Where Wine Takes You - A Paso Wine Podcast

Ep 164: Exploring the Creston District Sub AVA – Featuring Ella’s Vineyard | Defiance Vineyard

🍇 Where Wine Takes You – Episode Highlights 🍷 In this episode of Where Wine Takes You, Adam heads east into one of Paso Robles’ most quietly compelling sub-AVAs, the Creston District. It’s a place that doesn’t shout for attention, but once you find it, it sticks with you. Adam sits down with Erin Faulkner, co-owner of Defiance Vineyard, and Josh Morris, owner and winemaker of Ella’s Vineyard, two producers carving out their own identities in a part of Paso defined by elevation, wind, and independence. Erin shares the story behind Defiance, a true family-built operation that started from raw land and evolved into a Bordeaux-focused program rooted in intention and individuality. Josh brings a different lens with Ella’s Vineyard, leaning into Italian varietals, concrete fermentation, and a hospitality-driven experience that reflects both precision and personality. Together, the conversation dives into what makes Creston different, not just in terroir, but in mindset. A place where winemakers aren’t following a template, they’re building their own. Later in the show, Adam shifts from quiet vineyard hills to center stage, catching up with Manuel Barba from the Vina Robles Amphitheatre. They talk about the upcoming concert season, evolving guest experiences, and why this venue continues to be one of the most unique places to see a show on the Central Coast. 🍷 FEATURED GUESTS & WINERIES Defiance Vineyard • Website: https://www.defiancevineyard.com/ • IG: https://www.instagram.com/defiancevineyard/ Ella’s Vineyard • Website: https://www.ellasvineyard.com/ • IG: https://www.instagram.com/ellasvineyard Learn more about the Creston District AVA • https://pasowine.com/creston-district-2/ • https://paso.guides.winefolly.com/regions/ 🌐 PASO WINE WIRE Opolo Vineyards Releases Second Vintage of Vranac America’s only varietal bottling of this bold Balkan grape returns with its 2022 vintage, a unique Paso take on a Montenegrin classic. 🔗 https://www.winebusiness.com/news/article/315639 Solterra Strategies & Sensorio Win Visit California Poppy Award A major win for local storytelling and tourism marketing, highlighting Paso’s growing presence on a statewide stage. 🔗 https://www.winebusiness.com/news/article/315619 Halter Ranch Earns Glyphosate Residue Free Certification A first for Paso Robles, signaling a deeper push toward transparency and sustainability in the vineyard and in the bottle. 🔗 https://www.winebusiness.com/news/article/315631 🌅 TRAVEL PASO SPOTLIGHT Vina Robles Amphitheatre One of the Central Coast’s premier live music venues, offering an intimate, high-quality concert experience right in the heart of wine country. Website: https://www.vinaroblesamphitheatre.com • IG: https://www.instagram.com/vinaroblesamphitheatre   🎉 PASO WINE FEST WEEKEND MAY 15-17 Paso Wine Fest and Paired Paso One of the region’s premier events featuring winemakers and chefs, including Adam as a judge https://pasowine.com/consumer_events/paired-paso/ Sparkling Paso A must for bubble lovers, showcasing sparkling wines from across the region https://pasowine.com/consumer_events/sparkling-paso/ 🎯 Plan your next Paso Robles getaway at travelpaso.com 🎧 Subscribe & Follow Love Where Wine Takes You? Leave a review, subscribe, and share it with a fellow wine (or Paso) lover. 🎙️ Credits Executive Producer: Joel Peterson + Paso Wine Associate Producer: Krista Smith Recorded, edited, hosted by Adam Montiel Follow Adam: @AdamOnTheAir Explore all things Adam: AdamMontiel.com Listen to Adam’s other shows: Up + Adam (daily) and The Pour (wine & more, travel, culture) Learn more, connect, or say hey at AdamMontiel.com/connect 🎵 Original music by Moonshiner Collective 📱 Download the Paso Wine App 🍷 Plan your trip at PasoWine.com and follow @PasoWine 🎯 Plan your next Paso Robles getaway at travelpaso.com 🎧 Subscribe & Follow If you love Where Wine Takes You, make sure to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with your favorite wine or Paso lover.  ©2026 Where Wine Takes You, All Rights Reserved.  

