My Article: I Like the Extremes in Paso Robles

The high today in Paso Robles, Calif., is expected to be close to 103 Fahrenheit, but the low at night will be about 53. That’s 50 degrees difference! But I like those figures.

I think that wine regions that have such extremes make extremely interesting wines. Obviously, Tuscany first comes to mind with the temperature difference. I know the region well after living there for more than 13 years. The fresh and cool nights during the summer maintain the acidity in the grapes to give you ripe and rich wines that are fresh and firm – and seldom jammy and flat.

I am finding the same thing in the wines from Paso Robles, according to blind tastings I have been doing at my office in Los Angeles as well as recent visits to the region. Yesterday, I did a video and tasting at Tablas Creek Vineyards and today I am going Saxum, L’Aventure, and Barrel 27. Then it’s down to Santa Barbara County.

Photo: Temperatures differ greatly from day to night in Saxum’s Boon Rock Vineyard.