long journey with rough terrain, it is worth every minute to discover the beauty of this California gem in the region of Paso Robles.