Ep 146: Where the Wild Wines Are – Featuring Paix Sur Terre | Brecon | Cordant
🍇 Where Wine Takes You – Episode Highlights 🍷 This week on Where Wine Takes You, we’re going Where the Wild Wines Are with three winemakers who represent the energy and evolution of Paso: Ryan Pease of Paix Sur Terre, Alex Kemp of Brecon Estate, and Ryker Wall of Cordant Winery. Ryan has carved out a cult following with Paix Sur Terre, crafting Rhône-driven wines that overdeliver in character and soul. Alex is leading the charge at Brecon, one of Paso’s most acclaimed tasting rooms, while also exploring his Grenache obsession through Terranean Wines. And Ryker is steering winemaking at Cordant, continuing its legacy of thoughtful, vineyard-driven blends, while building his personal project Idola Wines into something truly exciting. Together, we dig into what it means to make wine in Paso right now — the harvest surprises, the challenges, the camaraderie, and the creativity. You’ll hear stories that connect the dots between established brands and the next generation of labels that are quietly rising up in Paso. Paso Wine Wire Paso featured in Forbes: “Outstanding Cabernet Year” for 2025 — cooler weather + drought conditions could deliver one of Paso’s most exciting vintages yet. Sensorio issues global open call for new immersive art installations — artists, designers, and creators invited to light up Paso in new ways. California Wine Month — celebrating the $2.8 billion impact of wine and tourism on Paso and the many events happening across the state wrapping up September. Travel Paso Spotlight This week we’re shining the light on The Bovine Classic, Paso’s gravel cycling adventure happening October 25, 2025, that mixes endurance with pure SLO CAL beauty. Riders take on rugged vineyard trails, rolling hills, and backcountry routes that show off Paso in a whole new way. Last year I even got to call riders across the finish line, and the vibe was unreal, more a fun and memorable community festival than race. This year promises the same: world-class cycling, live music, food, and plenty of Paso wine and beer to keep the celebration rolling. Whether you’re a cyclist or just want to be part of the scene, it’s a can’t-miss weekend. 👉 Learn more and register: The Bovine Classic Featured Wineries this episode: Paix Sur Terre Brecon Estate Cordant Winery Terranean Wines Idola Wines 🎯 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 lover. Where Wine Takes You is Executive Produced by Joel Peterson and Paso Wine Associate Producer: Krista Smith Recorded, edited, produced, and hosted by Adam Montiel Download the free Paso Wine App as your guide to all things wine country. For the latest in Paso Robles Wine Country, check out PasoWine.com and follow @PasoWine. Follow Adam on Instagram → @AdamOnTheAir Listen to Adam’s other shows: Up + Adam (daily podcast) and The Pour (wine, spirits, brews, lifestyle) Learn more, reach out, or connect at AdamMontiel.com 🎵 Original music by Moonshiner Collective If you love Where Wine Takes You, subscribe, leave a review, and share it! Thank you. ©2025 Where Wine Takes You, All Rights Reserved.
Ep 145: Still Pouring, Still Roaring: Opolo at 25, Still Making History
🍇 Where Wine Takes You – Episode Highlights 🍷 This week we’re celebrating a Paso institution: Opolo Vineyards. Co-founder Rick Quinn joins me for a one-on-one conversation about 25 years of Opolo, how Paso has grown alongside them, and the historic debut of Vranac — a Balkan grape now officially recognized and bottled in the U.S. for the first time. We also check in with the latest Paso Wine Wire headlines, and in our Travel Paso Spotlight we turn the love toward Thomas Hill Organics, a restaurant and community hub that needs our support right now. Paso Wine Wire Paso Robles Wine Country Virtual Auction is live Sept. 15–20, with proceeds funding local student scholarships. Join the auction Alterra Solutions rebrands and expands: Kevin Wilkinson’s vineyard management firm takes on a new name and new horizons. Read more ONX Wines launches Sunprint, their first mentorship-driven chillable red. Learn more Travel Paso Spotlight This week we shine the light on Thomas Hill Organics, owned by Chefs Lisa and Mike. Mike is in the fight of his life against cancer, and Lisa is back in the kitchen while still holding everything together. Paso takes care of its own, so if you know them, love them, or just love good food, please show them support with a visit, a kind message, or by sharing their story. Visit Thomas Hill Organics Links + Resources Opolo Vineyards Paso Wine Virtual Auction Thomas Hill Organics 🎯 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 lover. Where Wine Takes You is Executive Produced by Joel Peterson and Paso Wine Associate Producer: Krista Smith Recorded, edited, produced, and hosted by Adam Montiel Download the free Paso Wine App as your guide to all things wine country. For the latest in Paso Robles Wine Country, check out PasoWine.com and follow @PasoWine. Follow Adam on Instagram → @AdamOnTheAir Listen to Adam’s other shows: Up + Adam (daily podcast) and The Pour (wine, spirits, brews, lifestyle) Learn more, reach out, or connect at AdamMontiel.com 🎵 Original music by Moonshiner Collective If you love Where Wine Takes You, subscribe, leave a review, and share it! Thank you. ©2025 Where Wine Takes You, All Rights Reserved.