Ep 163: Atascadero: Paso Wine’s Next Scene – Featuring Marin’s Vineyard | Ruby Cellars

🍇 Where Wine Takes You Episode Highlights 🍷 In this episode, Adam heads just south of Paso Robles into Atascadero, a town that is quickly becoming one of the most exciting new pockets of the Central Coast wine scene. Adam sits down with Ryan Kirkpatrick of Ruby Cellars and Marin Wolgamott of Marin’s Vineyard, two winemakers with very different paths but a shared belief in what Atascadero is becoming. Ryan, born and raised in Atascadero, brings a family legacy forward while evolving Ruby Cellars into a more expressive, story-driven brand. His work spans Bordeaux blends, experimental wines, and a growing passion for dessert wines that continues to shape the winery’s future. Marin, a rising winemaker and entrepreneur, is building something uniquely her own. From her aromatic Viognier-based pét-nat to a welcoming tasting room that reflects her personality and perspective, her approach is intentional, fresh, and deeply personal. Together, they represent a new wave of Paso-adjacent energy rooted in community, creativity, and a willingness to take risks. Later in the show, Adam connects with David Morneau of Paso Robles Inn, diving into the transformation of this historic property. The conversation explores the reopening of Cattlemen’s Bar, the upcoming rooftop concept Salina, and a new restaurant called The Pass created in collaboration with Chef Charlie Palmer. 🌐 PASO WINE WIRE (WHAT’S HAPPENING NOW) Calcareous Vineyard celebrates 25 years A major milestone for one of Paso’s iconic estates. The winery is marking the occasion with a renovated tasting room, elevated hospitality, and a full calendar of events throughout the year. It’s a reminder that Paso’s early visionaries are still pushing forward. 🔗 https://pasoroblesdailynews.com/winery-celebrates-25-years-with-tasting-room-renovation/218561/ Firestone Walker releases Sunglider Golden Lager This new seasonal beer is more than just a crisp, easy drinker. It highlights California-grown ingredients and the brewery’s sustainability efforts, from solar energy to water recycling. A look at how Central Coast producers are thinking long-term. 🔗 https://pasoroblesdailynews.com/firestone-walker-releases-new-sunglider-golden-lager-brewed-with-california-barley/218546/ Lohr refreshes its Seven Oaks Cabernet One of the most recognizable Paso wines gets a label update that puts Paso Robles front and center. It reflects how far the region has come, from a growing area to a nationally recognized Cabernet destination. 🔗 https://www.winebusiness.com/news/article/315407 🍷 FEATURED IN THIS EPISODE Ruby Cellars https://rubycellars.com Instagram https://www.instagram.com/rubycellars/ Marin’s Vineyard https://www.marinsvineyard.com/ Instagram https://www.instagram.com/marinsvineyard/ 🏨 TRAVEL PASO SPOTLIGHT Paso Robles Inn A historic property in the heart of downtown Paso undergoing a major transformation, including new culinary concepts and refreshed guest experiences. https://pasoroblesinn.com/ Cattlemen’s Bar A revived local institution rooted in Paso’s ranching history. Think strong drinks, community energy, and a true Central Coast vibe. https://www.cattlemenspaso.com/ 🎉 PASO WINE FEST WEEKEND MAY 15-17 Paso Wine Fest and Paired Paso One of the region’s premier events featuring winemakers and chefs, including Adam as a judge https://pasowine.com/consumer_events/paired-paso/ Sparkling Paso A must for bubble lovers, showcasing sparkling wines from across the region https://pasowine.com/consumer_events/sparkling-paso/ 🎯 Plan your next Paso Robles getaway at travelpaso.com 🎧 Subscribe & Follow Love Where Wine Takes You? Leave a review, subscribe, and share it with a fellow wine (or Paso) lover. 🎙️ Credits Executive Producer: Joel Peterson + Paso Wine Associate Producer: Krista Smith Recorded, edited, hosted by Adam Montiel Follow Adam: @AdamOnTheAir Explore all things Adam: AdamMontiel.com Listen to Adam’s other shows: Up + Adam (daily) and The Pour (wine & more, travel, culture) Learn more, connect, or say hey at AdamMontiel.com/connect 🎵 Original music by Moonshiner Collective 📱 Download the Paso Wine App 🍷 Plan your trip at PasoWine.com and follow @PasoWine 🎯 Plan your next Paso Robles getaway at travelpaso.com 🎧 Subscribe & Follow If you love Where Wine Takes You, make sure to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with your favorite wine or Paso lover.  ©2026 Where Wine Takes You, All Rights Reserved.  