Ep 144: Rooted & Rising: Winemaker of the Year Molly Bohlman + Wine Grape Grower of the Year Aron Nevarez
🍇 Where Wine Takes You – Episode Highlights 🍷 In this episode, Adam sits down with two of Paso’s freshest big winners — Winemaker of the Year and Wine Grape Grower of the Year — for a deep, soulful convo about hustle, heartbreak, harvest, and hope. Molly Bohlman, longtime winemaker at Niner Wine Estates, shares her journey from Midwest roots to SLO Coast Pinot royalty. Aron Nevarez, a fourth-generation land steward and head of viticulture at McPrice Myers, reflects on arriving in California at 15, learning English while working the vines, and becoming one of the most respected growers in Paso. This conversation, recorded at LoBro Studios in downtown Paso, honors legacy, labor, and the beautiful alchemy that happens between vine and wine. 🌐 PASO WINE WIRE — This Week’s Headlines: 1️⃣ JUSTIN Winery Powers Youth Basketball with 3Ball Academy JUSTIN Vineyards sponsors a free multi-week basketball training program for local youth athletes, led by Cal Poly Hall of Famer Mike Wozniak. Full Story » 2️⃣ Hope Family Wines Launches Game-Changing One-Liter Bottle Austin Hope’s flagship Cabernet is now in an innovative 1L format — perfect for restaurant pours and built for value. Read More » 3️⃣ Serial Wines Celebrates Fall with a National Sweepstakes + Harvest Events Big scores, big flavors, and their iconic Masquerade returns November 8. Explore Events & Sweepstakes » 4️⃣ Paso Wine Tasting Tour Heads to Fresno & Bakersfield Taste Paso from 50+ producers at two upcoming Central Valley events: Sept 5 – Bakersfield Tasting Tour » Sept 19 – Fresno Tasting Tour » TRAVEL PASO SPOTLIGHT: Meet Kimberly Walker, the vision behind two of Paso’s most stylish boutique stays — The Farmhouse and River Lodge. From curated design to next-level vibes, she’s redefining what it means to stay in Paso. 🎯 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 lover. Where Wine Takes You is Executive Produced by Joel Peterson and Paso Wine Associate Producer: Krista Smith Recorded, edited, produced, and hosted by Adam Montiel Download the free Paso Wine App as your guide to all things wine country. For the latest in Paso Robles Wine Country, check out PasoWine.com and follow @PasoWine. Follow Adam on Instagram → @AdamOnTheAir Listen to Adam’s other shows: Up + Adam (daily podcast) and The Pour (wine, spirits, brews, lifestyle) Learn more, reach out, or connect at AdamMontiel.com 🎵 Original music by Moonshiner Collective If you love Where Wine Takes You, subscribe, leave a review, and share it! Thank you. ©2025 Where Wine Takes You, All Rights Reserved.