Ep 162: Wine Country for Everyone: Family Friendly Wineries – Featuring Glunz Family Winery | Dark Star Cellars

🍇 Where Wine Takes You – Episode Highlights 🍷 In this episode of Where Wine Takes You, Adam Montiel sits down with Michael Emlie of Dark Star Cellars and brothers Matt and Steve Glunz of Glunz Family Winery & Cellars for a conversation about something Paso Robles does especially well, family-friendly wine country. Recorded at Lobro Studios, the conversation flows the way great wine conversations should, with glasses on the table, stories in the air, and a few laughs along the way. Michael Emlie shares the classic Paso story of how a longtime Los Angeles attorney fell in love with Paso Robles while visiting for Wine Fest and eventually traded courtrooms for barrels when he purchased Dark Star Cellars. Over a decade later, Dark Star remains one of Paso’s most relaxed and welcoming spots, a place where guests can enjoy great wine while kids, dogs, and friends all feel right at home. Adam is also joined by Matt and Steve Glunz, part of a family wine legacy that stretches back to 1888 Chicago, when their ancestor Louis Glunz opened a wine and spirits shop that would eventually grow into one of the country’s longest-running family wine businesses. Today the brothers continue that legacy in Paso Robles, producing wines at Glunz Family Winery & Cellars, located along Highway 46 East just outside town. Together, the group explores the idea that Paso Robles wine country can be both world-class and welcoming, where incredible wines, heritage vineyards, and family-owned wineries coexist with picnic tables, dogs underfoot, and kids running around the property. Later in the show, Adam connects with Corey Jordan, founder of Libretto, an intimate live music venue in downtown Paso Robles that has quickly become a cultural gem in wine country. Corey shares the story behind Libretto’s incredible Steinway concert grand piano, the world-class musicians performing in the space, and the upcoming inaugural Paso Robles Jazz Festival, a three-day event that will bring Grammy-winning jazz artists to Paso and culminate with a spectacular performance at Sensorio’s Field of Lights. 🍷 Featured Guests • Dark Star Cellars – Paso Robles https://www.darkstarcellars.com/ Instagram: @darkstarcellars • Glunz Family Winery & Cellars – Paso Robles https://www.glunzfamilywinery.com/ Instagram: @glunzfamilywinery 🌴 Travel Paso Spotlight • Libretto – Live Music Venue https://www.librettopaso.com/ Instagram: @librettopaso • Paso Robles Jazz Festival (Inaugural 2026) https://www.pasoroblesjazzfest.com/ 🌐 Paso Wine Wire 46 West Revives Paso Zinfandel Festival The wineries of 46 West are bringing back Zinfest Weekend, celebrating Paso’s heritage grape with a grand tasting at Castoro Cellars and events throughout the weekend. Tickets & Info: https://my805tix.com/e/zinfest-weekend-2026 https://46west.wine/ McPrice Myers Wines Launches Student Tasting Program College students 21+ can now enjoy a $10 tasting flight — helping open the door for the next generation of wine lovers and industry professionals. Read more: https://pasoroblesdailynews.com/paso-robles-winery-launches-discounted-tastings-for-college-students/218705/ California Mid-State Fair Opens Home Brewing & Winemaking Competitions Local makers can enter beer, cider, perry, and wine for judging as part of the fair’s long-running traditions. Details: https://pasoroblesdailynews.com/california-mid-state-fair-opens-entries-for-home-brewing-competitions/218482/ Remembering Jake Beckett of Peachy Canyon Winery A moving tribute from writer R.H. Drexel honoring the life and legacy of Jake Beckett. Read the piece: https://jebdunnuck.com/2026/03/r-h-drexel-a-wise-man-makes-his-own-luck-remembering-jake-beckett-of-peachy-canyon-winery/ 🎯 Plan your next Paso Robles getaway at travelpaso.com 🎧 Subscribe & Follow Love Where Wine Takes You? Leave a review, subscribe, and share it with a fellow wine (or Paso) lover. 🎙️ Credits Executive Producer: Joel Peterson + Paso Wine Associate Producer: Krista Smith Recorded, edited, hosted by Adam Montiel Follow Adam: @AdamOnTheAir Explore all things Adam: AdamMontiel.com Listen to Adam’s other shows: Up + Adam (daily) and The Pour (wine & more, travel, culture) Learn more, connect, or say hey at AdamMontiel.com/connect 🎵 Original music by Moonshiner Collective 📱 Download the Paso Wine App 🍷 Plan your trip at PasoWine.com and follow @PasoWine 🎯 Plan your next Paso Robles getaway at travelpaso.com 🎧 Subscribe & Follow If you love Where Wine Takes You, make sure to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with your favorite wine or Paso lover.  ©2026 Where Wine Takes You, All Rights Reserved.    

EP 161: Paso AVA Series: The Willow Creek District – Featuring Caliza Winery | Jack Creek Cellars

🍇 Where Wine Takes You – Episode Highlights 🌊🐎 In this episode of Where Wine Takes You, Adam sits down with two Westside Paso farmers who bet on place and trusted the dirt beneath their feet.  Carl Bowker of Caliza Winery and John Lemstra of Jack Creek Cellars join the show to talk about the power, elegance and diurnal magic of the Willow Creek District AVA, one of Paso Robles’ most compelling sub appellations. From ripping out 30 acres of Pinot and Chardonnay to replant Rhône varieties. From 4,000 cow dairy mornings in Tulare to cool climate Pinot Noir near York Mountain. This episode is about conviction, farming and crafting wines with both restraint and presence. 🍷 Featured Guests Carl Bowker Caliza Winery Estate driven Rhône varietals rooted in limestone soils. Celebrating 20 harvests and a new estate location on Peachy Canyon Road. https://www.calizawinery.com 2570 Peachy Canyon Rd, Paso Robles End of the Day Tasting Room Tin City, Paso Robles John Lemstra Jack Creek Cellars Former dairy farmer turned Pinot Noir specialist farming one of the coolest pockets of the Willow Creek District. https://www.jackcreekcellars.com 5265 Jack Creek Rd, Templeton 🏔️ About the Willow Creek District AVA Established 2014 Elevation ranges roughly 900 to 1,900 feet Approximately 1,400 planted vineyard acres Significant diurnal shift driven by Templeton Gap influence Limestone and shale based soils Known for Rhône varieties, structured Syrah, Grenache, Mourvèdre and distinctive Pinot Noir Learn more https://pasowine.com/willow-creek-district/ 🍷 Wines Discussed From Caliza Winery: Azimuth GSM blend 100 percent Syrah Cohort Cab and Petit Sirah driven blend Estate Grenache Concrete Grenache End of the Day Albariño End of the Day Graciano From Jack Creek Cellars: Concrete Chardonnay Estate Pinot Noir 100 percent Mourvèdre Petit Sirah The Straight and Narrow GSM blend 📰 Paso Wine Wire Hawks Hill Ranch and Boutz Cellars now share a tasting room inside a heritage barn overlooking the Adelaida District. A Westside collaboration bringing estate Rhône wines and Greek varietals together under one roof. https://www.hawkshillranch.com https://www.boutzcellars.com Wine 4 Paws returns April 25 and 26 benefiting Woods Humane Society. Participating wineries and businesses across SLO County donate 10 percent of sales for the weekend. Since 2009 the event has raised more than 750,000 dollars for homeless pets. https://wine4paws.com McPrice Myers Wines collaborates with Hog Island Oyster Co. on Sea Legacy, a limited 100 percent Clairette Blanche release benefiting the White Abalone Project. https://mcpricemyers.com 🌴 Travel Paso Spotlight Rhone Rangers March 20 and 21 Adam connects with Kim Murphy Rodriguez, Executive Director of Rhone Rangers, to preview their upcoming event celebrating American grown Rhône varieties. Seminars. Tastings. Winemaker panels. Rhône education at its best. https://rhonerangers.org Planning a weekend around it Start here: https://travelpaso.com 🎉 Paso Wine Fest Paso Wine Fest returns May 15 through 17. Locals Only Grand Tasting tickets at $99 are available through February 28 to San Luis Obispo County residents. In-person purchase required. 🔗 https://pasowine.com/ 🎟️ Win a pair of tickets at 🔗 https://adammontiel.com/ 🎯 Plan your next Paso Robles getaway at travelpaso.com 🎧 Subscribe & Follow Love Where Wine Takes You? Leave a review, subscribe, and share it with a fellow wine (or Paso) lover. 🎙️ Credits Executive Producer: Joel Peterson + Paso Wine Associate Producer: Krista Smith Recorded, edited, hosted by Adam Montiel Follow Adam: @AdamOnTheAir Explore all things Adam: AdamMontiel.com Listen to Adam’s other shows: Up + Adam (daily) and The Pour (wine & more, travel, culture) Learn more, connect, or say hey at AdamMontiel.com/connect 🎵 Original music by Moonshiner Collective 📱 Download the Paso Wine App 🍷 Plan your trip at PasoWine.com and follow @PasoWine 🎯 Plan your next Paso Robles getaway at travelpaso.com 🎧 Subscribe & Follow If you love Where Wine Takes You, make sure to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with your favorite wine or Paso lover.  ©2026 Where Wine Takes You, All Rights Reserved.  