Ep 143: Paso Wine’s ‘Future 40’ from Wine Enthusiast Magazine
🍇 Where Wine Takes You – Episode Highlights 🍷 Four women. One region. A future uncorked. In this episode of Where Wine Takes You, Adam sits down with four trailblazing Central Coast women named to Wine Enthusiast’s prestigious Future 40 list for 2025: Nancy Ulloa, the spiritual force behind Ulloa Cellars, whose winemaking blends energy, heritage, and healing intention • Neeta Mittal, co-founder of LXV Wine, redefining elegance through the sensual pairing of wine and spice • Katy Rogers & Tamara Bingham, the brand architects of Likely Story Strategies, helping wineries craft their voice and stand out in a crowded market Together in the studio, these innovators talk entrepreneurship, representation, identity, and what it means to shape the wine world on their own terms with Paso Robles as both canvas and catalyst. Paso Wine Wire Stories: Martinelli Vineyard Hits the Market Read the article McPrice Myers Opens New Estate Tasting Room in Adelaida Read more at mcpricemyers.com Autumn Soirée at Hotel SLO Set for October 12 More details here Travel Paso Spotlight: Discover the elevated charm of Hotel Ava, Paso’s newest luxury boutique hotel in the heart of downtown. With rooftop views, a saltwater pool, and culinary experiences led by Chef Julien Asseo and Beverage Director Lannon Rust, this is Paso from the top. hotelava.com Other Mentions: • LXV Wine – lxvwine.com • Ulloa Cellars – ullloacellars.com • Likely Story Strategies – likelystorystrategies.com 🎯 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 lover. Where Wine Takes You is Executive Produced by Joel Peterson and Paso Wine Associate Producer: Krista Smith Recorded, edited, produced, and hosted by Adam Montiel Download the free Paso Wine App as your guide to all things wine country. For the latest in Paso Robles Wine Country, check out PasoWine.com and follow @PasoWine. Follow Adam on Instagram → @AdamOnTheAir Listen to Adam’s other shows: Up + Adam (daily podcast) and The Pour (wine, spirits, brews, lifestyle) Learn more, reach out, or connect at AdamMontiel.com 🎵 Original music by Moonshiner Collective If you love Where Wine Takes You, subscribe, leave a review, and share it! Thank you. ©2025 Where Wine Takes You, All Rights Reserved.
Ep 142: From Paso Robles Wine Fanatics to Family Legacies – Featuring Thibido and Ecluse
🍇 Where Wine Takes You – Episode Highlights 🍷 In this episode of Where Wine Takes You, Adam Montiel brings together two voices that showcase the heart and soul of Paso Robles wine country in very different ways. First, Mike Adams, the founder of the Facebook group Paso Robles Wine Fanatics, joins the conversation. What started as a small place to swap tasting notes has grown into a digital community of nearly 25,000 members who share their Paso bottles, adventures, and recommendations every day. Also in studio is Josh Beckett, a name synonymous with Paso. His family launched Peachy Canyon back in the 1980s, he and his brother created Chronic Cellars, and now with his wife Gibsey, Josh is crafting estate wines at Thibido. Most recently, the couple took over one of Paso’s heritage brands, Ecluse Winery, continuing a story of legacy and reinvention that reflects Paso itself. Later in the show, our Travel Paso Spotlight shines on the Whale Rock Music & Arts Festival. Adam chats with Luke Udsen of Castoro Cellars about how this annual September celebration has grown into one of Paso’s most beloved events, blending music, art, food, wine, and community in a way only Paso can. In this week’s Paso Wine Wire, Adam shares some of the latest headlines from around the region: Tobin James Cellars – 30th Annual James Gang Festival March 20–21, 2026 — a milestone weekend of live music, dancing, Tobin James wines, barrel samples, and food from more than 20 chefs, all under 30,000 square feet of tented space. Paso Robles Wine Country Alliance Foundation Awards $18,000 in Scholarships Twelve local high school seniors received scholarships funded through the Paso Wine Virtual Auction, which returns September 15–20, 2025. LXV Wine + Ulloa Cellars Named to Wine Enthusiast’s Future 40 Neeta & Kunal Mittal of LXV and Nancy Gonzales of Ulloa Cellars were recognized among innovators shaping the future of wine in America. Stay tuned for a full episode featuring these Paso tastemakers. Whether it’s online communities, family wineries, or festivals that bring thousands together, this episode is all about connection — and how Paso keeps finding new ways to share its story. Links from this episode: Paso Robles Wine Fanatics (Facebook Group) Thibido Wines Ecluse Winery Whale Rock Music & Arts Festival Travel Paso 🎯 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 lover. Where Wine Takes You is Executive Produced by Joel Peterson and Paso Wine Associate Producer: Krista Smith Recorded, edited, produced, and hosted by Adam Montiel Download the free Paso Wine App as your guide to all things wine country. For the latest in Paso Robles Wine Country, check out PasoWine.com and follow @PasoWine. Follow Adam on Instagram → @AdamOnTheAir Listen to Adam’s other shows: Up + Adam (daily podcast) and The Pour (wine, spirits, brews, lifestyle) Learn more, reach out, or connect at AdamMontiel.com 🎵 Original music by Moonshiner Collective If you love Where Wine Takes You, subscribe, leave a review, and share it! Thank you. ©2025 Where Wine Takes You, All Rights Reserved.