Ep 160: Paso Wine by the Sea – Featuring Absolution Cellars | Hearst Ranch Winery

🍇 Where Wine Takes You – Episode Highlights 🌊🐎 In this coastal-meets-cowboy episode of Where Wine Takes You, Adam heads west, all the way to the waterline, for a conversation about tasting rooms by the ocean and how proximity to the Pacific changes the wine experience. First up, Soren Christensen, winemaker for Hearst Ranch Winery, shares what it is like pouring wine across the street from Hearst Castle in San Simeon. With 25 Paso harvests under his belt, including time at Hope Family Wines and Alta Colina, Soren talks about legacy, instinct, and crafting wines worthy of the Hearst name. From Rhône varieties to Bordeaux blends, and even a run-in with ranch longhorns, Soren brings grounded Paso wisdom with an ocean view. Then meet Dirk Neumann, owner and winemaker of Absolution Cellars in Morro Bay. A second-career winemaker who packed up South Florida and moved west without a master plan, Dirk now produces limited-production, single-vineyard wines from across the Central Coast. His tasting room on the Morro Bay Embarcadero offers albariño, tempranillo, tribiano, and more, often with sea otters floating by outside the patio. It is Old World philosophy, New World creativity, and a whole lot of coastal energy. Later in the show, Adam connects with Tami Rodman and Ashley Hallinan of the Pacific Coast Cutting Horse Association. From lightning-fast turns to “cow sense,” they break down the adrenaline and heritage behind the sport of cutting. The 2026 PCCHA Trainers Gold Club Roundup runs March 3 through 8, a major event showcasing elite horses, riders, and more than one million dollars in purses across premier competitions. This episode explores what happens when wine meets water and when Western heritage meets modern Paso culture. 🍷 Featured Wineries Hearst Ranch Winery San Simeon Tasting Room across from Hearst Castle 🔗 https://www.hearstranchwinery.com/ 📸 IG: @hearstranchwinery Absolution Cellars Morro Bay Embarcadero Tasting Room 🔗 https://www.absolutioncellars.com/ 📸 IG: @absolutioncellars 🌐 PASO WINE WIRE Hope Family Wines Installs Major Rooftop Solar Array 1,500 solar panels now offset 60 percent of the winery’s energy use, marking another major sustainability milestone. 🔗 https://pasoroblesdailynews.com/paso-robles-winery-installs-major-rooftop-solar-array/218162/ Robert Hall Winery Marks One-Year Anniversary of Regenerative “One Block Challenge” A 40-acre side-by-side regenerative viticulture study continues to position Paso as a leader in climate-smart farming. 🔗 https://www.winebusiness.com/news/article/313815 Celebration of Life for Jake Beckett of Peachy Canyon Winery Honoring the legacy of a multi-generational Paso wine leader. 🔗 https://pasoroblesdailynews.com/celebration-of-life-honors-the-legacy-of-jacob-jake-russell-beckett/217825/ 🐎 Travel Paso Spotlight Pacific Coast Cutting Horse Association 🔗 https://pccha.com/ 📅 2026 PCCHA Trainers Gold Club Roundup, March 3 through 8 🔗 Event Info: https://pccha.com/shows.asp?id=75 🎉 Paso Wine Fest Paso Wine Fest returns May 15 through 17. Locals Only Grand Tasting tickets at $99 are available through February 28 to San Luis Obispo County residents. In-person purchase required. 🔗 https://pasowine.com/ 🎟️ Win a pair of tickets at 🔗 https://adammontiel.com/ 🎯 Plan your next Paso Robles getaway at travelpaso.com 🎧 Subscribe & Follow Love Where Wine Takes You? Leave a review, subscribe, and share it with a fellow wine (or Paso) lover. 🎙️ Credits Executive Producer: Joel Peterson + Paso Wine Associate Producer: Krista Smith Recorded, edited, hosted by Adam Montiel Follow Adam: @AdamOnTheAir Explore all things Adam: AdamMontiel.com Listen to Adam’s other shows: Up + Adam (daily) and The Pour (wine & more, travel, culture) Learn more, connect, or say hey at AdamMontiel.com/connect 🎵 Original music by Moonshiner Collective 📱 Download the Paso Wine App 🍷 Plan your trip at PasoWine.com and follow @PasoWine 🎯 Plan your next Paso Robles getaway at travelpaso.com 🎧 Subscribe & Follow If you love Where Wine Takes You, make sure to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with your favorite wine or Paso lover.  ©2026 Where Wine Takes You, All Rights Reserved.